Girardi Girds Yankees for an Uphill Trip
老吉帶領洋基踏上為季後賽奮戰的艱困旅程
Published: August 18, 2008
The last of the reporters were filing out of his office Sunday afternoon when Yankees Manager Joe Girardi spun out of his chair and approached a bookshelf behind him. He reached for a blue binder on the shelf that contained scouting reports.
星期天下午，當最後一批的記者離開了老吉的辦公室之後，這位洋基的總教練一邊撥弄著他的頭髮，一邊往他身後的書架走去。他伸手在書架上拿了一本裝訂好的藍色資料夾，裡面是球探報告的資料。
“O.K., who do we have next — Toronto and Baltimore, right?” Girardi said, presumably to the Yankees media relations director, Jason Zillo, the only club employee within earshot.
「嗯，接下來我們的對手是－藍鳥和金鶯，沒錯吧？」老吉問道，大概只有洋基媒體事務主任Jason Zillo是唯一一位聽到老吉說這句話的人。
That quickly, Girardi had put aside the Yankees’ first series victory in almost a month and moved to the next job. With 38 games to play, 10 games to make up on Tampa Bay in the division race and five and a half games to make up on Boston in the wild-card race, the Yankees face a difficult, but not insurmountable, task in trying to assure themselves a postseason berth.
很快地，老吉就將洋基近一個月來，首次贏得系列賽勝利的喜悅給放在一旁，繼續埋頭準備接下來的工作。球季剩下38場比賽，目前距離分區第一的光芒隊10場勝差，在外卡的競爭上也落後紅襪5.5場，洋基面臨艱困的處境，但並非是無法克服的，必須非常拼命才有可能保住他們晉級季後賽的希望。
The 2004 Houston Astros are the only team to come from seven games back through 122 games or later to earn a wild-card berth, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Yankees trailed the Red Sox by seven through 122 games, before cutting two games off Boston’s lead by beating Kansas City on Saturday and Sunday.
根據Elias Sports Bureau的資料，2004年的太色人（Houston Astros）是唯一一隻在打完了122場比賽，在外卡排行榜落後了七場勝差，最終還能夠贏得外卡的球隊。洋基在星期六和星期日贏了皇家之後，追近了紅襪兩場，在此之前，洋基打完122場比賽後，也是落後紅襪（目前外卡榜首）七場勝差。
The Yankees can also draw hope from last year’s Philadelphia Phillies, who overtook the collapsing Mets for the National League East title after being seven games back with just 17 to play.
洋基也從去年費城人的例子上看到了希望，去年的費城人在剩下17場的比賽當中，追趕上了在國聯東區領先七場勝差的梅子隊，最終也幹掉了他們。
As the Yankees begin a six-game trip Tuesday night at the Rogers Center, much of what can happen remains within their control, particularly in the more realistic pursuit of the wild card. They face the Red Sox six more times — three times next week at Yankee Stadium, then the final three games of the regular season at Fenway Park.
星期二晚上，洋基將在Rogers Center開始他們六場的客場之旅，是否能夠有番作為就全看他們自己了，特別是在外卡的競爭上依然相當有希望。他們還必須和紅襪正面遭遇六次，下禮拜就有三場比賽在Yankee Stadium，另外三場則是在Fenway Park。
But the Yankees are also entering a stretch in which they will play 16 of their next 22 games on the road, including the makeup of a May 11 rainout at Detroit that begins a 10-day trip to Tampa Bay, Seattle and Anaheim. That could be troublesome for a team that is 28-31 outside the Bronx and dropped 7 of 10 games on its most recent trip.
但洋基也陷入了一連串客場征戰的麻煩，在未來的22場比賽當中，有16場的比賽是客場，其中包含了一場5月11號，面對老虎隊的補賽，然後是連續十天的客場征戰，分別要面對坦帕灣光芒、西雅圖水兵和安納罕天使。這對於球隊來說可能會是個大麻煩，因為今年洋基的客場戰績是28勝31敗，而且在最近十場的客場當中，他們輸了七場比賽。
“We knew we were going to go through this because of all the home games we had in July,” Girardi said. “Back on the road, back to work.”
「我們都知道這是我們將會面臨到的問題（指連續的客場作戰），因為七月份的賽事幾乎都是主場作戰。」老吉說，「重回客場，重新回到作戰崗位上。」
Over all, the Yankees will face teams with winning records in 28 of the final 38 games. Besides two series each against the Rays, the Red Sox and the Blue Jays, the Yankees play the other two divisional leaders, the Angels and the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox (70-53) are tied with Minnesota atop the American League Central.
大致上來說，洋基剩下的38場比賽當中，有28場的比賽將會遭遇到戰績比自己好的球隊。除了面對光芒、紅襪和藍鳥還剩下各兩個系列賽之外，洋基還會遭遇到其他兩個分區的領先者，天使和白襪。白襪目前的戰績（70勝53敗）和雙城並列美聯中區的榜首。（編按：本篇文章截稿時，白襪和雙城是並列分區榜首沒錯，不過今天（台灣時間08/19）賽後，白襪（71-53）暫時領先雙城（70-54）一場勝差。）
Depending on how that race goes, either the White Sox or the Twins will be a wild-card factor, too. Chicago and Minnesota each entered Monday a half-game behind the Red Sox in the wild-card race and four and a half games in front of the Yankees.
依照賽事的發展情形，白襪或是雙城都可能會是外卡的競爭對手之一。截至星期一為止，白襪和雙城分別在外卡排行榜上落後紅襪半場勝差，並且領先洋基四場半的差距。（編按：目前的最新情形是：雙城落後紅襪一場半，領先洋基四場勝差，也就是洋基落後紅襪五場半。）
“You’re constantly reminded, because people are always talking about it,” the Yankees’ captain, Derek Jeter, said. “The teams we’re trying to catch, we play. Bottom line is, if we win our games, we’ll be fine.”
「你總是不斷的被提醒，因為人們總是一直談論著這件事。」洋基隊長說，「面對這些我們試著去追趕的球隊，去打就對了。重要的是，只要我們贏了比賽，那一切就沒問題了。」
Hideki Matsui’s return from an inflamed left knee should help. He was scheduled to be activated from the disabled list in time for Tuesday’s game, and will be a designated hitter for the rest of the season, according to Girardi.
因為左膝腫脹而缺席的大松井即將歸隊，這對球隊來說應該是個幫助。根據老吉的說法，大松井預計將會在星期二的比賽當中離開傷兵名單，並且在未來的比賽擔任指定打擊的工作。
But the Yankees also need better production from their marquee hitters. “If we don’t, we’re not going to win,” said the cleanup hitter Alex Rodriguez. “That’s what it comes down to. Three, four, five in the lineup have to come up big, and we haven’t lately.”
然而，洋基還需要陣中這些鼎鼎大名的強打們提供更多的打點才行。「如果我們做不到，那麼就沒有辦法贏球。」第四棒的阿肉說，「總歸一句話，打線中的三、四、五棒都必須打些大隻的，只是我們最近並沒有辦到。」
Rodriguez’s game-tying three-run homer in the first inning of Sunday’s 15-6 rout of Kansas City was welcome, given his .235 average with runners in scoring position when the day began. Rodriguez batted all five times Sunday with men on base, delivering three hits and five runs batted in and walking twice. Jason Giambi’s grand slam Sunday produced only his third multiple-R.B.I. game since July 2, when he drove in six runs against the Red Sox. Since then, he has hit .211 (20 for 95).
星期天那場以15比6擊潰皇家隊的比賽當中，阿肉在第一局追平比數的三分打點全壘打來的正是時候，即使開賽之前，阿肉得點圈上有跑者的打擊率僅僅只有2成35。阿肉在星期天的比賽當中，五次的打擊機會，壘上都有跑者，他擊出了三支安打，貢獻五分打點，另外還獲得了兩次的保送。大吉的滿貫砲也僅僅是他從7月2號貢獻六分打點擊敗紅襪以來，第三場貢獻兩分以上打點的比賽。從那之後，他的打擊率只有2成11（95打數20支安打）。
Two places ahead of Rodriguez, Jeter went 4 for 4 Sunday, his fourth consecutive multihit game. He has hit .631 (12 for 19, all singles) in that stretch.
第二棒的隊長也在那天打出了四支四的表現，這也是他連續第四場單場兩支（或以上）安打的比賽。在皇家的系列賽中，他繳出了6成31的打擊率（19打數12支安打，全都是一壘安打）。
“You can expect those guys to contribute, because they’ve done it before,” Girardi said.
「你可以預見這些球員們將會持續的對球隊做出貢獻，因為過去他們就是這樣。」老吉說。
But those hitters will have a quick challenge this week, having to face the Blue Jays’ A. J. Burnett on Tuesday and the even more imposing Roy Halladay on Thursday. Halladay shut down the Red Sox on Saturday night at Fenway Park for his 14th victory and 8th complete game of the season.
但是這些打者很快的就會在這個禮拜面臨挑戰，星期二要面對藍鳥的A. J. Burnett，星期四還要面對更難纏的Roy Halladay。Halladay上星期六在Fenway Park完全封鎖了紅襪的打擊，贏得了本季的第14勝，這也是本季他第8場的完投。
Combined, Burnett and Halladay are 4-1 against the Yankees this season. Halladay threw a two-hit shutout against them in mid-July. And the Blue Jays are only two games behind the Yankees in the American League East. So against the odds, and against some very good pitchers, the Yankees will go back on the road this week, traveling uphill.
綜合Burnett和Halladay本季對戰洋基的戰績：4勝1敗。Halladay七月中面對洋基還投出了一場只有兩安打的比賽，而且藍鳥在美聯東區也只落後洋基兩場勝差而已。面對這些不利因素，面對這些表現傑出的投手，洋基將在本週踏上客場征戰的旅程，艱困的旅程。
INSIDE PITCH
CARL PAVANO pitched better than PHIL HUGHES in their Sunday rehabilitation starts, and General Manager BRIAN CASHMAN would not rule out Pavano;s starting for the Yankees on Saturday in Baltimore. Pavano, returning from reconstructive elbow surgery and pitching for Class AA Trenton, held Reading to one run and six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. Hughes, in a start for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowed five runs and eight hits in three and two-thirds innings against Lehigh Valley, the worst team in the International League at 52-76. “That’s why we’ve been getting him ready, so he can come back and pitch for us, whether it’s Saturday or some point beyond that,” Cashman said of Pavano, who has one major league victory since 2005. Pavano is in the final year of a four-year, $39.95 million contract. ... JOBA CHAMBERLAIN accompanied the Yankees to Toronto, where he was expected to continue his throwing program.
痛痛人在星期天的復健賽當中，表現的比大帝要來的好，總經理現金人不排除在星期六面對金鶯的時候讓痛痛人上場投球。從手肘重建手術當中回來的痛痛人，替2A Trenton出賽，主投六局，讓Reading隊擊出六支安打，丟掉一分，但也送出了6K。
在3A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre出賽的大帝，面對International聯盟中，戰績最差的Lehigh Valley（52勝76敗），主投三又三分之二局，被擊出八支安打，掉了五分。
「這就是為什麼我們讓他（痛痛人）做好準備，讓他能夠回來替我們投球，不論是星期六或是在之後的某個時間點。」現金人談到痛痛人的時候這麼說。自2005年以來，痛痛人僅在大聯盟拿到一勝的戰績。今年也是痛痛人簽下四年三千九百九十五萬合約的最後一年。
喬巴會隨洋基前往多倫多，並且持續他的投球練習。
News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/sports/baseball/19yankees.html?ref=baseball
The last of the reporters were filing out of his office Sunday afternoon when Yankees Manager Joe Girardi spun out of his chair and approached a bookshelf behind him. He reached for a blue binder on the shelf that contained scouting reports.
星期天下午，當最後一批的記者離開了老吉的辦公室之後，這位洋基的總教練一邊撥弄著他的頭髮，一邊往他身後的書架走去。他伸手在書架上拿了一本裝訂好的藍色資料夾，裡面是球探報告的資料。
“O.K., who do we have next — Toronto and Baltimore, right?” Girardi said, presumably to the Yankees media relations director, Jason Zillo, the only club employee within earshot.
「嗯，接下來我們的對手是－藍鳥和金鶯，沒錯吧？」老吉問道，大概只有洋基媒體事務主任Jason Zillo是唯一一位聽到老吉說這句話的人。
That quickly, Girardi had put aside the Yankees’ first series victory in almost a month and moved to the next job. With 38 games to play, 10 games to make up on Tampa Bay in the division race and five and a half games to make up on Boston in the wild-card race, the Yankees face a difficult, but not insurmountable, task in trying to assure themselves a postseason berth.
很快地，老吉就將洋基近一個月來，首次贏得系列賽勝利的喜悅給放在一旁，繼續埋頭準備接下來的工作。球季剩下38場比賽，目前距離分區第一的光芒隊10場勝差，在外卡的競爭上也落後紅襪5.5場，洋基面臨艱困的處境，但並非是無法克服的，必須非常拼命才有可能保住他們晉級季後賽的希望。
The 2004 Houston Astros are the only team to come from seven games back through 122 games or later to earn a wild-card berth, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Yankees trailed the Red Sox by seven through 122 games, before cutting two games off Boston’s lead by beating Kansas City on Saturday and Sunday.
根據Elias Sports Bureau的資料，2004年的太色人（Houston Astros）是唯一一隻在打完了122場比賽，在外卡排行榜落後了七場勝差，最終還能夠贏得外卡的球隊。洋基在星期六和星期日贏了皇家之後，追近了紅襪兩場，在此之前，洋基打完122場比賽後，也是落後紅襪（目前外卡榜首）七場勝差。
The Yankees can also draw hope from last year’s Philadelphia Phillies, who overtook the collapsing Mets for the National League East title after being seven games back with just 17 to play.
洋基也從去年費城人的例子上看到了希望，去年的費城人在剩下17場的比賽當中，追趕上了在國聯東區領先七場勝差的梅子隊，最終也幹掉了他們。
As the Yankees begin a six-game trip Tuesday night at the Rogers Center, much of what can happen remains within their control, particularly in the more realistic pursuit of the wild card. They face the Red Sox six more times — three times next week at Yankee Stadium, then the final three games of the regular season at Fenway Park.
星期二晚上，洋基將在Rogers Center開始他們六場的客場之旅，是否能夠有番作為就全看他們自己了，特別是在外卡的競爭上依然相當有希望。他們還必須和紅襪正面遭遇六次，下禮拜就有三場比賽在Yankee Stadium，另外三場則是在Fenway Park。
But the Yankees are also entering a stretch in which they will play 16 of their next 22 games on the road, including the makeup of a May 11 rainout at Detroit that begins a 10-day trip to Tampa Bay, Seattle and Anaheim. That could be troublesome for a team that is 28-31 outside the Bronx and dropped 7 of 10 games on its most recent trip.
但洋基也陷入了一連串客場征戰的麻煩，在未來的22場比賽當中，有16場的比賽是客場，其中包含了一場5月11號，面對老虎隊的補賽，然後是連續十天的客場征戰，分別要面對坦帕灣光芒、西雅圖水兵和安納罕天使。這對於球隊來說可能會是個大麻煩，因為今年洋基的客場戰績是28勝31敗，而且在最近十場的客場當中，他們輸了七場比賽。
“We knew we were going to go through this because of all the home games we had in July,” Girardi said. “Back on the road, back to work.”
「我們都知道這是我們將會面臨到的問題（指連續的客場作戰），因為七月份的賽事幾乎都是主場作戰。」老吉說，「重回客場，重新回到作戰崗位上。」
Over all, the Yankees will face teams with winning records in 28 of the final 38 games. Besides two series each against the Rays, the Red Sox and the Blue Jays, the Yankees play the other two divisional leaders, the Angels and the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox (70-53) are tied with Minnesota atop the American League Central.
大致上來說，洋基剩下的38場比賽當中，有28場的比賽將會遭遇到戰績比自己好的球隊。除了面對光芒、紅襪和藍鳥還剩下各兩個系列賽之外，洋基還會遭遇到其他兩個分區的領先者，天使和白襪。白襪目前的戰績（70勝53敗）和雙城並列美聯中區的榜首。（編按：本篇文章截稿時，白襪和雙城是並列分區榜首沒錯，不過今天（台灣時間08/19）賽後，白襪（71-53）暫時領先雙城（70-54）一場勝差。）
Depending on how that race goes, either the White Sox or the Twins will be a wild-card factor, too. Chicago and Minnesota each entered Monday a half-game behind the Red Sox in the wild-card race and four and a half games in front of the Yankees.
依照賽事的發展情形，白襪或是雙城都可能會是外卡的競爭對手之一。截至星期一為止，白襪和雙城分別在外卡排行榜上落後紅襪半場勝差，並且領先洋基四場半的差距。（編按：目前的最新情形是：雙城落後紅襪一場半，領先洋基四場勝差，也就是洋基落後紅襪五場半。）
“You’re constantly reminded, because people are always talking about it,” the Yankees’ captain, Derek Jeter, said. “The teams we’re trying to catch, we play. Bottom line is, if we win our games, we’ll be fine.”
「你總是不斷的被提醒，因為人們總是一直談論著這件事。」洋基隊長說，「面對這些我們試著去追趕的球隊，去打就對了。重要的是，只要我們贏了比賽，那一切就沒問題了。」
Hideki Matsui’s return from an inflamed left knee should help. He was scheduled to be activated from the disabled list in time for Tuesday’s game, and will be a designated hitter for the rest of the season, according to Girardi.
因為左膝腫脹而缺席的大松井即將歸隊，這對球隊來說應該是個幫助。根據老吉的說法，大松井預計將會在星期二的比賽當中離開傷兵名單，並且在未來的比賽擔任指定打擊的工作。
But the Yankees also need better production from their marquee hitters. “If we don’t, we’re not going to win,” said the cleanup hitter Alex Rodriguez. “That’s what it comes down to. Three, four, five in the lineup have to come up big, and we haven’t lately.”
然而，洋基還需要陣中這些鼎鼎大名的強打們提供更多的打點才行。「如果我們做不到，那麼就沒有辦法贏球。」第四棒的阿肉說，「總歸一句話，打線中的三、四、五棒都必須打些大隻的，只是我們最近並沒有辦到。」
Rodriguez’s game-tying three-run homer in the first inning of Sunday’s 15-6 rout of Kansas City was welcome, given his .235 average with runners in scoring position when the day began. Rodriguez batted all five times Sunday with men on base, delivering three hits and five runs batted in and walking twice. Jason Giambi’s grand slam Sunday produced only his third multiple-R.B.I. game since July 2, when he drove in six runs against the Red Sox. Since then, he has hit .211 (20 for 95).
星期天那場以15比6擊潰皇家隊的比賽當中，阿肉在第一局追平比數的三分打點全壘打來的正是時候，即使開賽之前，阿肉得點圈上有跑者的打擊率僅僅只有2成35。阿肉在星期天的比賽當中，五次的打擊機會，壘上都有跑者，他擊出了三支安打，貢獻五分打點，另外還獲得了兩次的保送。大吉的滿貫砲也僅僅是他從7月2號貢獻六分打點擊敗紅襪以來，第三場貢獻兩分以上打點的比賽。從那之後，他的打擊率只有2成11（95打數20支安打）。
Two places ahead of Rodriguez, Jeter went 4 for 4 Sunday, his fourth consecutive multihit game. He has hit .631 (12 for 19, all singles) in that stretch.
第二棒的隊長也在那天打出了四支四的表現，這也是他連續第四場單場兩支（或以上）安打的比賽。在皇家的系列賽中，他繳出了6成31的打擊率（19打數12支安打，全都是一壘安打）。
“You can expect those guys to contribute, because they’ve done it before,” Girardi said.
「你可以預見這些球員們將會持續的對球隊做出貢獻，因為過去他們就是這樣。」老吉說。
But those hitters will have a quick challenge this week, having to face the Blue Jays’ A. J. Burnett on Tuesday and the even more imposing Roy Halladay on Thursday. Halladay shut down the Red Sox on Saturday night at Fenway Park for his 14th victory and 8th complete game of the season.
但是這些打者很快的就會在這個禮拜面臨挑戰，星期二要面對藍鳥的A. J. Burnett，星期四還要面對更難纏的Roy Halladay。Halladay上星期六在Fenway Park完全封鎖了紅襪的打擊，贏得了本季的第14勝，這也是本季他第8場的完投。
Combined, Burnett and Halladay are 4-1 against the Yankees this season. Halladay threw a two-hit shutout against them in mid-July. And the Blue Jays are only two games behind the Yankees in the American League East. So against the odds, and against some very good pitchers, the Yankees will go back on the road this week, traveling uphill.
綜合Burnett和Halladay本季對戰洋基的戰績：4勝1敗。Halladay七月中面對洋基還投出了一場只有兩安打的比賽，而且藍鳥在美聯東區也只落後洋基兩場勝差而已。面對這些不利因素，面對這些表現傑出的投手，洋基將在本週踏上客場征戰的旅程，艱困的旅程。
INSIDE PITCH
CARL PAVANO pitched better than PHIL HUGHES in their Sunday rehabilitation starts, and General Manager BRIAN CASHMAN would not rule out Pavano;s starting for the Yankees on Saturday in Baltimore. Pavano, returning from reconstructive elbow surgery and pitching for Class AA Trenton, held Reading to one run and six hits with six strikeouts in six innings. Hughes, in a start for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowed five runs and eight hits in three and two-thirds innings against Lehigh Valley, the worst team in the International League at 52-76. “That’s why we’ve been getting him ready, so he can come back and pitch for us, whether it’s Saturday or some point beyond that,” Cashman said of Pavano, who has one major league victory since 2005. Pavano is in the final year of a four-year, $39.95 million contract. ... JOBA CHAMBERLAIN accompanied the Yankees to Toronto, where he was expected to continue his throwing program.
痛痛人在星期天的復健賽當中，表現的比大帝要來的好，總經理現金人不排除在星期六面對金鶯的時候讓痛痛人上場投球。從手肘重建手術當中回來的痛痛人，替2A Trenton出賽，主投六局，讓Reading隊擊出六支安打，丟掉一分，但也送出了6K。
在3A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre出賽的大帝，面對International聯盟中，戰績最差的Lehigh Valley（52勝76敗），主投三又三分之二局，被擊出八支安打，掉了五分。
「這就是為什麼我們讓他（痛痛人）做好準備，讓他能夠回來替我們投球，不論是星期六或是在之後的某個時間點。」現金人談到痛痛人的時候這麼說。自2005年以來，痛痛人僅在大聯盟拿到一勝的戰績。今年也是痛痛人簽下四年三千九百九十五萬合約的最後一年。
喬巴會隨洋基前往多倫多，並且持續他的投球練習。
News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/sports/baseball/19yankees.html?ref=baseball
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