原文网址：http://tinyurl.com/y8wxh2h3
By Jay Jaffe of SI
A Game of Inches: Picking the Best Major League Player at Every Height
英吋之战：从各个身高级距内选出其最佳球员。
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.
一直以来，棒球都属于一个被精密计算的运动。六呎这个数字没什么意义，但六十呎六吋
却代表着一切 (从投手板到本垒板的距离)。还有某些看似随机，但实际上却有着不凡历史
意义的数字，像是4,256 (最多安打, Pete Rose)，511 (最多胜, Cy Young)，762 (最多
全垒打, Barry Bonds)，406 (目前为止史上最后一次单季打击率超过四成, Ted
Williams)。如今是一个科技飞升的年代，因此我们能够得知的数据也越来越多元，像是
球的飞行初速，预测落点及转速…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.
也许正因如此，我们会更想看到创造这些数字的那群人们被用另外一种方式来衡量。恰巧
于今年，美联MVP的两大热门人选太空人队二垒手Jose Altuve(5呎6吋)与洋基队右外野手
Aaron Judge (6呎7吋)在众人面前所展开的"顶尖"对决 (类似啦。)。因此我们觉得这
正好是一个机会来评选联盟内各个身高里最强大 (或最强"小")的球星，每个级距差为
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:
以下我们评选的范围将介于5呎6吋的Jose Altuve与他两位身高相同的同伴，一直到最高
达6呎8吋的Dellin Betances，在现役球员中仅有两名球员比他还高。在正文开始前，有
几点需要事先说明一下：身高是来自于Baseball-Reference.com上的数据、所有成绩统计
至8/14号为止、只要是于2016或2017年曾经出赛一场的球员就会被列入计算，但也只有那
些有在这两个球季内有出赛的球员会被列入计算。
基于上述标准下有三个身高级距内皆仅一名有达成，自然而然他们就是该级距的代表了：
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：皇家队外野手Terrance Gore
尽管他本季仅出赛两场，上季仅十七场。
但因同身高的Jimmy Rolins早已退休，他自然而然荣登该身高级距内的"最佳球员"。
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：天使队投手Alex Meyer
尽管他本季因肩伤整季报销，但这位前第一轮球员仍然出赛了22场。
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：皇家队投手Chris Young：
他不是Randy Johnson。这位生涯总计13年的浪人球员在今年缴出的成绩是7.50ERA。
Now here are the rest of the picks:
接下来就是正式的评选：
5'6": Jose Altuve, Houston Astros, 2B
5呎6吋：太空人队二垒手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岁的Altuve正稳定迈向他连续四季至少达200支安打的球季，以及他生涯第三次的
打击王头衔。去年他在美联MVP票选中获得第三名，而今年他已经进化成到成为获奖的大
热门，他本季的打击三围截至目前为止已是生涯最佳 (.361/.421/.570)，WAR (6.4)及
OPS+ (173)同样名列联盟鳌头。前一位相同身高并缴出等值表现的球员需要追溯到1950年
的洋基队游击手Phil Rizzuto (6.7WAR, MVP)。
Total players: 3
同身高球员总数：3位。
Honorable mention: None (Alexi Amarista and Tony Kemp are the others)
荣誉奖：没这种东西。(其他两位为Alexi Amarista及Tony Kemp。)
5'8": Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays, RHP
5呎8吋：蓝鸟队投手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.
他是目前联盟内最矮的投手，也是自2000年以来曾经先发超过一场比赛的投手内身高最矮
的一位。他的成功也破除了大多数人认为这种身高是不可能在联盟内成功的观点。今年是
Stroman破茧而出的一季，他今年的成绩像是ERA (3.00)、投球局数 (153)，以及WAR
(4.9)均排进联盟前五。而本季结束后，他也有机会成为既1972及1973年以来的Fred
Norman后，首位5呎8吋的投手连续两季投球局数都超过200局。
Total players: 11
同身高球员总数：11位。
Honorable mention: Adam Eaton, Josh Harrison.
荣誉奖：Adam Eaton，Josh Harrison。
5'9": Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox, RF
5呎9吋：红袜队右外野手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).
他今年的打击表现稍逊于去年，但他踏上打击区时仍是个难以忽视的威胁，而防守端更是
红袜队中不可或缺的存在。他本季击出18支全垒打，在防守上也正朝着连续两季皆为球队
手下30分的纪录上迈进著 (上季守下32分，本季至今守下28分)。
Total players: 31
同身高球员总数：31位。
Honorable mention: Dustin Pedroia, Jose Ramirez
荣誉奖：Dustin Pedroia，Jose Ramirez。
5'10": Jean Segura, Seattle Mariners, SS
5呎10吋：水手队游击手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年经历丧子之痛后，他效力于酿酒人队的两个球季时表现皆不如预期。但转队至响
尾蛇及水手之后，在重新调整打击姿势之后，他再度找回了他手中的棒子，今年打击率.
315也连续两季都排进联盟前五名内。尽管今年他历经从二垒转换到游击并受到伤病缠身
的情况下，但他仍然展现出坚强的守备能力。
Total players: 78
同身高球员总数：78位。
Honorable mention: Jackie Bradley Jr.
荣誉奖：Jackie Bradley Jr.
5'11": Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers, 3B
5呎11吋：道奇队三垒手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.
这个级距是属于四名强者之间的战争，
而除了最后的王者Justin Turner之外，
其余分别是来自游骑兵队的三垒手Adrian Beltre，
双城队二垒手Brian Dozier，
以及印地安人队游击手Francisco Lindor。
但上述四位中，Turner靠着他2016年同样优异的表现脱颖而出。
在去年以31岁之姿首度将打数累积到足以争夺打击王宝座后，
今年更以.346的成绩直接在该项目领先国联，同时也于.432的上垒率排名第二，
163 OPS+排名第四，4.8 WAR名列第七，以及.573的长打率暂居第十，
而这样的表现也将他首度送进明星赛中。
Total players: 106
同身高球员总数：106位。
Honorable mention: Adrian Beltre, Brian Dozier, Francisco Lindor
荣誉奖：Adrian Beltre，Brian Dozier，Francisco Lindor。
6'0": Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners, 2B
6呎：水手队二垒手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，那些值得被拿出来检视的同身高级距内球员在本季的表现皆是乏善可陈。
他不但入选今年的明星赛，还拿下单场MVP。无论是在传统数据或是进阶数据上都持续朝
著名人堂的方向积累著。他仅差170支安打还有3发全垒打就可以成为既Rogers Hornsby以
来，唯一一位同时达成2500安及300轰的二垒手。他现在在二垒手的JAWS指数 (本文作者
所发明用于预估名人堂入选机会的指数)内排名第八。他生涯最巅峰七年内的WAR加总为
50.3，这个数字是史上排名第七，然后比名人堂所有二垒手的平均可以多贡献6场胜利。
Total players: 210
同身高球员总数：210位。
Honorable mention: Kyle Seager, Ian Kinsler, Carlos Martinez
荣誉奖：Kyle Seager，Ian Kinsler，Carlos Martinez。
6'1": Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants, C
6呎1吋：巨人队捕手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、高打击率及高上垒率为人称道，一直以来他便是以一名守俱佳的捕手
而注称。而他在这个身高级距内击败同为前MVP的Josh Donaldson脱颖而出。他今年的上
垒率.406在联盟排行第六，也是他自2012年以来的最佳成绩，而该年他可是得到了MVP并
在打击率上引领群雄。再者，他今年的OPS+134也是他近四年来最高的一次。
Total players: 247
同身高球员总数：247位。
Honorable mention: Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rendon, Jose Quintana
荣誉奖：Josh Donaldson，Anthony Rendon，Jose Quntana。
6'2": Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels, CF
6呎2吋：天使队外野手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.
目前地表最佳球员自然而然也是同身高级距内最棒的球员，这点没什么争议吧？尽管因左
手大拇指撕裂伤之故而缺席六周导致他无法连续六季蝉联最高WAR的宝座，但他目前的打
击三围已是生涯最佳 (.341/.468/.690, 211 OPS+)，事实上，若他不是少了40个打数的
话，他的上垒率跟长打率上将是联盟第一。Trout现在的表现几乎已经为他将来在退休后
确保了名人堂内的一席之地。他生涯截至目前为止共五个完整球季再加上两个部分球季的
长度下所累积的53.6 WAR已经足以超越名人堂所有中外野手7季巅峰平均的44.6 WAR，而
这个数字在19位名人堂中外野手里面也仅有5位可以超过Trout。
Total players: 289
同身高球员总数：289位。
Honorable mention: Nolan Arenado, Andrelton Simmons, Joey Votto
荣誉奖：Nolan Arenado，Andrelton Simmons，Joey Votto。
6'3": Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals, RHP
6呎3吋：国民队投手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目前正试着成为第十位曾经拿下三座或以上塞扬奖的投手。另外你永远不晓得他
会不会在某个状况绝佳的晚上时投出他生涯第三场的无安打比赛。他目前无论是WAR
(6.1)、投球局数 (160又3分之1局)、夺三振数 (220次)以及FIP (2.83)都排名国联第一
，而ERA (2.25)也只落居第二。这样的成绩足以让他在那群由常年MVP热门Paul
Goldschmidt所领军的同身高级距打者内傲视群伦。
Total players: 262
同身高球员总数：262位。
Honorable mention: Paul Goldschmidt, Manny Machado, George Springer, Anthony
Rizzo
荣誉奖：Paul Goldschmidt，Manny Machado，George Springer，Anthony Rizzo。
6'4": Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers, LHP
6呎4吋：道奇队投手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.
同属这个身高级距的可是有两个Corey，一位是道奇队游击手Seager，另一位则是印地安
人队王牌Kluber，还有太空人队游击手Carlos Correa，但只要Kershaw每次站上投手丘时
，他的表现一再地提醒著世人他就是地表最强投手。尽管连续两季皆因背伤而缺阵一段时
间，但这位现年29岁的左投手本季2.04的ERA将会使他连续五季蝉联防御率王的宝座，而
他的三振保送比 (7.0)同为国联第一，4.4 WAR也将让他连续两季都排行前四内。
Total players: 191
同身高球员总数：191位。
Honorable mention: Carlos Correa, Corey Kluber, Corey Seager
荣誉奖：Carlos Correa，Corey Kluber，Corey Seager。
6'5": Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs, 3B
6呎5吋：小熊队三垒手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).
年仅25岁的Bryant已经同时荣获国联最佳新秀、国联MVP，然后还为小熊队破除了长达108
年的冠军荒。而他今年下半季表现可说是用他手中的棒子狠狠的撕裂了各家投手，同时也
将他的打击率跟上垒率都推向生涯新高，除此之外，他更是连续三季都在WAR项目上名列
联盟前十 (4.7, 第八名)。
Total players: 99
同身高球员总数：99位。
Honorable mention: Freddie Freeman, Justin Verlander
荣誉奖：Freddie Freeman，Justin Verlander。
6'6": Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox, LHP
6呎6吋：红袜队投手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.
尽管为白袜队效力的七个球季内，Chris Sale始终都是塞扬奖的热门人选之一，但直到被
交易到红袜后的本季表现下，他终于是非常有机会将这个奖座给抱回家。尽管芬威球场对
投手并非太友善，但现年28岁的左投手还是将这当属生涯颠峰的体能给转化为实质的成绩
，他是目前美联投手三冠王，数据分别为胜场 (14场)，夺三振 (241次)，ERA (2.51)，
除此之外，WAR (5.6)，FIP (1.92)以及三振保送比 (7.8)全部都是美联第一。而他也有
机会可以成为自Pedro Martinez于1999年以来，首位单季夺三振超过300次的美联投手。
Total players: 39
同身高球员总数：39位。
Honorable mention: Giancarlo Stanton
荣誉奖：Giancarlo Stanton。
6'7": Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, RF
6呎7吋：洋基队右外野手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).
尽管在火热的上半季及让人为之疯狂的全垒打大赛表现后，他近期可说是降温不少。但他
仍以美联第一的36支全垒打成功将洋基队带往竞逐季后赛席位的道路上。他.608的长打率
为美联最佳，而WAR (5.6)则是排名第三。那股法官用来把球判死刑的力量可说是令人瞠
目结舌，他在六月的时候是连续两天分别创下本季最远全垒打 (495英呎)以及最快击球飞
行初速(121.1英哩)的两项纪录。
Total players: 19
同身高球员总数：19位。
Honorable mention: Andrew Miller
荣誉奖：Andrew Miller。
6'8": Dellin Betances, New York Yankees, RHP
6呎8吋：洋基队投手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.
现年29岁，在大联盟已进入第四个球季的Betances已挤身美联最具宰制力的后援投手一员
，尽管他过去三季分别都有部分时间担任终结者，但他最为人津津乐道的他担任布局投手
时的表现。从2014年开始他的40.3%夺三振率是仅次于他的队友Aroldis Chapman及前队友
Andrew Miller，而在同一段时期内，仅有三名后援投手的ERA比他的1.98还低。
Total players: 6
同身高球员总数：6位。
Honorable mention: None (though Doug Fister is at least a name most fans will
recognize)
荣誉奖：无。(虽然Doug Fister是那些同身高的球员内唯一为人所熟悉的。)