这是一篇有趣的文章。
本文重点：David Wright拜托你快回来。
来源：The Hardball Times
https://goo.gl/ACMpHx
The Disappearance of David Wright: A Murder Mystery
David Wright的消失：一桩离奇凶案
The Background
背景
David Wright could have been a Hall of Famer. He was a shiny, bright-eyed boy
when he debuted in the majors in 2004, so full of hope and promise on a team
full of hope and promise. Half of that came to fruition and the young third
baseman became a star.
David Wright原本是能进入名人堂的球员。他是一位光芒焕发、神采奕奕的男孩，在2004
年初登大联盟时，和他的球队都是多么充满希望与前景。其中有一半成真了，这个年轻的
三垒手成为一个明星。
From 2005 to 2014, Wright hit .298/.379/.492. He fielded his position well,
with the occasional bare-handed pick thrown in for good measure. He kept a
team in upheaval together. He averaged 144 games a season, though brought
down by a stress fracture in his back in 2011 that family and friends feared
was a sign of future events.
从2005到2014年，缴出.298/.379/.492的成绩，不时的来一次空手接传球，他也将三垒守
得不错，另外使陷入纷乱的球队得以凝聚。虽然2011年背部曾发生疲劳性骨折，他期间仍
平均一季出赛144场，该伤痛令亲友们担忧其是否提示著将来。
For years, Wright watched the Mets sink into despair, with 91-, 92- and
88-loss seasons. There was no break in the misery, just more disappointment.
He manned infields with Alex Cora and Rod Barajas and Luis Castillo. He hit
in lineups with Omar Quintanilla and Omir Santos and Jason Phillips. Year
after year, he was stuck in the middle of failure. And he didn’t complain.
He smiled for the cameras and for the fans. He gave his coy, meaningless
answers to reporters. He did everything he was supposed to do while ownership
failed to live up to its promise: to build him a winning baseball team.
几年来，Wright看着大都会落入分别为单季91、92和88败的失落低谷。苦难不见停歇，只
有更多失望接踵而至。他与Alex Cora、Rod Barajas和Luis Castillo一同处理内野事务
；他与Omar Quintanilla、Omir Santos 和Jason Phillips并肩在打线付出。年复一年，
他被困于失败之中，却没有怨言。他为镜头和球迷展露微笑，丢给记者暧昧不明的空洞回
答。所有应该做的事情他都做到了，但是球队老板无法实践他的承诺──为他建立一支常
胜军。
2006 looked like a turning point, until it wasn’t. There was only more
disappointment. The names were all there: Carlos Beltran and Tom Glavine and
Paul Lo Duca. The Mets went 97-65, finishing first in the National League
East, 12 games ahead of the Phillies. They were young and full of
expectations. A day after the regular season ended, Delta named an airplane
after the grinning third baseman: “The Wright Flight,” complete with his
name, number and signature. Because he was worth it. Those youthful
expectations died 17 days later when Beltran stared at a Adam Wainwright
curveball at the knees to end the NLCS. The Mets slunk home and sunk into
mediocrity for years. Between 2009 and 2014, they were double digits out of
first place every season. Half a decade of despair.
2006年看起来像是一个转捩点，结果不是，只剩下更多的沮丧。Carlos Beltran、Tom
Glavine 和Paul Lo Duca，这些名字帮助大都会获得97胜65败的佳绩，顺利拿下国家联盟
东区，并领先费城人12场胜差。他们既年轻又身负期待。例行赛结束后隔天，达美航空以
这挂著笑颜的三垒手将一架飞机命名为｢The Wright Flight｣，带有他的姓氏、背号与
签名，因为他值得如此。17天后，当Beltran眼睁睁望着Adam Wainwright的一颗曲球落至
其膝盖旁，终结国联冠军系列赛，那些年轻的期待逝去。大都会队悄悄回到家里，沉没在
几年的平庸中。2009年到2014年间，他们总是落后分区龙头双位数的胜差。五年的绝望。
Then 2015 happened, a dream season with a nightmare ending. Wright played
just 38 games, his first hint of delinquency, but he was part of the magic.
He was there for the ups and downs. His name was on the roster, on the
clubhouse locker, on the back of the jersey. And he was back in the playoffs.
接着2015年来了，一个以梦魇为结尾的梦幻球季。Wright只出赛38场，此为他不能恪守岗
位的第一个征象，不过依然是惊奇的一部份。他随着球队跌宕起伏，而他的名字就印在球
员名单上、置物柜上、他球衣的背面上。他在季后赛重回赛场。
A poor showing in the NLDS was overshadowed by a fist pump in Game One, a
rare showing of audacity for the cautiously reserved 32-year-old. The Mets
dominated the Cubs in the NLCS and then fell apart in World Series. But
Wright had made his way back to the postseason after nine years, a drought
that never fit a career littered with accolades.
国联分区系列赛G1，这位平时小心、含蓄的32岁球员罕见的握拳，做出对他堪称大胆的一
挥，这场的不足处也被遮蔽。(注1)大都会在国联冠军系列赛轻取小熊后于世界大赛分崩离
析。九年过去，一场与他满是赞扬的职业生涯极不相称的干旱之后，Wright成功回到季后
赛中。
He was the face of major league baseball, this boy from Norfolk — the fans
voted him so. He was Captain America. He was going to save the Mets and he
was going to save baseball.
这位来自诺福克的男孩──由球迷票选──是大联盟的看板。他是美国队长，要来拯救大
都会队，要来向棒球运动伸出援手。
Then, one day, he went into the doctor’s office and never came back.
然后，有一天，他推开诊间的大门，再也没有回来过。
The Disappearance
消失
Wright was last seen on the job striking out against Louis Coleman in the
bottom of the seventh inning on May 27, 2016. That was 15 months ago.
2016年5月27日，这是我们最后一次见到Wright在岗位上，7局下他被Louis Coleman三振
。那已经是15个月前的事了。
In July 2015, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson announced that Wright had
been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that
results in tingling, weakness and numbness in the extremities. In June 2016,
he underwent neck surgery for a herniated disc.
2015年7月，大都会总经理Sandy Alderson宣布Wright被诊断出罹患椎管狭窄症，其源于椎
管狭窄导致四肢产生麻刺感、麻木和无力。2016年6月，他接受椎间盘突出的治疗手术。
He was spotted again in Port St. Lucie in February but the appearance was
brief; witnesses reported a shoulder impingement before the victim, looking
gaunt and haggard, vanished once more.
虽然为时短暂，有人于2月在圣露西港发现他的踪影；目击者报告受害者被肩关节夹挤症候
群缠身，面容枯槁憔悴，后来又再度消失无踪。
Sightings have been reported around the country, at the Arizona Fall League
and with Tim Tebow in Florida, but the missing baseball player has never
returned to the field where he was supposed to reign forever.
不论是在亚历桑那秋季联盟或与Tim Tebow在佛罗里达，目击报告已遍布全国，但是这位失
踪的棒球员还未回到应该被他永远统治的球场上。
The Suspects
嫌犯
Jeff Wilpon 和 Fred Wilpon
In 2012, Wright signed an eight-year, $138 million extension, an unheard-of
contract for a team that never lived up to its metropolitan roots. An
insurance policy allows the team to recoup 75 percent of his contract after
he misses 60 days, freeing the owners of a significant portion of salary
allotted to the once and probably not future third baseman. After peaking at
$149 million on Opening Day in 2009, the Mets’ payroll took a nosedive for
several years before bottoming out at just below $85 million on Opening Day
in 2014.
2012年，Wright与一支不能满足都会球迷支持的球队签下一纸八年1亿3800万美元、对该队
而言前所未闻的延长合约。一条保障条款允许球队在他错过60日后，能收回合约中百分之7
5，把一大笔支付给曾经、可能不是未来的三垒手的薪资中从球队老板手中解放出来。达到
2009年开幕日的1亿4900万美元高峰后，大都会队的薪资总额开始直直落了几年，在2014年
的开幕日落至不满8500万美元的低谷。
In recent years, the team has rebounded to a more acceptable rate for a big
market team — although barely — but every dollar counts for owners still
trying to pay off a multi-million dollar settlement to the victims of the
Madoff Ponzi scheme. Why pay an aging third baseman $18 million for 2018 when
you can pay barely above the league minimum to Wilmer Flores or T.J. Rivera?
Sure, Wright sells more tickets and more shirseys, but $18 million is a lot
of money. What’s that? You play in New York and $18 million isn’t really
all that much? A payroll barely creeping past $150 million is, in fact, a
perfectly reasonable payroll? A team with a starting rotation of pre-arb aces
(well, they were) can afford to pay a star player his worth? We’ll circle
back.
近年来——虽然勉强算是——这支队伍已经反弹到堪称符合大市场球队的等级，但是对试
图支付数百万美元财产给金字塔式骗局(注2)受害者的老板们来说，每一块钱都有其价值。
当你能付给Wilmer Flores或T.J. Rivera不比联盟最低额度高多少的薪水，为什么还要给
一个正在老化的三垒手1800万美元当他的2018年薪水呢？当然，Wright能卖出更多张票和
球衣，不过1800万可是一大笔钱。什么？你在纽约打球而且1800万也不算那么多？即将冲
破1亿5000万美元的薪资总额就是如此，或是实际上，完美的薪资总额？一支先发轮值中
有几个面临薪资仲裁的王牌(恩，他们就是)的球队，能付给一位明星球员与身价相称
的薪资？我们再聊聊。
*这段的意思是Wright受伤能舒缓球队的薪资压力
Eric Campbell
With Wright sidelined for all but 38 games in 2015, Eric Campbell became the
de facto starting third baseman for 71 games of marginal mediocrity and a
.197/.312/.295 slash line. Wright’s disappearance extended Campbell’s
failed major league career by years, giving the suspect a plausible motive.
Campbell, 30, recently fled the country and is currently playing for the
Hanshin Tigers in Japan.
当Wright在2015球季仅仅出席38场球赛，Eric Campbell成为实际上的先发三垒手，先发
71场缴出.197/.312/.295的庸俗成绩。Wright的消失让Campbell失败的大联盟生涯得以延
续几年，给了这个嫌犯足够的动机。Campbell，30岁，最近逃离了美国，跑到日本为阪神
虎打球。
Wilmer Flores
The not-actually-a-shortstop shortstop similarly found himself with extra
playing time after Wright’s disappearance. Flores has manned the hot corner
for about 120 games between 2013 and 2017, not enough to call him a third
baseman but enough to turn the young Venezuelan from a fifth infielder to an
everyday player.
Wright消失不见之后，这个不是真的游击手的游击手也类似的发现他能多打一点球。2013
年到2017年间，Flores已经镇守三垒热区差不多120场，即使还不能让它成为三垒手，
可是委内瑞拉人已然从替补内野手变成能每日上场的球员了。
T.J.Rivera
The local townie has a tertiary motive at best: he was promoted when Flores
failed as an adequate replacement. Rivera can hit. He’s known around these
parts for his ability to hit. In theory, he eventually would have hit his way
to the majors. Wright’s disappearance expedited that process. The suspect,
however, was in Las Vegas at the time of the incident and seems unlikely to
have had the means to secure his eventual promotion.
这个地方的都市小子的动机则排在第三：当Flores不能成为合适的替代人选时，他被拉上
大联盟。Rivera能打，他的特色就是打击。理论上，他最后仍然能成功登上大联盟，而
Wright的消失加速了那个过程。然而这嫌犯在事发当时身处拉斯维加斯(大都会3A所在)，
看起来不太像是有能获得提拔的好方法。
Jose Reyes
The victim’s former best friend, Reyes debuted in the majors just a year
before Wright and the two formed a dominant left side of the infield. A
resident provided officers with old photos of the pair, a GQ spread of six
packs and headbands and infectious smiles.
受害者以前最好的朋友Reyes刚好比Wright早一年登上大联盟，他们俩组成了具有宰制力的
三游。一个居民给了警官一些这对好友的老照片、一本展示六块腹肌和头巾的GQ杂志和充
满感染力的微笑。
The young shortstop left town in 2012, finding new homes in Miami, Toronto
and Denver before returning to New York in 2016.
年轻的游击手于2012年离开了城市，前往迈阿密、多伦多和丹佛寻找他的新家，2016年又
回到纽约。
The suspect has previously been in trouble with the law after allegedly
beating and shoving his wife in a Hawaii hotel room in October 2015.
According to Hawaii News Now, Reyes grabbed Katherine Ramirez off the bed and
pushed her, then took her by the neck and “shoved” her into the sliding
glass balcony door at the Maui Four Seasons. Ramirez reported injuries to her
thigh, neck and wrist, according to police. Reyes was arrested for domestic
violence, but charges were dropped after Ramirez refused to cooperate with
law enforcement. MLB suspended him for 51 games before he was welcomed home
to Flushing as a returning hero.
这嫌犯因为据称在2015年10月于夏威夷的饭店推、打他的妻子，进而惹上一些法律问题。
根据Hawaii News Now，Reyes 把 Katherine Ramirez抓下床并推了她，然后抓着她的脖
子往Maui Four Seasons饭店阳台的玻璃拉门上｢推挤｣。警方表示Ramirez报告了她大腿
、脖子与手腕的伤势，而Reyes以实施家暴被捕。在他以英雄之姿重返纽约法拉圣前，MLB
先判了他51场禁赛。
Reyes has been an everyday player for the Mets since his suspension was
lifted, a role he would have been unlikely to hold had Wright been healthy.
禁赛结束后Reyes成为大都会队的每日球员，一个要是Wright保持健康他将难以继续保住的
位子。
Derek Jeter
The timing is suspicious. The face of New York baseball retired in 2014 and
left behind an opening, not just on the Bronx dirt but as someone to
represent the Big Apple and all it has to offer. Alex Rodriguez was
disgraced, Aaron Judge was a hard-hitting minor leaguer barely a few months
into his professional career. Wright was the heir apparent, but perhaps the
crosstown rivalry was simply too much to accept.
可疑的是时间点。这张纽约棒球的脸在2014年引退，留下了一个机会，不只是布朗克斯，
还有能代表大苹果与其一切的身分。Alex Rodriguez声誉不佳，Aaron Judge是一个刚踏
入职业生涯不久、有侵略性但不算细腻的小联盟球员。Wright手握继承权，但是恐怕同一
个城市的竞争对手不能接受。
The Plan of Action
行动计画
Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any cause for hope in the case of
David Wright.
不幸的是，David Wright的这件案子似乎没有什么希望破案。
His is a story not of fading glory, but of cruel fate. Wright didn’t lose
his arm strength or stop being able to turn on an inside fastball. He wasn’t
forced into a platoon and eventually shuffled off into a bench role. He
simply vanished. One day he was Captain America. The next day he was gone.
There was no farewell party. No retiring of No. 5 and no final standing
ovation. Mets fans — and baseball — never got to say goodbye. He just
disappeared.
他的故事不是褪色的荣耀，而是诉说著残酷的命运。Wright没有失去他的臂力，或是逮中
一颗内角速球的能力，也没有被迫和其他人分享岗位或是沦为板凳，他单纯的消失了。有
一天他还是美国队长，隔天就不见了。没有欢送会、没有5号的退休典礼，也没有最后
的起立鼓掌。大都会球迷——与棒球——没有说再见的机会，他就这么没了踪迹。
He was supposed to be a star. He could have been a star. He should have been
a star. That time has passed. He’s a shadow now, a whisper of a promise
never fulfilled. His name will remain in the record books until it doesn’t.
His shirseys will be sold until they aren’t. He’ll be remembered until he’
s not.
他是要成为明星的；他可以成为明星；他应该成为明星。随着时间流逝，他现在成为阴影
、耳边的轻声诺言，且从未被完成。他的姓名将留在记录本中直到被抹去；他的球衣将陈
列在架上直到被撤下；他将一直被记得直到人们淡忘。
That’s the way things go sometimes. People rarely get their storybook
ending. Maybe there’s no such thing. Maybe a glimmer of hope is all we get:
the thought of happiness, rather than the actual feeling. Are we supposed to
be content with promise? With potential? Is that supposed to be enough? Is
that failure? Or disappointment? Or is achievement, no matter how fleeting,
success? Should we be satisfied with temporary triumph?
事情有时候就是这样，人们很少了解自己故事的结局。也许没有这种东西，也许我们只剩
下一丝希望：快乐的想法，而非真实的感觉。我们应该满足于承诺？潜能？这样就够了吗
？这是失败？是失望？抑或是成就——不管多么短暂——成功？我们应该因一时的胜利
而心满意足吗？
Wright’s career likely ended on that cloudless evening on May 27, 2016,
caught staring at an inside slider from Louis Coleman. He’s still out there,
in California or Florida or New York or Virginia, trying to recapture his
youth, his glory. He hasn’t given up yet, even if everyone else has. He
still believes in himself.
Wright的生涯可能结束于2016年5月27日晴朗无云的傍晚，看着Louis Coleman的内角滑
球进垒。他还在那里，加州、佛罗里达、纽约或是维吉尼亚，正在尝试重新抓住他的青春
、他的荣耀。就算其他人都放弃了，他仍坚持继续相信自己。
David Wright, if you’re listening, your family misses you. Come home.
David Wright，如果你在听的话，你的家人很想你，回家吧。
This case remains open.
此案仍悬疑未决。