FAQ: Boston Red Sox
I stopped paying attention when the Cleveland Indians took a 3-1 series lead
in the American League Championship Series. I thought for sure the Indians
were a lock to go to the World Series. What happened?
問：當印地安人在美聯冠軍賽以3比1領先紅襪的時候我就關電視了，我以為印地安人
贏定了，發生啥事了？
Well, the Red Sox have shown a few times now that you should never count them
out. Boston won 96 games during the regular season, so piecing together a
three-game winning streak to close out the ALCS wasn't an impossible feat. In
2004, Boston climbed out of a 3-0 hole to defeat the Yankees in the ALCS.
This time around, the Sox took the final three games to clinch their second
AL pennant in four seasons, sending the Tribe back to Cleveland without a
Series crown for the 59th year in a row.
答：嗯，紅襪兵團再次證明了他們不能被小看。他們在例行賽贏了96場，所以在冠軍賽
三連勝尻倒對方也不用太意外。2004年他們則是在0勝3負的劣勢下三連勝肛了死對頭
洋基。今年是紅襪近四年來第二次拿下美聯冠軍，也讓印地安仔距離上一次世界大賽冠
軍的日子推進到59年(註：印地安人上次WS冠軍是1948年，並於1954、1995、1997的WS
中落敗)
So the Red Sox are pretty much regular participants in the World Series?
問：那紅襪算是世界大賽的常客囉？
They're making it seem like that lately, but Boston's recent run is a far cry
from previous eras in club history. Prior to 2004, Boston hadn't won a World
Series since 1918, despite four other trips to the October finale. The Red
Sox have made the playoffs six times in the past 10 seasons, which is the
club's best stretch since winning the World Series four times between 1912-18.
答：這幾年好像如此，但在這之前卻有著令人流淚的過去。1918到2004年之間他們不曾嘗
過世界大賽冠軍滋味，儘管在這86年之間有四次打入WS。但襪子軍近10個球季有六度晉級
季後賽，這也是自1912-1918四度拿下WS冠軍後球隊的最佳表現。
I don't remember the Red Sox playing in the postseason last year. Did they
just barely make it into the playoffs this season?
問：我想不起來紅襪去年季後賽在幹嘛(因為他們根本沒打)，他們今年是怎麼晉級的啊？
Actually, Boston captured the division title in the AL East by two games this
year, knocking the Yankees into second place. It was the first time since
1995 that the Sox won their division and the first time since 1997 that New
York didn't take the East crown. It was quite a turnaround from last year,
when Boston finished third in the division with 86 wins.
答：事實上紅襪今年以兩場勝差擊退洋基拿下美聯東區冠軍，這是1995年之後首度奪冠，
也是洋基從1997年後首次未能拿下美東冠軍。對照紅襪去年例行賽以86勝76敗位居美東第
三名，今年的96勝66敗可說是一大進步。
So what changed that put Boston over the top this year?
問：哇～(by DJ Denis)紅襪今年怎麼變這麼厲害啊？
One difference was that Boston's starting rotation had three pitchers with at
least 15 wins this year and the club's bullpen was the best in the league.
The starting staff was paced by right-hander Josh Beckett, who put himself in
the mix for the AL Cy Young Award by going 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA for Boston.
The Red Sox also avoided major injuries this year, unlike last year when they
lost captain Jason Varitek to knee surgery in August and had a bunch of other
core players out at the same time.
答：一個關鍵在於紅襪先發輪值中有三位15勝以上的投手(Dick-K15勝、老蝴蝶17勝、北
極20勝)，而且他們有全聯盟最堅強的牛棚。先發部隊由Beckeet領軍，他季賽20勝7敗、
防禦率3.27的表現讓他有機會角逐美聯賽揚獎。紅襪軍成員今年也沒有嚴重的受傷，不像
去年他們的隊長Varitek在八月動了膝蓋手術，以及其他主力一堆傷兵。
For a team that trailed 3-1 in this series, the Red Sox set a bunch of LCS
records en route to their comeback, didn't they?
問：ALCS從1勝3負落後到逆轉勝，紅襪是不是又創造一堆聯盟冠軍賽紀錄了？
Too numerous to mention, but here are some highlights: most runs scored by a
team in an LCS, 51, breaking the record of 45 set by the Yankees in 2004;
most RBIs by a team, 48, breaking the Yankees' record of 44; highest batting
average by a team in an LCS, .318, eclipsing Atlanta's .309 in 1996; team
slugging percentage in a seven-game series, .521, obliterating the .484 set
by the Cubs in 2003.
答：紀錄一堆咧，這裡列幾個比較重要的：聯盟冠軍戰最多得分(51分)，打破洋基於2004
年締造的45分；最多打點(48分)，打破洋基的44分；單一球隊最高打擊率：3成18，勝過
1996年勇士隊於NLCS的3成09；七場比賽長打率5成21，遠高於小熊在2003年NLCS的4成84。
But didn't the Red Sox hit into a ton of double plays?
問：不過紅襪不是也打了一堆雙殺打？
Sure, but who cares with the way they score runs. They set the LCS record by
hitting into 14 twin-killings, obliterating the record of 10 set by the
Orioles in 1997. They also have already eclipsed the record for hitting into
most double plays in an entire postseason wth 20, passing the 17 St. Louis
hit into last year. And Julio Lugo has hit into four, setting the ALCS record
and tying Pedro Guerrero, who hit into that many in the 1981 NLCS.
答：西滴！但只要能猛灌分數就好啦！他們創造了聯盟冠軍賽最高的雙殺打記錄(14支)，
超過97年金鶯的10支。紅襪打者總計打出了20支DP，也超過了紅雀去年的17支。其中
乳溝兄打了四支DP，平了1981年NLCS中Guerrero的紀錄。
I seem to remember hearing Beckett's name a few years back. Wasn't he on the
Marlins team that beat the Yankees in the World Series in 2003?
問：我好像這幾年一直聽到Beckett的名字，他不就是2003年率領馬林魚宰掉洋基的那個
傢伙？
He sure was, and Beckett picked up the Most Valuable Player Award for that
series after sealing the victory with a shutout in Game 6. Beckett maintained
his postseason poise this October, going 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA, 26 strikeouts
and just one walk over three starts.
答：沒錯就是他。北極兄當年在第6戰完封對手的優異表現讓他拿下了WS的MVP。今年他仍
然保持可怕的猛度，目前戰績3勝0敗，ERA1.17，26次三振，1次保送。
Didn't Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis have a monster series?
問：紅襪一壘手Youkilis在這個系列是不是打出了怪物般的成績啊？
If not for a guy named Beckett, he would have been the series MVP. Check this
list of records Youkilis set or tied: hits (14), tied the record; runs scored
(10), set record; batting average in a seven-game series (.500), set record;
slugging percentage in a seven-game series (.929), set record; singles in a
seven-game series (9), tied record.
答：如果沒有Beckett，你殺先生應該是這系列賽的MVP。Youkilis創造或追平的紀錄包
括：最多安打(14支平記錄)、最多得分(10分破紀錄)、打滿七場的最高打擊率(5成破紀
錄)、七場最高長打率(.929破紀錄)、七場最多一壘安打(9支平記錄)。
What about Daisuke Matsuzaka? Didn't the Red Sox hand him some huge contract
to convince him to come over from Japan? How'd he do this season?
問：紅襪花了大把銀子簽下松坂，他的表現有那個身價嗎？
Yeah, the Red Sox wound up dishing out roughly $103 million