Personality translates: Captains catcher from Taiwan is a hit with his teammates (with video) Published: Thursday, May 27, 2010 By John Kampf [email protected] Turning and looking over his shoulder in the Lake County Captains’ clubhouse, Chun-Hsiu Chen got a look of surprise on his face when teammate Justin Smit informed him that someone wanted to speak with him. Off to the side, a handful of teammates overhearing Smit’s words took the opportunity to rib their teammate from Taiwan. “Oh, Chun. You’re in trouble. Trouble, trouble, trouble,” they said with a round of laughs. Breaking out a broad smile as he stood up from the couch on which he was sitting, the 21-year-old catcher waved his hand as his teammates and shook his head, saying, “No, no, no,” as he walked toward the clubhouse door. A few minutes earlier, while walking through the clubhouse, Chen glanced over at a teammate, who took a big sniff of his socks and threw his head back like it was the worst thing he had ever smelled — bringing the heartiest of laughters from the Chen. “What an unbelievable kid,” manager Ted Kubiak said of his incessantly smiling catcher. “All the guys like him. He’s a very popular kid.” A very popular kid who is dealing with a hurdle none of his other teammates are dealing with. Speaking a language no one else in his clubhouse or front office speaks. The American players have each other. The Latin players can converse with each other. Chen has, well, himself. “Yeah,” Kubiak said. “But baseball is a universal language. The Latin guys don’t know a lot of English, either, but everyone knows the words associated with the game like hands, stance and things like that. “I don’t see it as a major problem.” Chen’s numbers at the plate suggest the same. Heading into Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Dayton Dragons, Chen was hitting .322 with three home runs and 20 RBI, numbers that are a vast improvement over the .215 average he eclipsed last year at Mahoning Valley. His improvement on the field mirrors that of his improvement with English. “His English is better than it used to be,” said teammate Jason Smit. “To be honest, there’s no real difficulty talking to him at all. We gesture and use our hands, whatever we need to do.” Smit would know — as would fellow outfielder Bo Greenwell. They are not only teammates of Chen’s, but also roommates. There are certainly interesting moments between Floridian Greenwell, Smit with his heavy Australian accent and Chen, who is working without the luxury of a daily interpreter for the first time in his three-year career. “He had a translator with him the first two years,” Greenwell said. “I think it kind of handicapped him. He didn’t really try to learn because of that.” Interpreter Jason Lynd makes periodic stops at Classic Park, but he spends most of his time with the Double-A Akron Aeros with pitcher Chen Lee — who is also from Taiwan. The absence of Lynd has pretty much put Smit and Greenwell in a new and different position. “I think we are his English class right now,” Greenwell said with a laugh. “He picks up words here and there.” The trio of friends went to Chinatown in Cleveland recently to enjoy an afternoon. They grocery shop together. Go to dinner together. More than anything, learn together. For instance, Chen still asks his roomies to order for him when they go out to dinner, but they teach him the words he needs to order a specific entree so he can order for himself. “We just found out the other day he likes broccoli,” Greenwell said. “He saw a picture of it, pointed to it and asked us what it was.” As difficult as the off-the-field language barrier might seem — Greenwell and Smit insist it is not — baseball is another story. Kubiak said Chen is actively involved in pitcher-catcher meetings. And while he “doesn’t give big, long answers, he understands what we’re talking about even if he just nods his head.” Pitcher Austin Adams worked with Chen last season at Mahoning Valley and said the catcher is savvy behind the plate, as well as in dialogue — even if it is short and to the point. “He’ll come out to the mound and say things like, ‘Keep ball down,’ or ‘Location better,’ ” Adams said. “If I shake him off, he’ll come out and say, ‘Follow me. I know the batters.’ ” With the help of his teammates and roommates, Chen’s English is improving every day. He is having a breakout season both behind and at the plate. When asked if he is lonely being so far away from home, Chen — after being helped out with the question by Smit — laughed and said no. “He’s come so far,” Greenwell said. “Back when we first met him, we couldn’t even say, ‘Hi. How are you?’ because he didn’t know what you were saying and wouldn’t even acknowledge you. “He’s such a good guy. He’s funny and light-hearted. I can’t wait for him to learn the entire language and for things to click for him.” Judging from his rapid progression both on and off the field, that moment might be sooner than later. http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/05/27/sports/nh2556857.txt --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.109.23.219