Portraits of Lofton, Bourn connect Indians stars Outfielders' speed, athletic ability have spawned numerous comparisons By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 5/2/2013 11:50 A.M. ET http://ppt.cc/ZNiR CLEVELAND -- On a wall outside of Progressive Field's new Premium Club rest adjacent black-and-white portraits -- one of longtime Indians center fielder Kenny Lofton and the other of offseason addition Michael Bourn. Progressive Field的会员俱乐部外墙上现正伫立着，两块相邻的黑白雕塑肖像- 以前的印地安人外野手Kenny Lofton和季後新加入的Michael Bourn。 It's no coincidence that these particular pieces of artwork are paired together. It's an assemblage designed by the organization to prompt passersby to connect the generations, elicit nostalgic thoughts about Lofton's reign and apply those same pleasant emotions toward the current brand. It doesn't take such calculated means to convey the connection between the two speedsters, though. 这两件特别的艺术品被放在一起，当然一点也不是巧合。 球团有意这样设计来唤起经过的球迷以往Lofton主宰中外野时的记忆， 并连结到时代的交替。 而且，要联想这两位飞毛腿不必花太多的心思。 On the left stands a focused Lofton in his baggy uniform, centered in a frame that presents the piece as an oversize baseball card. Inches to the right lies a snapshot of Bourn, hunched at the plate, holding his bat above his left shoulder and gazing intently at the pitcher. 左边是穿着膨松制服的Lofton，雕塑外框部分则是设计成一张超大张的棒球卡 右边是Bourn的快照，站在打击区，左间抵着球棒并专注的盯着投手。 The positioning of the portraits, however, suggests that Bourn is eyeing Lofton, perhaps peering into the past at the man who played nearly a decade for the Tribe, made six All-Star Games and served as the iconic leadoff hitter and table-setter in a potent lineup that crossed home plate at will. 然而雕塑肖像的位置却暗示了Bourn正以Lofton为目标。 Lofton为笑脸人效力了几乎十年，六次入选明星赛， 并在极为凶猛的打线中扮演了优秀的开路先锋。 Bourn isn't ignorant of the history. He's well-versed in his knowledge of the 1990s Indians. He knows where names such as Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Lofton reside in Wahoo lore. "Their offense was unreal," Bourn said. "Everybody knew about them in the '90s." Bourn并非不清楚历史。他非常了解90年代的印地安人， Jim Thome、Manny Ramirez、Kenny Lofton等都是耳熟能详的角色。 「他们的攻击力太犯规了」Bourn说，「他们在90年代可是家喻户晓啊！」 Bourn is also cognizant of the shadow that lurks in the outfield grass and creeps up near the wall in center field, a structure Lofton routinely scaled to corral would-be home runs. Now, that domain belongs to Bourn. But he didn't sign a four-year deal with the Indians in February to simply occupy the role of Lofton 2.0. "What he was doing back in the day was unbelievable," Bourn said. "But I just try to be myself. I'm not trying to be anybody else. I don't know how to be anybody else. I'm made this way." Bourn当然也知道在从前，从外野草地一直到中外野大墙， Lofton曾经不少次展现过没收对手全垒打的美技。 而现在，中外野属於Bourn。 但他和印地安人签下四年合约并不仅仅只是要当个Lofton 2.0版。 「Lofton以往所达成的成就令人难以置信」Bourn说， 「但我只想当我自己，我不知道如何去扮演什麽人，我有我自己的方式。」 Bourn's makeup certainly bears resemblance to that of Lofton. Bourn is a menace on the basepaths, having led the National League in steals each year from 2009-11. Lofton paced the American League in that category each season from 1992-96, and his 452 swipes with Cleveland rank first in team history. Both players' defensive exploits are well-represented by hardware. Lofton claimed four AL Gold Glove Awards; Bourn has won two in the NL. 当然，Bourn的特质无疑和Lofton极为相似。 Bourn在垒包上极具侵略性，09年到11年都是国联盗垒王。 Lofton则在92到96年占据了美联盗垒王宝座，452次盗垒也是克里夫兰队史最多。 两位选手的防守能力也相当精湛， Lofton拿下了四座美联金手套，Bourn则是两次国联金手套。 Bourn even mimicked one of Lofton's vintage moves with a headfirst slide into first base on April 14 that left him with an injured index finger. In the 1999 AL Division Series, Lofton suffered a torn rotator cuff when he chose that daring manner of approaching the bag. Bourn甚至重蹈了Lofton的一项着名事蹟： 他在4/14的比赛中头部滑垒，导致他因为大拇指受伤而进入伤兵。 而在1999美联分流赛中，Lofton也因为头部滑垒而旋转肌撕裂。 "The similarities are there, definitely," said Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., who played with Lofton in Cleveland for eight years. "Kenny probably had a little more pop because he pulled the ball a little more. Michael stays within himself. He knows his role and he's pretty good at it." 「很显然的，他们真的很像」印地安人板凳教练Sandy Alomar Jr.说， 他曾和Lofton一起在克里夫兰奋战了八年， 「Kenny或许名气比较高，因为他打的比较久一点， Michael则是保持他的步调，他知道自己的角色，而且他做得很好。」 If it were up to Bourn, he wouldn't even be playing baseball. Bourn excelled at basketball, football and baseball in high school, but he became enamored with the crowds that surrounded the hardwood court. He considered quitting baseball to concentrate on basketball, but he knew his skills -- and his diminutive stature -- would eventually translate better on the diamond. 如果当时让Bourn自己决定，他说不定根本不会打棒球。 Bourn高中时在篮球、美式足球和棒球都表现突出。 而他很快爱上体育馆中人群喧哗的气氛。 他开始考虑放弃棒球，专注在篮球上。 但他知道他自己的技巧和瘦小的身材如果在棒球场上应该可以表现更好。 Lofton attended the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship. He teamed with eventual NBA stars Steve Kerr and Sean Elliott in directing the Wildcats to the 1988 Final Four and '89 Sweet 16. During his junior year of college, Lofton tried out for the baseball team. Twenty-five years later, he received Hall of Fame votes for his performance between the Major League foul lines. 而Lofton当年是因为篮球拿到亚利桑纳大学的奖学金， 和他同队的还有後来山猫队的NBA明星Steve Kerr和Sean Elliott。 在他大学生涯的早期，Lofton尝试参加了棒球队。 25年後，他因为他的表现而得到了MLB的名人堂票选机会。 "I was always compared to him coming up," Bourn said. "I love the comparison. It's a great comparison. It's an honor to be compared to somebody like that. But at the same time, I'm just trying to be myself." That attitude is what Lofton appreciates most about Bourn. As a guest instructor, Lofton walked away impressed from his conversations with the 30-year-old at Indians Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz. 「我总是被拿来和他比较。」Bourn说， 「我喜欢这个比较，可以和那样的人相比真的非常荣幸。 不过同时，我只是希望可以做我自己。」 这种态度是Lofton最欣赏Bourn的地方。 作为客座教练，Lofton从春训的谈话中以来就一直对这个三十岁的小伙子印象深刻。 Lofton's skill set -- a blend of speed and aggressiveness with a touch of flair -- stood out during an era of power hitting. Lofton embraced being different and he empathizes with Bourn's desire to boast his own individuality. It's a concept Lofton first learned from Phillies manager and former Indians skipper Charlie Manuel, who encouraged his players to "know thyself." 速度和积极进取组成了Lofton的棒球， 这也使得他在充满爆发力的打击年代中独树一帜。 Lofton欣然接受这种与众不同，对於Bourn想走自己的路也深感认同。 这是Lofton从现在的费城人总教练，前印地安人教练Manual身上学到的一课， Manual鼓励他的选手都可以了解自我。 "I look at everybody as different," Lofton said. "He knows he's not a home run hitter, so he's not going to go out there and try to hit the ball out of the ballpark. He knows hitting the ball to left field is going to be his bread and butter. If they put it out there, he can get on base. He knows that. "He understands that's his job. That's one thing I liked is that I had that same attitude. That's me. I know what I do. I'm going to go out there and do it the best way I can." Lofton prefers not to compare specific athletes to himself. He recognizes the on-field conquests of speedsters such as Juan Pierre and Carl Crawford -- Bourn's Little League teammate and close friend. 「我觉得每个人都是独一无二的。」Lofton说， 「他知道他不是一个全垒打打者，所以他不会勉力试着把球轰出球场。 他知道把球扫到左外野是他生存的方式，他可以上垒。 他了解他应该做什麽，这是一种我很喜欢的态度。 我也知道我该做什麽，每次我上场打球都是尽全力在打。」 Lofton其实不是很喜欢拿特定的选手和自己相比， 他相当那几位腿哥在外野的主宰力，例如Juan Pierre， 或者Bourn小联盟时的队友和好朋友Carl Crawford。 There is just one admission that Lofton isn't willing to make. "Everybody is trying to compare him or whatever," Lofton said. "We have speed, power when need be. But I was a guy -- I played basketball. I could jump out of the gym and jump over the walls. I'm not sure if he can jump as high as I can over those walls." 只是还有件事情Lofton不愿意承认。 「尽管每个人都拿他来和我比，」Lofton说， 「我们都有速度，需要时候也有爆发力。 不过我还打过篮球，我可以跳得比墙还要高不少呢！ 这个我可不确定他能不能罗！」 Alas, the 45-year-old Lofton conceded a bit. "He might be able to get me now," Lofton said, laughing. Bourn isn't so sure. "I don't know if I can get up there," Bourn said. No need. He's already even with Lofton on at least one wall inside Progressive Field. 最後45岁的Lofton还是让步了， 「他可能现在已经和我一样强罗，」Lofton笑着说。 Bourn不是很确定。 「我不知道我能否到达像他那样的地步。」Bourn说。 不过这问题其实不是很重要。 因为他已经和Lofton一样，同样的驰骋在Progressive Field的外野上。 --

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