※ [本文轉錄自 Braves 看板]
作者: Homura (燒肉貓喵姆拉) 看板: Braves
標題: [翻譯] 40th birthday edition: Q&A with Smoltz
時間: Fri May 18 20:31:01 2007
40th birthday edition: Q&A with Smoltz
Braves hurler sits down with MLB.com to reflect on career
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
原文出處：http://0rz.tw/102He
John Smoltz spent the early parts of his career with the Braves pitching in
the shadows of Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. As time has elapsed, he has
gained the same sort of legendary status and given reason to believe that
he will indeed one day join them in the Hall of Fame.
John Smoltz在亞特蘭大的生涯早期，壟罩在Greg Maddux以及Tom Glavine的陰影之
下，但隨著時間的流逝，他獲得了同等的傳奇地位，讓人有著充分的理由相信有一
天他必定會加入他們在名人堂的行列。
With his 40th birthday on Tuesday, Smoltz joined a club that also includes
Maddux and Glavine. The veteran Braves hurler joins an increasing group of
pitchers who are proving they can still get outs after they enter their
fifth decade of life.
在禮拜二的四十歲生日當天，Smoltz加入了一個包括Maddux以及Glavine的行列，這
位資深的勇士投手加入了一群增加中的投手行列，證明自己即便在邁入生涯的第五
個十年，他們依舊能夠讓打者出局。
Smoltz's Hall of Fame credentials are strong. He is two victories away from
being the first Major League hurler to record both 200 wins and 150 saves
in a career. His all-time record of 15 postseason wins is a product of the
fact that he helped the Braves capture an unprecedented 14 consecutive
division titles.
Smoltz的名人堂證書希望濃厚，他只差兩勝便能夠成為大聯盟史上第一位達到生涯
兩百勝外加一百五十次救援的投手。他十五場生涯季後賽的勝投，正是他幫助勇士
達成史無前例的連續十四座分區冠軍的最佳產物。
Smoltz recently sat down with MLB.com to reflect on a stellar career that
began in 1988 and look ahead to a future, during which he may find himself
playing on the PGA's Senior Tour.
Smoltz在最近與MLB.com一起座談著，對於他從1988年開始的顯赫生涯之回顧，同時
也眺望著未來，也許哪天他會發現自己正在PGA長青組比賽著。
MLB.com: When you began your Major League career in 1988, did you envision
that you would still be pitching at 40 years old?
MLB.com：當你在1988年開始你的大聯盟生涯，有想像過自己在四十歲過後依舊有辦
法上場投球嗎？
JS: I always thought I would get to 40. I really did. I knew the desire
would be there. I just didn't know if the body would be there.
老史：我總是認為即便自己四十歲還是有辦法投球，真的。我知道我的競爭欲到那
時候都還會存在，我只是不知道身體有沒有辦法撐到那時候。
MLB.com: Was there ever a point when coming back from any of the four elbow
surgeries that you had, that you had to battle the "it's not worth all of
this" mentality?
MLB.com：回顧之前你所進行過的四次手肘手術，有哪次曾經讓你萌生，需要去對抗
那種" 這所有的一切都不值得 "這樣的心態？
JS: After I came back from Tommy John surgery in 2001 and had to go back on
the disabled list, yeah, I was ready to hang it up. I was thinking, "I
don't know how much of this I want to go through with."
老史：當我2001年從湯米強手術中回來，而又必須重返傷兵名單時，是的，我打算
把它給擱著，我思考著" 我不知道我還想要完成多少。 "
MLB.com: There are still some who wonder if you are a legitimate Hall of
Fame candidate. What are your thoughts when you hear this?
MLB.com：還是有些人好奇著你是否會是名人堂的當然候選人，當你聽到這些時你會
有什麼想法？
JS: I love to hear people argue over that because it's amusing to me. I
love to hear their pros and cons. I don't have any say over that. Nor is
that what drives me to do what I do. I've lost a million one-run games that
I've pitched well. What does it mean? It's just part of the game. Sometimes
it works out your way and sometimes it doesn't.
I'll be judged by the [Braves] organization that has kept me here for so
long, and that's all I care about.
老史：我喜愛聽到人們爭論著這件事，因為對我來說這很好笑。我喜愛聽著贊成者
與反對者的論據，我不會對此發表任何言論，也不會因此驅使我去做些什麼。我輸
掉了無數場我投的不錯的一分差比賽，這意指著什麼呢？這些只是比賽的一部份，
有些時候事情照著你所想像的發展，有些時候則不。
我只會讓讓我留在這邊如此久的勇士球團來檢驗我的表現，而這就是我所關心的。
MLB.com: Why have you been able to continue being a successful power
pitcher?
MLB.com：為何你有辦法持續當個成功的power pitcher？
JS: Genetics. You can't make yourself a power pitcher. It would be
different if I was throwing 84 [mph] most of my career and then all the
sudden jumped up to 92 [mph] because I figured out some great workout or
some great secret. It's all about genetics and then maintaining my body
through good flexibility and good workouts. I'm always listening and
adhering to things related to my body.
老史：一切都是因為遺傳學。你沒辦法讓自己成為一個power pitcher，如果我職業
生涯的大部分時間都只能投出84mph，之後卻突然跳到92mph，只因為我指出了一些
了不起的練習或著是一些偉大的秘密，這是很奇怪的。一切都是因為遺傳，之後透
過好的身體靈活度以及練習來保持。我對於跟身體相關的事總是仔細聆聽並且嚴格
遵守著。
MLB.com: While you were growing up in Michigan, you idolized Jack Morris.
What were your thoughts when at the age of 24, you nearly matched his
mastery during that 1-0 loss to the Twins in Game 7 of the 1991 World
Series?
MLB.com：當你在密西根成長的同時崇拜著Jack Morris，當你在二十四歲時，在1991
年世界大賽的第七戰以一比零落敗的那場，你和他的主宰力幾乎不相上下，對此你
有什麼想法？
JS: I think back to that day and think, "How did I survive with just two
pitches?" But it happened. I was wild. I threw hard. I had a real good
slider.
老史：我回想起那天同時想起，" 我怎麼有辦法只靠著兩種球路就存活下來？ "但
它就是發生了，我十分地狂野、球投的猛，我有著真的很棒的滑球。
MLB.com: From a confidence standpoint, was that the most important start of
your career?
MLB.com：從建立信心的觀點來看，那會是你職業生涯中最重要的一場先發嗎？
JS: It was for me. I always dreamed of pitching in Game 7 of the World
Series. No matter how many times I did it in my dreams or how many times I
did it in my mind, you've still got to prove it to yourself that you can do
that.
老史：對我來說是的，我總是夢想著能夠在世界大賽第七戰上場投球，不論有多少
次我在夢裡實現或著有多少次我在心中實現，你依舊要去證明你自己足以勝任。
MLB.com: You've won more postseason games than anybody in history. Is there
one playoff start that you believe was undoubtedly your best?
MLB.com：在歷史上你比任何人贏得更多的季後賽勝利，有哪一場季後賽先發你毫無
疑問地相信著是你生涯最棒的一場？
JS: I've had a lot of great games that have gone unnoticed because of the
game number, or at which point of the postseason that it was played. I
remember opening up in Los Angeles (in 1996) and pitching Game 1 of that
Division Series and going nine innings in a 1-1 game and seeing us win, 2-1
, in 10 innings. To me, it set the tone for the entire series.
I've had a lot of individual games that were, per se, greater than Game 7
of the (1991) World Series. But none of them greater than the moment of
Game 7.
老史：我有著許多場了不起的比賽，只因為比賽的數字，或著是季後賽進行的程度
而沒有被注意到。我記得在洛杉磯展開的分區系列賽(1996年)，第一戰在一比一的
狀況下投了九局，同時看著我們在第十局以二比一贏球。對我而言，這決定了整個
系列賽的氣氛。
我個人有著不少場比起(1991年)世界大賽第七戰，還要來的了不起的比賽，但沒有
任何一場帶給我的回憶比第七戰要來的多。
MLB.com: Why do you think you have formed such a strong friendship with
Tiger Woods?
MLB.com：你認為自己如何有辦法和Tiger Woods建立起如此深厚的友誼？
JS: I don't know the answer to that, other than we have compatible
personalities. I really respect what he does and I think it's vice-versa
with him. I'm no way or nowhere near the category that he's in. But I think
we both have the ability to respect what perseverance means.
Friendships don't usually attract opposites. Your interests usually
coincide. Both of us have a strong desire to be the best at what we do.
老史：除了可兼容的個性外，我不知道這問題還有什麼答案。我真的敬佩著他所做
的，對他而言反之亦然。我沒有任何管道也沒有任何地方能夠靠近他所處的領域，
但我認為我們彼此都有能力去重視著，堅忍不拔這一詞的意涵。
友誼往往並不引致對立，你的利益通常伴隨而生，我們彼此都有強烈的欲望在我們
的領域當最個最棒的。
MLB.com: Do you still believe that you will be capable of competing on the
PGA's Senior Tour?
MLB.com：你是否依舊相信著自己有能力在PGA長青組中競爭？
JS: Yes. Unless my body makes it that I can't chase my ambitions. There's
no doubt in my mind that I can make it. But that doesn't mean that I'm
going to make it. I also had no doubt as a little kid that I was going to
make it in the big leagues.
老史：是的，除非我的身體讓我不再能追逐自己的野心，在我心中無庸置疑的我有
辦法做到。但這並不表示我正準備要去做，毫無疑問的我也像個小孩般準備要在大
聯盟完成它。
MLB.com: You have said the game of golf has helped improve your mental
approach as a pitcher. Is there any aspect of baseball that could benefit
you if you do play on the Senior Tour?
MLB.com：你總是表示著高爾夫比賽幫助你改善了身為投手的精神建設，那麼關於棒
球，是否有任何一方面能夠在PGA長青組的比賽當中幫助你呢？
JS: I'm not going to be as talented as the guys who are there. But because
of all the years in baseball, I'll have as much mental toughness as the
guys who are there. Plus, I don't need it for financial security. I'm doing
it just to see if I can do it.
老史：比起已經在那邊的傢伙們，我在天份方面是及不上的，但由於棒球的生涯，
我會有著跟已經在那邊的人相較，毫不遜色的精神強韌度。此外，我也不用靠那來
給經濟上加點保障，我只是想看看自己是否有辦法做到。
MLB.com: Will the game ever see another starting rotation as formidable as
the ones that included yourself, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine?
MLB.com：包括了你、Greg Maddux以及Tom Glavine的先發投手陣容，棒球比賽中是否
會再出現另外一個同等恐怖的陣容？
JS: There probably will be and have been some rotations equal to what we
went through, but not for this long, and not ones in which each guy just
keeps getting better. Maddux just kept getting better. I've got a ceiling
and I've gotten pretty close to that ceiling.
Where the ceiling gets eliminated is when you give me one game to win or
the postseason. Then I've got a chance to raise my level. But short of that
, I would never be able to sustain that during the regular season.
老史：也許會有先發投手陣容如同我們的一般好，但是沒辦法持續如此地久，當中
的每一個傢伙還持續變的更好。Maddux只是持續變的更棒，我知道自己的極限，而
我也讓自己相當地靠近那個極限。
極限會被拿掉的地方就在你交給我一場就是得贏的比賽或著是季後賽，在那同時我
將有機會來提升我的等級，但除此之外，我在正規球季從未能夠維持著。
MLB.com: Did each of you become better pitchers based simply on the fact
that you were together for so long?
MLB.com：你們之中的任一個人，僅僅只因為你們在一起如此久的時間，就讓你們變
成更棒的投手嗎？
JS: I know I did, and I would have liked it to have continued because I
think I would be even better than I am today.
老史：我知道我是，而我想要它一直持續著，因為我認為我會變的比今天的我還要
來的棒。
MLB.com: Why didn't jealousy ever get in the way of the strong friendships
that you continue to share with Maddux and Glavine?
MLB.com：為何嫉妒心從未阻擋你與Maddux以及Glavine所一同分享著的強烈友誼？
JS: I was never going to let jealousy be a part of it. I'm very secure in
who I am. For them to answer it, they'd have to answer it themselves. Of
the three of us, it would have been the hardest for me because they were
head and shoulders above me.
I was the guy in the back seat and those guys took turns driving, and it
was fine for me. I may have some blind spots to some aspects to my life.
But for the most part, I think I'm pretty objective. I understand my place
in the game. I have humility and I just love to have a good time.
With them, how could you not have a good time?
老史：我從未讓嫉妒成為之中的一部份，我對於自己是什麼角色很有自覺，如果就
他們而言要回答這個問題，他們必須自己來回答。在我們三個當中，對我而言是最
不可能的，因為他們就像是我的頭和肩膀一樣的重要。
我是後座的乘客，而這些傢伙則輪流開車，對我而言這無所謂。我在我的生命當中
也許有些方面會有盲點，但就大部分時間而言，我認為自己相當地客觀，我了解自
己在比賽當中的位置，我十分地謙遜同時喜愛著愉快的時光。
有了他們，你如何能夠沒有美好的時光？
MLB.com: Do you regret that you had to spend three and a half seasons as a
closer? Or do you truly believe it was the best role for your arm coming
off of Tommy John surgery?
MLB.com：對於必須要花上三個半的球季來擔任終結者，你是否感到後悔？或著你真
誠地相信著對你進行完湯米強手術的手臂而言，這是最好的角色？
JS: I don't know if that was what was best for me. I don't regret it. If it
was best for the team for those three and a half years, then great. But I
don't regret it.
老史：我不知道這對我而言是否是最好的，我不會為此感到後悔，如果對球隊在那
三年半的時間而言是最好的，那真是太好了，但我不會後悔的。
MLB.com: How should history remember the streak of 14 consecutive division
titles that the Braves captured?
MLB.com：歷史會如何去紀錄勇士所拿下的連十四座分區冠軍呢？
JS: It will never happen again. I hate the fact that people will try to
find negatives in there. Winning just one World Series shouldn't take away
from what was done, because it will never happen again.
老史：這將不會再次發生，我厭惡著人們會試著去挑出之中的缺點之事實，只贏得
一次的世界大賽並不會帶走任何已經成就的，因為這再也不會發生。
MLB.com: Some of your closest friends include Woods, Maddux and Glavine.
You were part of a run of 14 consecutive division titles and now you have a
chance to pitch past your 40th birthday. Do you ever consider yourself to
be one of the most fortunate people in the world?
MLB.com：你的密友當中包括了Woods、Maddux以及Glavine，你也是連續十四座分區
冠軍的成員之一，而現在你有機會可以在四十歲生日之後還能夠投球，你是否曾經
認為自己是世界上最幸運的人之一？
JS: I'm very blessed. I'm very lucky. That's why I try to show it.
老史：我十分地感謝，我非常地幸運，而這就是我為何試著要表現出來的。