Every game of baseball is an audition and Brian Grening's return to Taiwan
gives the Canberra Cavalry starting pitcher the chance to nail down a spot on
the Brother Elephants roster for next year.
每一場比賽都是測試會
葛雷尼回到台灣
讓這位坎培拉騎兵隊先發投手有機會
爭取加入兄弟象明年球季的選手名單
Grening started in the game against Korean champions Samsung Lions on Monday
night in the semi-final of the Asia Series at Taichung Stadium.
葛雷尼周一晚間在台中洲際棒球場的亞職複賽中
先發對上韓國職棒冠軍三星獅
And while the laid-back 28-year-old plays down the significance of any game -
''the next game is always the most important'' - it was an even bigger game
for him.
這位放輕鬆面對的28歲選手
用"下一場比賽總是更重要"
淡定看待所有比賽
但其實這場比賽對他來說意義重大
The Brother Elephants, who play in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball
League (CPBL), were watching the Californian with an eye to signing him for
next year. If it wasn't for visa problems, Grening would have already played
for them.
隸屬台灣CPBL的兄弟象
正在觀察這位來自加州的選手,並希望和他簽新約
當初如果沒有發生簽證問題
葛雷尼早就是兄弟象的一員
He has spent most of this year playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the
independent Atlantic League before the Elephants brought him across at the
end of August but he couldn't play because of visa issues.
他今年多數時候
都是在美國職棒獨立聯盟Lancaster Barnstormers打球
直到兄弟象在8月底找上他
但最終因為簽證問題無法順利加入
Grening has signed up with a Taiwanese manager and is hoping to return next
year to play in the 120-game CPBL.
葛雷尼已和台灣經紀人簽約
希望明年可以加入
一年打120場比賽的CPBL球隊
''I never got in a game, which is kind of a sour taste, but hopefully I
re-sign there pretty soon and get a chance next season with them or another
Taiwanese team,'' he said on Monday.
他在周一表示"我一場比賽都沒投,有點不甘心"
"但希望我可以很快地重新簽約"
"下一季可以加入兄弟象或其他台灣球隊"
''I think they start again at the end of February so I'd go straight there
[from Canberra] if I re-sign.''
"我想他們(CPBL)在明年二月底會開始"
"如果重新簽約,我就直接(從坎培拉)過去"
The Brother Elephants are based in Taipei, but they play both home and away
games all over the country to ensure every part of the baseball-mad
population gets its fix.
兄弟象的屬地是在台北
但他們不管主客場,全國走透透
以確保能服務到每位狂熱的棒球迷
Grening spent a month immersing himself in the Taiwanese culture, but not
many of his teammates even know he's been there.
葛雷尼花了一個月的時間沉浸在台灣文化中
但多數隊友都不知道他曾來過台灣
While his mantra is just to focus on the next game, he admitted pitching in
the Asia Series finals would be a memory he'd treasure - along with the
Australian Baseball League championship win with the Cavs, an AA-class
championship when he was playing in the Minor Leagues and his one start in
AAA in 2009.
雖然他平心靜氣的秘訣是專注在下一場比賽
但他坦承在亞職大賽決賽投球
跟他和騎兵隊一起拿下ABL冠軍
以及他在小聯盟的冠軍
還有2009年在3A唯一一場先發比賽一樣
絕對是讓他珍惜一生的回憶
''[The Asia Series will be] way up there,'' Grening said.
葛雷尼說"(亞職)就是那麼重要"
''I think everyone's enjoyed the trip and for us to win a game is a big deal
for the ABL and for Australia.
"我想大家都很享受這趟旅程"
"我們能夠獲勝"
"對ABL還有澳洲都是大事"
''We're writing the book as we go here and that's fun. I spent a month here
last season with the Elephant Brother Taiwanese team and that was fun, but to
be here with a bunch of Australian guys and the team I played on last year
it's a little bit more special.''
"從現在開始我們就是在寫歷史,這真的很好玩"
"我上一季在兄弟象待了一個月,那也真的很好玩"
"但和一群澳洲夥伴還有過去一年來"
"一同打拚的球隊一起努力"
"當然還是比較特別"
Grening expected to be ready to start again for the Cavalry on Saturday in
their home ABL series against the Brisbane Bandits.
葛雷尼預計周六要再次擔任騎兵隊先發投手
屆時他們將回到家鄉ABL
對上布里斯本土匪隊
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