2020年6月16日 星期二

中英對照版》快看年輕迷弟一朗跟喬丹見面

Watch a young, starstruck Ichiro meet Jordan 
快看年輕迷弟一朗跟喬丹見面
A meeting of legends
傳奇的會面

The mid-90's were a crazy time.
1990年代中期是一個瘋狂的時期。

Michael Jordan played baseball for a year. And, Ichiro wasn't yet a member of the Mariners.
麥可‧喬丹(Michael Jordan)打了一年棒球(註1),鈴木一朗則還不是大聯盟的一員。

In fact, just in his early 20's, he was already becoming a star in Japan, setting a single-season hits record and winning an MVP Award in 1994.
事實上鈴木一朗當時只有20出頭,但已經是日本職棒閃亮巨星。在1994年創下單季最多安打紀錄(註2),並獲頒最有價值球員。

He was -- in the parlance of the times -- the hottest thing since sliced bread.
如果從時代的角度看來,是從切片吐司發明以來(註3),最受追捧的人事物。

Even stars can get starstruck. In 1995, Ichiro traveled to the United States to check out the scene in anticipation of an eventual move to MLB.
不過,這位新星也可以是追星族喔。1995年,一朗跑了美國一趟見習參訪,為的是期待最終可以加入MLB

When the best baseball player in Japan came face-to-face with Michael Jordan, he nearly melted:
當日本最厲害的球星跟喬丹面對面時,他幾乎要融化了:

At this point, Ichiro was still six years away from debuting with the Mariners and winning the AL MVP Award as a rookie.
在那個時間點,一朗6年後(2001年)才會在水手初登板,並在當年以菜鳥身份贏得美聯MVP。(也奪得最佳新人)

Even so, listening to the translator explain to MJ that, no, Ichiro is not a pitcher and, yes, he just got 210 hits a season ago is a fairly jarring experience with the perspective of history.
即便如此,聽著翻譯向MJ解釋不,一朗不是投手,以及對的,一朗才在上一個球季打出210安打,從歷史的長河來看,還是頗令人覺得怪怪的。

Even though it's strange to see Ichiro this young and this unknown, the interaction is refreshingly familiar.
不過,即便看著那麼年輕、當時在美國還默默無聞的一朗有些奇妙,但看著他們的互動還是有一種既新鮮又熟悉的感覺。

After Jordan asked the Japanese superstar if he planned on playing in the Majors, Ichiro responded with classic Ichiro wit: "Once my arm get as big as yours, then I'll think about it."
在喬丹問這位日本超級巨星是否計劃來大聯盟打球後,一朗用典型的朗式幽默回答:「等我的手臂跟你一樣大隻,我就會考慮。」

It's probably fair to say that Ichiro's arm never got as big as Jordan's, but that didn't seem to matter much in the end.
如果說一朗的手臂從來沒有像喬丹那麼壯,應該是合理的,但從結果看來,似乎並不重要。

註ㄧ:1994年,白襪隊小聯盟系統2A球隊伯明翰男爵隊(Birmingham Barons)打球,出賽127場,留下,436打數,88支安打,3支全壘打,打點51分,打擊率.202的成績。

註二:1994年,一朗在歐力士猛牛隊出賽130場,打出210支安打,打擊率.385,上壘率.445,該年也是一朗開啟安打王5連霸、打擊王7連霸的第一年。

註三:切片吐司在1928年由Otto Rohwedder發明的機器製作後,開始風靡。

2020年6月15日 星期一

中英對照版》MLB球員工會對復賽勞資談判破裂的聲明

Statement of MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark
球員工會理事長Tony Clark的聲明

Players want to play. Its who we are and what we do. 
球員想打球,是我們對自我的認知,也是我們的本職。

Since March, the Association has made it clear that our No.1 focus is playing the fullest season possible,
從三月開始,球員工會就表明地很清楚,我們首要關注的就是盡可能地打滿球季。

as soon as possible, as safely as possible.
並且希望盡早開打,盡可能地安全開打。

Players agreed to billions in monetary concessions as a means to that end,
為達成這個目的,球員採取同意讓步數10億美元。

and in the face of repeated media leaks and misdirection we made additional proposals to inject new revenues into the industry –
面對不斷有消息透過媒體放出,企圖誤導,我們又附加了幾個提案,可以為這個產業注入新收益——

proposals that would benefit the owners, players, broadcast partners, and fans alike. 
我們的提案可以同時讓雇主、球員以及轉撥夥伴受惠,對球迷也是一樣。

Its now become apparent that these efforts have fallen upon deaf ears.
但很明顯地,對於我們的這些努力,(資方)充耳不聞。

In recent days, owners have decried the supposed unprofitability of owning a baseball team
最近,資方假定經營一支棒球隊無利可圖,藉此責難(工會)。

and the Commissioner has repeatedly threatened to schedule a dramatically shortened season unless players agree to hundreds of millions in further concessions.
聯盟總裁(Rob Manfred)也一再威脅將誇張地縮短球季,除非球員同意更多,高達數億、數十億美元數額的(薪資)讓步。

Our response has been consistent that such concessions are unwarranted, would be fundamentally unfair to players, and that our sport deserves the fullest 2020 season possible.
我們長久以來都以相同的主張回應,這樣的減薪幅度是毫無道理的,對球員根本不公平。棒界也值得盡可能完整的2020賽季。

These remain our positions today, particularly in light of new reports regarding MLBs national television rights – information we requested from the league weeks ago but were never provided.
直到今日,我們仍維持此一立場,特別是鑒於新聞已報導MLB的全國電視轉播權(談判情況)——我們從幾周以前就要求聯盟揭露相關資訊,但從來沒有被提供。

As a result, it unfortunately appears that further dialogue with the league would be futile.
因此,遺憾的是,似乎跟聯盟進一步的對話是無效的。

Its time to get back to work. Tell us when and where. 
是時候回到工作崗位了。告訴我們什麼時候還有在哪裡開打。

2020年6月14日 星期日

中英對照版》超狂新人Alonso解讀低潮:水逆啦!

標題:
Mercury Met? Alonso's ROY run out of this world
He might actually be onto something
被水星堵到?(譯者註:Met為meet(遇到)的過去式,跟大都會隊的英文Mets諧音)Alonso為何勇奪最佳新人獎 要在世界之外找答案
但或許他真的找對原因囉


Baseball players represent a particularly superstitious portion of the population.
棒球選手尤其是群眾中比較迷信的一群

They have to stride to the plate to certain songs and walk on and off the field in just the right way.
他們走近本壘時(進到打擊區)要放特定的歌曲,進出內外野也有既定的方式。

Some even refuse to wash their clothes while on a hot streak, which could get gross pretty fast in the middle of summer.
有些球員甚至在狀況火燙時拒絕洗球衣,尤其又碰上盛夏,很快就會令人覺得噁心。

Mets slugger Pete Alonso is no exception to this rule.
大都會隊強棒Pete Alonso(註1)也不在例外之列。

After winning the Home Run Derby in July, the rookie found himself in a bit of a slump.
去年7月他贏得全壘打大賽後,這位菜鳥發現他陷入打擊低潮。

As he studied up on the issue, it wasn't due to a few bad bounces or a change in approach at the plate.
不過他研究了一下,認為不是因為恰逢狀態不佳,或打擊姿勢跑掉了。

No. He was slumping because Mercury was in retrograde -- 
以上皆非,他陷入低潮是因為水星正在逆行(水逆,Mercury was in retrograde——

the time in Mercury's orbit when it appears, from our vantage point on Earth, to have changed direction.
也就是從地球的角度看,水星改變運行軌道方向的期間。

Fortunately, by the time Alonso reached this discovery, Mercury was about to come out of retrograde.
幸好,Alonso發現這個原因後,水逆就快要結束。

And wouldn't you know: According to fellow Met Dom Smith, the rookie had a phenomenal day at the plate the day Mercury came out of retrograde.
而且你猜到了嗎?根據Alonso的大都會同事Dominic Smith(註2)說,水逆結束那天,這位菜鳥(Alonso)的打擊表現超凡。

Which meant, naturally, that Alonso wouldn't stop shouting about Mercury in the clubhouse afterward.
也就意謂著,Alonso理所當然地不會停止在球隊高聲分享他的水逆理論。

Is Alonso onto something? An initial investigation raises doubts.
Alonso(對於他的低潮)真的找到對的線索了嗎?初步調查啟人疑竇。

Mercury came out of retrograde on Aug. 1. The next day, Alonso went 2-for-4 with a double -- a fine game but nothing "berserk" as Smith claimed.
水逆是在81日結束的,隔天Alonso 4打數2安打,包括一支二壘安打,是表現得還不錯,但也不到Dominic Smith聲稱的「打瘋了」。

Nevertheless, there appears to be some truth to this story. 
不過,關於這個故事還是有一些真實性的。

Instead, the date I think we should be focusing on is Aug. 15, when Mercury ended its post-retrograde period.
事實上,我們應該特別注意的日期應該是815日,那天水星才正式結束他後期的「重影」期(註3)。

In other words, this is when it started to appear to return to its normal orbiting speed from Earth.
換句話說,水星在此刻,相對地球而言,才正式回到正常運行軌道的速度。

That night, Alonso went 5-for-5 with a home run and 6 RBIs.
那天晚上Alonso打出55,包括一支全壘打及6分打點。

So, there you have it. Even the holder of the rookie home run record is subject to the "laws" of astrology.
所以,這樣你知道了吧。即便新人全壘打紀錄的保持者,也臣服於星座的定律。

12019新人年、初登板年,就打出53支全壘打,120分打點,勇奪新人王。53支全壘打為全聯盟最多,也是新人年紀錄。

2:大聯盟資歷2017年至今,都在大都會打球,左打一壘手、左外野手。2019197打數,11全壘打,打擊率.282,有長足進步。

3:水星逆行結束後,還會進入為期約兩週的後陰影期(Post-shadow Period),也就是「水星重影期」(Mercury Retrograde),可以理解成水逆即便結束,造成的影響可能還會有一些像「宿醉」的延續。

中英對照版》Sheffield揭露他被警察暴力對待的經驗


標題:Sheffield shares his experience with police brutality
Sheffield分享他被警察暴力對待的經驗

In an essay titled Do You Believe Me Now? published by The Players' Tribune on Friday, 
週五,一篇標題為〈現在你相信我了嗎〉的短文,刊登在《球員論壇報》上,

nine-time all-star Gary Sheffield details his experiences with police brutality, 
作者是9次獲選全明星賽的球星Gary Sheffiled,公開他遭受警察暴力的細節。

an issue that has been at the forefront of the national conversation since the recent deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police.
自從FloydBreonna Taylor近來死於警察之手,這個議題在美國全國一直處於風口浪尖。

Sheffield describes a pair of incidents, beginning with one in December 1986 when he attended a University of South Florida basketball game with Dwight Gooden(註1), his uncle, and some friends.
Sheffield描述兩起事件,第一件發生在198612月,當時他跟Dwight Gooden、他的舅舅及一些朋友,一起出席一場南佛羅里達大學的籃球賽。

Gooden -- who had just won a World Series with the Mets -- was one of the most celebrated players in the Majors at the time,
Gooden當時才剛跟紐約大都會隊奪下世界大賽冠軍,是大聯盟最有名的球員之一。

but as the group left the game in three cars,
但當一夥人分坐3輛車離開球場後

Sheffield -- who had been Drafted sixth overall by Milwaukee the previous June -- said they were all pulled over without cause. 
當時的Sheffield才在19856月被密爾瓦基釀酒人在第6輪選中,他說他們沒有任何違規就被叫停在路邊。

Gooden was detained, handcuffed and thrown face-first into the ground, prompting Sheffield to take action.
Gooden還被扣留、上銬,被以臉朝下的方式往地上扔,

At that moment, I didnt see police officers -- I saw men in uniform illegally harassing and assaulting my uncle,” Sheffield wrote.
在那一刻我看見的不是警察,我看見的是穿制服的男人違法騷擾和對我舅舅施暴。

 Instinctively, I ran over full-speed to confront them. There were five or six of them, and needless to say it didnt go well. In fact, I couldve been killed.
我本能地以全速衝向他們對質,他們總共有5個或6個人,不消說,下場不是很好。「事實上,我有可能被殺掉。」

Sheffield said the police beat all of us unmercifully with flashlights,
Sheffield說警察毫不容情地用手電筒毆打他們所有人。

then loaded them into their cars and took them to an empty dog track, where they proceeded to assault us again until we were black, blue and swollen.
接著警察把他們塞進車裡面,載他們去一個空蕩的賽狗場,在那裡他們可以再次對我們施暴,把我們打到黑青腫脹。

Sheffield, Gooden and their friends were then arrested.
SheffieldGooden及一眾人隨後被逮捕。

According to a New York Times report on the incident that was published at the time,  police described it as a routine traffic offense that turned into a furious fight. 
根據紐約時報當時的報導,警方形容是例行處理交通違規,結果演變成激烈的爭吵。

Gooden was charged with battery on a police officer and violently resisting arrest -- both third-degree felonies --  as well as disorderly conduct (a second-degree felony) and careless driving. 
Gooden被指控襲警以及暴力拒捕,兩者都是三級重罪;還被指控一項行為不撿,則為二級重罪;還有一項「不小心駕駛」

Sheffield and the three other members of their party were also charged with two felonies, according to the Times report.
根據《紐約時報》報導,Sheffield以及其他三人也被指控兩項重罪。

Charles Ehrlich, who was Goodens lawyer at the time, told the newspaper, ''Gooden got out of his car and asked the officer why he had been stopped; the officer told him to 'shut up,' and it was downhill from there.''
Charles Ehrlich當時擔任Gooden的律師,他受訪指出:「Gooden下車後,問了警官為什麼被攔下,警官叫他『閉嘴』,整個情況從這裡開始直轉直下。」

The police said one officer was kicked in the head and another was kneed in the groin during the incident, the Times reported, while witnesses said Gooden was beaten to the ground with nightsticks and flashlights before being handcuffed and shackled.
紐約時報報導,警方說有警官被踢頭,還有警察被用膝蓋撞擊鼠蹊部;也有目擊者指出,Gooden被上銬之前,被警棍還有手電筒打趴在地上。

Ehrlich accused the police of using excessive force and piling on charges to cover their excesses at the time. All five defendants were black, while all six officers involved were white, the Times reported, leading Ehrlich to note there ''was reason to believe that racism was involved.''
《紐約時報》報導,Ehrlich當時指控警方「執法過當」,以及「指控大量罪行以掩飾執法過當」。而且5名被告都是黑人,6名涉案的警官都是白人,這讓Ehrlich強調:「有理由相信涉及種族歧視。」

Jay Horwitz, the Mets long-time media relations director, told the newspaper that Gooden was pretty well beaten up,” even believing at one point that his left wrist might have been broken. 
長期擔任大都會隊媒體關係總監的Jay Horwitz受訪指出,Gooden被打得很慘,甚至一度認為他的左手腕被打斷了。

Horwitz said Gooden had bruises on his head, a bloodshot eye and cuts on his arms,” spending 4 1/2 hours in police custody.
HorwitzGooden頭上有腫塊,一隻眼睛被打到充血,兩隻手臂上都有傷痕。並被警方拘留了4個半小時。

According to Horwitz, Gooden told him, ''I don't know what I did. They never told me what they stopped me for.'
根據Horwitz指出,Gooden告訴他,我不知道我到底做了什麼,他們從來沒有告訴我為什麼要被攔下來。

In his Players Tribune piece, Sheffield wrote, Dwight and I got probation. Nothing ever happened to the cops.
Sheffield在《球員論壇報》寫道:「Dwight (Gooden)和我獲緩刑處分,但那些警察什麼事都沒有。」

In his piece, Sheffield also described an incident in 2015 during which he and two friends (one of whom was boxer Winky Wright) were driving his white Rolls-Royce from Tampa, Fla., to Miami for a charity golf tournament.
Sheffield也在文中描述發生在2015年的一起事件,他還有兩個朋友(其中一個是拳擊手Winky Wright),開著他的白色勞斯萊斯從佛州坦帕往邁阿密,為了參加一場慈善高爾夫球賽。

Smoking a cigar, I waved at a police officer as we passed his car on the highway -- and he subsequently pulled us over,” Sheffield wrote. 
「我抽著煙,在高速公路上通過一名警官的車時,跟他揮手,他隨即把我們攔下來」,Sheffield寫道:

The officer recognized me, told me that he was a fan and soon disappeared. But in his place appeared five additional police cars and a K-9 unit.
「那名警官有認出我,告訴我他是個球迷,但很快就消失不見了,取而代之的是5輛警車還有一隻警犬。」

They searched everything.
「他們把能搜索查找的都翻遍了。」

Sheffield said police were scattering all of their belongings along the highway during the illegal search, so he began to film the officers.
Sheffield說警方在違法搜索的過程,把他們的東西都倒在公路上,所以他開始對這些警察錄影。

At that point I was told I couldnt film anything because it was a criminal investigation,’ Sheffield wrote.
「但我隨即被告知我不能錄下任何東西,因為這是『犯罪調查現場』」,Sheffield寫道:
 Agitated, an officer grabbed my arm, and we stood eye to eye. I told the officer, Im gonna count to three, and you better take your hands off of me. He did, and then he told us we were free to go.
「一名警官激動地抓住我的手臂,我們臉貼著臉對視,我告訴那名警官:『我數到3,你最好把手放開。』他照做了,然後告訴我們可以離開。」

Again, I couldve been killed.
「再次強調,我有可能被殺掉。」

Sheffield points out that the unfortunate reality is that my stories arent unique. Theyre not special or extraordinary, and neither am I. What happened to George Floyd could have easily -- and far too often -- happened to me or others.
Sheffield指出:「很不幸地,事實是我的故事並非個案,(我的故事)跟我這個人也並不特殊,或做了什麼出乎意外的事。發生在George Floyd身上的事情,可能輕易地——也太過於常見——就發生在我或其他人身上。」

Floyds death -- which was captured on film and has sparked weeks of protests -- is a defining moment for the country, Sheffield wrote, because we actually saw it happen.
佛洛伊德之死——被錄下來,而且引燃了持續數週的抗爭,Sheffield 寫道,這對這個國家而言,是一個「轉捩點」,因為我們確實目睹他的發生。

Sheffield knows he was often labeled as an outspoken or controversial player during his 22-year big league career, and while his willingness to speak his mind got him in some hot water from time to time,
Sheffield知道他22年的大聯盟球員生涯,常被貼上「心直口快」、「有爭議性」的標籤,而他總是毫無顧忌把心中所想的說出來,有時候會讓他陷入麻煩。

he now admits that he has worn each of those labels as a badge of honor. Now a player agent, Sheffield isnt about to stay quiet during such an important time.
他現在則坦承:「乘載這些標籤對我而言是榮譽的勳章。」他現在是球員經紀人,他不打算在這個重要的時刻沈默不語。


I wasnt afraid to call out racial bias when I saw it, even when nobody backed me up,” he wrote. So I ask you: Now do you believe me?
「看到種族歧視的狀況時,我從不畏於大聲點破,即便沒有人支持我。」他寫道:「所以我問你們,你現在相信我了嗎?」

Because I stood alone then. But we stand together now -- and thats why Im sharing my stories. For black people, these injustices are nothing new. 
「以前只有我孤軍奮戰,但現在我們站在一起——這就是為什麼我要分享我的故事。對黑人而言,這種不公義並不是新鮮事。

But for white people, people of privilege, this is revelatory. Their eyes have been forced open to view life through the same harsh lens as a person of color.
但對白人、特權人物而言,這是一種啟發。他們的眼睛被迫打開,而且是透過有色人種那種艱難的視野看待生命。」

This is our time -- our time to do Gods work. It isnt the time to let up. It isnt the time for superficial comments and empty statements. 

「這是我們應要有所作為的時刻——我們應該完成上帝指派的任務,而不是讓這件事就這麼算了,此刻也不適合膚淺和空洞的言論,

This is our moment to turn tragedy into triumph. It is our opportunity to put a stop to years of systemic racism, oppression and discrimination.
這是我們要將悲劇扭轉為勝利號角的時刻,這是我們要遏制多年以來系統性種族歧視、壓迫和歧視的機會。」

It ends now. And it ends with us. All of us.
「讓它在此刻就終結,由我們終結,包括我們所有人。」

註一:1984年到2000年在大聯盟擔任投球,有K博士、古登博士之稱。1984年拿下新人王,隔年以24勝、268三振ERA1.53奪下賽揚獎。職業生涯卻因飽受運動傷害及藥物濫用,每況愈下,生涯通算194勝。