Sporting News 2009 Mariners preview - 美國職棒

本篇為半夜睡不著之翻譯，有錯請見諒

※ 引述《Belladonaa ()》之銘言：:
Seattle Mariners preview

水兵隊賽前預覽
The best thing about the Mariners' 2008 season was that it finally ended. After
101 losses and a summer of discontent, Seattle enters this season with the hope
that the rotation will be improved, the bullpen will have decent options and
the offense will be better.
對水兵來說，2008年最好的事情就是賽季終於結束了
進入2009年，水兵希望輪值可以強一點，RP可以稱頭一點，攻擊可以再好一點
（譯按：再差應該也不會比2008年差吧，都08年副爐主囉）

THREE QUESTIONS
三個問題

1. Will the new regime turn things around in Seattle?
Things can't get much worse. The mess in Seattle last season was as close to
toxic as you'll ever see in the big leagues. It was a combination of many
things, including bad clubhouse chemistry, underperforming but overpaid stars,
a rash of injuries early in the year and way too many losses. The Mariners
expected to compete for a playoff spot; instead, they finished 39 games behind
the first-place Angels in the A.L. West. New general manager Jack Zduriencik
and new manager Don Wakamatsu have their work cut out for them. This is
Wakamatsu's first turn as a big league manager, but he has coached under
managers such as Mike Scioscia, who knows a thing or two about running a
successful franchise.
1. 水兵隊的新狀況為何？
再遭也不比08年慘！08年爛到有剩
問題很多，像內部不合、大爛約、傷病一堆
季末來了Jack Z跟Don Wakamatsu
這是Don Wakamatsu第一次當大檸檬Manager
之前他在說瞎底下工作，應該知道如何去搞一隻球隊
（編按：最好是如此 XD）

2. Why do the Mariners hate Jeff Clement?
水兵討厭探花捕手？

OK, they don't hate him, but they're not making it easy for the power-hitting
catcher to establish himself in the majors. Clement, the No. 3 overall pick in
2005, hit .335 with 14 homers in 48 games in Class AAA last season before his
call-up in mid-June (he hit .227 with Seattle, .321 in his final 78 at-bats).
Clement had arthroscopic knee surgery in September, but spent the offseason
expecting to split time between catcher and DH this season (his full-time job
behind the plate is blocked by Kenji Johjima and his three-year, $24 million
contract). But then the Mariners brought back Ken Griffey as a DH/left fielder.
So, Clement must wait for at-bats when Johjima sits or Griffey plays in the
field. Clement has been working at first base this spring, where the starter is
Russell Branyan, a veteran slugger who has yet to start for an entire season.
Clement also could begin the season at Class AAA.
水兵不討厭他，只是不知道要怎麼用他
探花捕手被Call之前，在3A有 0.335打擊率和14發幹砲
但是上來後，卻傷到他的膝蓋，外加喬治馬三年肥約，不可能當黃金板凳
探花08年只好改玩DH為主
DH這個位置09年已經找回小葛
春訓雖然已經開始練一壘，但是前面還是有一個老人卡位-Russell Branyan
所以看來探花又要回去3A等等機會
（編按：探花好好打阿，我希望七月就可以看妳上來再度觀光）

3. Who will close?
誰要來關門

For two years, Seattle simply handed the ball to J.J. Putz in the ninth inning,
but his injuries opened the door for 10 different Mariners to record at least
one save in 2008. With Putz now with the Mets, the closer job is wide open.
Newcomer Tyler Walker and veteran Miguel Batista have the most experience in
the role (34 and 38 career saves, respectively). Mark Lowe has ninth-inning
stuff but had an unsightly 1.76 WHIP last season. Roy Corcoran had a 3.22 ERA
in 50 games for the Mariners in 2008 but doesn't have typical closer velocity
on his fastball. David Aardsma and Randy Messenger are in the mix, too, though
likely more as fill-ins than full-time options. Former Nationals closer Chad
Cordero could emerge around midseason if he completes his recovery from a torn
labrum in his pitching shoulder.
J.J.噴汁幫我們關了兩年的門，最後被送去梅子
所以現在沒有人幫我們看門，開放老人家跟年輕人競爭
老巴有經驗但太老，Lowe應該要上來接，但08年成績黑壓壓
Corcoran 速球看起來不是關門的料
Aardsma 跟 MSN 也是SOSO
Cordero 有經驗，但是他的傷勢觀察重點
（編按：Morrow是發啥神經，最後竟然跳進來這個坑）

PROJECTED LINEUP
打線預測
1. RF Ichiro Suzuki.
Has 200-plus hits all eight seasons in the majors.
不動一棒 因為有8季的200安
2. SS Yuniesky Betancourt.
Has 64 errors at short the past three seasons.
二棒Beta 三年來的失誤高達64次
3. 2B Jose Lopez.
One of few Mariners to actually improve in 2008.
三棒J-Lo 08年少數有進步的 （編按：有嗎？！）
4. 3B Adrian Beltre.
Had 48 HRs, 121 RBIs in his last contract year (2004).
四棒吹哥 提醒一下吹哥，合約年又到了 XD
5. DH Ken Griffey.
Seattle hopes homecoming, healthy knee will spark resurgence.
五棒小葛 收門票錢的，別太早進DL阿
6. 1B Russell Branyan.
Power still there; so are the gaping holes in his swing.
六棒Branyan 棒子還在，但是應該也是揮揮大隊 （編按：不熟，希望有人能介紹）
7. CF Franklin Gutierrez.
Hit .313 in final two months for Indians last season.
七棒 Gutierrez 08年最後在笑臉人打的不錯 (編按：同上，希望介紹）
8. C Kenji Johjima.
Suffered major offensive drop last season (.227 average, 7 homers).
八棒 喬治馬 08年中邪 （編按：希望如此）
9. LF Endy Chavez.
Excellent defender will share time with Griffey in left.
9棒Chavez 跟小葛分LF （編按：一定要搶贏小葛，小葛乖乖去蹲DH啦）

PROJECTED ROTATION
輪值預測
1. RHP Felix Hernandez.
Getting better every year (ignore the win totals).
期望越來越成熟的King
2. LHP Erik Bedard.
Returning from September shoulder surgery.
希望北大肩傷真的好了 （編按：不然就白白浪費AJ）
3. RHP Brandon Morrow.
Forearm soreness could force him to miss start of season.
應該要接三號的馬肉 （編按：戰前脫逃，現在輪值該不會都往前推進吧）
4. RHP Carlos Silva.
Made horrible first impression in Seattle (4-15, 6.46 ERA) in 2008.
不期不待的12M
5. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith.
Battling veteran Jarrod Washburn for this spot.
RRS或是洗炸彈 （編按：RRS如果連洗炸彈都贏不了，還是乖乖回去蹲3A)

PROJECTED CLOSER
預計關門者
RHP Mark Lowe.
Hard thrower must cut down on baserunners (78 hits, 34 walks last season)
to beat out field of contenders.
Lowe 要降低他的被上壘率 （編按：現在要把這隻放哪？）

GRADES
評價
Offense: D. The loss of outfielder Raul Ibanez will hurt. It is hard to imagine
a lineup with Branyan (797 strikeouts in 2,000 career at-bats) in the middle of
the order producing consistently. If many things fall into place, Seattle could
finish in the middle of the pack in the A.L. in runs scored, but that isn't
likely.
打擊:D
椰子離開對水兵是個重傷害，除非Branyan可以扛起來，不過看來很難

Pitching: C. This grade could be an A-minus by the end of the season. Felix
Hernandez is a true ace, and Erik Bedard and Brandon Morrow could be very good
-- if healthy. Ryan Rowland-Smith had a 3.50 ERA in 12 career starts. The
bullpen has some uncertainty, but there are enough arms to form a decent unit
once roles are defined.
投手輪值：C
雖然我們有King，不過北大跟馬肉還是要健健康康才行
RRS看起來還可以，但是RP會出啥包不知道

Bench: C. Seattle added infield versatility by trading for Ronny Cedeno, who
can fill in at second, third and shortstop. Veterans Mike Sweeney and Chris
Shelton are vying for backup time at first base and DH. Wladimir Balentien
looks like the fourth outfielder.
板凳深度：C
工具人改Cedeno，1B跟DH候補 也抓來Mike Sweeney跟Shelton這兩個老將
4th OF 以Balentien為主 （編按：火力有進步很多嗎？）

Manager: C. This grade eventually could tick upward also, but Wakamatsu is an
unproven commodity. He has learned under some of the best, so there definitely
is hope. Joe Maddon would have gotten this same grade when he took over in
Tampa Bay, and look at him now.
教練:C
若松第一次當，是好是壞不得而知
小魚隊的Maddon剛開始也是這個評價，看看現在 (編按：有Maddon的2/3我就很偷笑）

Sporting News prediction: Barring a massive run of injuries, the Mariners won't
have a triple-digit loss total again. They'll still finish fourth in the A.L.
West, but there will be more hope for contending in 2010 than there is this
season.
最後預測:
應該不會再有三位數的敗場，不過美西爐主GET
好好展望2010年才是重點
（編按：再三位數的敗場，我看老任要多賣幾百萬台WII才夠回本）[m

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本來想早一點翻，不過忘記了 XD

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