[外電] Mazzone's magic yet to mend Orioles' mound woes

看板Orioles作者Liandh時間18年前 (2007/09/27 21:46)推噓2(2推 0噓 1→)

留言3則, 2人參與討論串1/1

Mazzone's magic yet to mend Orioles' mound woes 原文: http://0rz.tw/e537P 以下隨便翻> By Hal Bodley, USA TODAY BALTIMORE — Leo Mazzone arrived in Baltimore nearly two years ago armed with immaculate credentials, a three-year, $1.5 million contract and a Herculean assignment: return the Orioles pitching staff to respectability. Mazzone帶著完美的資歷來這裡快兩年了，當初跟他簽下3年1.5m合約是為了重建起整個投手陣容。 But that hasn't happened, and Mazzone, who was a staple of October in helping the Atlanta Braves to 14 division titles, is facing a second consecutive year of watching the playoffs at home. 但是什麼都沒發生，雖然曾經讓勇者們14次從分區出線， Mazzone現在只得連續兩年在家看季後賽。 The Orioles have had a dreadful year, just a hiccup out of last place in American League East. It's their 10th consecutive season with a losing record. 金鶯有個糟糕的一年，幾乎成為美東爐主，算來這已經是連續第10個輸多贏少的球季了。 Mazzone's close friend, manager Sam Perlozzo, was fired June 18, but nothing was more devastating than a 30-3 loss to the Texas Rangers on Aug. 22 in the first game of a doubleheader. That record setback was the beginning of a nine-game losing streak. Furthermore, the Orioles entered Monday 16-34 with a major league-high 6.65 ERA since Aug. 1. Mazzone的老朋友Perlozzo在季中被炒掉，但是這挫折感還遠不如8/22那場30-3的慘敗。 "It was absolutely horrible. I've never seen anything like that," says Mazzone of the 30-3 loss. "Words can't describe it. They say, 'Well, it's only one loss.' That's a bunch of baloney. (略) 總之就是Mazzone認為那場實在太慘了。 "There was a huge hangover effect from it. Some pitchers recover fast. It takes awhile for others, and some never recover from something like that." "這場比賽帶來一些後遺症，有些人很快就復活了，有些人就再起不能。" A year ago, Mazzone and I sat on the same bench, and optimism oozed from him. Monday, Mazzone couldn't hide his frustration. But at the same time his eyes became bright when he talked about the future — a healthy starting rotation led by Erik Bedard and Jeremy Guthrie. 一年來Mazzone對球隊的樂觀慢慢退卻，他已經無法再掩飾他的挫折感，除了提到以Bedard跟Guthrie為首的先發輪職時他會眼睛一亮。 Mazzone, 58, is signed through next season, but with Andy MacPhail taking over the baseball operation, coaching changes could be made. The Orioles need Mazzone's expertise to turn this once-great franchise around. Whether they listen to his outspoken appraisal of the pitching situation only time will tell. 現在需要Mazzone的經驗來讓這隻過去的強隊產生轉變，至於是否這些小鬼有沒有聽進這些毫無保留的批評，只能等時間來說話。 "This has been a tale of two seasons," Mazzone says. "It was real good up to Aug. 22. I was pleased with Bedard having a chance to win the Cy Young Award, Guthrie had put himself in the running to be rookie of the year and our starting pitching was in the upper tier in the American League." "這像是兩個不同的球季，8/22之前一切安好，我也很高興Bedard有機會去拿CYA， Guthrie適應良好，而且我們的SP在美聯還不差。" Once closer Chris Ray went on the disabled list to have Tommy John elbow surgery, Mazzone says, troubles mushroomed. 直到Ray去開TJ，一堆問題就開始冒出來。 "Now, we're pressing (relievers) Chad Bradford and Jamie Walker, asking them to do more," says Mazzone. "Then, Bedard and Guthrie go down with side pulls. Steve Trachsel is traded to the Cubs, and we suddenly have a mess on our hands." "現在我們只能狂操Bradford跟Walker，然後Bedard跟Guthrie都出了狀況， Trachsel被交易到幼獸，突然間我們的手邊只剩下一團混亂.." Refusing to sugarcoat the situation, Mazzone says, "What all this did was show the Baltimore organization that it needs more depth as far as pitching prospects — and who you're competing against in the American League. "我們這需要更多的深度在投手新秀身上才能持續在美聯繼續競爭。" "I feel what's in place — Bedard, Guthrie, Adam Loewen and Daniel Cabrera— can match up with anybody. But they're going to need some help surrounding them." "我覺得一些東西到位了，Bedard/Guthrie/Loewen/D.Cabrera可以跟任何人配得很好，不過他們還需要一些幫助。" Ask if he's happy he took the Baltimore job, and there's little hesitation. 當問到他在這裡快不快樂，他老人家有點猶豫。 "It was the right decision at the time," he says, continuing to rattle off the potential of his pitchers, many of whom are still on the disabled list. (略) "當時是做了對的決定，只是現在一堆人在DL裡面。" He keeps repeating, "There are a lot of pieces that have to be put in here and go from there. I know the Orioles starters were being talked about around baseball before the injuries put them on the shelf. We've got some arms. Unfortunately, none of them are on the mound right now." (略) 同上 "這裡有很多可造之材，可是都上不了投手丘上。" It goes without saying Mazzone is from the old school. He detests the current evolution of pitching. His message might make him unpopular with some, but the Orioles' hierarchy should listen. (略) 管理階層應該要多聽聽他老人家碎碎念。 "I've told the pitchers we're auditioning right now that they have a great opportunity to show the organization and the manager what they can do," he says. "The response — their performances — hasn't been very good. What that tells me is we have a couple of young arms that aren't ready and some guys who aren't major league pitchers. The standard of evaluation has to be raised." "我告訴現在上來的投手，他們有很大的機會去證明自己，但是結果他們表現得不夠好，其中一些還沒準備好，一些還不是能上MLB的投手，評估他們的標準應該要再提高。" Mazzone relates, " Greg Maddux said it best: 'What's more to pitching than being able to command your fastball and change speeds?' I've tried to make this so simple for everybody." "麥狗說'有什麼比能隨心所欲控制你的速球跟球速更好的?', 我只是把他弄簡單點讓每個人都適用。"Mazzone如是說。 Mazzone worked his magic in Atlanta, beginning when the Braves were terrible. Nothing would be more satisfying than to do the same thing in Baltimore. Mazzone的魔術在勇者們還很糟糕的時候就在亞特蘭大運作得很好，沒有比在金鶯做出同樣的事情更能讓人滿意的。 -- 很久沒打這麼多中文字了... -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 218.169.196.231