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Shuttle stops for Scott
Escaping minor threat is major relief to Proctor
BY MARK FEINSAND
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
TAMPA - Scott Proctor shuttled between the Bronx and Columbus three times in
2004, becoming familiar with the route. A year later, he went back and forth
twice, once again splitting time between Triple-A and the big leagues.
Many players have gone through the same frustrating experience, knowing that
their time to impress the big club is limited.
Bubba Crosby felt it, going up and down five times in 2004 and four in 2005.
Bret Prinz went back and forth five times in 2004, never staking claim to a
spot in the bullpen. Even last year, T.J. Beam's introduction to the bigs
included four trips between New York and Ohio.
It's only natural for a player to assume the worst when he has gotten yo-yo
treatment. Proctor received plenty of encouragement from his veteran
teammates in 2004-05, getting pep talks from Gary Sheffield, Randy Johnson
and Derek Jeter, among others.
Jorge Posada, in particular, helped Proctor through his hard times. Posada
had been shuttled between New York and Columbus four times in 1996, making
for one of the most difficult years of the catcher's career.
"It's really, really tough, because it's night and day from Triple-A to the
big leagues," Posada said. "You don't understand why it's happening. You
know you belong there. I can see why they did it now, but at the time, you
can't understand it."
Posada had some simple advice for Proctor each time he was told he was
heading back to Columbus.
"I had been there, so I knew how he was feeling," Posada said. "I told him,
'See you real soon. Keep working hard and don't get down on yourself.'"
"I wanted to get to the next level," Proctor said. "I was kind of that
fringe guy, and I wanted to become that guy they could count on in a regular
role."
So how did Proctor beat the odds, transforming himself from a passenger on
the Triple-A Express into one of the Yankees' most dependable relievers? He
used a combination of confidence, performance and luck with a sprinkle of
good timing.
"At times, it doesn't matter how good you do; if there's no spot, you're
going back down," Proctor said. "I was lucky to get my chance last year at a
time I was hot. That helped get me through the time when I struggled,
because they had seen what I could do. In past years, I probably would have
been sent down."
Instead, Proctor took advantage of his opportunity, which was created by
Aaron Small's hamstring injury last spring. In nine April games, Proctor
posted a 1.69ERA over 16 innings. His May ERA jumped to 5.50, but Joe Torre
had seen enough to give the 29-year-old a chance to work through it.
"He's really good about reading his players," Proctor said. "He understood
that it wasn't a lack of ability, but rather fatigue. He gave me the time I
needed to recoup and regain my confidence, because it can take a hit when
you're going bad."
Proctor still had a minor-league option, so he never felt completely secure
in pinstripes. One bad outing could result in a familiar journey.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't creep in your mind after a bad outing,"
Proctor said. "I've been sent down when I was pitching well. Sometimes,
there's nothing you can do."
The difference between 2006 and all of the years before was that, for the
first time, Proctor was convinced that he belonged in the majors.
"If they sent me down, they were wrong," Proctor said. "I try not to be
arrogant, but confident. If I go out there and get three outs, that's what I
expected to do. There's no excuse for anything less than that."
Proctor still has that minor-league option, allowing the Yankees to send him
to Triple-A without losing him from their 40-man roster. Of course, after
posting a 3.52 ERA in an AL-high 83 appearances last season, he is now one
of the Bombers' most trusted setup men, so the chances of him being sent
down have diminished.
Still, Proctor's humble nature and taste for perfection won't allow him to
take anything for granted. If anything, the minor-league option is a driving
force of sorts for him, a reminder that he's just one bad game away from
getting back on that shuttle. The only difference is that this time it would
be headed for Scranton instead of Columbus.
"This being the Yankees, you have to come here every year and earn your job.
Unless you're Jeter, Mariano or Posada, if you don't prove that you belong,
they'll find a way to ship you out if they want to," Proctor said. "You're
only as good as what you did yesterday. Last year is last year, so I have to
prove myself again."
Originally published on March 1, 2007
大概翻一下
這篇報導主要是講Proctor在2004-05年
在3A和大聯盟間多次來來去去(2004三次 2005兩次)
而這樣的上上下下總是容易讓人喪志
但他也得到大明星隊友的鼓勵 例如:Gary Sheffield, Randy Johnson和 Derek Jeter
其中幫助最多的是Jorge Posada
他舉自己 1996年 也在大小聯盟間來去 四次的例子
他說 "這真的非常非常辛苦 也不明白為什麼會這樣
我曾經歷過 很了解那種感覺 當他要回3A時 我告訴他
'希望很快能再見到你 繼續努力 不要對自己失望'"
Proctor說"我希望能夠向上提升
提升到那種能在大聯盟例行賽中被信賴賦予任務的層次"
去年 Proctor利用Aaron Small受傷的機會進入先發25人名單
在四月的九場比賽中 Proctor主投16局 防禦率1.69
但五月 防禦率暴增到5.50 但Joe Torre認為這位29歲的投手有機會
Proctor說"有時候 如果沒位子 能力再好都沒用 還是要回去
去年我很幸運 當我狀況好的時候得到那個機會 這也幫助我度過狀況差的時候
因為他們已經看到我的能耐 如果是以前我表現差 可能會被送回去"
他感謝總教練老托 說他真的很了解球員 他知道我只是疲憊 不是沒能力
給我時間恢復
Proctor仍有小聯盟的選擇權 也就是說 送他回小聯盟 也不需移出40人名單
他說"當我表現不好 我說我不擔心 那是騙人的 我也曾經在表現好時被送回去
有時候 你真的無能為力"
而2006球季和從前球季不同在於 他相信自己屬於大聯盟
而他現在也是洋基最可靠的set up man
Proctor說"送我回去是個錯誤 我試著不要自大 要有自信 我希望上場
照我希望的拿到三個出局數 沒有其他藉口說辦不到"
"這是洋基隊 你每年都要來爭取工作 除非你是Jeter, Mariano或 Posada
如果你沒辦法證明你屬於這兒 他們會想辦法把你送走 去年只是去年
所以 我必須要再度證明我自己"
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