THe New York Times Yankees’ Ramírez Finally Arrives in Anaheim KKK终於来到了安那罕 By LEE JENKINS Published: August 22, 2007 ANAHEIM, Calif., Aug. 21 — When Edwar Ramírez pitched for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League, the team would take an annual field trip to Angel Stadium. 当KKK在加州联盟打球时, 球队每年都会安排一次天使球场之旅. The Quakes, a Class A affiliate of the Angels, relished the trip. Players were invited to come down from the bleachers and stand on the field that someday could be theirs. Quakes是天使的1A球队, 球员们都很喜欢这个旅程. 他们被邀请:可以从座位区进到球场上站着, 这个有一天会属於他们的球场. But one of the players, a lanky right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic, refused to leave the bleachers. He could not bring himself to touch the grass. 但一位瘦的跟竹竿一样的多明尼加球员拒绝离开座位区. 他没办法让自己接触这片草地. “I didn’t want to go down there unless I could stay,” Ramírez said. "我不要下去那里, 除非我能一直待在那里." KKK说. For four years, Ramírez tried to earn his way onto the field at Angel Stadium. And for four years, he failed bitterly. The Angels released Ramí rez, not once, but twice. 花了四年, KKK试着找到他自己通往天使球场的一条路. 四年之後, 他痛苦地失败了! 天使将KKK释出了, 不只一次, 是两次. The first time the Angels released him, after the 2003 season, Ramírez understood. The second time they released him, early in the 2005 season, he did not. 第一次在2003年球季後被释出, KKK能理解. 第二次在2005年球季初被释出, 他无法理解. “It was bad,” Ramírez said. “It was really bad. I was like, Why? Why?” "这是很糟糕的感觉." KKK说. "这真的很糟糕. 我一直不断问着:为什麽? 为什麽?" The Angels may soon ask themselves the same question. Ramírez, who was in an independent league at this time a year ago, has emerged as an intriguing part of the Yankees’ revitalized bullpen. 天使可能很快就问自己同样这个问题. 一年前这个时候, KKK在独立联盟投球. 他现在已经是洋基振兴後的牛棚中耐人寻味的一部份. This week, with the Yankees at Angel Stadium for a three-game series, Ramí rez has decided that he can finally get out of the bleachers and go onto the field. 本周洋基将在天使球场进行三连战. KKK终於可以从座位区走出去, 站在球场上. “I waited a long time to be here,” he said. "我等了很久才到了这里." KKK说. When the Yankees arrived in Anaheim, Ramirez immediately called his best friend, Maximo Soto, in Miami. Like Ramírez, Soto played in the Angels’ minor league system. Like Ramírez, Soto was released. 当洋基到达安纳罕, KKK立刻打电话给他在迈阿密的好朋友Maximo Soto. 他跟KKK一样在天使的小联盟打拚, 也一样被释出. “I’m in Anaheim,” Ramírez said he told Soto. "我现在在安纳罕." KKK告诉Soto. “I know,” Ramírez said Soto responded. “Just take it easy. Just pitch your game.” "我知道." KKK说Soto回答. "你只要放轻松! 你只要投你的球!" After the 2003 season, Ramírez and Soto each talked about quitting baseball. Soto went through with it. Ramírez took an extended break. Every day during the summer of 2004, he went to a field in Miami and taught himself to throw a changeup. 在过了2003球季, KKK和Soto都谈到了要放弃棒球. KKK放了自已一个大假. 2004年的夏天,每一天他都到迈阿密的一个球场, 教自己投一种变速球. Eventually, Soto joined him at the field and caught for him. The work Ramí rez did with Soto that summer, and the changeup he developed, altered his course. 到最後, Soto加入他的练习替他接补. "KKK跟Soto那年夏天的练习"和"他无师自通的变速球"改变了他的未来. “Now, I’m pitching for the best team in the world,” Ramírez said. “So why couldn’t I play with the Anaheim Angels?” "现在我为全世界最棒的球队投球." KKK说. "那我为什麽不敢跟天使对决呢?" The Angels, of course, are no slouches. They have a better record than the Yankees and a more consistent bullpen. Both times they released Ramírez, their farm system was stocked with hard-throwing right-handed pitchers. 天使当然不是软脚虾. 他们有比洋基好的战绩, 较稳定的牛棚. 两次天使释出KKK时, 他们的牛棚都被强力右投手挤爆了. “I don’t even remember Edwar,” said José Molina, a Yankees catcher who used to be with the Angels. “I don’t think he was a guy they had in their plans.” "我根本不记得Edwar." 洋基补手Molina说. "我不认为他是天使计划中的人材." Early in Ramírez’s minor league career, he had difficulty seeing what pitches were being called, much less throwing them. The catcher would put down two fingers and Ramírez would only see one. 在KKK早期的小联盟生涯, 他没办法看清楚补手的暗号, 更别说投球了. 补手比两支手指, 他可能只看到一支. “He would want a slider and I would throw a fastball,” Ramírez said. "他可能要我投滑球, 我却投了一个快速球." KKK说. He finally visited an eye doctor and was fitted for prescription goggles. But once Ramírez corrected his vision, he had to deal with his weight. No matter how many postgame spreads were laid out in front of him, Ramírez remained as skinny as a foul pole. 他终於去矫正了视力. 接着他要面对体重的问题. 不管有多少食物摆在眼前, 他还是骨瘦如柴. “He just wasn’t big on eating food,” said Jeff Mathis, an Angels catcher who played with Ramírez in the minor leagues. "他就不是那种会大吃大喝的人."Jeff Mathis天使的补手说. To this day, Ramírez is a startling sight on the mound — 6 feet 3 inches, 150 pounds, with goggles. Joe Torre, the Yankees’ manager, has compared him to a thermometer. Torre拿KKK的身材跟温度计比. The Thermometer made his major league debut with the Yankees on July 3, pitching a perfect inning against Minnesota and striking out the side. Less than three weeks later, his major league career looked finished. 这个温度计在7月3日为洋基在大联盟处女秀登板, 连续三振三名打者, 对双城投出完美 的一局. 在不到三周之後, 他的大联盟生涯看起来像结束了. Facing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on July 20, Ramírez walked four batters, gave up a grand slam and did not record an out. Only 2 of his 19 pitches were strikes. Afterward, he cried at his locker and was sent back to the minor leagues. 7月20日KKK投了很糟的一场比赛, 他赛後痛哭失声, 被下放小联盟. But this is a player who was once released twice by the same organization. A simple demotion was barely an obstacle. Recalled to the majors last week, Ram írez worked two and a third scoreless innings against Baltimore and two perfect innings against Detroit. 但这是一个被释出两次的球员. 一次下放不算什麽. KKK上周又被叫回大联盟, 他对金莺投了2.1局无失分, 对老虎投了完美的两局. Before Monday’s game, Ramírez flitted about the visitors’ clubhouse at Angel Stadium. He had to order a new pair of goggles. He had to get a hug from his fellow reliever Joba Chamberlain. And he had to reminisce about his days in Rancho Cucamonga. 在星期一赛前, KKK稍微待了一下天使球场的客场球队更衣室. 他必须配一副新的护目镜. 他必须跟他的後援投手伙伴张伯伦来个拥抱. 他必须回想一下:他在天使小联盟的日子. The field is finally his. 这个球场终於是我的了! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 有错烦指正 谢谢! --

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