[新聞] Clemens Returns, and So Does Hope for Yankees

[richardcyl (more)]

http://tinyurl.com/yrtjc4

(中間有些就不翻了,不好意思)

Clemens Returns, and So Does Hope for Yankees
克萊門斯回來了，也為洋基帶來了希望
By TYLER KEPNER
Published: May 7, 2007

It was a news bulletin delivered before 52,553 fans on a glorious spring day
at Yankee Stadium, where the season is suddenly alive with hope again. The
man with more victories than any living pitcher was holding a Yankees
microphone, addressing the crowd with a splash of the high drama that has
punctuated his career.

一個光輝的春日，在洋基球場，公告出一則新聞給全場52,553名球迷，
突然間，整個球季又開始有了希望。

大聯盟現役最多勝的投手拿著洋基球場的麥克風，
向全場觀眾宣佈了一個充滿高度戲劇化的消息，這個消息跟他接下來的職業生涯有關。

“Thank y’all,” said Roger Clemens, who was wearing a business suit, a crew
cut and a Yankees World Series ring as he stood in a box above home plate. “
Well, they came and got me out of Texas, and I can tell you it’s a privilege
to be back. I’ll be talking to y’all soon!”

「謝謝你們。」穿著深色、剪裁合宜的西裝、戴著他在洋基拿到的世界大賽冠軍戒指，
火箭人此刻正站在洋基主場本壘板正上方的包廂中。

「呃....他們過來找我，然後帶我離開德州，我可以告訴你們，回來這裡是一項殊榮。
  我很快就會再和你們對話！」

Then Clemens pumped his fist as Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman
crouched behind him, beaming. For a $28 million salary — prorated based on
the date he is added to the major league roster — Clemens has returned to
the Yankees, who trail the Boston Red Sox by five and a half games in the
American League East but got a pitcher both teams wanted.

當洋基總經理Cashman喜氣洋洋地來到老克身後時，老克緊緊地握住了現金人的手。
靠著一紙面額2千8百萬、按其待在大聯盟正式名單多久的合約，
克萊門斯回到了目前在美國聯盟東區落後紅襪5場半的洋基。
這兩個球隊其實都想要爭取他。

“Make no mistake about it,” Clemens, who hopes to be ready by late May,
said later at a news conference. “I’ve come back to do what they only know
how to do here with the Yankees, and that’s win a championship. Anything
else is a failure.”

「別弄錯了，」希望在五月底可以上場投球的克萊門斯在記者會上說：

「我回來和洋基隊一起做一件他們唯一知道、也知道怎麼做的事情，
  就是贏得世界大賽冠軍。如果是其它任何的成績，那都是失敗。」

A sense of desperation has hung over the Yankees for weeks, cresting with a
9-14 April that was followed last Tuesday by a hamstring injury to the prized
rookie Phil Hughes during a game in Arlington, Tex.

洋基隊在過去幾個禮拜充滿著絕望的感覺，在四月份打出9勝14敗的成績，
然後5月1日星期二，他們的超級新人休斯在德州阿靈頓的比賽中受傷。

The Yankees acquired Clemens in a trade from Toronto in 1999, then watched
helplessly as he retired after the 2003 World Series, his fourth in five
years with the team.

洋基在1999年透過跟藍鳥隊的交易換來火箭人，
並且無助地看著他在2003年、也是他加入洋基5年來第4次世界大賽後退休。

Clemens, who turns 45 in August, changed his mind and kept playing, joining
his hometown Houston Astros for three more seasons. Cashman tried to sign
Clemens in March and consummated this deal Friday night, when he talked with
the Yankees’ team president, Randy Levine, and chief operating officer, Lonn
Trost, about how Clemens might make a grand entrance.

8月就要滿45歲的克萊門斯，改變了他的念頭並且繼續打球，
他加入了家鄉的休士頓太空人隊，多打了3個球季。
Cashman在3月時就試著要把火箭人給簽下來，而這個交易在星期五晚上抵定，
當晚他就和洋基的球隊總裁Randy Levine、首席營運長Lonn Trost討論，
火箭人該用什麼樣的方式回來。

“We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if he showed up and announced it
himself on the scoreboard?’ ” Cashman said, reflecting on the day in a
telephone interview last night. “It just seemed like it would be a real nice
touch, and only someone of his type of stature could really pull it off.

「我們想，『讓他出現在計分版上並自己宣佈這消息不是很棒嗎？』」

現金人昨晚在電話訪問中回想起這件事說：

「這樣看起來會蠻感動人的，也只有具備這樣高度的人可以做到。」

“It was one of those neat moments in Yankee history. People who had tickets
today will always remember that and always have something to talk about. I
got goose bumps. He’s just such a presence.”

「這是洋基隊的歷史中最美好的時刻之一。
  今天進場的觀眾們將會永遠記得這件事、並且永遠會不停地提起這件事。
  我都起雞皮疙瘩了。他就是這麼樣地具有風采。」

The fans erupted after the announcement, with the loudest and longest
applause of an afternoon in which the Yankees would cruise to a victory over
the Seattle Mariners, 5-0. Many fans immediately took out their cellphones to
share the news.

就在洋基以5:0打敗水手隊的這場比賽中，
觀眾在老克的聲明之後爆出最大、最久的歡呼聲和掌聲，
許多球迷立即開始打手機競相告知別人這個好消息。

The Yankees were in the dugout at the time of the announcement, getting ready
for the bottom of the seventh inning. Manager Joe Torre said the players were
not aware of the news beforehand, although some said they knew, including
Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi, who had regularly sent messages to Clemens
since spring training, urging him to return.

老克發表聲明的時候，球員們就在休息區內，並且已經準備好要打7局下半的比賽。
總教練托瑞說球員們之前並不知道會有這件事，雖然有些球員說他們已經知道，
包括隊長Derek Jeter和春訓時就傳簡訊力勸火箭人回來的大吉。

“The Yankees were in both of my ears the whole time,” Clemens said, “and
that was well before they had the problems they’ve had on the mound.”

「我兩個耳朵一直充滿著洋基隊員的聲音，」老克說：

「在他們的投手發生問題前就已經這樣了。」

Those problems have manifested themselves in a carousel of pitchers who have
started games. Tonight, the Yankees will start Matt DeSalvo, their sixth
rookie starter this season. DeSalvo will be their 10th starter over all, the
most any team has used in the first 30 games of a season.

Three starters have missed time with hamstring injuries, leading Cashman to
fire the team’s strength coach, Marty Miller, last Wednesday. The veteran
starter Carl Pavano has ligament damage in his right elbow and has told
teammates and club officials that he wants to have reconstructive surgery.

When Hughes was injured, Cashman was on that trip to Texas, a rare road visit
for him, and one with an ulterior motive.

Cashman wanted to fly to Houston to meet in person with Clemens and his
agent, Randy Hendricks. But Hendricks had business elsewhere.

“If you saw me walking around in Texas looking the way I was looking, now you
’ve got a little secret to why,” Cashman said. “Here, as I was trying to
get Randy Hendricks on the phone, he was text-messaging me: ‘I can’t talk
to you now, I’m in Fenway Park.’ ”

But Hendricks said he did not leave Fenway thinking that the occupants, the
Red Sox, had the same timetable as Clemens. Hendricks said the Red Sox and
the Astros wanted Clemens to return in mid-June or later. Clemens is nearly
ready now.

Hendricks說他離開芬威球場時並沒有考慮紅襪隊對老克安排的時間表。
他說紅襪及太空人都希望老克在6月中或之後再回來。
但是對老克而言，他現在已經差不多準備好了。

“I put it to Roger: ‘Look, you’re either going to get ready to play now
with the Yankees, or you’re going to have to delay it for another month.
Which is it?’ ” Hendricks said. “He’s Roger Clemens. From my point of
view, when he says he’s ready to play, teams should listen.”

「我對羅傑開門見山地說：『瞧，你可以現在就調整好、並且為洋基出賽，
  也可以再延後一個月。要哪一個？』」Hendricks說。

「他可是『羅傑‧克萊門斯』。以我的觀點，當他說他準備好了、可以上場投球了，
  任何球隊都應該要接受他的話。」

The Red Sox had obvious appeal to Clemens for the historical symmetry they
would bring to his career. Clemens played his first 13 seasons in Boston, and
he is tied with Cy Young for the franchise record in victories.

紅襪有很明顯的訴求，他們以"歷史情感"來向老克喊話。
老克生涯前13季都在紅襪，並且透過一連串的勝利拿到賽揚獎。

But Clemens retains strong ties to the Yankees, with seven former teammates
in the clubhouse as well as Torre.

但是老克對於回到洋基的意願更強，他想要和7位前隊友及Torre繼續打球。

And then there is George Steinbrenner, 76, the Yankees’ principal owner,
whose box Clemens visited in spring training when he dropped by Legends Field
to watch his close friend Andy Pettitte pitch. Clemens has not said what
Steinbrenner told him then, but it made an impact.

再來就是76歲的洋基隊老闆George Steinbrenner，
老克趁著春訓時到傳奇球場探望他的好友Andy Pettitte投球時，
也順便和老闆在他的辦公室內談了一會兒。
克萊門斯並沒有說大老闆跟他講了些什麼，但大老闆的一番話顯然是有起作用。

“He had some words for me, which I’ll keep with me forever,” Clemens said.
“I might share those when this season is all said and done. I’ll keep those
close to my heart for now.”

「他對我說了一些話，那些話我會永遠記在心裡面。」老克說：

「也許這個球季結束、一切都沉澱下來之後，我會分享一下他說了些什麼。
  現在，我會將這些話緊緊地記在心裡。」

Clemens is second on the career list in strikeouts, with 4,604, and eighth in
victories, with 348. He went 7-6 with a 2.30 earned run average in 19 starts
for Houston last season, but the year ended awkwardly.

On the last weekend of the regular season, a report surfaced in The Los
Angeles Times in which the former Yankee Jason Grimsley, in an affidavit,
identified Clemens and Pettitte as players who had used performance-enhancing
drugs. Soon after, the United States attorney Kevin V. Ryan said the report
contained “significant inaccuracies” but did not elaborate.

Pettitte left the Astros to sign with the Yankees, and Clemens was also a
free agent who had not committed to continuing his career. If he did, though,
Clemens planned to start his season later, as he did in 2006, to keep his
body fresh for the stretch drive.

Cashman had a standing offer to Clemens of $25.5 million, from a meeting with
Hendricks in March. The Yankees’ recent urgency gave Clemens leverage in
negotiations and essentially cost the Yankees an extra $2.5 million.

Cashman三月和Hendricks會面時，就提供了一份2550萬、立即有效的合約給老克。
洋基最近的投手荒也給了老克在談判中抬高價碼的機會，多要了250萬。

Privately, the Yankees had been determined since last winter not to be outbid
for Clemens, who made a prorated portion of $22 million with the Astros last
year. His current annual salary is the highest in baseball.

私底下，洋基隊在去年冬天就已經決定不要為了網羅老克而開天價。
老克去年的年薪是2200萬(但是按比率計算)，而他現在的年薪已經是全大聯盟最高。

The Yankees expected the Red Sox to make a substantial offer, and while they
believe the Red Sox did that, an official directly involved in the talks said
that Boston offered Clemens $10 million less than the Yankees, and the chance
to be part of a five- or six-man rotation, depending on his preference. The
official spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to
violate tampering rules.

洋基曾預期紅襪會出一大筆錢，並且雖然他們相信紅襪真的這麼做了，
但一位參與談判的官方人士說，紅襪比洋基少出了1000萬，
並且紅襪還會依照他的表現來決定球隊是5人輪值或是6人輪值。
這位不願具名的官方人士說他之所以匿名是因為他不想要違反相關的規定。

Cashman said Clemens would work out for the next week and a half in
Lexington, Ky., where Clemens’s son Koby plays for an Astros farm team.
Cashman said the Yankees would want Clemens to pitch for their minor league
affiliates while he gets his arm in game shape.

Cashman說洋基會安排老克花一週半的時間在他的兒子Koby打球的地方練習，
然後會安排他在小聯盟中投幾場球，讓他的手臂回到可以在大聯盟先發的強度。

Clemens’s contract allows him some flexibility in his schedule, giving him
the freedom to return to Houston on days he is not scheduled to pitch. The
Yankees refused to do that last season, a stance that Cashman said
disqualified the Yankees from signing him.

Cashman給老克的合約中也允許他一些彈性，在他不用投球的日子中，
他可以回到休士頓的家中待幾天。
洋基隊在去年爭取老克時拒絕為老克做這樣的安排，
Cashman所表達的立場也讓洋基沒有和老克簽約

Players have since told Torre they would not object to special treatment for
Clemens, who will have the same locker and uniform number, 22, he had before.

球員們告訴Torre他們不會反對老克有特殊待遇，而老克回來後，
依舊可以繼續使用他原本在這邊的更衣室、穿回原來的22號球衣。

“I could care less,” Giambi said. “I’d carry his bags for him, just as
long as he is on the mound.”

「我可以不在乎，」大吉說：「我願意為他揹球袋，只要他能夠上場投球。」

Clemens said he might not need as much time at home. His two oldest children
have graduated high school, and his two younger sons seem to want him to be a
Yankee again.

老克說他可能不需要太多時間待在家中。他最年長的兩個兒子都已經從高中畢業，
而他的兩個年幼的兒子似乎希望他再一次成為洋基隊的球員。

“They love Derek Jeter and A-Rod, so they’re as excited as ever that I’m
back here in New York,” Clemens said. “I’m sure they’ll be pestering some
of my teammates quite a bit.”

「他們喜愛Derek Jeter和A-Rod，所以他們對於我回到洋基隊非常地興奮，」

老克說：「我確信他們將會纏著我的幾個隊友好一段時間。」



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◆ From: 61.229.19.137
推 klarc:我比較好奇他為啥不叫William Clemens 不是都去掉中間名嗎
推 tpds:應該是幼子 不是年幼的孫子 XD 45歲有孫子挺驚人的
※ 編輯: richardcyl      來自: 61.229.19.137        (05/07 18:59)
推 hipponi:45歲有孫子....囧rz  而且已經是Jeter跟A-ROD迷
推 richardcyl:XD
→ richardcyl:已修正
推 OLDdaughter:感謝翻譯阿
推 alubazace:大吉說：「我願意為他揹球袋，只要他能夠上場投球。」
推 klarc:45歲有孫子怎會驚奇
推 krara:看來洋基的球員真的非常期盼他能夠回來，只是好貴@@
推 lockerty:$2800 好貴阿...
推 Saijackal:總比痛痛人...
推 upscom:39當爺爺都不稀奇了....
推 ilove1530:連顏清標都有孫子了XD
推 Tzylu:他可是『羅傑‧克萊門斯』。以我的觀點，當他說他準備好了
→ Tzylu:可以上場投球了 任何球隊都應該要接受他的話。  這句屌 其他
→ Tzylu:兩隊不想要就拉倒
→ klarc:其實老克七座賽揚有幾座都頗有爭議 大個應該很能體會@@"
推 bpdq:浪費錢，把薪水的零頭給小王，現金人會死喔!
推 Vince1:文章裡有說他有孫子嗎? 我怎麼沒看到...還是我眼花了@@
推 akujiki:浪費錢?這是洋基板,想反就去別的板吧,再說小王明明就還沒
→ akujiki:有薪資仲裁的資格,到時到了可以談的時後,你認為洋基給錢會
→ akujiki:手軟嗎?
推 krara:樓上，不要理他啦，他沒有一次是正常發言。不要理他就沒事了
推 bpdq:不懂裝懂!那為何HOWARD的薪水可以是小王的兩倍阿?haha...
推 asdfzx:大吉..... XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
推 klarc:clemens薪水的零頭嗎 22元 大概700元台幣 ( ￣ c￣)y▂ξ
推 sakiki:7位前隊友...數了一下 七位？ ..隊長..MO..POSADA..小派.
→ sakiki:大吉...MOOSE...還有 一位？
推 klarc:松井秀喜^^"
推 devilsky:...HOWARD薪水不是靠薪資仲裁來的= = 他是吵來的
推 devilsky:兩個根本不同情況 在魯什麼啊
推 weekman:看來火箭人來洋基~~有些球迷開始眼紅了
推 hyper99:cano 準備新號碼吧
推 kasparov:Cano 老早就換 24 了
推 jimcarry1125:每個人的薪水跟痛廢人比都覺得便宜
推 Quintina:真感動大老板隊長大吉小派...恭喜火箭人歸位比賽愈刺激哩
推 m654:感謝翻譯，辛苦了！
推 bpdq:所以小王是不吵好欺負囉?
推 standlylin:小王不吵  是因為他沒有腦殘
推 weian:超感人的... I'd carry his bags.......帥啊！！！
推 tsorng:原來Moose的myspace這陣子放了這些人的照片獨缺一格..
→ tsorng:是留給老克的呀...我沒看出端倪...
推 krara:你們越理他，他越高興，他就想引戰還不懂嗎
推 KakutougiFan:有看有推
推 rele:原來cano是因為火箭人才換背號的