原文網址：http://tinyurl.com/y8wxh2h3
By Jay Jaffe of SI
A Game of Inches: Picking the Best Major League Player at Every Height
英吋之戰：從各個身高級距內選出其最佳球員。
Baseball has always been a game of precise measurements. Sixty feet doesn't
mean much, but 60'6" means everything. Otherwise random numbers—4,256; 511;
762; .406—have historic significance. The game’s high-tech era has us
grasping a new breed of figures, such as exit velocities, projected distances
and spin rates.
一直以來，棒球都屬於一個被精密計算的運動。六呎這個數字沒什麼意義，但六十呎六吋
卻代表著一切 (從投手板到本壘板的距離)。還有某些看似隨機，但實際上卻有著不凡歷史
意義的數字，像是4,256 (最多安打, Pete Rose)，511 (最多勝, Cy Young)，762 (最多
全壘打, Barry Bonds)，406 (目前為止史上最後一次單季打擊率超過四成, Ted
Williams)。如今是一個科技飛升的年代，因此我們能夠得知的數據也越來越多元，像是
球的飛行初速，預測落點及轉速…等。
So perhaps it's no surprise that we would want to see how the men who produce
those numbers measure up in other ways too. In a year in which Astros second
baseman Jose Altuve (5'6") is going head-to-head (sort of) with Yankees
rightfielder Aaron Judge (6'7") for the AL MVP award, we felt it was time to
take a long (or short) look at the game's biggest (or smallest) stars, one
inch at a time.
也許正因如此，我們會更想看到創造這些數字的那群人們被用另外一種方式來衡量。恰巧
於今年，美聯MVP的兩大熱門人選太空人隊二壘手Jose Altuve(5呎6吋)與洋基隊右外野手
Aaron Judge (6呎7吋)在眾人面前所展開的"頂尖"對決 (類似啦。)。因此我們覺得這
正好是一個機會來評選聯盟內各個身高裡最強大 (或最強"小")的球星，每個級距差為
一英吋。
Below are our choices for the best player at every height, from the 5'6"
Altuve, tied with two others for the shortest player in the majors the past
two years, to the 6'8" Dellin Betances, who is shorter than only two other
players. Before getting to the full list, a few notes: Heights are those
listed by Baseball-Reference.com. All stats are through Monday, Aug. 14, and
we are including a mention of the total number of players at that height to
have appeared in at least one game in 2016 or '17. Only performances in those
two seasons were used to guide our decisions. And finally, because there are
three heights at which only one player has appeared in both seasons, those
players are the default choices:
以下我們評選的範圍將介於5呎6吋的Jose Altuve與他兩位身高相同的同伴，一直到最高
達6呎8吋的Dellin Betances，在現役球員中僅有兩名球員比他還高。在正文開始前，有
幾點需要事先說明一下：身高是來自於Baseball-Reference.com上的數據、所有成績統計
至8/14號為止、只要是於2016或2017年曾經出賽一場的球員就會被列入計算，但也只有那
些有在這兩個球季內有出賽的球員會被列入計算。
基於上述標準下有三個身高級距內皆僅一名有達成，自然而然他們就是該級距的代表了：
5'7": Terrance Gore, Royals, OF—He's played two major league games all
season and just 17 last year, but with Jimmy Rollins now retired he's the
only one at this size who has appeared in each of the past two seasons.
5呎7吋：皇家隊外野手Terrance Gore
儘管他本季僅出賽兩場，上季僅十七場。
但因同身高的Jimmy Rolins早已退休，他自然而然榮登該身高級距內的"最佳球員"。
6'9": Alex Meyer, Angels, RHP—He may be out for the year with a shoulder
injury and at age 27, the former first-round pick has still appeared in just
22 big league games.
6呎9吋：天使隊投手Alex Meyer
儘管他本季因肩傷整季報銷，但這位前第一輪球員仍然出賽了22場。
6'10": Chris Young, Royals, RHP—Randy Johnson he ain't. The 13-year
journeyman has been knocked around for a 7.50 ERA this season.
6呎10吋：皇家隊投手Chris Young：
他不是Randy Johnson。這位生涯總計13年的浪人球員在今年繳出的成績是7.50ERA。
Now here are the rest of the picks:
接下來就是正式的評選：
5'6": Jose Altuve, Houston Astros, 2B
5呎6吋：太空人隊二壘手Jose Altuve
The 27-year-old Altuve is a hitting machine who’s on his way to his fourth
straight 200-hit season and his third batting title. After finishing third in
last year's AL MVP vote, he’s put himself at the forefront of this year's
race while setting career bests in all three slash stats (.361 batting
average, .421 on-base percentage, .570 slugging percentage) and leading the
league in both WAR (6.4) and OPS+ (173). The only other post-1900 5'6" player
to lead his league in WAR and win MVP is Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto (6.7
WAR in 1950).
今年27歲的Altuve正穩定邁向他連續四季至少達200支安打的球季，以及他生涯第三次的
打擊王頭銜。去年他在美聯MVP票選中獲得第三名，而今年他已經進化成到成為獲獎的大
熱門，他本季的打擊三圍截至目前為止已是生涯最佳 (.361/.421/.570)，WAR (6.4)及
OPS+ (173)同樣名列聯盟鰲頭。前一位相同身高並繳出等值表現的球員需要追溯到1950年
的洋基隊游擊手Phil Rizzuto (6.7WAR, MVP)。
Total players: 3
同身高球員總數：3位。
Honorable mention: None (Alexi Amarista and Tony Kemp are the others)
榮譽獎：沒這種東西。(其他兩位為Alexi Amarista及Tony Kemp。)
5'8": Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays, RHP
5呎8吋：藍鳥隊投手Marcus Stroman
The majors' shortest pitcher—and the shortest to make multiple starts in a
season since 2000—has challenged beliefs about what a hurler of such modest
stature can accomplish. Stroman is in the midst of a breakout season, ranking
among the league's top five in ERA (3.00), innings (153) and WAR (4.9), and
he could become the first 5'8" pitcher with back-to-back 200-inning seasons
since Fred Norman in 1972 and '73.
他是目前聯盟內最矮的投手，也是自2000年以來曾經先發超過一場比賽的投手內身高最矮
的一位。他的成功也破除了大多數人認為這種身高是不可能在聯盟內成功的觀點。今年是
Stroman破繭而出的一季，他今年的成績像是ERA (3.00)、投球局數 (153)，以及WAR
(4.9)均排進聯盟前五。而本季結束後，他也有機會成為既1972及1973年以來的Fred
Norman後，首位5呎8吋的投手連續兩季投球局數都超過200局。
Total players: 11
同身高球員總數：11位。
Honorable mention: Adam Eaton, Josh Harrison.
榮譽獎：Adam Eaton，Josh Harrison。
5'9": Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox, RF
5呎9吋：紅襪隊右外野手Mookie Betts
He's not having as strong a season with the bat as he did last year, when he
led the AL in total bases (359) while collecting 42 doubles and 31 homers
from among his 214 hits, but Betts is still a significant offensive threat as
well as an elite defender. He's got 18 home runs and he's on track to top 30
Defensive Runs Saved for the second year in a row (32 last year, 28 so far
this year).
他今年的打擊表現稍遜於去年，但他踏上打擊區時仍是個難以忽視的威脅，而防守端更是
紅襪隊中不可或缺的存在。他本季擊出18支全壘打，在防守上也正朝著連續兩季皆為球隊
手下30分的紀錄上邁進著 (上季守下32分，本季至今守下28分)。
Total players: 31
同身高球員總數：31位。
Honorable mention: Dustin Pedroia, Jose Ramirez
榮譽獎：Dustin Pedroia，Jose Ramirez。
5'10": Jean Segura, Seattle Mariners, SS
5呎10吋：水手隊游擊手Jean Segura
After a pair of subpar seasons in Milwaukee—overshadowed by the death of his
nine-month-old son in 2014—Segura has reemerged as an offensive force in
stops at Arizona and Seattle. Thanks to a reworked swing, he has a .315
batting average and is vying for his second straight top-five finish in that
category. He's battled injuries this year but has resumed his solid play at
shortstop after spending most of 2016 at second base.
在2014年經歷喪子之痛後，他效力於釀酒人隊的兩個球季時表現皆不如預期。但轉隊至響
尾蛇及水手之後，在重新調整打擊姿勢之後，他再度找回了他手中的棒子，今年打擊率.
315也連續兩季都排進聯盟前五名內。儘管今年他歷經從二壘轉換到游擊並受到傷病纏身
的情況下，但他仍然展現出堅強的守備能力。
Total players: 78
同身高球員總數：78位。
Honorable mention: Jackie Bradley Jr.
榮譽獎：Jackie Bradley Jr.
5'11": Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers, 3B
5呎11吋：道奇隊三壘手Justin Turner
In a tight four-way race, one can make cases for Rangers third baseman Adrian
Beltre, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier and Indians shortstop Francisco
Lindor here, but of that quartet, only Turner is outdoing a strong 2016
season. After qualifying for the batting title for the first time at age 31
last year, the raking redhead leads the NL batting race (.346) and is running
second in on-base percentage (.432), fourth in OPS+ (163), seventh in WAR
(4.8) and 10th in slugging percentage (.573)—a performance that made him a
first-time All-Star last month.
這個級距是屬於四名強者之間的戰爭，
而除了最後的王者Justin Turner之外，
其餘分別是來自遊騎兵隊的三壘手Adrian Beltre，
雙城隊二壘手Brian Dozier，
以及印地安人隊游擊手Francisco Lindor。
但上述四位中，Turner靠著他2016年同樣優異的表現脫穎而出。
在去年以31歲之姿首度將打數累積到足以爭奪打擊王寶座後，
今年更以.346的成績直接在該項目領先國聯，同時也於.432的上壘率排名第二，
163 OPS+排名第四，4.8 WAR名列第七，以及.573的長打率暫居第十，
而這樣的表現也將他首度送進明星賽中。
Total players: 106
同身高球員總數：106位。
Honorable mention: Adrian Beltre, Brian Dozier, Francisco Lindor
榮譽獎：Adrian Beltre，Brian Dozier，Francisco Lindor。
6'0": Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners, 2B
6呎：水手隊二壘手Robinson Cano
None of the top choices at this position are having exceptional seasons, but
the 34-year-old Cano was an All-Star (the game's MVP, in fact) and he remains
on a Hall of Fame path both by traditional and advanced metrics. He's 170
hits and three homers away from joining Rogers Hornsby as the only second
basemen with 2,500 hits and 300 homers, and he now ranks eighth at the
position in JAWS, with a seven-year peak of 50.3 that is seventh all-time and
six wins above the average Hall second baseman.
除了Cano之外，那些值得被拿出來檢視的同身高級距內球員在本季的表現皆是乏善可陳。
他不但入選今年的明星賽，還拿下單場MVP。無論是在傳統數據或是進階數據上都持續朝
著名人堂的方向積累著。他僅差170支安打還有3發全壘打就可以成為既Rogers Hornsby以
來，唯一一位同時達成2500安及300轟的二壘手。他現在在二壘手的JAWS指數 (本文作者
所發明用於預估名人堂入選機會的指數)內排名第八。他生涯最巔峰七年內的WAR加總為
50.3，這個數字是史上排名第七，然後比名人堂所有二壘手的平均可以多貢獻6場勝利。
Total players: 210
同身高球員總數：210位。
Honorable mention: Kyle Seager, Ian Kinsler, Carlos Martinez
榮譽獎：Kyle Seager，Ian Kinsler，Carlos Martinez。
6'1": Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants, C
6呎1吋：巨人隊捕手Buster Posey
Renowned as much for his pitch framing as for his high-average, high on-base
offense, Posey is game's best two-way catcher, and here he gets the nod over
Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, another former MVP. Posey's .406
on-base percentage this year ranks sixth in the league and is his best mark
since 2012, the year he won the NL batting title and MVP award, while his 134
OPS+ is his best since 2014.
Posey以配球功力、高打擊率及高上壘率為人稱道，一直以來他便是以一名守俱佳的捕手
而註稱。而他在這個身高級距內擊敗同為前MVP的Josh Donaldson脫穎而出。他今年的上
壘率.406在聯盟排行第六，也是他自2012年以來的最佳成績，而該年他可是得到了MVP並
在打擊率上引領群雄。再者，他今年的OPS+134也是他近四年來最高的一次。
Total players: 247
同身高球員總數：247位。
Honorable mention: Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rendon, Jose Quintana
榮譽獎：Josh Donaldson，Anthony Rendon，Jose Quntana。
6'2": Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels, CF
6呎2吋：天使隊外野手Mike Trout
It figures that the best player on the planet would rate as the best of his
height, right? A torn ligament in his left thumb that cost him six weeks is
likely to prevent the just-turned-26-year-old Trout from leading the AL in
WAR for the sixth straight season, but his offensive rate stats
(.341/.468/.690, 211 OPS+) are career bests. In fact, he'd be leading the
league in OBP and slugging if he weren't 40 plate appearances short of
qualifying. Trout is already blazing a trail toward Cooperstown. His 53.6 WAR
over five full seasons and two partial ones exceeds the seven-year WAR peak
score of the average Hall of Fame centerfielder (44.6) and has been surpassed
by just five of the 19 enshrinees.
目前地表最佳球員自然而然也是同身高級距內最棒的球員，這點沒什麼爭議吧？儘管因左
手大拇指撕裂傷之故而缺席六週導致他無法連續六季蟬聯最高WAR的寶座，但他目前的打
擊三圍已是生涯最佳 (.341/.468/.690, 211 OPS+)，事實上，若他不是少了40個打數的
話，他的上壘率跟長打率上將是聯盟第一。Trout現在的表現幾乎已經為他將來在退休後
確保了名人堂內的一席之地。他生涯截至目前為止共五個完整球季再加上兩個部分球季的
長度下所累積的53.6 WAR已經足以超越名人堂所有中外野手7季巔峰平均的44.6 WAR，而
這個數字在19位名人堂中外野手裡面也僅有5位可以超過Trout。
Total players: 289
同身高球員總數：289位。
Honorable mention: Nolan Arenado, Andrelton Simmons, Joey Votto
榮譽獎：Nolan Arenado，Andrelton Simmons，Joey Votto。
6'3": Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals, RHP
6呎3吋：國民隊投手Max Scherzer
Already a two-time Cy Young winner, Scherzer is on track to become the 10th
pitcher ever to win three, and he's a threat to throw his third no-hitter on
a good night as ell. The 32-year-old righty leads NL pitchers in WAR (6.1),
innings (160 1/3), strikeouts (220) and FIP (2.83) while running second in
ERA (2.25). That's enough to push him past a strong field of hitters headed
by perennial NL MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt.
Scherzer目前正試著成為第十位曾經拿下三座或以上塞揚獎的投手。另外你永遠不曉得他
會不會在某個狀況絕佳的晚上時投出他生涯第三場的無安打比賽。他目前無論是WAR
(6.1)、投球局數 (160又3分之1局)、奪三振數 (220次)以及FIP (2.83)都排名國聯第一
，而ERA (2.25)也只落居第二。這樣的成績足以讓他在那群由常年MVP熱門Paul
Goldschmidt所領軍的同身高級距打者內傲視群倫。
Total players: 262
同身高球員總數：262位。
Honorable mention: Paul Goldschmidt, Manny Machado, George Springer, Anthony
Rizzo
榮譽獎：Paul Goldschmidt，Manny Machado，George Springer，Anthony Rizzo。
6'4": Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers, LHP
6呎4吋：道奇隊投手Clayton Kershaw。
There's a case to be made here for a pair of Coreys, Dodgers shortstop Seager
and Indians ace Kluber, as well as for Astros shotstop Carlos Correa. But
every time he takes the ball—which is a bit less often than the Dodgers
would like, given his second straight season missing time due to a back injury
—Kershaw stakes his claim as the best pitcher on the planet. The 29-year-old
southpaw's 2.04 ERA this year puts him on track to lead the league for the
fifth time; he's ahead of the pack in strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.0) and among
the top four in WAR (4.4) for the second straight season despite his DL stint.
同屬這個身高級距的可是有兩個Corey，一位是道奇隊游擊手Seager，另一位則是印地安
人隊王牌Kluber，還有太空人隊游擊手Carlos Correa，但只要Kershaw每次站上投手丘時
，他的表現一再地提醒著世人他就是地表最強投手。儘管連續兩季皆因背傷而缺陣一段時
間，但這位現年29歲的左投手本季2.04的ERA將會使他連續五季蟬聯防禦率王的寶座，而
他的三振保送比 (7.0)同為國聯第一，4.4 WAR也將讓他連續兩季都排行前四內。
Total players: 191
同身高球員總數：191位。
Honorable mention: Carlos Correa, Corey Kluber, Corey Seager
榮譽獎：Carlos Correa，Corey Kluber，Corey Seager。
6'5": Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs, 3B
6呎5吋：小熊隊三壘手Kris Bryant
Already having won the NL Rookie of the Year and MVP awards plus a World
Series championship ring, the 25-year-old Bryant has gone on a second-half
tear this season that has pushed his batting average and on-base percentage
(2.96 and 4.07, respectively) to career bests. And for the third straight
season, he's among the league's top 10 in WAR (4.7, eighth).
年僅25歲的Bryant已經同時榮獲國聯最佳新秀、國聯MVP，然後還為小熊隊破除了長達108
年的冠軍荒。而他今年下半季表現可說是用他手中的棒子狠狠的撕裂了各家投手，同時也
將他的打擊率跟上壘率都推向生涯新高，除此之外，他更是連續三季都在WAR項目上名列
聯盟前十 (4.7, 第八名)。
Total players: 99
同身高球員總數：99位。
Honorable mention: Freddie Freeman, Justin Verlander
榮譽獎：Freddie Freeman，Justin Verlander。
6'6": Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox, LHP
6呎6吋：紅襪隊投手Chris Sale
A perennial Cy Young contender during his seven seasons with the White Sox,
Sale is poised to bring home the hardware for the first time this year after
being traded to Boston last December. In the crucible of Fenway Park, the
28-year-old southpaw is putting together a season for the ages, leading the
AL in all three triple crown stats with 14 wins, 241 strikeouts and a 2.51
ERA, as well as in WAR (5.6), FIP (1.92) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (7.8).
He's also on pace to become the first AL pitcher to strike out 300 batters
since Pedro Martinez in 1999.
儘管為白襪隊效力的七個球季內，Chris Sale始終都是塞揚獎的熱門人選之一，但直到被
交易到紅襪後的本季表現下，他終於是非常有機會將這個獎座給抱回家。儘管芬威球場對
投手並非太友善，但現年28歲的左投手還是將這當屬生涯顛峰的體能給轉化為實質的成績
，他是目前美聯投手三冠王，數據分別為勝場 (14場)，奪三振 (241次)，ERA (2.51)，
除此之外，WAR (5.6)，FIP (1.92)以及三振保送比 (7.8)全部都是美聯第一。而他也有
機會可以成為自Pedro Martinez於1999年以來，首位單季奪三振超過300次的美聯投手。
Total players: 39
同身高球員總數：39位。
Honorable mention: Giancarlo Stanton
榮譽獎：Giancarlo Stanton。
6'7": Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, RF
6呎7吋：洋基隊右外野手Aaron Judge
Though he's cooled off since a remarkable first half capped by his victory in
the Home Run Derby, Judge has powered the Yankees into playoff contention
with an AL-best 36 homers; he also leads in slugging percentage (.608) and
ranks third in WAR (5.6). The force with which Judge sentences baseball to
die is something to behold; on back-to-back days in June, he launched the
season's longest home run (495 feet) and set a record for the highest exit
velocity of a home run in the Statcast era (121.1 mph).
儘管在火熱的上半季及讓人為之瘋狂的全壘打大賽表現後，他近期可說是降溫不少。但他
仍以美聯第一的36支全壘打成功將洋基隊帶往競逐季後賽席位的道路上。他.608的長打率
為美聯最佳，而WAR (5.6)則是排名第三。那股法官用來把球判死刑的力量可說是令人瞠
目結舌，他在六月的時候是連續兩天分別創下本季最遠全壘打 (495英呎)以及最快擊球飛
行初速(121.1英哩)的兩項紀錄。
Total players: 19
同身高球員總數：19位。
Honorable mention: Andrew Miller
榮譽獎：Andrew Miller。
6'8": Dellin Betances, New York Yankees, RHP
6呎8吋：洋基隊投手Dellin Betances
Betances, 29, is now in his fourth year as one of the AL's most dominant
relievers, and while he has spotted at closer in each of the past three
seasons he has become best known for his work as a setup reliever. Since the
start of 2014, his 40.3% strikeout rate trails that of only teammate Aroldis
Chapman and former teammate Andrew Miller, and only three relievers have
lower ERAs than his 1.98 mark in that span.
現年29歲，在大聯盟已進入第四個球季的Betances已擠身美聯最具宰制力的後援投手一員
，儘管他過去三季分別都有部分時間擔任終結者，但他最為人津津樂道的他擔任布局投手
時的表現。從2014年開始他的40.3%奪三振率是僅次於他的隊友Aroldis Chapman及前隊友
Andrew Miller，而在同一段時期內，僅有三名後援投手的ERA比他的1.98還低。
Total players: 6
同身高球員總數：6位。
Honorable mention: None (though Doug Fister is at least a name most fans will
recognize)
榮譽獎：無。(雖然Doug Fister是那些同身高的球員內唯一為人所熟悉的。)