鄉民信箱 （快速版） - 美國職棒

Mailbag: It's crunch time in baseball
Beat reporter Jim Street answers Mariners fans' questions
By Jim Street / MLB.com

The final month of the regular season has arrived, and the
Mariners need some good karma the rest of the way to reach
the playoffs for the first time since their 116-win season
in 2001.
最後一個月，是好是壞都是看這個月

The roster has been enhanced with some additions from the
Minor Leagues, and that could lead to some decisions as to
the makeup of the 2008 team. Hang on for the stretch run
and keep sending in those questions that you want answered.
We'll do our best to respond to as many as possible.
球員名單也隨擴編名單增加，讓豬頭麥有更多機會讓新人坐板凳

I've recently been looking at the expanded standings and
noticed the elimination number. How exactly do you figure
that out?
-- Kara M., Richland, Wash.
謎樣的數字怎麼算？

When determining the elimination (or magic) number, remember
that each game actually counts as two. In other words, if
the first-place team wins a game and the second-place team
loses a game on the same day, the elimination and magic
numbers would have a two-game swing. As of Saturday morning,
the Angels had an 80-54 record and the Mariners were 73-60.
If the Mariners won their remaining 29 games, they would
finish with a 102-60 record. The Angels would have to win 23
of their remaining 28 games to finish with a 103-59 record.
Therefore, the Mariners' elimination number is 23 -- any
combination of Angels wins and Mariners losses totaling 23
would mathematically eliminate Seattle from the American
League West playoff race.
剩下的賽程，假如長翅膀全敗，我們全勝還追不到的話
那個數字就是謎樣數字

Can a Major League Baseball team request a new team of
umpires? It seems with the questionable calls during the
recent Mariners-Angels series, all the hoopla surrounding
corrupt referees in basketball and bad football calls during
the Super Bowl with the Seahawks, that it's rather suspicious.
-- Mike V., Seattle
裁判如果不公平，可以要求換到整組嗎？

MLB teams can request just about anything, and there have been
occasions when a particular umpiring crew would not work games
the requesting team plays. But those are rare occurrences. Game
officials are assigned by MLB, and more times than not, they do
an excellent job. Don't read anything more into the recent
"questionable" calls than the fact that umpires make mistakes,
just like the players. However, the umpiring crew that worked
the Mariners-Angels series made more "questionable" calls than
usual and did not seem to be at the top of their game. That was
unfortunate, because it was such an important series and it
deserved better.
就像7-11贈品一樣，一次想要換到整組是不容易的

I watch nearly every game on MLB.TV and any broadcast that airs
here in Arizona of the Mariners, but I somehow missed the origin
of the "rally fries." I was hoping you could clue me in on how
and when this came about this season. Thanks.
-- Christopher C., Tucson, Ariz.
"rally fries."是個啥東西？

During a TV broadcast earlier in the season, the cameras showed
a fan dropping his French fries while trying to catch a foul
ball. Mike Blowers, a former player and now a TV analyst for the
Mariners, sent the fan a replacement order of fries. Fans began
showing up with "rally fries" signs, and the Mariners would seem
to score in the innings the fries were delivered, thus the
"rally fries" name.
（其實我這個鄉民也是看熱鬧的，這個真的看不太懂）


How do you see Adam Jones and Wladimir Balentien fitting in with
the Mariners in 2008, and what does that mean for Raul Ibanez
and Jose Guillen? Also, does Mike Morse have a future with the
Mariners, or is he an "AAAA" player?
-- Dave N., Kent, Wash.
AJ跟Balentien未來是否可以當任大副跟二副？

The future for Adam Jones is extremely bright, and I would expect
him to be in the lineup next season. But the question is: where?
The Mariners currently are discussing a contract extension with
Guillen, who has proven himself this season to be sound of body
and mind. He has emerged as a go-to guy in the lineup and the
clubhouse, so look for Guillen to return in '08.
AJ未來一定是大副，不過要取決於現在這兩個要不要下船

Ibanez is signed through the '08 season and will make $5.5 million
in the final year of his contract. And you know all about Ichiro
Suzuki, who will be in center field for at least the next five
seasons. Balentien might have to spend one more season in the
Minor Leagues before getting his first MLB shot, or he could be
involved in a trade that could land the Mariners a young starting
pitcher. As we all know, there is no such thing as an "AAAA" level,
and Morse would be a nice addition for a team that needs outfielders.
Unfortunately for him, the Mariners aren't one of those teams.
Balentien的話很有機會當二副
雖然他已經都有掌船的技巧，不過要有愛！
Morse目前看起來就是談判籌碼，沒辦法
一台船只能永遠都只能有一個船長、一個大副、一個二副
（不過倒是需要很多苦力 XD）

If a batter asks for and is granted a timeout and the pitcher
follows through with his pitch and hits the batter, is the batter
given first base?
-- Loren E., Yakima, Wash.
要求暫停動作時，如果投出死球算嗎？

Nope, because time had been called; the "pitch" doesn't count. It
may hurt for a little while, but the batter must get back in the
batter's box and continue his at-bat.
如果暫停了，當然不算，只能算打者衰

Which Mariners are up for free agency at the end of the season?
With that, who are some possible free agents we could be looking
at who would be a good fit for the ballclub?
-- Brian W., Ephrata, Wash.
豬頭B的明年會找誰上船？

Guillen is the only position player that could become a free agent
at the end of the season, but negotiations on a contract extension
are ongoing. As far as the pitchers are concerned, right-handed
starter Jeff Weaver figures to return to the free-agent market,
along with right-handed reliever Rick White. It's too early to
tell who the Mariners might pursue in free agency, but don't expect
a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher to be available.
桂蓮應該是最近的目標，織織國王排在後面
（棍，怎麼都沒有大牌的排隊）

Do you think prospect Brandon Morrow may become a starter for the
Mariners? And if he does, by when do you think it will happen?
-- Brandon E., Woodinville, Wash.
Morrow會轉當SP嗎？

Morrow was both a starter and reliever at the University of
California-Berkeley. The Mariners envision him as a future member
of the starting rotation and that could happen as soon as next
season. But before that happens, a quality setup right-handed
reliever to bridge the late-inning gap to closer J.J. Putz must
be found. If Mark Lowe can come back strong from elbow surgery,
that would allow Morrow to move into the rotation.
只要Mark Lowe回來，Morrow就會轉，因為我們要找個人保護丁丁

What time does Game 1 of the Sept. 26 doubleheader against the
Indians begin?
-- Steven C., Las Vegas
為啥9.26要跟笑臉人打兩場

The opener is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m. PT, with the nightcap
beginning 30 minutes after the first game.
因為我們開季玩雪玩得太開心！

What's up with Jose Lopez? Last year, he was an All-Star, but this
year, his offensive numbers have decreased. Should Mariners fans be
concerned now and/or for the future?
-- Aiden E., Bethesda, Md.
Lopez今年怎麼了？

You aren't the only one asking that question, and no one seems to
have the answer. Lopez seemed to get fatigued in the second half of
last season, so efforts have been made to give him more rest this
year. His decision-making on certain plays recently also have been
baffling, to say the least. For the team to be as good as it can be,
Lopez has to turn it up a notch or two, because he is a better player
than he's shown. But remember, Lopez is still young -- he'll be 24 in
November -- and playing in pressure games in September should help
him down the road.
他才24歲，讓他慢慢適應吧
不是每個人都可以像是王建民沒神經

There have been whispers about Seattle being a dark horse for Alex
Rodriguez's next team. Can you see this happening?
-- Zachary G., West Linn, Ore.
Arod有可能回來嗎？

Not a chance. So whomever is whispering that to you, tell them to stop. Rodrigu
ez will never play another game for the Mariners. Period.
目前看來不太可能

Can you give me the reason why the letter "K" is used to define a
strikeout?
-- George P., Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
K跟倒K有啥不同？

The "K" comes from a scoring system devised by New York journalist
Henry Chadwick in the 1860s. Since he had already used the letter
"S" to indicate a sacrifice, he chose the most prominent letter in
strike for a strikeout. A backward "K" is used for a called third
strike.
就是拿香跟揮空，反正都要死

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