The 2009 Houston Astros performed down to expectations, finishing with a
74-88 record. Drayton McLane, the owner, had ordered the general manager, Ed
Wade, to "work with" Tal Smith, the president of baseball operations, to keep
the team "competitive" without signing free agents to more than one-year
contracts. To keep a long story short, Ed Wade's cheap free agents—Ivan
Rodriguez, Mike Hampton, Russ Ortiz and Jason Michaels— didn't help the team
win. Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman both suffered from injuries and decreased
effectiveness. Carlos Lee posted a 118 OPS+, which was his lowest since 2003.
Miguel Tejada's 109 OPS+ was negatively balanced by his poor defensive play.
2009年.太空人有個失望的球季.74勝88敗
終極警探麥克連爺爺要GM Wade與球隊總裁Tal Smith"合作"讓球隊在沒有簽超過一年約FA
的情況下保持競爭力.但Wade的便宜軍團I-Rod,老漢,Russ Ortiz,Jason Michaels沒幫到
球隊什麼.
王牌跟白肥又都因為受傷多多少少影響到.黑肥的118 OPS+是他03年以來最低的.Tejada
的109 OPS+勉強可以跟他糟糕的防守抵銷
On the bright side, Michael Bourn improved greatly, playing a dazzling center
field, stealing an NL-high 61 bases and improving his OPS+ to 96 from 54;
Wandy Rodriguez continued his excellent pitching, posting a 139 ERA+ over a
career-high 205 innings; Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins were solid as
closer and setup man; Ed Wade's proclivity for picking very good relievers
off waiver wires and team discards proved itself with the emergence of Jeff
Fulchino, Alberto Arias and Tim Byrdak.
The manager and pitching coach were heartily disliked by the players and the
team had all the cohesion of particles in Brownian motion by the end of the
year. The lackadaisical play had them losing 20 out of their last 26 games;
the owner specifically instructed the manager to not play any of the young
players who had been called up; the fans were bored and disappointed.
在好的方面.Bourn快速的進步:中外野令人驚艷的守備.國聯最多的61次盜壘還有OPS+ 從
54成長到96.Wandy Rodriguez持續高檔.投出139 ERA+以及生涯新高的205局.肥弟跟
LaTroy Hawkins讓後防相當舒服
Wade喜愛在waiver wires撿一些別隊不要但不差的後援投手.並且給他們有機會證明自己.
像Jeff Fulchino, Alberto Arias and Tim Byrdak.
總教練跟投教都非常不喜歡季末時球員跟球隊間的瀰漫著一股詭異的氣氛.這些無精打
采的演出造季末最後26場裡輸了快20場.老闆特別指出教練不敢用被升上來的新秀.球迷都
很無聊跟失望
The owner did what he did two years ago when the team had a similar losing
record—fired the incompetent manager. This time, he hired a man to manage
who had been associated with the Red Sox instead of merely obeying Bud
Selig's "suggestion" for manager. He also hired Brad Arnsberg, an experienced
pitching coach with a stellar reputation, and fired every other coach with
the exception of the hitting coach and replaced them with men from outside
the rganization (except for third base coach Dave Clark, also very well liked
by the players) instead of merely promoting from within, as usual. So far
this spring, the players appear to have very positively responded to both the
new manager and pitching coach. While it is quite true that one can't make
chicken soup out of chicken, uh, excrement, a positive attitude, enthusiasm
and confidence from the players is a change for the better.
So, what is in store for the 2010 Astros, given that few people outside of
hopeful Astros fans expect to team to improve on last year's record?
當球隊跟兩年前爛的戰績.老闆不免俗的也火掉無能的教練.這次.他選了一個跟紅襪有關
的而非按照Bud Selig的建議.他也僱用了有經驗名望的投教Brad Arnsberg.並且除了打
教其他的教練都火掉.照例從外面找人來替代他們(除了三壘教練Dave Clark.他也相當受
到球員喜愛)而非從內部尋找.
到目前春訓看來.球員都積極地回應新教頭跟投教.然而.再好的教練也是需要配合球員本
身.一個積極的態度.熱情以及自信對球員都是變更好的一種轉變.
所以2010年對於太空人來說.能給球迷比去年更好的成績嗎?
Will the Astros again insist on using, um, recycled Veteran Presences or give
young players a chance?
New manager Brad Mills, unlike his predecessor, is actually willing and eager
to try young players, but unfortunately for him, Ed Wade is not. Although
there is ostensibly a tryout for outfielders Yordany Ramirez, Alex Romero and
Brian Bogusevic, Wade has already told reporters and prediction services that
30-year-old lefty Cory Sullivan and his 81 OPS+ will be the fifth-outfielder
replacement for Darin Erstad and his grittiness. Cory is almost a duplicate
of Erstad—slim, blond, left-handed, seldom walks, strikes out in 20 percent
of his at-bats, has very little power, runs fast in center—a born Astro.
There was never any doubt about ex-Phillie Jason Michaels and his weak glove
and 98 OPS+ taking the fourth-outfielder spot.
問題1:太空人是否會堅持用老將還是給新秀機會呢?
新教練Brad Mills跟前任教頭不同.實際上他願意並傾向給年輕人機會.可惜對他來說.
Wade是相反的
雖然現在表面看起來在試用外野手Yordany Ramirez,Alex Romero and Brian Bogusevic
.但是Wade已經告訴記者並預言30歲的左撇Sullivan跟他的81 OPS+成績將代替Erstad成為
第5號外野手
Sullivan幾乎跟Erstad類似.單薄.白人.左撇.很少保送.打數裡有20%被三振.力量低.跑很
快