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.太空人有个失望的球季.74胜88败
终极警探麦克连爷爷要GM Wade与球队总裁Tal Smith"合作"让球队在没有签超过一年约FA
的情况下保持竞争力.但Wade的便宜军团I-Rod,老汉,Russ Ortiz,Jason Michaels没帮到
球队什么.
王牌跟白肥又都因为受伤多多少少影响到.黑肥的118 OPS+是他03年以来最低的.Tejada
的109 OPS+勉强可以跟他糟糕的防守抵销
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快速的进步:中外野令人惊艳的守备.国联最多的61次盗垒还有OPS+ 从
54成长到96.Wandy Rodriguez持续高档.投出139 ERA+以及生涯新高的205局.肥弟跟
LaTroy Hawkins让后防相当舒服
Wade喜爱在waiver wires捡一些别队不要但不差的后援投手.并且给他们有机会证明自己.
像Jeff Fulchino, Alberto Arias and Tim Byrdak.
总教练跟投教都非常不喜欢季末时球员跟球队间的弥漫着一股诡异的气氛.这些无精打
采的演出造季末最后26场里输了快20场.老板特别指出教练不敢用被升上来的新秀.球迷都
很无聊跟失望
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?
当球队跟两年前烂的战绩.老板不免俗的也火掉无能的教练.这次.他选了一个跟红袜有关
的而非按照Bud Selig的建议.他也雇用了有经验名望的投教Brad Arnsberg.并且除了打
教其他的教练都火掉.照例从外面找人来替代他们(除了三垒教练Dave Clark.他也相当受
到球员喜爱)而非从内部寻找.
到目前春训看来.球员都积极地回应新教头跟投教.然而.再好的教练也是需要配合球员本
身.一个积极的态度.热情以及自信对球员都是变更好的一种转变.
所以2010年对于太空人来说.能给球迷比去年更好的成绩吗?
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.
问题1:太空人是否会坚持用老将还是给新秀机会呢?
新教练Brad Mills跟前任教头不同.实际上他愿意并倾向给年轻人机会.可惜对他来说.
Wade是相反的
虽然现在表面看起来在试用外野手Yordany Ramirez,Alex Romero and Brian Bogusevic
.但是Wade已经告诉记者并预言30岁的左撇Sullivan跟他的81 OPS+成绩将代替Erstad成为
第5号外野手
Sullivan几乎跟Erstad类似.单薄.白人.左撇.很少保送.打数里有20%被三振.力量低.跑很
快