akira world

The Pirates have approached shortstop Jack Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez about multiyear contract extensions, putting on hold, for now, the possibility that either will be traded by Major League Baseball's July 31 deadline.
윌슨(Jack Wilson)과 산체스(Freddy Sanchez)는 아마 벅스와 연장계약에 접근했다는 소식으로 그들은 일단 트레이드 루머에서 잠시 벗어날 것이다.

But the clock is ticking.
그렇지만 시간은 흘러가고 있다.

If the parties are to agree on extensions, they will need to do so far enough in advance of the deadline so that, if the Pirates decide no agreement is possible, they still can pursue a trade for one or both. That likely means something must get done within the next week to 10 days.
만약 벅스가 (키스톤콤비와) 연장계약을 한다면 키스톤콤비들은 분명 트레이드 데드라인 전에 할 필요가 있다.
반면 연장계약이 안된다면 둘 중하나 혹은 둘 다 트레이드 될 것이다. 남은 10일 후에 아마도 이 결정은 확실해 질것이다.

And there is a catch, one unusual in professional sports: If one player does not sign, the other probably will not, either. Wilson and Sanchez are best friends to the point of being virtually inseparable, on and off the infield dirt.
색다른 점이라고 하면 둘 중 한명이 연장계약을 못한다면(혹은 안한다면) 다른 선수 역시 그것을 받아들이지 않을 것이다. 왜냐하면 윌슨과 산체스는 둘도없는 친구사이이기 때문이다.

"I'm very excited to possibly continue my career in Pittsburgh, to finish what I've started, and Freddy is going to be a vital piece of any decision I make," Wilson said last night after the team's post-break workout at PNC Park. "Without Freddy, I think, it would be tough to win without a player like that."
"벅스와 계속한다면 전 매우 기쁠껍니다. 산체스는 저의 결정에 중요한 역할을 할 거구요." 윌슨은 올스타브레이크를 끝내고 어제 PNC 팍에서 훈련을 끝낸 후 짤막하게 답변했다. "산체스없이 승리하기란 곤란해요."

"I want to finish my career turning double plays with Jack in a Pirates uniform," Sanchez said. "If it works out, it would be unbelievable. This is what we've been talking about for a long time."
"전 벅스 저지를 입고 윌슨과 더블플레이를 계속하다가 커리어를 끝내고 싶습니다." 산체스가 이어서 말했다. "그게 현실이 된다면 믿을수없을 겁니다. 오랫동안 그와했던 얘기죠."

Wilson, 31, the Pirates' most tenured player, is batting .270 with four home runs, 18 doubles and 31 RBIs and, surely most significant in this scenario given the system's near-total dearth of shortstop depth, is playing perhaps the best defense of his career.

He is in the final guaranteed year of a contract that pays $7.4 million, most on the team. He has a 2010 club option worth $8.4 million, with a $500,000 buyout.
현재 가장 오랫동안 벅스저지를 입고있는 윌슨은 올시즌 .270 & 4HR, 31RBI를 올리고 있으며 벅스팜의 유격수 댑스가 빈약한걸 생각한다면 벅스로는 올바른 결정일 것이다. 또한, 팀내 최다연봉인 7.4M을 받고있으며 내년 8.4M이나 0.5M의 바이아웃이 남아있다.

Sanchez, 31, fresh off his third All-Star selection, is batting .316 with six home runs, 27 doubles and 34 RBIs, and his defense, too, has been at its career peak.

He is making $6.25 million and can guarantee his 2010 vesting option worth $8 million by achieving 600 plate appearances this season.
산체스는 .316 & 6HR 34RBI를 올리고 있으며 올시즌 6.25M과 내년에 퍼포먼스 옵션인 8M이 남아있다.

The Pirates have turned 100 double plays, tied for most in the majors with the Texas Rangers, and this despite having fewer baserunners to erase than in recent years due to improved pitching.
올해 갑자기 좋아진 투수력 덕택에 (투수진이) 많은 주자를 출루시키지 않았지만 벅스는 올시즌 100번의 DP를 성공시켰으며 이는 텍사스와 더불어 빅리그 최다수치이다.

Defense, apparently, was paramount in management's thinking with this contract approach.
분명 수비에 있어서 이 둘의 조합은 괜찮은 연장계약이라고 생각한다.

General manager Neal Huntington declined last night to comment on any player's contract status, but he did acknowledge how difficult it would be to replace Wilson and/or Sanchez.
GM 헌팅턴(Neal Hungtington)은 최근 연장계약에 관한 코맨트를 거절했지만 산체스와 윌슨을 대처하기란 어렵다는 것을 시인했다.

"I think it would be less than an ideal situation," Huntington said. "Jack, obviously, is playing great defense. Freddy is an All-Star on both sides of the ball. It would be tough to replace both, no question. But, as an organization, we can't be held hostage to fear of replacing. We like our ability to be creative. We feel like we could go out and find adequate replacements."
"잭과 산체스는 확실히 좋은 선수에요. 그들의 데체선수를 찾기란 힘든 일이죠. 의문의 여지가 없죠. 그렇지만 데체할 선수가 없다고해서 그들과 연장계약을 하는 것은 절대로 아니랍니다. 우리도 찾아보면 그런 선수(데체선수)를 분명 찾을수는 있어요." 헌팅턴이 말을 이어나갔다.

He paused.

"Obviously, the easiest thing would be to keep them here. If we can't do that and we get the right trade, it's something we have to do."
"확실히 그들과 연장계약하는것이 가장 쉬운 방법이긴해요. 그들과 연장계약을 못한다거나 트레이드시장에서 좋은 선수를 데려올 수 없다면 우린 다른 방법을 모색해야 합니다."

Wilson and Sanchez have made known, all spring and summer, their desire to stay and play together. But it was management that initiated this approach, and it did so jointly, aware of the teammates' shared wish.
물론 구단은 이 둘이 함께하고 싶어한다는걸 알고 있기에 둘에게 연장계약을 시도하려는 것이다.

That does not mean it will be simple, though. In fact, a fair amount of skepticism was palpable on all sides last night.

In addition to the time constraint, hashing out the lengths and dollars of independent contracts, from early indications, will not be simple. That is especially true of the lengths: Wilson could seek three years, while the Pirates could be more interested in two plus an option. Sanchez could seek three or four years.
게다가 시간이 촉박하기때문에 계약기간과 금액을 신중히 고려해야 해야하는데 간단치가 않을거 같다. 특히 계약기간이 중요한데 벅스는 2+1을 원하고 있는데 반해 윌슨은 3년계약을 원하고 있다. 산체스는 3~4년을 원하고 있다.

As for money, Wilson is amenable to lowering his salary from its current level, and Sanchez is flexible about restructuring that 2010 option.
금액에서는 윌슨은 자신이 지금 받는 금액보다 낮출 가능성이 있으며 산체스도 내년 옵션을 재조정할 가능성이 있어보인다.

Another possible factor is the no-trade clause. The Pirates' current management never has given one out, but this circumstance -- two players choosing to stay on one team, possibly for less money -- could make it a variable.
또 다른 요인은 트레이드불가조항인데 벅스는 결코 그걸 허락하지 않을 것이다. 하지만 이 둘이 같은 팀에서 뛰고 더 적은 돈을 원할 가능성이 있기때문에 이건 지켜봐야할 문제인거 같다.

If Wilson and Sanchez remain and first baseman Adam LaRoche does not return next year, the middle infielders almost surely will be the team's highest-paid everyday players in 2010 by a wide margin. All the rest, except catcher Ryan Doumit at $3.55 million, will make at or close to the major league minimum $400,000 because of their experience levels.
산체스와 윌슨이 연장계약을 맺고 내년에 라로쉬(Adam LaRoche)가 돌아오지 않는다면 내년 벅스 페이롤에 이 둘이 많은 부분을 차지할 것이다. 나머지 페이롤은 아마 더밋의 3.55M과 컨트롤가능한 최저연봉자들의 몫일 것이다.

Before this development, the Pirates had listened to trade offers for Wilson and Sanchez, but none to the point of anything being close.
물론 이 연장계약에 관한 논의전에 벅스는 그들을 트레이드 시장에 내보이면서 반응을 기다렸지만 어떤 구단도 응하지 않았다.

Spring Postcard : Pittsburgh could surprise with young talent

Three observations

1) El Toro is stealing the show.
1) 알바레스는 주목받고 있다.

The raves started coming in the first days of camp :
광란의 시작은 스캠 첫날부터 시작되었다.

"He has Willie Stargell's swing," former Pirates All-Star catcher Manny Sanguillen said. "I know that swing. Wow. Power."

"A Baby Pujols," marveled a drooling scout shaking his head as he roamed the fields.

Said shortstop Jack Wilson in the Pirates locker room after watching the phenom take his cuts during a workout: "The kid is the real deal."

The kid is Pedro Alvarez -- the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft -- and while he may not take a swing at PNC Park in 2009, he was all the buzz in Pirate City.


"It's hard not to love what you see," GM Neal Huntington said one morning, with the big smile of a guy who'd just taken a new set of wheels out for a spin. "Tremendous upside. It's been 10 months since he last played a competitive game, but we're already seeing it. You hear [first base coach] Perry Hill talk about how he likes the foundation of what he does defensively as a third baseman; you hear [hitting coach] Don Long talk about how he's got an advanced approach as a hitter; you hear Manny Sanguillen drop the Willie Stargell comparison. He's still 22 and got a long ways to go, but the ceiling, we're certainly seeing it. We're very pleased with his progress."
윌리 스타젤(Willie Stargell)의 스윙, 베이비 푸홀스 등은 모두 페드로 알바레스(Pedro Alvarez)를 지칭하는 말이다.
"10달 넘게 경기를 뛰지 않았지만, 그(알바레스)를 볼 날은 얼마 남지 않았을 겁니다. 당신은 아마 1루 코치(페리 힐)와 얘기를 나눈다면 그가 얼마나 좋은 수비수인지 알게 될 것이고, 타격코치(돈 롱)와 얘기를 나눈다면 그가 얼마나 좋은 타자인지 알게 될 것입니다. 하지만, 그는 아직 22살에 불과하고 갈길이 멀어요. 하지만, 우리는 그의 성장에 너무나도 즐겁습니다." 벅스의 GM인 닐 헌팅턴의 말이다.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 233 pounds -- his teammates at Vanderbilt called him "El Toro" (The Bull) -- Alvarez, to the delight of the Pirates, reported to camp slimmed down after his conditioning was questioned this winter. Watch Alvarez take his cuts in person, and you immediately see his offensive skills: the scary bat speed that allows him to rip balls to all fields; the quick hands that permit him to let the ball go deep into the strike zone; the professional approach at the plate that allows him to consistently make solid contact. Scouts and coaches wonder if Alvarez ultimately will stay at third. He possesses a good arm, but has average range and agility. Regardless, whether it's at third or in the outfield, Alvarez will be a premier No. 3 hitter and the face of the Pirates for years to come. As for his arrival in The Show? Interestingly enough, Pirates manager John Russell hasn't ruled out the possibility that he will be starring at PNC Park this summer. Stayed tuned.
190cm, 105kg의 이 거구를 대학시절 팀메이트들은 라틴어로 '엘 토로(황소)'라고 불렀다. 드레프트된 후 그의 상태에 여전히 의문부호가 달렸고, 겨우내 그는 다이어트를 했다. 알바레스가 다이어트에 성공했다는 증거는 공격스킬에서 확인할 수 있다. 그의 가공할 만한 뱃 스피드는 공을 구장 곳곳으로 보낼 수 있고, 스트라익으로 들어오는 공을 그의 손은 결코 허락하지 않을 것이며, 타석에서는 꾸준히 솔리드한 모습을 보여 줄 수 있을 것입니다. 스카우터와 코치들은 그가 3루에 안착한다면, 다들 놀랄 것이다. 좋은 어깨를 가졌지만, 수비범위와 민첩함이 평균수준에 불과하기 때문이다. 어쨎든 그가 맡을 포지션이 3루든, 외야건 상관없이 그는 내년에 팀의 3번타자와 벅스의 아이콘이 될 가능성이 높다. 매니저 존 러셀(John Russell) 역시 이 부분에 대해 동의하면서 아마도 올해 벅스시티의 스타가 될 가능성을 배제하지 않고 있다고 말했다.

2) The Professor has arrived.
2) 교수님이 오셨다.

The three keys to the Pirates' season, according to Wilson: "Pitching, pitching and pitching." Last season the Pirates were dead last in the NL in team ERA (5.08), batting average against (.286) and walks (657). Enter new pitching coach Joe Kerrigan, Pittsburgh's fourth in five years. At his last stop in Philly, Kerrigan was criticized at times for being too hands-off with his pitchers; with this young Pirates staff, he's been anything but. By the second day of camp, Kerrigan had already crouched behind the plate and caught for over half of the 28 hurlers in camp. After watching film of the 2008 staff and concluding that hurlers didn't pitch inside enough, he's installed dummy hitters at the plate for his pitchers' side sessions.
잭 윌슨(Jack Wilson)의 말을 빌리자면, 올해 벅스의 키 포인트는 '피칭'이다. 작년 벅스 피칭스텝들은 NL에서 평균 자책점(5.08), 피안타율(.286), 볼넷 허용(657)에서 최하위를 기록했다. 이에 벅스는 신임 조 케리건(Joe Kerrigan)-최근 5년사이에 4번째 투수코치-을 임명했다. 그의 필리스시절 투수들에게 너무 심한 간섭으로 많은 비판을 받았지만, 벅스로 온 후 그러질 않았다. 스캠 둘째날 그는 스캠에 참가한 28명의 투수의 절반가량 공을 잡았다. 또한, 작년 벅스 투수진의 피칭을 비디오분석한 결과, 투수들이 몸쪽 승부를 꺼린다는 점을 알아차리고 타석에 마네킹을 설치하여 투수들을 연습시켰다.

"His strength is game planning, and that's a key match for us," said Huntington. "We had times last year where we struggled in the first inning. We struggled with making adjustments on the fly or helping guys eliminate big innings. Joe's strength is recognizing pitchers' strengths and making in-game adjustments. It's an area where we certainly needed improvement."
그(조 케리건)의 경기를 풀어가는 능력이 탁월하고 그건 우리에게 꼭 필요합니다. 작년 시즌 내내 겪었던 아픔을 그가 잘 조절해주리라고 믿고 있어요. 투수의 스타일을 간파하고 경기 내에서 그걸 조정하는 것이 케리건의 능력이라고 생각합니다. 그리고 그건 확실히 우리가 찾고 있는 것들이구요. 라고 케리건의 중요성에 대해 벅스 단장이 읊조리고 있다.

3) Ray of Hope.
3) 희망의 빛

Much has been made about the Pirates' run of 16 straight losing seasons. Given that this is virtually the same team that went 17-37 after the Jason Bay and Xavier Nady deals at the trade deadline and finished with its fourth consecutive 90-loss season, a 17th appears inevitable. Not so fast. Good-luck charm Eric Hinske is here. Hinske was on the '07 Red Sox and the '08 Rays, so a World Series berth for the Steel City must not be far off, right? Hinske says he feels the same kind of vibe in the Bucs clubhouse he felt a year ago in Rays camp. "In Tampa, a lot of the young guys just hadn't figured it out," he says. "Once some guys started to, it was contagious. I think the same thing can happen here. There's a lot of talent here, too, that just hasn't come out."
작년 트레이드 데드라인에 제이슨 베이(Jason Bay)와 자비어 네이디(Xavier Nady)를 보내고 그들은 17-37을 기록했다. 즉, 4년 연속 90패 이상을 기록하면서 16년 연속 루징레코드라는 당연한 결과를 일궈냈다. 하지만, 올 시즌 에릭 힌스키(Eric Hinske)의 가세는 벅스에게는 큰 힘에 되어 줄 것이다. 그는 07시즌 보스턴, 08시즌에는 템파에서 활약했고, 작년 레이스와 비슷한 느낌을 여기에서 받았다고 말했다. "템파에는 많은 젊은 프로스펙터들이 있지만, 잘 추수리지 못했죠. 하지만 그들이 한 번 불붙기 시작하면서 걷잡을 수 없었어요. 그런 모습이 여기에서도 벌어질 것으로 생각합니다. 물론 여기에도 많은 젊은 프로스텍터들이 있지만, 금방 그런게 나타나지는 않을 겁니다."

The Pirates did take the Rays' run to heart. "They were able to go out there and do it and Detroit did it a couple years ago when they went to the World Series," says Wilson, who has played for eight of the Pirates' losing teams. "It makes you think that it can happen for anybody. You keep that in your thoughts. They're where you want to get to."

Said Huntington, "Anytime you see a team go from 90-plus losses to 90-plus wins, it gives you hope. It gives you reasons for optimism. You look at the Twins and they lose Johan Santana and Torii Hunter and brought in some young players and really built around their core. Projected to win somewhere in the low 70s, they won in the upper 80s and played a meaningful game one day after the season ended last year."
당신은 90패 이상의 팀에서 90승 이상의 팀을 언제라도 볼 수 있을 겁니다. 미네소타를 예로 들어보죠. 그들은 요한 산타나(Johan Santana)와 토리 헌터(Torii Hunter)를 잃으면서 젊은 유망주를 데려와서 그들을 주축으로 만들어 버렸습니다.

Prospect creating a buzz

One day after workouts, Russell was talking about -- who else? -- The Phenom, Alvarez, when he suddenly changed the subject. "You know, you should watch [Jose] Tabata hit," he replied. "Jose Tabata is kind of going under the radar here, but this kid has a special bat as well."

Indeed, Tabata's been under Alvarez's shadow, but he's shown that he will be a big part of the Pirates future, as well. Tabata -- acquired in July in the Nady trade with the Yankees -- is expected to start the season at Class AA Altoona to start the season, but he'll get at-bats at Class AAA Indianapolis and may even take a few cuts in Pittsburgh late this year. Tabata earned a bad reputation in the Yankees organization after leaving a game early at Class AA Trenton, but the Pirates have liked Tabata's quiet attitude thus far. The Pirates have also liked what they've seen on the field this spring -- he has big gap power that they think ultimately will turn into home run power.
호세 타바타(Jose Tabata)는 현재 벅스팬들의 주 관심사인 알바레스의 그늘에 막혀있지만, 그 역시 뛰어난 탑 프로스펙터 중에 한명이다. 그는 올 시즌 더블 A팀 앨투나에서 시즌을 맞이 할 것으로 예상되지만, 결국은 트리플 A팀인 인디에나폴리스로 승격해서 시즌 말미에는 피츠버그에서 약간의 기회를 얻을 것이다. 양키스에서 그는 좋지 않은 소문에 휩싸였지만, 벅스에 와서는 조용히 지냈다. 벅스는 그의 뛰어난 필딩을 좋아하며 그의 갭 파워는 결국 나중에 홈런으로 이어질 것이다.

Fantasy fodder

If you haven't noticed, Ryan Doumit has quietly emerged as a top fantasy catcher. At 28, Doumit is entering his prime and showed remarkable consistency last year -- there wasn't a month that he hit below .290. Last spring, Doumit -- a former outfielder and first baseman -- didn't even bring his catcher's mitt to camp, but then he took the starting job from Ronny Paulino. His .318 batting average would have ranked fourth in the league, but he was 37 plate appearances short of qualifying. Doumit won't fall short this year. Coaches in Pirates camp think he's primed for a big year. While he won't have any eye-popping RBI totals in the Pirates lineup, he's a decent bet to hit over .300 with close to 20 home runs.
더밋(Ryan Doumit)은 조용히 묻혀질 포수가 될 뻔했다. 작년 주목할만한 모습을 보여준 더밋은 월간 타율이 .290이하로 떨어진 적이 없었다. 작년 스캠에서 외야수와 1루수가 될 것을 예상하고 포수 미트를 가져오지 않았지만, 로니 폴리뇨(Ronny Paulino)의 부상으로 기회를 얻었다. 벅스 코칭스텝은 그가 3할에 20홈런을 예상하고 있다.

The Pirates and catcher Ryan Doumit have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension -- plus an unusual club option for an additional two years -- and are expected to announce it with a news conference today at PNC Park.

All that remains is for Doumit to take a physical, and that is scheduled for this morning.

No financial terms were immediately available, but the guaranteed three-year term will carry Doumit through all three of his arbitration-eligible years, and the club option could buy out what would have been his first and second years of free agency. The rarity of the option is that it has a one-time trigger for both years, meaning that the Pirates can decide only once whether or not to exercise both.

The contract effectively gives the Pirates control of Doumit's rights through 2013.

Doumit, 27, made $412,000 during a breakout 2008 in which he batted .318 with 15 home runs and 69 RBIs. His .407 average with runners in scoring position was the best in the National League for players with a minimum 100 plate appearances.

The signing will be the first for the Pirates of their seven arbitration-eligible players. Starter Paul Maholm also is negotiating an extension with the team. Center fielder Nate McLouth had been doing likewise until those talks crumbled in the past week. The rest are first baseman Adam LaRoche, starter Zach Duke, and relievers John Grabow and Tyler Yates. All except Maholm can be expected, for now, to end up with one-year contracts.

The Doumit extension would be the fourth since new management took over in late 2007: Second baseman Freddy Sanchez, starter Ian Snell and closer Matt Capps received multiyear contracts early this year.
더밋이 3년 + 2년옵션의 연장계약을 채결했고, 현지시간으로 오늘 PNC팍에서 발표를 한다고 하네요.
신체검사는 아침에 한다고 합니다.
특이하게 2년 옵션을 달았군요.
옵션까지 시행된다면 2013년까지 벅스는 더밋을 컨트롤할 수 있다고 합니다.
경제여파때문에 얼마만큼의 계약을 해줄지는 모르겠지만, 4년에 20M이나 5년에 30M의 가치가 될거라고 예상은 나온 상태입니다.
그와 더불어 폴 마홈과 네이트 맥로스의 연장계약도 진행되고 있는 상황입니다만, 맥로스의 경우는 양측의 금액차이가 좀 난다고 합니다.