[BA] Crespi's Plouffe possesses will to win

看板MIN-Twins作者Schrijn (Like an angel)時間20年前 (2004/06/15 04:22)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)

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Compiled by Alan Mattews Fullerton, Calif--Trevor Plouffe has his post game routine down pat. When he comes home, he doesn't rip off his pants and jersey and toss them in the hamper .As superstitious as he is talented, the Crespi High senior makes sure his entire uniform is washed the same way every time: all together - with stirrups ,sanitaries, jersey and all-and by no one other than himself.A job usually reserved for moms, there are certain aspects of the laundry even Plouffe's mother isn't allowed to handle, another twist in the background of a player who is used to doing more than his share to help out. Especially where his mom is concerned. Trevor Plouffe有一個特別的賽後習慣。比賽完回到了家，他不會將球褲球衣揉一揉丟到洗衣籃裡。這個Crespi高中的高三學生不只有天份，也很迷信。每次賽後他都要親自洗自己的球衣，以相同不變的方式。相同的水槽、球衣還有球褲，都是他一個人負責。因為一些因素連Plouffe的老媽都沒辦法承擔洗衣這件差事，由於成長背景的關係這個球員習慣於做超過自己份內該做的事。 Like many prep standouts, Plouffe does double duty in high school. He pitches and he hits, and he is one of the best two-way players in the nation.He was the utility player on Baseball America's preseason All-American team and continued to split time effectively between the mound and shortstop for Crespi, ranked No.17 in the preseason Baseball America/National High School Baseball Coaches /Association poll and the runner-up in this year's National Classic.Before this year, it seemed that every time Plouffe pitched, scouts were more intrigued with his low-90s fastball, good curveball and spindly, athletic, 6-foot-1, 170 pound frame. When he stepped to the plate, scouts showed enthusiasm for his fluid stroke and power to all fields. As a junior, Plouffe went 13-1, 0.71 on the mound and hit an equally impressive .500-6-47 with 17 stolen bases. 就像許多傑出的球員一樣，Plouffe在高中不但擔任投手，也兼職打擊，可以說是國內投打雙棲球員中很優秀的一位。季前不僅以工具人身分被棒球美國選為全美代表隊的一員，更在棒球美國與全美高中棒球教練協會的票選中名列17名，在全國高中經典賽中成績更是可圈可點。在今年之前，球探對他的投打都有很高的評價。他們對他上看90英里的速球，絕佳的曲球，還有六呎一，170磅的身材印象深刻。站上打擊區，流暢的揮棒以及爆發力讓他們對這孩子感到樂觀。Plouffe高三的成績相當不錯，13勝1負，ERA0.71，打擊率5成還有6支全壘打，47個打點和17次盜壘成功。投打的成績都很驚人。 As the draft draws near however, it looks like the decision over Plouffe's future is less opaque. Helping matters is the low number of quality position players in this year's draft class."He's got a good arm, but he's not in the upper echelon of pitchers," said a National League scouting director. "There are so many righthanded pitchers out there that he's got a better chance as a position player."Plouffe, a Southern California signee, homered five times in his first six games as Crespi sprinted out to a 9-0 start. He snapped the school's career home run mark of 15 set by Royals righthander Jeff Suppan, also a two way player at Crespi, and was tearing up opposing pitching while playing soundly up the middle. 他必須要做出決定，在投手丘或是游擊區之間做一個抉擇。隨著選秀的接近，態度跟著明朗化。今年選秀中野手可看性不足似乎是個決定性的原因。「他的臂力不錯，但是還不夠格擔任投手，」一個國聯的球探長如是說。「市場上有許多不錯的右投，改練野手對他來說比較會有機會。」在南加州長大的Plouffe，在前六場比賽中擊出了五支全壘打， Crespi也拉出了九連勝的紅盤。他打破了由現任皇家右投Jeff Suppan創下的15隻全壘打的校史紀錄，Suppan唸Crespi時也是投打雙棲，以中外野手的身分把對方投手打得哇哇叫。 "Offensively he's got a little juice in his swing," another NL scouting director said. "You hope he hits for average with a little bit of pop….You wonder, if he gains 15 to 20 pounds, if he'll have to move to third if he'll hit enough to play a corner."After a solid showing at the National Classic, Plouffe was batting .500(22 for 44) with six home runs and 24 RBIs. He had also walked 16 times and was beginning to envision himself more as a position player ."Personally, I think I have more of an advantage playing everyday," Plouffe said. "I love all aspects of the game-pitching, hitting, playing defense. It just feels to me that I am better in the field where I can contribute more to the team."Some clubs are still scouting Plouffe as a two-way player, and he says he could fall back to pitching if he struggled as a hitter."It really differs between organizations," Plouffe said. "A lot of them have been saying 'You can go as a shortstop and if it doesn't work out, go back to pitching.'"It doesn't work the other way. You can't put the bat down for two years and expect to come back to hit." 「進攻方面他的揮棒很有一套，」另一個國聯球探長說。「你期待他可以維持一定的打擊率，偶而來幾隻長打。或是猜想，如果他增重15到20磅，如果他能守三壘，如果他的打擊夠力站穩外野。」經過全國高中經典賽中5成打擊率(44個打席22安打)，六支全壘打還有24 打點的表現後，他開始對自己擔任野手有比較實際的想法。「我自己覺得每天都能夠上場對我自己是個利多。」Plouffe說，「對於投球、打擊和防守我都一樣熱愛。上場打擊對隊上貢獻更多，我覺得很棒。」有些球團仍希望Plouffe能夠繼續投打雙棲，表示如果打得不好還是可以回去投球。「各家球團有不同的差異，」Plouffe說，「大家都說，如果練游擊行不通，你還是可以回去練投手。這樣子是行不通的，你不可能放下球棒兩年然後再回去打擊。」 Plouffe has raw power. He keeps his hands back and his bat explodes through the hitting zone. He uses his front foot as a timing mechanism, holding it briefly in the air before triggering his hands, as a style similar to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.But Ozzie Smith was the major leaguer Plouffe chose to emulate, more for the way Smith carried himself on the field. "He had the flash without the cockiness," Plouffe said.Plouffe humility was fostered by adversity . When he was 13, his mother Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was treated and has continued to pass routine check-ups, but Plouffe still play with his mother close to his heart."I can remember looking back over my shoulder at her when I was about to bat, and thinking of how strong she is and how much I wanted to make her proud," he said.It was during their 30-minute commute to school when Trevor's father Warren talked to his three children about their mother's condition and tried to tell them what to expect. Diane recalls the most difficult times being when she reflected on her children's future, concerned she could miss their maturation."It was tough," She said. "There was a time when it was pretty scary. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to see their success. But we came through it pretty good."Today, all signs point to a full recovery for Diane. All signs point toward more success for Trevor, too. Plouffe擁有強大的力量。他習慣把球棒拿得後面一點，藉著長一點的揮棒讓速度爆發出來，在揮棒之前他習慣舉起前腳，當作抓時機的一個機制。這個動作有點像洋基的三壘手 Alex Rodriguez。實際上Ozzie Smith才是Plouffe師法的對象，像是Smith在場上表現出來的風格。「他有閃電般的氣勢，但是並不自傲。」他說。Plouffe的謙卑是困苦的環境造就出來的。13歲時他的媽媽被診斷出罹患了乳癌，她接受了治療還有例行性的檢查，到今天 Plouffe仍為著媽媽力求表現。「我還記得每次打擊時都會回頭看看她，我多麼想讓她以我為傲。」Pliuffe說。他的父親Warren在開車載孩子們去學校的半個小時時間內，向他們解釋媽媽的情形以及可能出現的後果。Diane回憶起處於最惡劣狀況時，可能會錯過孩子們未來的成長。「這真的是相當難受。」她說。「有段時間真的是相當可怕，我害怕錯過他們的成就。但是我們至終還是熬過來了。」今天，所有的跡象都顯示Diane已經完全復原。也顯示了Trevor會有更多的成就。 ※ 編輯: Schrijn 來自: 218.167.235.214 (06/14 22:41) ※ 編輯: Schrijn 來自: 218.167.235.214 (06/14 22:59)