[外電]Portraits of Lofton, Bourn connect Ind

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Portraits of Lofton, Bourn connect Indians stars Outfielders' speed, athletic ability have spawned numerous comparisons By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 5/2/2013 11:50 A.M. ET http://ppt.cc/ZNiR CLEVELAND -- On a wall outside of Progressive Field's new Premium Club rest adjacent black-and-white portraits -- one of longtime Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton and the other of offseason addition Michael Bourn. Progressive Field的會員俱樂部外牆上現正佇立著，兩塊相鄰的黑白雕塑肖像- 以前的印地安人外野手Kenny Lofton和季後新加入的Michael Bourn。 It's no coincidence that these particular pieces of artwork are paired together. It's an assemblage designed by the organization to prompt passersby to connect the generations, elicit nostalgic thoughts about Lofton's reign and apply those same pleasant emotions toward the current brand. It doesn't take such calculated means to convey the connection between the two speedsters, though. 這兩件特別的藝術品被放在一起，當然一點也不是巧合。球團有意這樣設計來喚起經過的球迷以往Lofton主宰中外野時的記憶，並連結到時代的交替。而且，要聯想這兩位飛毛腿不必花太多的心思。 On the left stands a focused Lofton in his baggy uniform, centered in a frame that presents the piece as an oversize baseball card. Inches to the right lies a snapshot of Bourn, hunched at the plate, holding his bat above his left shoulder and gazing intently at the pitcher. 左邊是穿著膨鬆制服的Lofton，雕塑外框部分則是設計成一張超大張的棒球卡右邊是Bourn的快照，站在打擊區，左間抵著球棒並專注的盯著投手。 The positioning of the portraits, however, suggests that Bourn is eyeing Lofton, perhaps peering into the past at the man who played nearly a decade for the Tribe, made six All-Star Games and served as the iconic leadoff hitter and table-setter in a potent lineup that crossed home plate at will. 然而雕塑肖像的位置卻暗示了Bourn正以Lofton為目標。 Lofton為笑臉人效力了幾乎十年，六次入選明星賽，並在極為凶猛的打線中扮演了優秀的開路先鋒。 Bourn isn't ignorant of the history. He's well-versed in his knowledge of the 1990s Indians. He knows where names such as Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Lofton reside in Wahoo lore. "Their offense was unreal," Bourn said. "Everybody knew about them in the '90s." Bourn並非不清楚歷史。他非常瞭解90年代的印地安人， Jim Thome、Manny Ramirez、Kenny Lofton等都是耳熟能詳的角色。「他們的攻擊力太犯規了」Bourn說，「他們在90年代可是家喻戶曉啊！」 Bourn is also cognizant of the shadow that lurks in the outfield grass and creeps up near the wall in center field, a structure Lofton routinely scaled to corral would-be home runs. Now, that domain belongs to Bourn. But he didn't sign a four-year deal with the Indians in February to simply occupy the role of Lofton 2.0. "What he was doing back in the day was unbelievable," Bourn said. "But I just try to be myself. I'm not trying to be anybody else. I don't know how to be anybody else. I'm made this way." Bourn當然也知道在從前，從外野草地一直到中外野大牆， Lofton曾經不少次展現過沒收對手全壘打的美技。而現在，中外野屬於Bourn。但他和印地安人簽下四年合約並不僅僅只是要當個Lofton 2.0版。「Lofton以往所達成的成就令人難以置信」Bourn說，「但我只想當我自己，我不知道如何去扮演什麼人，我有我自己的方式。」 Bourn's makeup certainly bears resemblance to that of Lofton. Bourn is a menace on the basepaths, having led the National League in steals each year from 2009-11. Lofton paced the American League in that category each season from 1992-96, and his 452 swipes with Cleveland rank first in team history. Both players' defensive exploits are well-represented by hardware. Lofton claimed four AL Gold Glove Awards; Bourn has won two in the NL. 當然，Bourn的特質無疑和Lofton極為相似。 Bourn在壘包上極具侵略性，09年到11年都是國聯盜壘王。 Lofton則在92到96年佔據了美聯盜壘王寶座，452次盜壘也是克里夫蘭隊史最多。兩位選手的防守能力也相當精湛， Lofton拿下了四座美聯金手套，Bourn則是兩次國聯金手套。 Bourn even mimicked one of Lofton's vintage moves with a headfirst slide into first base on April 14 that left him with an injured index finger. In the 1999 AL Division Series, Lofton suffered a torn rotator cuff when he chose that daring manner of approaching the bag. Bourn甚至重蹈了Lofton的一項著名事蹟：他在4/14的比賽中頭部滑壘，導致他因為大拇指受傷而進入傷兵。而在1999美聯分流賽中，Lofton也因為頭部滑壘而旋轉肌撕裂。 "The similarities are there, definitely," said Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., who played with Lofton in Cleveland for eight years. "Kenny probably had a little more pop because he pulled the ball a little more. Michael stays within himself. He knows his role and he's pretty good at it." 「很顯然的，他們真的很像」印地安人板凳教練Sandy Alomar Jr.說，他曾和Lofton一起在克里夫蘭奮戰了八年，「Kenny或許名氣比較高，因為他打的比較久一點， Michael則是保持他的步調，他知道自己的角色，而且他做得很好。」 If it were up to Bourn, he wouldn't even be playing baseball. Bourn excelled at basketball, football and baseball in high school, but he became enamored with the crowds that surrounded the hardwood court. He considered quitting baseball to concentrate on basketball, but he knew his skills -- and his diminutive stature -- would eventually translate better on the diamond. 如果當時讓Bourn自己決定，他說不定根本不會打棒球。 Bourn高中時在籃球、美式足球和棒球都表現突出。而他很快愛上體育館中人群喧嘩的氣氛。他開始考慮放棄棒球，專注在籃球上。但他知道他自己的技巧和瘦小的身材如果在棒球場上應該可以表現更好。 Lofton attended the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship. He teamed with eventual NBA stars Steve Kerr and Sean Elliott in directing the Wildcats to the 1988 Final Four and '89 Sweet 16. During his junior year of college, Lofton tried out for the baseball team. Twenty-five years later, he received Hall of Fame votes for his performance between the Major League foul lines. 而Lofton當年是因為籃球拿到亞利桑納大學的獎學金，和他同隊的還有後來山貓隊的NBA明星Steve Kerr和Sean Elliott。在他大學生涯的早期，Lofton嘗試參加了棒球隊。 25年後，他因為他的表現而得到了MLB的名人堂票選機會。 "I was always compared to him coming up," Bourn said. "I love the comparison. It's a great comparison. It's an honor to be compared to somebody like that. But at the same time, I'm just trying to be myself." That attitude is what Lofton appreciates most about Bourn. As a guest instructor, Lofton walked away impressed from his conversations with the 30-year-old at Indians Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz. 「我總是被拿來和他比較。」Bourn說，「我喜歡這個比較，可以和那樣的人相比真的非常榮幸。不過同時，我只是希望可以做我自己。」這種態度是Lofton最欣賞Bourn的地方。作為客座教練，Lofton從春訓的談話中以來就一直對這個三十歲的小伙子印象深刻。 Lofton's skill set -- a blend of speed and aggressiveness with a touch of flair -- stood out during an era of power hitting. Lofton embraced being different and he empathizes with Bourn's desire to boast his own individuality. It's a concept Lofton first learned from Phillies manager and former Indians skipper Charlie Manuel, who encouraged his players to "know thyself." 速度和積極進取組成了Lofton的棒球，這也使得他在充滿爆發力的打擊年代中獨樹一幟。 Lofton欣然接受這種與眾不同，對於Bourn想走自己的路也深感認同。這是Lofton從現在的費城人總教練，前印地安人教練Manual身上學到的一課， Manual鼓勵他的選手都可以了解自我。 "I look at everybody as different," Lofton said. "He knows he's not a home run hitter, so he's not going to go out there and try to hit the ball out of the ballpark. He knows hitting the ball to left field is going to be his bread and butter. If they put it out there, he can get on base. He knows that. "He understands that's his job. That's one thing I liked is that I had that same attitude. That's me. I know what I do. I'm going to go out there and do it the best way I can." Lofton prefers not to compare specific athletes to himself. He recognizes the on-field conquests of speedsters such as Juan Pierre and Carl Crawford -- Bourn's Little League teammate and close friend. 「我覺得每個人都是獨一無二的。」Lofton說，「他知道他不是一個全壘打打者，所以他不會勉力試著把球轟出球場。他知道把球掃到左外野是他生存的方式，他可以上壘。他瞭解他應該做什麼，這是一種我很喜歡的態度。我也知道我該做什麼，每次我上場打球都是盡全力在打。」 Lofton其實不是很喜歡拿特定的選手和自己相比，他相當那幾位腿哥在外野的主宰力，例如Juan Pierre，或者Bourn小聯盟時的隊友和好朋友Carl Crawford。 There is just one admission that Lofton isn't willing to make. "Everybody is trying to compare him or whatever," Lofton said. "We have speed, power when need be. But I was a guy -- I played basketball. I could jump out of the gym and jump over the walls. I'm not sure if he can jump as high as I can over those walls." 只是還有件事情Lofton不願意承認。「儘管每個人都拿他來和我比，」Lofton說，「我們都有速度，需要時候也有爆發力。不過我還打過籃球，我可以跳得比牆還要高不少呢！這個我可不確定他能不能囉！」 Alas, the 45-year-old Lofton conceded a bit. "He might be able to get me now," Lofton said, laughing. Bourn isn't so sure. "I don't know if I can get up there," Bourn said. No need. He's already even with Lofton on at least one wall inside Progressive Field. 最後45歲的Lofton還是讓步了，「他可能現在已經和我一樣強囉，」Lofton笑著說。 Bourn不是很確定。「我不知道我能否到達像他那樣的地步。」Bourn說。不過這問題其實不是很重要。因為他已經和Lofton一樣，同樣的馳騁在Progressive Field的外野上。 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.114.17.42