[譯文] The A-Rod Conundrum

[fizeau ( )]

※ [本文轉錄自 A-Rod 看板]

作者: fizeau (  ) 看板: A-Rod
標題: [譯文] The A-Rod Conundrum
時間: Fri Jul 28 23:51:01 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14063787/site/newsweek/

The A-Rod Conundrum

A-Rod的難解迷團

On his 31st birthday, Alex Rodriguez is looking more like the curse of the
Yankees than part of the team’s salvation.

剛過31歲生日的A-Rod不像是洋基這支球隊的救星，反而更像詛咒。

By Mark Starr
Newsweek
Updated: 4:14 p.m. ET July 27, 2006

July 27, 2006 - I have always clung to a faith that too much may indeed be too
much. Too wealthy, too beautiful, too talented—none of these lead to a happy
lot in life. It is easy for me to sustain that conviction, having no personal
experience with any of them. But Alex Rodriguez has it all, and the combination
may ultimately provide his team with the only distinction the Boston Red Sox
have had over the New York Yankees: their own curse.

我一直深信太過頭不是好事。太富有，太美麗，太有才華─這些都不會帶來快樂的生活。
雖然沒有親身經歷，我很容易持續懷有這信念。但是A-Rod擁有所有這些，而且這些卻最
終給他的球隊增加了原本從前波士頓紅襪與洋基的唯一區別：他們自己的詛咒。

As a Bostonian, I might be expected to take glee in the bloodletting that is
the current response of Yankees fans to the man who—once upon a time, not all
that long ago—would be their king. But I honestly don’t. There is something
truly sad about this A-Rod and something unseemly in the response of fans who,
just like those here in my hometown, don’t hesitate to devour their own.

身為一個波士頓人，我應該會樂於見到洋基球迷正在噓這個不久前還是他們球隊領袖。但
是老實說我並沒有。有些關於A-Rod的事是令人難過的，以及球迷的反應就跟紅襪球迷一樣
不適當。

A-Rod has never been a great fit in New York, though this wasn’t recognized at
first in all the excitement over the Yankees wrestling him away from the equal-
ly eager Red Sox. Fans in both places were ready to ignore that there was some-
thing rotten to the core about his escape from Texas. After rising to glory as
a shortstop for the Seattle Mariners, he had taken the biggest of big money (at
$252 million the fattest deal in Major League Baseball history) to join the
Rangers, then fled after just three seasons when Texas couldn’t get near the
top. Never mind that it was Rodriguez who was supposed to get them there since his whopping salary precluded any chance that his team might be able to afford anything resembling a pitching staff. He put up massive numbers—averaging 52 home runs a year—in a ballpark designed for massive numbers and led Texas to three consecutive last-place finishes in the AL West. Indeed “last place” doesn’t quite do justice to how wretched
those Texas teams were; the Rangers’ average finish in the A-Rod era was 72-90
, 33 games out.

A-Rod從未能真正融入洋基隊，雖然這並沒有在一開始被看出來，當他們比當時同樣渴望的
紅襪更快搶到他。兩邊的球迷都忽視了他離開遊騎兵的原因。在西雅圖水手擔任游擊手表
現搶眼之後，他以聯盟史上最優渥的肥約兩億五千兩百萬進入遊騎兵隊，在經過了三年球
隊無法攻頂而離開。更別提他應該是帶領這支球隊達到頂峰的人物。遊騎兵在A-Rod那三年
裡的平均戰績是72-90。

A-Rod wanted out, and he ended up at the only team and town where a $25 million
annual paycheck wouldn’t pinch. But he also got out to a team where he wasn’t
the biggest star in the firmament. He couldn’t wear his precious No. 3 because
it had been retired for a pretty fair ballplayer by the name of Babe Ruth. And
he couldn’t even play shortstop because Derek Jeter had a lifetime claim on
the position.

他想離開，而最終也來到這支一年支付兩千五百萬並不足為奇的球隊。但是在這裡他並不
是最耀眼的巨星。他無法穿上他從前的三號球衣，因為那已經是貝比魯斯的退休球衣。他
也不能擔任游擊守備位置，因為那是基特專任的。

A-Rod responded to these nuisances with perfect pitch; he agreed to don No. 13
and claimed he was content to switch to third base to accommodate the Yankee
captain. The only problem is everything A-Rod says sounds too calculated to
please, as scripted as one of those speeches Miss America candidates used to
make about why they really, really want world peace. I think Yankee fans might
actually be happier if, the next time Rodriguez strikes out with the tying run
on in the ninth, he busted up the clubhouse or even—shades of Kevin Brown—
smashed a dugout wall with his fist. But one suspects if that ever happens, it
will be the result of “Note to self: smash up clubhouse.”

A-Rod對這些作出完美回應；同意換上13號球衣，同意轉守三壘。唯一問題是這些似乎是
太經過計算，以討好，就像美國小姐候選人在演講上說服他們希望世界和平。我想當下次
A-Rod在九局時追平分在壘上，而他被三振時，結束後他用拳頭打牆壁；這會讓球迷高興點
。

Still, for his first two seasons in New York, A-Rod did put up more numbers,
winning the Most Valuable Player award last year to match the one he got in
2003 for leading the Rangers into last place. (Imagine where they would have
finished without his MVP numbers). At the same time he has become the poster
boy for the old adage that, in baseball as in life, statistics lie. And he is
currently the center point of an esoteric baseball debate over whether there
really is such a thing as a clutch performer.

在紐約前兩個球季，他的確打出點成績，在去年贏得MVP，正如同03年帶領遊騎兵打到
最後一名一樣。(想像如果沒有他的那些MVP數字，球隊會如何)同時他成為看板球星，
因為套句古老諺語，在棒球就跟人生一樣，統計數字是會說謊的。而且他目前也是關於
一個深奧的棒球爭論，是否真的有關鍵時刻的球員。

A-Rod’s detractors are quick to note his most infamous gaffe—the “bitch
slap” in the 2004 AL championship series when he killed a critical rally by
slapping the ball out of the hand of the Red Sox pitcher. And they note his
bust in last year’s playoffs against the Angels when he hit .133 without
knocking in a single run. Those failures only fed into a growing suspicion that
A-Rod’s numbers are most often padding and rarely delivered at critical, game-
winning moments.

他的非支持者會很快指出他最不名譽的錯誤，是在04年美聯冠軍賽因為把紅襪投手的球
拍走而毀掉反攻的機會。還有在去年季後賽對天使，他打出一成三三的打擊率，沒有任何
打點。這些失敗只引起愈滾愈大的懷疑，那就是A-Rod只能夠錦上添花，卻不能在緊要關頭
發揮。

The typical Yankee diehard didn’t need to cite any numbers. They knew in their
hearts that Jeter was clutch, Bernie Williams was clutch, even Scott Brosius,
who held down third base for several years before Rodriguez, was clutch. And
they believed that the putative greatest player in baseball was not. Ask
Yankees fans—and I conducted a small poll—which player they want at the plate
with the game on the line in the ninth inning, and A-Rod is ranked way down
alongside the rookie outfielder Melky Cabrera.

典型洋基死忠球迷不需要引證任何數字。他們心中知道基特是關鍵，Bernie是關鍵，甚至
多年鎮守三壘的Scott Brosius也是關鍵，而目前暫時的所謂最偉大棒球選手不是。問問
洋基球迷─我做了個小調查─九局時比賽岌岌可危，他們希望誰上場打擊；A-Rod與新手
小卡布一起敬陪末座。

These feelings were festering among Yanks fans well before things turned really
sour this summer. Still, this has been the season of their greatest discontent.
From a distance, one might not even realize how things have gone awry. A-Rod
was once again voted to his regular all-star perch at third base. While his
batting average is down a bit—at .280, it’s his lowest mark since he was a
teenage rookie in Seattle—his 22 home runs and 73 RBIs put him on the leader
boards but hardly atop them. Think David Toms, not Tiger Woods. And far too
often, Rodriguez not only looks bad at the plate, but downright feeble. With 90
strikeouts, he is on pace for a career high.

這些想法早就存在於洋基球迷心中。這還是他們最不滿意的球季。甚至無法理解問題出在
哪。A-Rod又被選入全明星賽。雖然他的打擊率下滑到二成八，是自從在西雅圖新手以來
的最低，今年的22支全壘打及73分打點還是能榜上有名，但是沒有前幾名。而常常，A-Rod
不僅打得不好，甚至完全一榻糊塗。已經90個三振，快要創生涯新高。

But hitting is the least of his problems. If A-Rod doesn’t have an incipient
case of “Steve Sax disease,” which is an advisory to all fans behind first
base to duck, he has some related problem. He has already committed 18 errors,
the most of any third basemen in the majors, and had a three-error game recent-
ly that the New York Daily News termed “a debacle.” It has come to the point
where, with the MLB trading deadline just days away, A-Rod’s name actually
surfaces in trade rumors: A-Rod for a host of notable Phillies including Bobby
Abreu; A-Rod to any team that will take on his salary and free up some cash
so that the Yankees can pursue Dontrelle Willis or Barry Zito for their rotat-
ion.

但是打擊不是最嚴重的問題。如果他沒有"Steve Sax疾病"，也有類似的問題。已經有18次
失誤，是聯盟裡三壘手最多的，最近還單場三次失誤。甚至在交易期限只剩幾天的這時候
，他的名字已經出現在交易謠言裡：用A-Rod交換費城好手包括Bobby Abreu;釋出A-Rod，
清出薪資空間來補強先發投手例如Dontrelle Willis或Zito。

Virtually every publication has used the same two-word phrase—“laughed off”
—to describe Rodriguez’s response to the current rumorfest. (“Note to self:
laugh it off.”) But whatever he may say or do publicly, A-Rod can’t laugh off
the fact that he may be the premier talent at his position, but not remotely
the premier performer in his league. He hasn’t played as well as the third
basemen on two teams—Boston (Mike Lowell .294, 13 homers, 52 RBIs, four errors
) or the White Sox (Joe Crede .295, 21 67 and eight errors)—with which New
York is competing. If the Yankees don’t make the playoffs for the first time
in 13 seasons, the scapegoating of their third basemen figures to be savage
sport.

幾乎每份報導都用同樣兩個字來形容A-Rod的反應：一笑置之。但是無論怎麼反應，他不能
以笑否決一個事實，那就是他可能是最有天份的，但是完全不是表現最好的。他在三壘比
不上紅襪的Lowell與白襪的Crede；這兩隊都是洋基的競爭對手。如果洋基今年是13年來
首次無法進入季後賽，這個三壘手會變成代罪羔羊。

This week Yankees general manager Brian Cashman stepped in to try and quash the
rumors, insisting that his third baseman is not going anywhere. I would take
that as gospel—and not just because A-Rod has a no-trade contract. He is a
throwback to a different management era; no team today would invest $25 million
per season in a single superstar, let alone one who might be fading. So A-Rod
and New York are stuck with each other until at least 2010 in what, short of
some postseason heroics or a championship, figures to be a long, scornful
unlove affair.

本週現金人出面澄清謠言，堅持這個三壘手不會離開。我會當它是福音，而不是因為A-Rod
有不能交易的契約。他令人聯想到一個不同的經營方式的時代。沒有一個球隊會一年投資
兩千五百萬在單一球員身上，更別說是一個可能在退化的。所以A-Rod和紐約會一直在一起
到至少2010年，一個缺乏季後賽英雄式表現與冠軍的邂姤。

But since A-Rod turns 31 today, let’s, if only for the moment, cut him some
slack. If he wants to compare himself to the defensive whiz Brooks Robinson at
third base, as he did recently, well we all have our delusions. If he wants to
sun himself—conspicuously shirtless—in Central Park, well the New York
tabloids are truly grateful. It really isn’t easy being A-Rod; as I could have
told him, too wealthy, too beautiful and too talented isn’t the recipe for a
happy lot in life.

但是既然今天是他的三十一歲生日，就讓我們給他輕鬆一點。如果他想把自己比喻為三壘
的守護神Brooks Robinson，就讓我們幻想一下吧。如果他想赤著上身在中央公園曬太陽
，紐約的八卦小報會很感激。當A-Rod真的不容易；就像我應該告訴他的，太有錢英俊聰明
不是快樂人生的保證。


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推 lookinforyou:他壓力太重了  A-ROD加油 >////<  我們永遠支持你!
推 djcc:少年得志  很符合目前A-Rod的情況  正遭遇人生最大的低潮?
推 LouGehrig:加油阿 要像我一樣偉大阿(咳咳)
推 Tzylu:今年就當季後賽英雄吧
推 balance621:他不是最年輕就打出450支的打者..這樣還要不滿阿...
→ balance621:覺得他其實蠻衰的..百年難得一見的天才被講成這樣...
推 redrabbitptt:在紐約打球真不是人幹的....壓力超大
推 charlie01:Gehrig老爺爺(雖然你逝世時還不是老爺爺...),你又不是SS
→ charlie01:也不是3B XD
推 bluedoll:這種就是所謂的水準比國內新聞還遭的文章
→ bluedoll:不知道哪一隻球隊花了25M/1yr在A-Rod身上？
→ bluedoll:A-Rod比Jason Giambi還要便宜，對Yankees來說
推 economist:像美國小姐候選人在演講上說服他們希望世界和平 XD
推 KKKKRod:加油
推 noonecan:Jason Giambi又比Derek Jeter便宜= =
推 pathfinder:樓上上.......反正大家這時都該踹A-Rod兩腳就對了.....
推 Yaz:當初為了換Arod也送出了物超所值的球員，所以花多少錢實在也
→ Yaz:不好算。
→ Yaz:何況還有豪華稅，那個稅應是用他的年薪來算的。所以應該沒人
→ Yaz:比他貴吧。
推 cheer67:覺得他其實蠻衰的..
推 sheff:豪華稅又不是因為A-rod造成的
→ VaROne:Sorry 算什麼物超所值得傢伙。
推 Yaz:豪華稅不是A-rod造成的，但他多貢獻了不少總金額。
→ Yaz:Soriano今年球季結束後簽的約一定會比之前在Rangers拿得多。
推 bluedoll:真的不怎麼好算。還得加上他帶來的邊際效應。
→ bluedoll:A-Rod來讓Yankees多賣了多少周邊，多賣了多少球衣
→ bluedoll:噢還有少了他可能連兩年沒季後賽打，嘖嘖
→ bluedoll:真是好貴吶，雖然我不懂經濟學，但是A-Rod好貴噢
→ bluedoll:人間空振機Sori留下來應該可以省比較多錢吧，嗚
推 bluedoll:唉，我們還要可憐的幾年才能擺拖A-Rod，嗚
→ bluedoll:當初如果留下Sori繳的豪華稅少今年重簽還是便宜呢 !
推 Baudelaire:樓上好酸...
→ bluedoll:沒辦法我只是想證明Sori真的很便宜，誰知道我一算...
推 sheff:Jeter Moose RJ Giambi 他們就沒貢獻不少金額嗎？
→ sheff:去年的KB今年的Pavano你都不提嗎？
推 VGA:總覺得這篇文章有點酸.也很空洞
推 Yaz:對啊對啊，實在很難算，所以看薪水最直接省事。
推 bymee:我覺得這篇文章的作者在嫉妒....
推 harrywu0620:A-rod加油 Boston Red Sucks
推 bluedoll:直接看薪水，今年Yankees付了A-Rod 16M。
→ bluedoll:噢，Manny 今年19M，結束。真省事。
推 Yaz:原來有人連薪水是什麼都不知道，難怪會溝通不良了。
推 bluedoll:這年頭有人連球隊付了多少錢都不知道，該怎麼說呢唉
→ bluedoll:加油，我還可以陪你玩兩下 :)
推 Yaz:算了算了，直接看薪水都聽不懂，這我就沒辦法和您說下去了。
推 bluedoll:算了，直接看付多少錢都聽不懂，我也只好對牛談琴了。
推 Yaz:懂了，原來您是自講自的，不是回應我說直接看薪水，早說嘛。
→ Yaz:不過以後記得中間要用句點，最好再分段，比較不會造成誤解。
推 bluedoll:噢我們看的是Yankees付給A-Rod的薪水。
→ bluedoll:原文寫的是"一年付給A-Rod兩千五百萬的球隊"
→ bluedoll:很明顯的，是您在自己討論自己的事囉。
推 Yaz:原文並沒有這麼寫，那是您自己的解讀吧。
→ Yaz:只不過原文那麼寫，是容易給人那樣的解讀。
推 bluedoll:原文是這樣寫只是作者數學沒學好算錯了。
→ bluedoll:基本上這是大家的解讀囉，只有您的解讀異於常人呢
→ bluedoll:噢可能是大師遠見吧，總之非常高興能和您討論呢
→ bluedoll:我要出門啦，如果有空，新開一篇我們繼續討論阿。
→ bluedoll:這邊不會有甚麼人看我就不回囉，Good night.
推 Yaz:那叫過度解讀，當然洋基迷看到比較會發生這種情況。
→ Yaz:我看過那一段只覺得作者在強調洋基比Rangers更能付擔擁有A-Rod
→ Yaz:的支出而已。