http://0rz.tw/zJKbs Orioles hope to maintain first-half success 金莺希望维持上半季的成功 Baltimore leads AL East at All-Star break, looks to get back to postseason 金莺在球季进入到明星赛时在美联东区保持领先，期待重回季後赛 BALTIMORE -- The Orioles are in first place in the American League East, putting together some of their best baseball in the weeks leading up to the All-Star break to establish themselves as the team to beat. Baltimore reached the 50-win mark in 91 games, its quickest since 1997, and ended the first half in impressive fashion with a 52-42 record. But the true test is keeping that up. "If you look at the history of where people normally are to get to play in the postseason," manager Buck Showalter said over the weekend, "we're going to have to do a little better." So, how do they do it? Here's a look at some of their first-half developments and five key storylines to watch in the second half as the Orioles try to make the postseason for the second time in three years. 　　金莺目前为美联东区龙头，明星赛休息的前几周他们保持着最佳的状态，延续球队的 竞争力。 　　在上半季91场比赛中金莺取得50胜的时间是自1997年以来最快的，上半季结束後他们 的战绩是令人惊艳的52胜42败，但真正的考验是如何维持住。 　　「如果你观察历年能进季後赛的队伍，我们需要做得更好一点。」总教练Buck Showalter提到。 　　所以，他们需要什麽呢？以下有一些上半季值得关注的重点以及五个下半季可能会影 响金莺在这三年内是否能二度闯进季後赛的关键事件。 Five key developments 1. Emergence of Pearce Steve Pearce seems to have found a permanent home in the Orioles' lineup. The once-journeyman, who re-signed with Baltimore after he was placed on waivers and elected free agency, has already eclipsed his career bests in home runs and is batting over .300. 2. Joseph behind the plate With Matt Wieters down for the season, Caleb Joseph -- and Nick Hundley -- have done an impressive job stepping in. While Hundley was acquired in a trade from San Diego, the 28-year-old Joseph is a rookie and a true success story of determination and hard work in the Minor Leagues. 3. Britton as closer Since his first career save in mid-May, Zach Britton has given the ninth inning stability. The lefty has been arguably the Orioles' most consistent arm since Day 1 of Spring Training. 4. Cruz for MVP? Signed to a late deal this spring, Nelson Cruz has been worth every penny of the one-year, $8 million deal, already passing his home run total from last season. Cruz, an AL All-Star starter, is an early AL MVP Award candidate. 5. How open the AL East is Injuries are everywhere in the first half with Toronto limping into the All-Star break given the injuries to Edwin Encarnacion, Adam Lind and Brett Lawrie. The Yankees put star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka on the disabled list in another huge blow, and the Red Sox are rumored already to be sellers at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline. All of those things obviously benefit the Orioles, who have withstood several key injuries. 上半季五大关键 1.Pearce崭露头角 Steve Pearce似乎在金莺打线中找到属於他的位置，曾经在让渡成为自由球员并被金莺重 新签回的他，已经缴出生涯最佳的全垒打数以及超过三成的打击率。 2. Joseph的蹲捕 由於Matt Wieters本季的报销，Caleb Joseph和Nick Hundley都在这个位置上有让人惊艳 的表现，不同於自教士队交易而来的Hundley，28岁的Joseph有着在小联盟凭着毅力苦练 而成功的菜鸟故事。 3.Britton成为终结者 自五月中从生涯第一次救援成功後Zach Britton持续提供稳固的第九局，这位左投可以说 是金莺自从春训第一天以来最稳定的投手。 4.最有价值球员Cruz 较晚才和金莺签约，Nelson Cruz让金莺的一年800万合约的每一分钱都值得，全垒打总数 已经超越去年全季的数量，在明星赛获得先发的Cruz，一直是最有价值球员的竞争者。 5.美联东区状况连连 在上半季到处可以看见伤兵，蓝鸟队踉跄的进入明星赛休兵期，他们折损了Edwin Encarnacion、Adam Lind和Brett Lawrie，洋基则把明星投手Masahiro Tanaka放入伤兵 名单，红袜更是传言已经准备好在7月31日交易大限结束前成为卖方，这些很明显都是对 撑过伤兵带来影响的金莺的帮助。 First-half awards MVP: Nelson Cruz The All-Star designated hitter is having a career year, having already passed his season total of home runs from a year ago. Cy Young: Bud Norris He had a rocky start after the disabled list, but Norris was still the Orioles' most consistent guy in the rotation in the first half. Top rookie: Jonathan Schoop While Schoop's offense has had its ups and downs, the young infielder has impressed the O's at second base. Top reliever: Zach Britton Moved to the closer's role, Britton has stepped up for the O's. Setup man Darren O'Day also deserves a nod. 上半季奖项 最有价值球员: Nelson Cruz 今年是这位明星指定打击的生涯年，全垒打总数已经超过去年整季。 赛扬奖: Bud Norris 虽然从伤兵名单回来以後投得挣扎，但Norris还是金莺在上半季轮值中最稳定的投手。 最佳菜鸟: Jonathan Schoop 虽然在打击的表现起起落落，但这个年轻的二垒手已经让金莺惊艳。 最佳後援投手: Zach Britton 转战终结者的角色，Britton持续守护金莺，另外布局投手O'Day的表现其实也让人满意 。 Five second-half storylines to keep an eye on 1. Is Manny back to being Manny? Manny Machado missed the first month of the season recovering from knee surgery, and a five-game suspension for his bat-throwing incident against Oakland didn't help the matter. But the 22-year-old is starting to get it going offensively, which could be huge for the O's moving forward. 2. Can Jimenez turn things around? Signed to a four-year, $50 million deal this winter, Ubaldo Jimenez -- who is on the disabled list with an ankle strain -- has struggled mightily. The righty went 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA, and he is hoping to rebound down the stretch and reward the club's patience. 3. Will Gausman get a chance to be a consistent part of the rotation? One of the Orioles' top pitching prospects, Kevin Gausman has been yo-yoed back and forth between the Minor Leagues despite pitching well. Gausman's innings are being monitored with the intent, that he won't be shut down early. 4. The return of Crush Davis? Chris Davis is coming off a historic year and enters the break with 15 homers compared to 37 a season ago. Like Machado, he has shown signs lately of putting it together offensively and is a huge part of this team's offensive firepower. 5. Can the Orioles win the division? The most important storyline of the second half, of course, won't be answered until the season ends. Can the pitching hold up and the hitting come through? Baltimore has a tough three-city West Coast trip out of the break and will have to build on its first-half success to have a chance to get to October. 下半季五大观战重点 1.Manny的表现是否能依旧 Manny由於膝盖手术的复元错过开季前一个月，又因为和运动家比赛的甩棒事件被禁赛五 场，在队上并没有提供很多实质的帮助，但这位22岁的小伙子已经开始在进攻上有所表现 ，这可能会对金莺队的前进有着重大影响。 2. Jimenez是否能扭转噩运 今年冬天和金莺签下4年5000万的合约，Ubaldo Jimenez由於脚踝扭伤被放入伤兵名单， 他投得相当挣扎，这位右投有着3胜8败、投手自责分率4.52的成绩，他希望能在谷底反弹 以回报金莺对他的耐心。 3. Gausman是否有机会稳定的在先发轮值中出赛 身为金莺寄予厚望的新秀，尽管表现的亮眼，Kevin Gausman一直在大联盟和小联盟间游 走，Gausman的比赛一直被持续观察，这代表着他的大联盟旅程不会很早结束。 4. Davis是否能找回他的大棒子 Chris Davis从去年的生涯年至今，上半季全垒打数从37骤减至15，和Machado相同，他最 近也有棒子回温的迹象，希望能连结队上的攻击火力，成为烟火秀的其中一员。 5. 金莺是否能赢得分区冠军 以上的关键在下半季结束前都没办法得到答案，投手群是否能展现压制力以及打线是否能 持续发挥都是重点，金莺在休息结束後将面对三个艰困的西岸客场系列赛，必须保持上半 季的成功才能在十月有机会。 --

※ 发信站: 批踢踢实业坊(ptt.cc), 来自: 210.209.158.3 ※ 文章网址: http://webptt.com/cn.aspx?n=bbs/Orioles/M.1405654381.A.186.html ※ 编辑: Ikebe3120 (210.209.158.3), 07/18/2014 11:33:52 ※ 编辑: Ikebe3120 (59.126.7.19), 07/18/2014 21:32:57