For Now, Yanks Stick With Their Farm Plan
For Now, Yanks Stick With Their Farm Plan
到目前為止，洋基依舊堅守著他們的農作物By TYLER KEPNER
Published: December 6, 2007
NASHVILLE, Dec. 5 — Hank Steinbrenner has not attended the winter meetings, but his voice is among the most powerful here. Absent from the Yankees’ media guide a year ago, he is now the final authority on matters related to the marquee team in the major leagues.
雖然小老闆沒有出席冬季會議，但他依舊是這裡說話最大聲的人。即使一年前小老闆缺席了洋基的記者會，他現在卻是這支大聯盟招牌球隊所有棒球事務的掌權者。
There have been no prepared statements from the principal owner, George Steinbrenner, who has ceded control of the team to Hank, 50, and his other son, Hal, 38. There has been little candor from the Yankees at the meetings, but plenty of confidence from Hank Steinbrenner over the telephone.
球隊的主要擁有者George Steinbrenner沒有任何的聲明，默默的將球團的經營權轉交給50歲的Hank和另一個38歲的兒子Hal去管理。
He is instantly comfortable as the public face of the Yankees, the team he hopes to steer back to dominance even without trading for the Minnesota ace Johan Santana.
“We’re going to be in beautiful shape,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday, a day after declaring that the Yankees had dropped out of talks for Santana. “I’m telling you, I’m very excited. I hope we can challenge this year, and I think we can. But the future looks even brighter.
＂我們的球隊將會變得很棒！＂小老闆在宣佈洋基放棄山大王交易案的隔天這麼說。＂我告訴你們，我現在感到很興奮。我希望我們可以迎接今年的挑戰，而且我也認為我們可以戰勝。未來看起來似乎更加美好了。＂
“If you own a sports team and you’re serious about winning, you’ve got to strive for dominance — and to be dominant, you’ve got to be self-sufficient. The Yankees had that before, and the Patriots have that now in the N.F.L. There’s no reason we can’t do that again.”
＂如果你擁有一支球隊，你會很認真的去看待勝利這件事情，你必須努力去增加自己在比賽當中的優勢，進而成為主宰比賽的人，你必須要自給自足。＂洋基曾經是那樣子的球隊，而N.F.L的愛國者隊現在就是如此。沒有道理說我們無法再辦到。
The Yankees were uncomfortable giving up starter Phil Hughes, center fielder Melky Cabrera and others for Santana, who will command a contract extension worth at least $120 million. Unless Santana is traded elsewhere, the Yankees will continue to be a lurking presence in the Santana talks, no matter their public stance.
洋基並不希望用Phil Hughes和Melky Cabrera來換取將會要求至少1億2000萬美元延長合約的Santana。除非Santana已經被交易到別隊，否則洋基還是會隨時出現在Santana的交易案當中，不管他們公開的立場是什麼。
In another era, though, George Steinbrenner might have plowed ahead with the deal, no matter what his front office wanted. In this case, Hank Steinbrenner seems to be in agreement with General Manager Brian Cashman, who pledged to make the Yankees more efficient when he re-signed two years ago.
雖然現在已經是不一樣的時代，大老闆可能還是很努力的想要干涉這些交易，不論他想要的是什麼。目前，小老闆看起來似乎與努力想要讓洋基更省錢的現金人站在同一邊。
“When I made the decision to stay in ’05, the two promises I made to the boss were to try to build a team that could compete for a championship, and that I would remake this farm system and line us up for years to come,” Cashman said. “Those balancing acts are extremely difficult, but you live with your decisions.”
＂當我在2005年決定繼續留在洋基的時候，我對老闆做出了兩個承諾，一個就是試著建立一個可以獲得世界大賽冠軍的隊伍，另一個就是在未來的幾年我要重整農場系統以及我們的打線。＂現金人這麼說。＂要在這兩件事情中間取得平衡點是很困難的，但是你還是必須做出決定。＂
The Yankees might have cost themselves titles in the 1980s by trading a future most valuable player (Willie McGee), a future Cy Young Award winner (Doug Drabek), a future World Series M.V.P. (José Rijo) and two future sluggers (Fred McGriff and Jay Buhner).
在80年代，洋基可能為了他們的冠軍頭銜而交易掉了未來的最有價值球員Willie McGee，未來的賽揚獎投手Doug Drabek，未來世界大賽的MVP：José Rijo以及兩個未來的強打者：Fred McGriff和Jay Buhner。
Steinbrenner said the possible Santana trade was different; Santana, for example, is no Bob Sykes, the nondescript reliever who was acquired for McGee. But he acknowledged that history was a guide.
小老闆說，山大王的交易可能不太一樣，山大王並不是Bob Sykes，一個交易McGee而得到的沒有什麼特色的後援投手。但是他知道歷史殷鑒不遠。
“That was an experience from the ’80s, and there’s no question it was painful,” said Steinbrenner, who resisted taking a position of influence for his father then. “The bottom line is, I’ve got to be happy with what I’ve got. We’re all happy, and it’s only going to get better and better.
＂那是80年代所得到的教訓，無疑的，那是很沉痛的教訓。＂小老闆說，＂至少我必須對我目前所擁有的感到開心。我們都感到高興，而且情況只會越來越好。＂
“Our goal is to be self-sufficient,” Steinbrenner continued, repeating a theme, “like the Yankees used to be, and do it through the draft and Latin America. Our guys are the best scouts in baseball, and they’ve proven that over the last few years. It’s unbelievable the job Damon Oppenheimer and his scouts have done. That’s what’s got to continue.”
＂我們的目標就是自給自足。＂小老闆一再重複這件事情。＂就像過去的洋基隊一樣，而且透過選秀與拉丁美洲的球員來達成。＂我們的球員都是經過球探篩選出來最好的，他們過去幾年已經證明過了。Damon Oppenheimer以及他的球探做的工作真是不可思議。這也是必須持續做下去的事。
The Yankees’ bullpen is largely unproven, besides closer Mariano Rivera. The setup man Kyle Farnsworth is often unreliable, and the rest of the spots are up for grabs.
洋基大部分的牛棚投手都無法證明這樣的結果，除了終結者Mariano Rivera之外。setup man放肆火通常不是很值得信賴，其它的人則是有待時間來證明。
Cashman said he had been considering which minor league starters to try in the bullpen, naming Alan Horne, Jeffrey Marquez and Steven White as potentially more attractive alternatives than a weak class of free agents. That is another way the Yankees’ depth could help.
現金人說，他考慮將小聯盟的幾名先發投手拉到牛棚來試試看，包括 Alan Horne、Jeffrey Marquez和Steven White，這幾名潛力新秀可能是比自由市場那些不怎樣的自由球員要來的好的選擇。
“We have a lot of good young pitching in the minors — better than anybody, I guarantee you,” Steinbrenner said. “We’ve got the best young pitching in the majors and in the minors. It’s not even close. It’s pretty obvious, and we’re not the only ones who think so.”
＂我們在小聯盟有很多很棒的年輕投手，比任何球隊的都要好。我向你們保證。＂小老闆說。＂我們在大聯盟和小聯盟都已經有最好的年輕投手群。這不是唬爛，而是顯而易見的。我們不是認同這個看法的唯一球隊。＂
Asked a general question about young pitchers here Wednesday, Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Piniella turned the topic specific when he noticed the reporter was from New York.
星期三這天，被問到有關年輕投手的問題，小熊隊的總教練Lou Piniella特別注意這個話題，當他看到從紐約來的報導。
“You’re talking about the Yankees, right?” Piniella said, laughing. “Send some of them over to Chicago. We’ll develop them.”
＂你是在說洋基隊，是吧？＂Piniella笑著說。＂把其中一些投手送到芝加哥，我們會栽培他們。＂
Since Cashman re-signed, the Yankees have paid above-market bonuses for high-potential pitchers in the draft, even if they were coming off an injury. That is how they got Horne, the Eastern League pitcher of the year, who had reconstructive elbow surgery in college after Cleveland picked him in the first round out of high school.
自從現金人續約了之後，洋基花了許多高於市場價格的錢來簽下選秀當中的潛力新秀，即使他們可能會因為傷病而報銷。這就是他們得到Eastern League的年度最佳投手Horne的方法，而Horne在印地安人從高中第一輪選秀挑走他之後，也曾在大學時期動過手肘重建的手術。
The jewels of the farm system are Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, who combined to go 8-3 with a 3.19 earned run average last season. All three could be in the rotation, and Steinbrenner says he believes their improvement is inevitable.
農場現在的三寶是Hughes、Joba Chamberlain和Ian Kennedy，三人在上個球季合計拿下了8勝3敗和3.19的ERA。這三個人可能都會進入rotation當中，而且小老闆說他相信他們會進步是必然的事情。
“People keep saying, ‘Do we really have a No. 1?’” Steinbrenner said. “I’m telling you, we’re going to have three No. 1’s three years from now, and we may have two or three great closer prospects, too.”
＂大家總是一直在問：你們真的有第一號投手嗎？＂小老闆說。＂我告訴你們，我們從現在開始到未來的三年內，將會同時擁有三位第一號投手，而且我們也可能有兩到三位很棒的終結者。＂
Optimism is natural long before opening day, but Steinbrenner seems to be taking a cue from Cashman. The Yankees do not have Santana, but they have their prospects, and Cashman’s plan is intact.
在球季開打之前，保持樂觀是正常的事，但是小老闆看起來似乎與現金人站在同一陣線。那就是洋基不需要山大王，因為他們有他們的農作物，而現金人的計畫正在實現。
“I said we’d be tested on some of our top-tier talent,” Cashman said. “We have been, and sure enough, they’re still standing — hopefully for a long time.”
＂我說過我們必須要測試我們當中某些頂級的潛力新秀。＂現金人說，＂我們相信經過那些測試，他們依然會表現的很好，而且希望這樣的好表現可以一直持續下去。＂
News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/sports/baseball/06yankees.html?ref=baseball
NASHVILLE, Dec. 5 — Hank Steinbrenner has not attended the winter meetings, but his voice is among the most powerful here. Absent from the Yankees’ media guide a year ago, he is now the final authority on matters related to the marquee team in the major leagues.
雖然小老闆沒有出席冬季會議，但他依舊是這裡說話最大聲的人。即使一年前小老闆缺席了洋基的記者會，他現在卻是這支大聯盟招牌球隊所有棒球事務的掌權者。
There have been no prepared statements from the principal owner, George Steinbrenner, who has ceded control of the team to Hank, 50, and his other son, Hal, 38. There has been little candor from the Yankees at the meetings, but plenty of confidence from Hank Steinbrenner over the telephone.
球隊的主要擁有者George Steinbrenner沒有任何的聲明，默默的將球團的經營權轉交給50歲的Hank和另一個38歲的兒子Hal去管理。
He is instantly comfortable as the public face of the Yankees, the team he hopes to steer back to dominance even without trading for the Minnesota ace Johan Santana.
“We’re going to be in beautiful shape,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday, a day after declaring that the Yankees had dropped out of talks for Santana. “I’m telling you, I’m very excited. I hope we can challenge this year, and I think we can. But the future looks even brighter.
＂我們的球隊將會變得很棒！＂小老闆在宣佈洋基放棄山大王交易案的隔天這麼說。＂我告訴你們，我現在感到很興奮。我希望我們可以迎接今年的挑戰，而且我也認為我們可以戰勝。未來看起來似乎更加美好了。＂
“If you own a sports team and you’re serious about winning, you’ve got to strive for dominance — and to be dominant, you’ve got to be self-sufficient. The Yankees had that before, and the Patriots have that now in the N.F.L. There’s no reason we can’t do that again.”
＂如果你擁有一支球隊，你會很認真的去看待勝利這件事情，你必須努力去增加自己在比賽當中的優勢，進而成為主宰比賽的人，你必須要自給自足。＂洋基曾經是那樣子的球隊，而N.F.L的愛國者隊現在就是如此。沒有道理說我們無法再辦到。
The Yankees were uncomfortable giving up starter Phil Hughes, center fielder Melky Cabrera and others for Santana, who will command a contract extension worth at least $120 million. Unless Santana is traded elsewhere, the Yankees will continue to be a lurking presence in the Santana talks, no matter their public stance.
洋基並不希望用Phil Hughes和Melky Cabrera來換取將會要求至少1億2000萬美元延長合約的Santana。除非Santana已經被交易到別隊，否則洋基還是會隨時出現在Santana的交易案當中，不管他們公開的立場是什麼。
In another era, though, George Steinbrenner might have plowed ahead with the deal, no matter what his front office wanted. In this case, Hank Steinbrenner seems to be in agreement with General Manager Brian Cashman, who pledged to make the Yankees more efficient when he re-signed two years ago.
雖然現在已經是不一樣的時代，大老闆可能還是很努力的想要干涉這些交易，不論他想要的是什麼。目前，小老闆看起來似乎與努力想要讓洋基更省錢的現金人站在同一邊。
“When I made the decision to stay in ’05, the two promises I made to the boss were to try to build a team that could compete for a championship, and that I would remake this farm system and line us up for years to come,” Cashman said. “Those balancing acts are extremely difficult, but you live with your decisions.”
＂當我在2005年決定繼續留在洋基的時候，我對老闆做出了兩個承諾，一個就是試著建立一個可以獲得世界大賽冠軍的隊伍，另一個就是在未來的幾年我要重整農場系統以及我們的打線。＂現金人這麼說。＂要在這兩件事情中間取得平衡點是很困難的，但是你還是必須做出決定。＂
The Yankees might have cost themselves titles in the 1980s by trading a future most valuable player (Willie McGee), a future Cy Young Award winner (Doug Drabek), a future World Series M.V.P. (José Rijo) and two future sluggers (Fred McGriff and Jay Buhner).
在80年代，洋基可能為了他們的冠軍頭銜而交易掉了未來的最有價值球員Willie McGee，未來的賽揚獎投手Doug Drabek，未來世界大賽的MVP：José Rijo以及兩個未來的強打者：Fred McGriff和Jay Buhner。
Steinbrenner said the possible Santana trade was different; Santana, for example, is no Bob Sykes, the nondescript reliever who was acquired for McGee. But he acknowledged that history was a guide.
小老闆說，山大王的交易可能不太一樣，山大王並不是Bob Sykes，一個交易McGee而得到的沒有什麼特色的後援投手。但是他知道歷史殷鑒不遠。
“That was an experience from the ’80s, and there’s no question it was painful,” said Steinbrenner, who resisted taking a position of influence for his father then. “The bottom line is, I’ve got to be happy with what I’ve got. We’re all happy, and it’s only going to get better and better.
＂那是80年代所得到的教訓，無疑的，那是很沉痛的教訓。＂小老闆說，＂至少我必須對我目前所擁有的感到開心。我們都感到高興，而且情況只會越來越好。＂
“Our goal is to be self-sufficient,” Steinbrenner continued, repeating a theme, “like the Yankees used to be, and do it through the draft and Latin America. Our guys are the best scouts in baseball, and they’ve proven that over the last few years. It’s unbelievable the job Damon Oppenheimer and his scouts have done. That’s what’s got to continue.”
＂我們的目標就是自給自足。＂小老闆一再重複這件事情。＂就像過去的洋基隊一樣，而且透過選秀與拉丁美洲的球員來達成。＂我們的球員都是經過球探篩選出來最好的，他們過去幾年已經證明過了。Damon Oppenheimer以及他的球探做的工作真是不可思議。這也是必須持續做下去的事。
The Yankees’ bullpen is largely unproven, besides closer Mariano Rivera. The setup man Kyle Farnsworth is often unreliable, and the rest of the spots are up for grabs.
洋基大部分的牛棚投手都無法證明這樣的結果，除了終結者Mariano Rivera之外。setup man放肆火通常不是很值得信賴，其它的人則是有待時間來證明。
Cashman said he had been considering which minor league starters to try in the bullpen, naming Alan Horne, Jeffrey Marquez and Steven White as potentially more attractive alternatives than a weak class of free agents. That is another way the Yankees’ depth could help.
現金人說，他考慮將小聯盟的幾名先發投手拉到牛棚來試試看，包括 Alan Horne、Jeffrey Marquez和Steven White，這幾名潛力新秀可能是比自由市場那些不怎樣的自由球員要來的好的選擇。
“We have a lot of good young pitching in the minors — better than anybody, I guarantee you,” Steinbrenner said. “We’ve got the best young pitching in the majors and in the minors. It’s not even close. It’s pretty obvious, and we’re not the only ones who think so.”
＂我們在小聯盟有很多很棒的年輕投手，比任何球隊的都要好。我向你們保證。＂小老闆說。＂我們在大聯盟和小聯盟都已經有最好的年輕投手群。這不是唬爛，而是顯而易見的。我們不是認同這個看法的唯一球隊。＂
Asked a general question about young pitchers here Wednesday, Chicago Cubs Manager Lou Piniella turned the topic specific when he noticed the reporter was from New York.
星期三這天，被問到有關年輕投手的問題，小熊隊的總教練Lou Piniella特別注意這個話題，當他看到從紐約來的報導。
“You’re talking about the Yankees, right?” Piniella said, laughing. “Send some of them over to Chicago. We’ll develop them.”
＂你是在說洋基隊，是吧？＂Piniella笑著說。＂把其中一些投手送到芝加哥，我們會栽培他們。＂
Since Cashman re-signed, the Yankees have paid above-market bonuses for high-potential pitchers in the draft, even if they were coming off an injury. That is how they got Horne, the Eastern League pitcher of the year, who had reconstructive elbow surgery in college after Cleveland picked him in the first round out of high school.
自從現金人續約了之後，洋基花了許多高於市場價格的錢來簽下選秀當中的潛力新秀，即使他們可能會因為傷病而報銷。這就是他們得到Eastern League的年度最佳投手Horne的方法，而Horne在印地安人從高中第一輪選秀挑走他之後，也曾在大學時期動過手肘重建的手術。
The jewels of the farm system are Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy, who combined to go 8-3 with a 3.19 earned run average last season. All three could be in the rotation, and Steinbrenner says he believes their improvement is inevitable.
農場現在的三寶是Hughes、Joba Chamberlain和Ian Kennedy，三人在上個球季合計拿下了8勝3敗和3.19的ERA。這三個人可能都會進入rotation當中，而且小老闆說他相信他們會進步是必然的事情。
“People keep saying, ‘Do we really have a No. 1?’” Steinbrenner said. “I’m telling you, we’re going to have three No. 1’s three years from now, and we may have two or three great closer prospects, too.”
＂大家總是一直在問：你們真的有第一號投手嗎？＂小老闆說。＂我告訴你們，我們從現在開始到未來的三年內，將會同時擁有三位第一號投手，而且我們也可能有兩到三位很棒的終結者。＂
Optimism is natural long before opening day, but Steinbrenner seems to be taking a cue from Cashman. The Yankees do not have Santana, but they have their prospects, and Cashman’s plan is intact.
在球季開打之前，保持樂觀是正常的事，但是小老闆看起來似乎與現金人站在同一陣線。那就是洋基不需要山大王，因為他們有他們的農作物，而現金人的計畫正在實現。
“I said we’d be tested on some of our top-tier talent,” Cashman said. “We have been, and sure enough, they’re still standing — hopefully for a long time.”
＂我說過我們必須要測試我們當中某些頂級的潛力新秀。＂現金人說，＂我們相信經過那些測試，他們依然會表現的很好，而且希望這樣的好表現可以一直持續下去。＂
News source：http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/sports/baseball/06yankees.html?ref=baseball
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