[外電] 剩兩年的光頭

看板Nationals作者vg175 (非典型廢言)時間8年前 (2017/02/25 14:27)推噓8(8推 0噓 2→)

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Mike Rizzo has two years to get the Nationals to the World Series. http://goo.gl/OYLJr8 By Chelsea Janes February 10 As Mike Rizzo enters his ninth season as general manager of the Washington Nationals and fifth with the additional title of president of baseball operations, his team has established an excellent regular season reputation. Five years ago, that would have been a compliment. Now, it feels backhanded. 今年是光頭擔任國民GM的第九個年頭，也是兼任棒球事務部總裁的第五年。他將球隊打造成季賽常勝軍。五年前，這是讚賞，如今卻有些諷刺。 Three 95-win seasons in five years — as many or more than a third of major league teams have in the history of their franchises — cannot reasonably be considered failure. But because the Nationals have had three chances to do more and have failed to do so, three division titles do not feel like enough. Rizzo and the Nationals have come so close to glory, they made it easy to forget how far they came to get here. 五年裡三度至少95勝，大聯盟史上只有三分之一的球隊曾達到同樣或以上的成績。實在沒辦法說這樣是失敗。但因為國民有三次機會走得更遠卻全都失手，三次分區冠軍似乎還不夠。光頭跟國民如此接近榮耀，他們作起來好像很簡單以致於人們會忘記他們走了多遠。 The Nationals became winners with an unorthodox combination of fiscally careful owners, a bare-bones franchise and a complicated baseball town. They were led to success by a raw and fiery former scout in a position usually defined by polish. A hard-nosed and hard-headed baseball lifer took a midrange payroll and built a perennial winner from scratch. But will this team become more? 國民的經營層組成方式異於傳統，對財務也十分謹慎；國民是一支簡單的球隊，身處架構複雜的棒球城，他們在這種環境下成為贏家。國民選擇一位生疏但熱情如火的前球探，坐上通常由經年累月淬煉後才能扛下的大位，而國民也在他的領導下走向成功。一個精明而固執的棒球人從零開始將這支薪資中等的球隊打造成常勝軍團，但除此之外還能帶來更多嗎？ Rizzo’s vaunted rotation is aging, and Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark will be in their mid-30s when Rizzo’s contract expires after the 2018 season. Bryce Harper’s contract expires then as well, as does Daniel Murphy’s. Jayson Werth is a free agent after the 2017 season. Ryan Zimmerman’s recent struggles foster uncomfortable questions about whether he will ever be the same again. Dusty Baker is under contract through this season and has not said whether he would like to continue to manage after that. 光頭賴以自誇的輪值群年歲漸長，當光頭的合約在2018年期滿時Scherzer與 Roark都將步入35歲前後，Harper和Murphy的合約也將於屆時到期；Werth的約到2017年結束，Zimmerman 當下的掙扎促使國民面對他還能否恢復過往身手這個難題。Baker 的約也只簽到今年，而他還沒鬆口是否打算繼續執教。 Can Rizzo’s model buck baseball’s ebbs and flows and produce a World Series winner? The answers will come in the next two seasons, and with them, more clarity about the general manager whose fingerprints are all over one of this half decade’s winningest major league franchises — but who cannot shake the questions about why it has not won more. 光頭打造的模組能否俯衝過棒球的起起伏伏，並且打下一座世界大賽冠軍？結果將於兩年內揭曉。而於此之下，這支由光頭一手建立、大聯盟史上五年內最會贏球的隊伍之一，一直無法擺脫為什麼他們贏不了更多的質疑聲浪。答案也將漸趨清楚。 Smoothing the rough edges After eight seasons as general manager, Rizzo is like a shortstop’s glove in its prime: not so broken in that the original shape is lost, but molded over time to fit its owner. 經過八年GM生涯，光頭就如同一副進入最好狀態的游擊手手套那樣，不能說原來的形貌已經丟失，而是越來越符合擁有者的手掌。 When former Nationals president Stan Kasten vetted Rizzo for the position of assistant general manager to Jim Bowden in 2006, he heard more than once that all Rizzo wanted was to become a general manager. Some executives would mark that as a sign of disloyalty. Kasten, who became the youngest general manager in NBA history with the Atlanta Hawks, saw no reason to deduct points for ambition. 2006年助理GM Jim Bowden升職後空出職缺，時任國民總裁Stan Kasten開始審查光頭的資料。Kasten不只一次聽說光頭目標直指GM的言論，某些人會將此歸類於不忠誠的警訊，但後來加入亞特蘭大老鷹成為NBA史上最年輕GM 的 Kasten，並不認為雄心壯志能成為扣分的理由。 “That was the only knock I could find,” Kasten said, “other than he had rough edges.” ＂這是我唯一在雞蛋裡挑到的骨頭，＂ Kasten說。＂其它都只是小瑕疵而已。＂ Those edges dulled somewhat as Rizzo, now 56, grew into the position. Kasten said Rizzo is smoother now, a “little more sophisticated” after years of straddling the border between the corporate and baseball worlds. He has gotten more comfortable with the media, mastering the skill of using many words to say very little. Rizzo rarely speaks publicly about his team’s plans, or shares specific internal evaluations, careful to disclose exactly what he wants and nothing he doesn’t. The scout in Rizzo knows even the smallest piece of information can be an edge. 現年56的光頭隨著職位成長後那些小瑕疵都已經過修整，Kasten說光頭現在圓滑多了。經過幾年在經營層及棒球界之間斡旋協調後，光頭更懂得應對進退，面對媒體不再那麼不自在，也會言簡意賅地表達意見。光頭很少公開闡述他的球隊計畫或分享特殊的內部評估報告，對一字一句都很斟酌小心。球探出身的光頭非常清楚最微小的部分都能成就優勢。 But glimmers of his competitiveness often slip through his more calculated exterior. He challenges reporters who ask grating questions. His voice peaks and his chest puffs somewhat when his judgment is questioned or his players are criticized. Rizzo might be more polished than he used to be, but he was never meant for tiptoeing. 不過就算擁有經過許多算計形塑出的樣貌，些許鬥志滿滿的跡象還是會流洩出來。他會指責記者們過於尖銳的提問，當他的判斷受到質疑或球員遭到批評時，他會拉高聲調、胸部膨脹。光頭也許比過去更成熟，但他一直以來都如此理直氣壯。 “You can’t fake it,” Rizzo said. “You’re on stage too much. You’re in front of the camera too often to not be yourself. Your true personality and attitude comes through, whether you’re trying to fake it or not.” ＂就是假不了。＂光頭說。＂你站在舞台上越久，面對的麥克風越多就越能保持自我。你真實的個性跟態度會顯現出來，不管你想不想掩飾。＂ Rizzo does not have the typical background for an MLB general manager. He jokes about his college education in Illinois, not the Ivy League schools attended by many GMs. Instead of slim-fitting suits and thin ties, Rizzo wears blinding green Nikes. Instead of Starbucks, Rizzo carries a styrofoam Gatorade cup of coffee out to the batting cage each afternoon. Instead of sitting in his office in the hours before batting practice when the stands are empty and the speakers silent, Rizzo makes phone calls on the outfield grass. 光頭的背景跟一般大聯盟GM不一樣。許多GM都是從長春藤盟校出身，他則會拿自己在伊利諾州唸大學的經歷開玩笑。他穿刺眼的綠色Nike衫，而非合身西裝打細長領帶；每天下午他現身打擊練習區時都拿著用開特力塑膠杯裝的咖啡，而非星巴克；當觀眾尚未入場、播報還沒開始時，他會在外野草地拿著手機講電話而非坐在辦公室裡好幾個小時。 Rizzo also has a reputation as being slightly more involved with on-field happenings than most men in his position. Major League Baseball fined him for that involvement, specifically for accosting the umpires on the way to the Citi Field clubhouse in 2011. 光頭也因比多數GM更融入比賽狀況而聞名。他也為此被大聯盟罰過款，特別是2011年某場在Citi Field的球員休息室他跑去找裁判理論那次。 Last year, again in New York, Rizzo met Jim Joyce in the tunnel to voice his displeasure with the veteran umpire’s interpretation of the slide rule. Sensing a pattern, Citi Field security guards now hold visiting executives and media behind the doors that lead to the tunnel until the umpires reach their locker room — “the Rizzo Rule,” unofficially. 去年，又是紐約，光頭在走道堵到Jim Joyce時大聲表達自己對Joyce於滑壘規則解釋上的不滿。為了預防同樣情況，Citi Field安全人員現在會把客隊高層跟媒體擋在門後，一直到裁判們通過走到抵達他們的休息室為止。這條規則有個非官方通稱叫＂the Rizzo Rule＂。 “He’s not in the current trend, but it’s great that he is there and that successful because it makes the point that I’m always making — there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” Kasten said. “You can do it new school, you can do it old school, you can do it with a combination. Mike is an example.” ＂他不照現有趨勢走，但他能走到這一步而且如此成功真的很棒。因為這證明我總在說的，要達成目的不只一種方法。＂ Kasten說。＂你可以新潮也可以老派，或兩者兼備。光頭就是例子。＂ ‘When I call, answer’ Rizzo combines competitiveness with conviction, namely a strong belief in the power of the right people, and his ability to find them. When former Marlins GM Dan Jennings joined the Nationals in January 2016 as a special assistant, he chatted with Rizzo about expectations. Rizzo told him he had one rule. 光頭的競爭力也伴隨強烈信念，也就是對正確的人的高度信任與找到他們的能力。2016年一月前馬林魚GM Dan Jennings 以特助加入國民時，Jennings 與光頭談到光頭對Jennings有怎樣的期望，光頭說自己只有一條規則： “When I call,” Rizzo told him, “answer.” ＂我提問，＂光頭告訴他，＂你回答。＂ Rizzo built the Nationals’ front office from a bare-bones conglomeration to a deep and loyal group of experienced baseball lifers. Instead of MBAs or math majors, Rizzo has surrounded himself with people who reached the highest levels of baseball management. 光頭把國民制服組從一個只有骨架的聚合塊揉捏到兼具深度與忠誠的棒球人群體。他不用MBA 或數據專家，他身邊圍繞的都是到過業界頂點的棒球人。 Last month, he added former Diamondbacks senior vice president of baseball operations De Jon Watson, also as a special assistant. His front office now includes seven former scouting directors, three former major league managers, a former president of baseball operations and a former general manager, most of them with playing or scouting backgrounds. 上個月光頭也聘請前響尾蛇棒球事務部資深副總裁De Jon Watson 擔任特助。目前光頭的制服組成員包含七位前球探大頭、三位前大聯盟經理人、一位前棒球事務部總裁與一位前GM。他們多半都有打過球或具球探背景。 “A lot of people don’t like to have strong, opinionated people around them. They’d rather surround themselves with yes men,” Jennings said. “He’s done just the opposite.” ＂很多人都不喜歡身邊有個性強烈或固執己見的人，他們寧願找應聲蟲。＂ Jannings說。＂光頭選擇反其道而行。＂ At first, Rizzo wanted to control everything. But many of his key assistants — scouting director Kris Kline, assistant GMs Doug Harris and Adam Cromie, vice president Bob Boone and many others — stayed with him from the early years. Continuity laid the foundation for trust, and Rizzo realized he could let go. 一開始光頭想掌控一切，但多數他的得力助手，球探大頭Kris Kline、助理 GM Doug Harris與Adam Cromie、副總裁Bob Boone與其他許多人都從一開始就跟了他很多年，持續以信任建立基礎，而光頭也了解他可以放手。 “That was the most difficult aspect of the job for me to grasp. You can’t see everybody,” said Rizzo, who developed ways of vetting prospects or big leaguers from afar. ＂對我而言這份工作中最難控制的面向就是你沒辦法看遍所有人。＂光頭說。他發展各種方式從遠處調查新秀或大聯盟球員。 He grills scouts with questions and tests their commitment to players in question. He also studies his staff. Rizzo knows which scouts grade hard and which grade easy. He knows that when one scout says “that guy’s a pretty good player,” that player is probably a future all-star. He knows which scouts pound the table more often, with a little more zeal. He knows which scouts see pitching best, and which know hitters. And he knows how important it is to give them freedom to scout their way, beholden only to that one phone call they must never miss. 他會對球探們嚴加提問，提出質疑測試球探對球員有多少信心；他也會研究他的團隊，光頭了解哪位球探給分嚴格而哪位寬鬆。他知道當某位球探說＂那傢伙是個非常好的球員＂，這位球員也許就是未來的全明星。他知道哪些球探比其他人更常拍桌子、具有更多熱忱。他知道哪些球探擅長觀察投手，哪些對打者比較拿手。他知道讓球探們自由地以他們的方式觀察球員有多重要，而球探們唯一的義務就只有別漏接電話就好。 “There’s no shrinking violets in the room. They tell me exactly what they think,” said Rizzo, who has been known to eschew classic four-letter words for more creative, multisyllabic linguistic experiments in dealings with top assistants — then laugh about it with them later. ＂房間裡沒有弱雞，他們有話都直說。＂光頭以避免說出那經典的四字母單字聞名，他會選擇更具創意的多音節語言學實驗面對他的頭號助手們，然後再跟大夥一起大笑。 “My background was in the construction business, and I now know words that I didn’t know then,” special assistant for major league operations Harolyn Cardozo said. “[Mike’s] been my vocabulary coach.” ＂我唸的是建築經濟學，現在我學到很多以前不知道的單字。＂大聯盟事務部特助Harolyn Cardozo說。＂光頭是我的詞彙教練。＂ Rizzo’s network of scouts, built by a scout, gives him the information he needs to find steals in the draft or value in trades. But Rizzo also takes chances. Sensing an opportunity to preserve value by keeping players healthier, he led an overhaul of the team’s medical staff. Feeling the tide turning toward data, Rizzo has expanded the Nationals’ office of baseball research and development. Cardozo was surprised to see Rizzo not only taking their information but asking questions to shape it. 光頭的球探網路由過去也是球探的光頭建構，讓他得到能在選秀或交易中偷到好手的資訊，但光頭也會冒險。為了讓價值非凡球員們更健康，他帶頭大修球隊的醫療團隊。感覺潮流轉向資料化，光頭也擴充國民的棒球研究與培養團隊。Cardozo 很驚訝光頭不只吸收他們給的資料，他還會提出問題使之更為具體。 “He’s become more of a nerd than anyone would ever expect. He’s able to digest the analytics better than he ever thought he would be able to,” Cardozo said. “But the surprising part is that he likes it.” ＂他變得比任何人能想到得更宅，消化資料的能力好到他自己都想不到。＂ Cardozo說。＂但令人訝異的是他還蠻中意這樣的。＂ Always reliant on human evaluation, increasingly willing to trust data, Rizzo and his staff developed a reputation as smart drafters and smart dealers. 總是仰賴由人做出的評估，同時越來越願意信任資料，光頭與他的團隊靠精明的選秀與交易聲名遠播。 “You keep a scoreboard, and his track record is pretty damn good,” said Jennings, who said he discussed many trade possibilities with Rizzo over the years, but never made a deal, in part because Rizzo would establish a value for a player and would not budge. ＂你拿著記分板看看他的記錄，實在是他媽的讚。＂ Jennongs說自己數年間與光頭談過好幾次交易但從沒成功過，一部分是因為光頭會給球員堆積好價錢而且從不鬆手。 “I think Mike sets his mind early on about what’s right and you’re not going to get him to vary off it, even if he’s wrong,” Kasten said. “If he feels strongly about it, he’s going to stick to that, and move on if he doesn ’t get the deal.” ＂我覺得光頭早就設定好怎樣才是正確的而你無法改變他的想法，就算其實他是錯的。＂ Kasten說。＂如果他的意志很強烈他就會堅持到底，不能成交就繼續前進。＂ When Rizzo feels something is right, he does it, regardless of the industry-wide consensus. After the Nationals picked injured-and-plummeting Lucas Giolito in the first round of the 2012 draft, Jennings texted Rizzo to say that taking chances such as that one is what leads to greatness. 當光頭感覺到什麼是對的他就去做，無論整個業界是否認同。2012年國民在選秀會上選進因傷身價暴跌的Giolito 後，Jennings傳簡訊給光頭說這樣的賭注能成就非凡。 “My grandfather used to say all the time, ‘You can’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is,’ ” Jennings said. “Mike Rizzo is not afraid to go out on a limb.” ＂我祖父老愛掛嘴邊的一句話，如果害怕截去樹枝就得不到甜美的果實。＂ Jennings說。＂光頭就不怕。＂ So when Rizzo decided Adam Eaton was a better fit for the Nationals’ outfield than Andrew McCutchen, he traded Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez — both elite pitching prospects — to Chicago, a move that was openly criticized by many at the winter meetings. Rizzo’s legacy could well pivot around the deal, considering the talent he gave up and the increasing pressure on the Nationals to make more of a postseason run. 因此當光頭決定Eaton比McCutchen更適合國民，他便將Giolito與Lopez兩個頂尖投手新秀送去芝加哥；這個舉動在冬季會議招致一片批評。考量光頭放棄多好的才能與國民將為了季後賽能走更遠而增加多少壓力，這次交易將成為光頭功過的軸心。 Financial limitations As Rizzo walks the fine line between conviction and stubbornness, he bends for almost no one. But he is not an independent operator, and in his job, conviction only goes as far as the money supplied to fund it. 光頭以信念與堅持為伴勇往直前，幾乎沒人能讓他屈服。但他並非獨立的操盤手。就他的工作來說，資金有多少信念才能堅持多久。 The Nationals’ managing principal owner Ted Lerner and his family try not to attract the spotlight, but for all their public reticence the Lerners are deeply involved in baseball operations. Rizzo is in charge, but he works within their financial parameters. That arrangement is the norm around baseball. But the Lerners are more careful spenders than most. 國民主要持股人Ted Lerner與他的家族試著避開鎂光燈，儘管Lerner家族在公眾前保持沉默，他們對棒球事務其實涉入甚深。光頭在管事，但光頭還是受到Lerner家族設下的財務限制。這種限制在球界稀鬆平常，只是Lerner家族花錢比大多數人更小心。 The Lerners do spend. They committed nearly $150 million to their roster for each of the past three seasons, a payroll right in the middle of the major league pack. They chipped in an as-yet unclear amount to a new (and rushed) spring training facility. They committed $210 million to Scherzer and $175 million to Stephen Strasburg over the past few years, and long-term deals to Werth, Zimmerman and others. Lerner家族會花錢。這三年國民的薪資總額都約有150M，在所有大聯盟球隊裡位居中間。他們捐助至今仍為數不明的款項給新落成的春訓設施。過去幾年間，他們付給Scherzer高達210M、小史175M，還給Werth、Zimmerman與其他人長約。 But after the Nationals spent just $4.9 million on free agents this offseason, agents grumbled about the family’s unwillingness to pay when their roster seems a player or two away from title contention. 但今年季後國民只在自由市場上花4.9M。經紀人們抱怨國民明明只差一兩個球員就能角逐冠軍卻一毛不拔。 Rizzo always insists the Lerners give him the money he needs to field a competitive team, and for the past five seasons, they have. In the process, he and the Lerners have maneuvered through many tests. Rizzo, for example, threatened to quit in 2014 when the Lerners balked at giving up three players, including highly regarded prospect Robbie Ray, in a trade for pitcher Doug Fister. 光頭總是堅持Lerner家族給他足夠的資金去建立一支具有競爭力的隊伍，過去五年的確如此。但過程中光頭卻與Lerner家族交手過好幾次。舉例來說， 2014年當Lerner家族否決用包括評價極高的Robbie Ray在內的三名新秀去交易Fister時，光頭就曾以辭職逼迫Lerner家族就範。 Rizzo’s contract includes club options for this season and next, and the deadline for extending those was last June. The Lerners waited until mid-May before doing so, and the wait became a league-wide topic of discussion. Neither side, however, gave any indication of trouble. 光頭的合約包括今明兩年兩個球隊選擇權，大限則是去年六月底。Lerner家族直到五月中才選擇執行，這段等待時間也成為聯盟中廣泛話題，然而雙方都沒指向任何問題。 “As time passes, it might be easy to forget that Mike was the first significant hire our family made after assuming ownership of the team,” principal owner Mark D. Lerner wrote in response to questions about Rizzo, shared through a Nationals spokeswoman. ＂當時間過去，也許很容易忘記光頭是我們家族接手球隊以後發出的第一張重要聘書。＂主要持股人Mark D. Lerner在回應關於光頭的問題時寫道。這段留言由國民女性發言人發表。 “But I think about that fact a lot, because it was the starting point for so much of what our team has accomplished. From that day, he’s been absolutely integral to what we’ve built.” ＂但是這個事實讓我思考許久。因為這是我們的球隊之所以能成長到今天的起步點。從他加入的那天起，他絕對就是不可或缺的一部分。＂ Kasten interviewed Rizzo alongside the Lerner family, and he describes both Ted Lerner and Rizzo as “crusty, down to earth, candid people, which works between the two of them.” Because the Lerners are so private, Rizzo is often the face of the organization. But he is not flying solo. Kasten跟著Lerner家族一起面試光頭。Kasten描述Ted Lerner與光頭都是＂堅忍、務實、公正的人，他們能合得來。＂因為Lerner家族非常重視隱私，光頭常常代表組織出面，但他並非孤軍奮戰。 “Everybody thinks [Rizzo and I] make all the decisions, and we make most of them. But the same name is on the bottom of my check that’s on the bottom of everybody else’s check,” Baker said. “The bottom line goes back to who signs the check. That’s the boss. Like Bob Dylan said, ‘Everybody’s gotta serve somebody.’ ” ＂大家都認為所有決定都是光頭跟我作的，大多數是。但到頭來包括我在內所有人的支票上最底下的名字都一樣。＂ Baker說。＂最終還是回到是誰簽的支票。就像鮑勃狄倫說的，Everybody's gotta serve somebody。＂ When Rizzo was named full-time GM in 2009, one of his goals was building long-term sustainability. He wants to build a farm system stable enough to withstand deals such as the Eaton trade. He wants to build a front office cohesive enough to stick to its mission. And he wants to build a big league roster versatile enough that the loss of one key player does not doom it. 2009年當光頭被任命為全職GM，其中一個目標就是建立長久且持續的組織；他要培育一座強到足以承受Eaton 交易案的農場系統，他要打造一個充滿凝聚力以堅持向目標邁進的制服組，他要建立一種多功能的大聯盟一軍陣容，就算失去一個關鍵球員也不至於滅團。 “He’s aggressive in his actions, but he’s very respectful of the needs of the organization in the future, not selling the farm for today,” Baker said. “Blowing it up, starting all over? I don’t think you have to do that. Insert one here. Insert a kid there. Maybe take a long shot on a guy over here.” ＂他想做什麼都很積極，但他也相當重視球隊未來的需要。他不會為了今天梭掉整個農場。＂ Baker說。＂整個砍掉重鍊？我不覺得需要這麼做。這裡補一個，那裡補一個，也許給這邊的傢伙多一點時間。＂ If the Nationals’ window of opportunity is starting to close, Rizzo hopes the organization he built can prop it open long enough to give the team more chances to chase a world title. Win or lose, that will define the Nationals’ legacy — and his own. 如果國民的機會開始變小，光頭希望這支由他所打造的組織能撐得夠久好讓球隊有多一些競逐世界大賽冠軍的機會。無論輸贏，都將定義出國民－與他自己的成敗。 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc), 來自: 114.32.124.186 ※ 文章網址: https://www.ptt.cc/bbs/Nationals/M.1488004050.A.3D6.html ※ 編輯: vg175 (114.32.124.186), 02/25/2017 14:28:21