2011年7月7日 星期四

Good Luck, Mark

米國時間6/30,Kurt Suzuki在賽前幾分鐘才知道小愛 (Mark Ellis)被交易出去了,前陣子開始取代小愛守二壘的Weeks弟 (Jemile Weeks)則是在比賽中才知道,先發投手Cahill更是直到七局才知道。

官網提到總教練Bob Melvin的話
"Today was a difficult day for everybody in the A's organization," the skipper said
"今天對於A's系統內的每一個人來說都是個艱難的一天"



AN上theblackpearl則表示要向A's過去十年來最偉大的球員之ㄧ的小愛說再見,並祝他好運

I would also like to take the time to say good bye and good luck to one of the greatest A's over the past 10 years

Mark Ellis,34歲,二壘手,1999年皇家第九輪選秀。2001年1月在運動家與皇家以及魔鬼魟 (光芒前身)三方交易下,與Johnny Damon和已故的投手Cory Lidle一同來到A's (送出的主菜有98年AL ROY Ben Grieve)。2002年4月,Ellis大聯盟初登板,也開啟了他接下來在運動家的十年生涯

1056G 4296AB .265/.331/.397 86HR 434RBI,K/BB:576/344,讓人十分有印象的是小愛在打擊區上的耐心以及堅強的守備能力。除了2004年春訓與前隊友Bobby Crosby相撞肩膀脫臼整季報銷之外,總共以二壘手身分一共出賽了1021場,為A's隊史二壘手出賽最多場次的紀錄。二壘守備率.990則為聯盟歷史上生涯第二高的球員。交易前,陣中只剩Ellis跟Rich Harden是06年A's打進ALCS的主要成員,而只有小愛這些年都待在運動家 (小愛當年於ALDS G2手指骨折,接下來沒有再上場過)

去年小愛曾因拉傷左腿hamstring缺陣,今年六月又因右腿hamstring傷勢進DL。球隊因而將08年第一輪選進的Weeks弟升上來,Weeks弟充滿活力且亮眼的表現,讓小愛出DL後也沒了位置。從everyday 2B變成工具人的小愛於跨聯盟比賽中以先發一壘手身分先發過兩場 (生涯首度一壘先發,還來不及稱讚這位二壘底的球員在一壘接球接得相當有水準),原先Melvin曾提到打算將小愛放在三壘 (Ellis在佛羅里達大學一開始擔任三壘手,後來以游擊手身分發光發熱);但交易來得又快又急

綠帽未來的二壘手Weeks弟還在學習大聯盟比賽的一切,防守方面還有可以向小愛學習的空間;小愛沒對失去先發二壘手位置有所抱怨,也願意調整守位。即使本季.217/.253/.290的大低潮 (1HR 16RBI),守備方面仍是可以做出貢獻的,別忘了,還有這位隊上老大哥的領袖氣質

原先傳出他可能被交易至同在灣區的巨人隊,答案揭曉,球隊拿Ellis+現金跟科羅拉多落磯隊換來右投Bruce Billings+PTBNL (選手日後揭曉)

Melvin說小愛在奧克蘭這裡沒有太多的機會,GM豆爺找尋對小愛來說最好的交易

"It was more about Mark not getting at-bats here, and I think Billy also did him a favor," manager Bob Melvin said. "He wasn't looking for the best deal for Mark; he was looking for a good landing spot for Mark. We'll see what we get in the players we got back."

身為A's球迷的我在第一時間看不出這樁交易對等的點在哪裡? 我們送走了一位這十年來陪伴著A's球迷的球員 (同時也是碩果僅存的一位)。豆爺與總教練Melvin有其考量,說為了他好,但他曾在去年表達過他想一直待在A's,待到退休阿...

洛磯今年換了多位二壘手,包括Chris Nelson, Jonathan Herrera, Eric Young Jr.與Jose Lopez等球員,小愛過去後的確是可以每天先發,這或許是豆爺少數站在球員角度,而非球隊戰力/獲利方面所做出的交易。打線排在前隊友Carlos Gonzalez之後,擔任第二棒。除了CarGo,落磯那還有Jason Giambi、Huston Street等前運動家球員。接下來,綠帽會負責小愛本季剩餘薪水3M中的2M

Bruce Billings,25歲,右投,落磯07年第30輪。農場一年升一級。去年,在2A轉牛棚後於30局投出46K 3.56 1.15WHIP,秋季聯盟11局10K 3.27 0.81WHIP,獲選AFL Rising Star,11月落磯將他放入40人名單免於在Rule 5 draft被選走。low-90s速球具有軌跡,mid-70s變化球,還有一顆mid-80s cutter (by BA)。Billings今年在洛磯3A 後援29場,50.1IP 6-2-1 4.47 1.57WHIP,並於5月ML Debut。Billings就讀聖地牙哥州大大四時曾與當時大一的Stephen Strasburg同隊過ㄧ年 (2007)

去年球季接近尾聲時,Eric Chavez結束了與運動家13年賓主關係,Ellis成為現役longest-tenured A's;Ellis此刻離去,現役longest-tenured A's變成了Kurt (5年)。Cliff Pennington剛上大聯盟時跟著二游防區的搭檔Mark Ellis學習;現在則由Penn變成師傅帶著Weeks弟。後小愛時代,將由花式的手套反拋 (Weeks弟)取代師承Ron Washington那中規中矩的防守動作 (Washington當過綠帽內野教練)

就如同從沒聽過他抱怨總與金手套擦身而過一樣,對於被換掉,他也沒對老東家口出惡言。只是表示很難受、難過 

"I kind of figured something was going to happen in Oakland. Somebody asked me yesterday if I expected to get traded, and when you don't get traded for 10 years, you don't really expect to get traded, but I kind of anticipated it a little bit," Ellis said. "It was a tough day. It was sad. You spend all that time with people and it's tough. 

從穿了將近十年的白鞋,換成了色彩鮮豔款,小愛是這樣說的

"It's funny not seeing white shoes. You look down and you're always used to white shoes," Ellis said. "But it's nice."

而他接下來的目標是要協助洛磯隊贏得國聯西區王座...


2011.7.5 Mark Ellis (Getty Images) 


A's這十年的everyday second baseman到了洛磯的前三場 (主場),表現為: 3-5 2B*1 HR*1 3RBI、3-5 2B*3 2RBI、2-5 HR*1 2RBI;即便到了客場也有3-4的表現,誰說他不能打?

祝福你啦! Mark Ellis! 也希望Jemile Weeks能順利接下下一個十年的二壘重擔

Reflecting on his time in Oakland, Ellis said, "It's hard. I've had so many good memories at this ballpark with this organization. I had three children here. At the same time, I still see myself an everyday second baseman. Hopefully (Weeks) does a great job for this organization for a long time. I hope he has the same opportunity I had in the organization."
回顧他在奧克蘭的時光,小愛說 "很難熬,我跟這個球團在這座球場有那麼多美好回憶。我有三個孩子在這。同一時間,我仍將自己視為一位每天上場的二壘手。期待Weeks能為球團好好表現好一陣子,我期待他一樣能擁有我在這邊曾有過的機會"



2011.5 Mark Ellis (Getty Images) 



之前寫過的
Mark Ellis 再見滿貫全壘打 !!!

Mark Ellis,究感心!

Mark Ellis got standing ovation at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum


外電
A's saddened by Ellis' sudden departure by Jane Lee

A's Mark Ellis always a class act by John Shea

Career Profile: Mark Ellis by John Sickels

Mark Ellis traded to Rockies by John Shea

2B Mark Ellis has stellar debut with Rockies by Pat Graham

Rockies Acquire Mark Ellis@ MLBTR.com

Bye, Mark by Wisconsin's #1 A's Fan

06年ALCS成員後來的發展,詳見A's trade displaced 2B Mark Ellis to Rockies5

Mark Ellis and the three-way trade of 2001 by Christina Kahrl (回顧當年那場三方交易後,球員們的後續表現)

註: Jemile Weeks與雙城外野手Ben Revere並列六月最佳新秀。Weeks的成績為25-81 .309/.349/.469 3B*3 6SB。目前已由他擔任lead off,Scott Sizemore二棒,Coco三棒

恭喜Gio Gonzalez獲選明星賽,17GS 109IP 8-5 2.31 K/BB:106/49 (截至7/6)


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