來源: The USA Today
網址: https://tinyurl.com/y8kkfcn9
Nationals embarrassment: GM Mike Rizzo officially waves the white flag
難堪的國民隊：總管Mike Rizzo正式舉白旗了
The shameful, national embarrassment in Washington, D.C., mercifully is over.
在華盛頓DC令人感到羞恥的尷尬狀況總算是結束了。
At least.
至少目前是。
Folks, we’re talking about the baseball team, here.
呃，我們這裡講的是棒球隊。
The team was once again projected to be a World Series contender, and the
runaway favorites to win the National League East.
曾經一開始一度被預測是爭冠熱門隊伍，國聯東區冠軍的候選。
The team that had the arrogance to fire manager Dusty Baker after leading it
to back-to-back NL East titles, losing Game 5 of the NL Division Series to
the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs, and tell him it simply wasn
’t good enough.
國民隊曾經自大到開除帶領他們拿下連兩屆國聯東區冠軍的總教練Dusty Baker，在國聯分
區賽第五戰輸給世界大賽衛冕軍小熊，而國民隊就只跟他說那不夠好。
Now, five weeks before the end of the season, the Nationals finally have
looked in the mirror and saw what everyone else has already known all year:
They are the greatest group of underachievers in all of baseball, resulting
in the most humiliating season in their franchise history.
現在，距離正規賽季還有五周，國民隊終於願意攬鏡自照，終於看到了其他人一整年在說
的：他們是棒球界裡表現不良隊伍裡面的最強隊，最終導致本季是他們隊史上最丟臉的一
季。
The Nats officially raised the white flag Tuesday and abruptly quit, letting
the upstart Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, whose talent absolutely
pales in comparison, to fight for the division title.
星期二的時候，國民隊算是正是舉白旗投降了，就讓同區的勇士跟費城人去爭奪分區冠
軍，國民的天賦跟他們相比，只是小巫見大巫。
The Nationals traded three-time All-Star second baseman Daniel Murphy to the
Chicago Cubs for fringe minor-league prospect Andruw Monasterio and a player
to be named later, while also permitting the St. Louis Cardinals to simply
take power hitter Matt Adams on a waiver claim. The deals will save the
Nationals nearly $5 million.
國民把三屆全明星二壘手Daniel Murphy交易到小熊，但換回少少的小聯盟潛力新秀Andruw
Monasterio跟一位還不知道會是哪一位的選手；然後就讓紅雀從讓渡名單內撈走強力打者
Matt Adams。這些交易將會讓國民省500萬鎂。
They could have let the Los Angeles Dodgers have Bryce Harper, too, but
pulled him back after the Dodgers claimed him on waivers and were only
interested in assuming his contract without offering any significant
prospects.
他們本可以讓道奇拿走Bryce Harper的，但是他們又把他從名單上抽回來，因為道奇只有
興趣接手他的合約，但是不給任何有真正潛力的新秀。
“We decided this is the right course of action,’’ Nats GM Mike Rizzo said
at a brief news conference. “We felt this was the best way to facilitate
what we’re trying to do, not only in 2018, but beyond. The money that we are
making from the cash considerations goes straight into procuring talent for
us to compete in the future.’’
「我們決定這才是正確的動作，」國民總管Mike Rizzo在記者會上說到。「我們覺得這會
是最好的方式去加速我們一直在做的，不只為了2018球季，也是為了以後。我們省下的錢
會直接轉到將來去簽下潛力球員，幫助我們將來保有競爭力。」
It was nothing more than a cover-up. The real blunder came before the July 31
deadline when they could have traded away valuable pieces such as Murphy, who
’s hitting .340 with a .940 on-base-plus slugging percentage since the
All-Star break, for actual real prospects. They just couldn’t face the
reality that their team would continue to grossly underperform throughout
August, but after being humiliated 12-1 at home Sunday by the lowly Miami
Marlins, they couldn’t stand it any longer.
那一切都是在畫虎爛。真正的大錯誤是在7/31交易大限之前，當時就可以把一些有價值的
球員，像是Murphy，在明星賽後的打擊率.340，OPS是.940，拿去換一些真正的新秀。他們
就是無法面對真相，他們的球隊就是表現極差，一直到八月。而在星期天被爛隊馬林魚徹
底羞辱，12-1落敗，他們才真正無法再忍受下去。
“That was a litmus test for us,’’ Rizzo said.
「那對我們來說是個試金石，」Rizzo說。
Said Nats manager Davey Martinez: “That game on Sunday said a lot. It was
ugly."
國民總教練Davey Martinez說：「星期天那場比賽說明了一切，那真的很難看。」
It left ownership no choice but to instruct Rizzo to pull the plug.
球團老闆沒有選擇，下令叫Rizzo得要揮刀了。
Immediately.
即刻開始。
The Nats didn’t bother waiting to see if they would even have their call-ups
in time for a full 25-man roster before Tuesday’s game against the Phillies.
’’
國民甚至沒有看一下，他們有沒有後備的人來得及叫上來進25人先發名單，好在星期二面
對費城人。
“We gambled at the deadline, I admit it ...’’ Nats owner Mark Lerner said
in an open letter. “When something isn’t working, you evaluate the
situation and take the necessary steps to improve it. You don’t just stand
by, cross your fingers and hope for the best.’’
「我承認，我們在交易大限那時賭了一把...」國民老闆Mark Lerner在公開信裡說到。
「當事情發展不對時，要評估狀況後，採取必要的措施去改善。不應該就是袖手旁觀，然
後祈禱事情會自己改變。」
The Nationals, 62-63, will tell you incessantly that their injuries created
this mess. They’ll tell you about their bad breaks. Bad luck. Even bad karma.
國民隊，目前戰績62-63，不停的告訴大家他們一堆傷勢導致了現在的糟糕狀況。他們會說
他們就是倒楣，運氣不好，業障重。
Please, enough with the excuses. There isn’t a contender in baseball who hasn
’t had injuries. You think the Dodgers, who have been without virtually
every key player on their team at one point, is crying for them? How about
the New York Yankees, who won’t have Aaron Judge back until September? And
the Houston Astros, who have been without American League MVP Jose Altuve?
Anyone? Anyone?
拜託，真是理由伯~~哪一個爭冠隊伍裡面有人沒傷的。拿躲人來說，他們幾乎沒有他們
重要球員全員到齊過，他們有靠腰嗎？洋基隊，他們的Aaron Judge要到九月才回得來。太
色也沒有他們的美聯MVP Jose Altuve。他們有靠腰嗎？有嗎？