(資料來源)http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/13703490.htm

(日期)Posted on Wed， Jan. 25， 2006

(標題)His career in the late innings， pitcher waits for the call
Playing in Taiwan kept dream alive， but arm problem could end it
他的職業生涯已經到了尾端，一個正在等待機會的投手
在台灣投球使得他的夢想得以繼續存在，但是手臂的問題卻可以使他的夢想被迫結束

(記者)By MALCOLM GARCIA， The Kansas City Star堪薩斯市星報
(譯者)E.J

His teammates weren’t surprised when he left Taiwan. They had seen enough foreign baseball players come and go.
當他離開台灣時，他的隊友並不會感到驚訝.他們已經看了很多的外國籍棒球選手來來去去了.

They thought he might return and coach pitchers this year. But no one asked him about his plans. The new season would start soon enough and resolve any questions.
他們認為他今年應該會回到球隊擔任投手教練.但是沒有人問過他的計畫.而在快要開始的新球季之前應該足夠解決任何問題.

For now， Jeff Andra wants to work his pitching arm back into shape after a blood clot derailed his game. Then he will decide whether to play baseball in Taiwan again or， for that matter， anywhere else. At 30， he knows he’s pushing it. He knows he could have a less stressful life and live comfortably. More than comfortably.
從現在開始，Jeff Andra(飛勇)想要努力使得他的投手那支手臂，在出現那個血塊而讓他無法繼續的比賽後，回到可以投球的狀態.然後他將會決定是否要再次到台灣打球，或是任何其他地方.以一個30歲的年紀，他知道他這樣是有些匆忙及莽撞.他知道他可以在一個壓力不那麼大的情況下生活的舒服些.

But he has put aside practical considerations， including physical pain. It is more than his love of the game. It is the passionate pursuit of what he loves and not settling for less that drives him.
但他將這些對實際的考量，包括身體上的疼痛放在一旁.那是一種超過對棒球比賽的喜愛，那是一種熱情驅使得他繼續從事他所喜愛的棒球而不選擇安定下來.

“It’s tough to let go，” Jeff says.
“我真的很難就這樣放手(按:指對於投球)”，Jeff說.

He leans back in his chair at a Johnson County Starbucks. At 6 feet 5 inches， he towers over most of the persons seated around him. He sips a bottle of orange juice and talks below the loud chatter around him in a soft voice that offers little hint of his devotion to baseball.
在靠在Johnson郡的星巴克咖啡館椅子上.以一個6呎5吋(按:約196公分)的身高，他比他週遭坐著人高出一個頭.他啜著一罐柳澄汁以一個比週遭大聲聊天談笑小的音量輕聲的訴說他之所以會對於棒球熱愛的原因.

“Teamwork， sportsmanship， my arm working， it’s good，” he says.
“團隊合作，運動家精神，我的手臂在投球，那種感覺很棒”，他說.

He pitched for the Sinon Bulls， one of six professional teams in the Taiwan baseball league， and named after the company that owned it. The team gave him a new name， Fey-Young — “fly bravely.” It is also the name of a chemical insecticide manufactured by the Sinon Co. Every time a TV camera panned Jeff’s back， his new name advertised the product. Sometimes he felt like a NASCAR driver， he had so many patches promoting sponsors sewn into his uniform. His teammates called him Jeff.
他在興農牛隊—台灣職業棒球聯盟下的六支球隊之一，一個以球隊母公司命名的球隊中—投球.球隊給他一個新的名字，Fey-Young—意指”勇敢的飛行”(按:即為飛勇).這同時也是一個興農公司所生產的肥料品牌名.每次當攝影機照到Jeff的背上時，就會替產品打到廣告.有時他會感覺到像是一個NASCAR車手，他的制服上縫了很多贊助商的廣告.(按:NASCAR，美國本土的賽車運動，車手的制服滿滿的都是贊助商的廣告，遠比中職目前的補丁還誇張)他的隊友叫他Jeff.

Three men from the Dominican Republic played with the Bulls. They spoke English. Jeff stuck with them. The coach said little， the Taiwanese players even less. They wanted to see whether he could play. He knew that much even if he didn’t understand Chinese.
三個來自於多明尼加的球員也在興農打球.他們說英文.飛勇跟他們生活在一起.教練會說一些簡單的英文，至於其他台灣球員就更少了.他非常清楚的了解到他們想要看看他是否夠實力在台灣打球，即便他不懂中文.

“I was used to joking with 25 guys in the dugout. In Taiwan， I had to look for a couple of guys who understood English. Sometimes it was lonely; sometimes it was better that way. It kept me focused. I didn’t get distracted.”
我過去習慣跟25個人一起在球員區談笑.但在台灣，我必須要找到懂英文的人才行.有的時候這會讓人覺得寂寞;但有時這樣也不錯.這讓我可以保持專注，我不會分心.

They played on dirt with little to no grass in the infield. The team did not have spring training as he had known it. He practiced throughout the season on days when there wasn’t a game. In the states， he wouldn’t go near a baseball field on his day off. It took some getting used to.
他們在都是紅土或是只有很短草皮的內野打球.球隊並不像他熟悉的那樣有春訓(按:中職也是有春訓的，只是有些洋將不會跟著球隊春訓).他在球季中即便當天沒有比賽的日子也練習.在美國，只要沒有比賽他是不會接近球場的.這讓他花了點時間適應.

But it was baseball. As a kid， he played basketball， ran cross country， but it was a bat and a ball that captured his heart. He can’t say why， really. Just something he enjoyed， hitting， fielding， pitching. Especially pitching. He experienced a certain rush when he was in control of the game， first at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School， then at the University of Oklahoma. A kind of elevation. Throwing the ball 80 mph. A southpaw mixing it up with fastballs， curves， sliders. Fooling the batter. To this day， Jeff doesn’t know a better feeling.
但那仍是棒球.當他是小孩時，他到其他州去打籃球，但那是一支球棒和一個球擄獲了他的心.他不能清楚的說明為什麼.就是他很享受那種打擊，守備及投球那些事.尤其是投球.當他第一次在Shawnee Mission Northwest高中及接下來在奧克拉荷馬大學控制了整場比賽時，他體驗到某種程度的衝動.在那時.他用左手投出80mile(按:約128km)
的速度，混合著速球，曲球以及滑球來迷惑打者.而到今天，Jeff說再沒有比那個更棒的感覺了.

He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1997 and played in the minor leagues until 2002. He advanced from rookie ball to AAA. But he never reached the majors. He had a poor season in 2001 with nine losses. He was 26 years old.
他於1997年選秀被舊金山巨人隊選中並在小聯盟打球直到2002年，這段期間他也從新人聯盟升到3A.但他從來沒有上到大聯盟.在2001年他的成績不佳，有9敗，而那年，他26歲.

He signed with the Elmira Pioneers， an independent New York baseball team not affiliated with the major leagues but still a professional ballclub. He had a good year with 10 wins and a low earned-run average. He thought he might have a shot getting back with an affiliated team， but no one called.
他與Elmira Pioneers，一支紐約，獨立的，但不屬於任何大聯盟球團體系的職業棒球隊(按:即獨立聯盟球隊).在同年，
他有了一個很不錯的一季，除了10勝外他的自責分率還很低.他當時認為他也許會有一個機會可以回到小聯盟體系中，但是卻沒有球隊找他.

The owner of the Pioneers knew people in Asia and told Jeff that a Taiwanese team was looking for a lefty. Why not? He could earn from $6，000 to $10，000 a month. The Taiwan baseball season begins in March with the last playoff game in November. Three or four games a week， 100 games a season. He could be home for the holidays. If it didn’t work out， he would be no worse off.
Pioneer的老闆認識一些亞洲的朋友並告訴他一支台灣的球隊在找一位左投手.為什麼不去試試呢?他可以一個月賺6000-10000美金.台灣職業棒球球季在三月開始而最後一場季後賽則在十一月結束.一個星期三至四場，一季一百場.球季結束後還可以回家過節(按:聖誕節跟新年).而假使沒有成功，他也不會有什麼損失.

When Jeff flew to Taiwan in January 2003， a man met him at the airport holding a sign with his name. He led Jeff to a car. The man’s cell phone rang， and he handed it to Jeff. Someone speaking English explained that Jeff would be driven from the capital， Taipei， to the team in Taichung， about three hours away. Jeff gave the phone back to the driver. He looked out the passenger window. The buildings were squeezed together with vast rice paddies breaking up the congested sprawl.
當Jeff在2003年1月飛往台灣時，一個人在機場舉著他名字的牌子在等著他.他帶著Jeff去車上.那人的手機響了並把他交給Jeff聽.某個人操著英文並跟Jeff解釋說他會被載到首都台北—距離球隊所在台中三小時車程的地方.Jeff把電話交還給司機.他從乘客窗往外望.許多大樓跟廣大的稻田緊靠在一起，雜亂而擁擠的不斷延伸往外擴展.

“First day of practice， it was in the 50s. They thought it was so cold.”
“第一天練習時，好像處在1950年代.他們(指隊友)覺得很冷清.

Later in the year， when the days turned steamy and stayed in the upper 90s into the night， he understood why. The fans were loud， almost hysterical. They brought noisemakers and banged sticks and drums， and one man led chants over a microphone. Jeff wondered at times whether they understood the game and why they were cheering. They never booed. After a while， he tuned them out. He signed autographs and posed for photos. He had never experienced that level of acclaim before.
再過了一些日子，當晚上看起來變得好像19090年代及激情時，他開始了解為什麼會這樣了.球迷的聲音非常大，並且近似歇斯底理.他們帶了汽笛並且敲著棒子跟鼓，還有一個人以麥克風領導觀眾大聲唱歌.Jeff好幾次懷疑他們是否懂得比賽及為了什麼在加油.他們從不噓球員.過了一陣子，他就把那些都拋開了.他幫球迷簽名並擺出姿勢與球迷合照.他過去從來沒有經驗過如此受到喜愛的程度.

He observed his teammates. He likened their mannerisms to players he knew in the States and in this way connected with them and found common ground. They handled the bat well but were not power hitters. He was always ready for a player to bunt the ball. He threw strikes， avoided walks. Asian pitchers used split-finger pitches. The ball would come in like a fastball， drop at the last minute. Jeff never mastered it.
他也觀察他的隊友.他以他過去在美國打球時所認識到的球員來與他現在隊友特別的打球風格做比較，並找出共同點.他們(指興農隊友)球棒運用的技巧很好但都不是很強力的打者.他總在準備會有打者觸擊.他盡量投出好球避免四壞保送.亞洲投手用很多叉指系列的變化球(按:指叉球，快速指叉球等).球在進壘前會看起來像快速球但在最後一刻向下掉.Jeff(飛勇)從來不擅長這種球路(按:飛勇拿手的球路是滑球跟變速球)

“When the catcher came to me on the field， he knew enough English to say， ‘More inside.’ ‘More outside.’ Anything more complicated， we needed the translator.”
“當捕手上投手丘來跟我說話時，他只能用英文說’內角一點’，’外角一點’，至於其他更複雜的，就需要一個翻譯了”

In his third game with the Bulls， Jeff pitched against the Brother Elephant， champions of the Taiwanese baseball series for the previous two years. Jeff led the Bulls to victory. His teammates started joking with him. They asked him to dinner， teased him by not explaining what he was eating until he tasted it. He knew then he could play ball in Taiwan. He stayed for nearly three years.
在他興農牛隊第三場出賽時，Jeff出場對兄弟象隊—過去兩年是台灣職業棒球聯賽冠軍隊.Jeff帶領興農牛隊得到勝利.他的隊友也開始跟他聊天.他們邀請Jeff一起吃晚餐，在他嚐了之後才跟他解釋他吃的是什麼並以此來取笑他.他知道他可以在台灣打球了.他在這裡待了將近三年.

“In mid-September， I’d still be doing baseball in Taiwan and the football season was just starting back here. Then I’d think， ‘I’m here a long way away.’ ”
“在九月中，我還在台灣打棒球但美國的美式足球季已經剛剛開始了(按:美式足球為美國第一大職業運動，飛勇的家鄉堪薩斯的美式足球風氣非常盛).然後我開始想’我已經在這好久好久了’ ”

The Bulls won the championship in 2004. He pitched in six games of a seven-game series. He noticed problems with his arm. His hand would grow numb， cold. He had trouble controlling the ball. He was diagnosed with a blood clot in his arm. He received acupuncture and was prescribed medication. It helped. He pitched 14 innings in eight days.
興農牛隊在2004年贏得冠軍.他在七場系列戰中出場投了六場比賽.他發現到了他手臂的問題.他的手掌開始感覺到麻木而冰冷.他的控球也開始出現困難.他被診斷出有一個血塊存在於手臂之中.他接受了針灸及吃了一些特定的藥方.這的確有些幫助.他在八天之中投了十四局.

Last year， his arm came back to haunt him. He gave up six runs in one game before the coach took him out. That happens to everybody， but it was the first time it had happened to him.
去年，他的手臂又再度困擾了他.他在一場比賽之中掉了6分後被換下來.這種情形任何一個投手都會發生，但這對他來說卻是他第一次發生.

An operation removed the blood clot. While his arm healed， he remained with the Bulls as a pitching coach. They won the championship again， but it was different this time. Jeff had wanted to pitch. He was pleased he helped other pitchers， but coaching wasn’t the same as playing.
一個手術將這個血塊拿掉.當他的手臂痊癒後，他以一個投手教練的身份繼續留在興農牛隊.他們再一次的拿到冠軍，但是這次感覺不一樣了.Jeff想要再投球.他很高興他幫助了其他投手，但是教球跟打球還是不同.

When the season ended， he returned in November to Lenexa. For the time being， he lives with his parents. He practices pitching every day into the early evening. He feels pretty good about his arm. Feels it getting stronger. The Bulls management told him they would take him back if his arm improved. He might check into the independent leagues again. He’ll keep his options open， and not settle for less. It’s tough to let go.
球季結束後，他在十一月回到Lenexa，與雙親住在一起.他每天從白天練投到黃昏.他對他手臂的感覺很不錯.覺得更強壯了.興農球團的管理階層跟他說如果他的手改善了他們願意找他回來.他也許會先在獨立聯盟試看看.他將會持續對他未來的選擇保持開放而不會挶限在少數選擇.對於Jeff來說，真的很難就這樣對棒球放手.