Glaus and Overbay to join Wells in the middle of the lineup

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com

藍鳥隊來說,讓Troy Glaus和Lyle Overbay穿上白色主場球衣以及帶上黑帽子只是較簡單的部分,難的是如何安排他們在打線中的位置
牽涉11名球員的3筆交易最終讓Troy Glaus和Lyle Overbay成為藍鳥新球季的三壘手和一壘手,而這樣的調動也使得球團必須考慮給原來這2個位置的先發別的任務和角色

Glaus和Overbay可以提供這支去年只有一名球員擊出20發以上全壘打,沒有任何耀眼打點成績的球隊更多的火力. Glaus,前世界大賽MVP,具有一年30-40發的強大清壘能力,有他在,對方將無法一昧的躲避Vernon Wells.而Overbay善於擊出2壘打的特性也能在Rogers Centre 的草皮上適應良好(這一段實在不太確定意思)

不論在任何方面,為了獲得這兩名球員隊GM J.P. Ricciardi 來說都不是一件容易的事

為了將Glaus從Diamondbacks手中救出來(哈,不好意思,Rioss隊長,用個玩笑的說法),球隊必須忍痛將05年2壘金手套得主Orlando Hudson以及隊上的closerMiguel Batista(31次救援成功)打包推入火坑,同時還必須要Glaus自己覺醒放棄不能交易條款

所幸,Glaus一點也不遲疑的回應這項交易...

"在經過幾天的考慮之後,我很清楚這是個機會而我並不想拒絕"在12月27日在Rogers Centre的記者會上,Glaus坐在Overbay的身旁如此說道"我很高興能夠來到這裡,我也對這支球隊感到興奮,因為他們正走在正確的方向"

在生涯的8個球季裡,Glaus有4季敲出30發以上全壘打,其中更有2季達到40發。
這名3壘手曾在2000年以47支全壘打拿下當年AL的全壘打王,同時也是2002年天使隊贏得隊史第一次世界大賽冠軍的重要成員。

但是從那之後,Glaus就在和各種傷病搏鬥,去年儘管左膝後部的肌腱疼痛,他仍努力達到一個有表現的球季.Glaus以注射cortisone來減緩疼痛,他出賽149場擊出37支全壘打並有97分打點.目前為止沒有任何跡象顯示他過去的舊傷仍會在2006年困擾著他

得到Glaus之後迫使藍鳥隊球團必須思考如何安置原先的三壘手Corey Koskie
在上一季與藍鳥隊簽下一筆不錯的合約之後,Koskie 卻未能達到球隊的期望. 他再去年5月時因為拇指骨折而只出賽了97場同時之後也再也沒有帶起手套上場守備了
最後,Ricciardi將他交易至釀酒人換取小聯盟投手Brian Wolfe --單純是為了薪資的考量。

而稍早同樣和釀酒人達成的另一筆交易則幫助球隊強化了一壘防區

藍鳥隊以投手Zach Jackson和Dave Bush以及外野手Gabe Gross從釀酒人換來
Overbay以及小聯盟投手Ty Taubenheim

在新的球季,Overbay預計將擔負起第五棒的任務.他在去年的成績是在158場比賽裡有0.276的打擊率,擊出19支全壘打,72分打點以及34支二壘打. 他在2004年更以53支二壘打領先大聯盟所有打者. 在大聯盟的歷史上也只有27人曾單季擊出53支以上的二壘打.

Overbay在一壘的守備能力也不容小覷.去年他的守備率有0.992,而生涯也高達0.993

Glaus和Overbay都是內野的新成員,而他們也迫使Shea Hillenbrand和Eric Hinske被賦予新的角色。

"如果Hinske 想要上場,他必須擔任左外野手.而Shea則將轉往DH並視情況支援一三壘"Ricciardi 簡單的說道。

Hillenbrand 在去年先後守過一壘和三壘. 然而,就如同Ricciardi所提到的,他今年主要的工作將專注在DH上,但只要有需要,他仍然能上場守備. 有一件事是可以確定的
他能夠維持打線不要有斷層,他去年的成績是0.291的打擊率以及18支全壘打和82分打點,也是隊上去年唯一參加明星賽的。

Hinske在去年以一壘手的身分出賽100場,一但狀況緊急,他也可以負擔守備的任務。
但是今年他似乎得去嘗試守備左外野.Ricciardi希望在打線中有左手打者能給右投手威脅,而看起來只有外野能夠安置Hinske。

為了增加兩名強打者而迫使Hillenbrand和Hinske必需適應新角色所付出的代價並不大.藍鳥隊增加了Glaus和Overbay兩名大砲來幫助Wells使得他們有機會打進季後賽

為了把這兩名新面孔帶進球隊,交易了不少球員,時間會告訴我們這些交易到底值不值得。

原文

The easy part was having Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay try on their new white home jerseys and black Blue Jays hats while the cameras flashed at a press conference in late December. The more challenging task for Toronto was finding a way to acquire the two newest members of the lineup.

It took three trades that moved 11 players to allow Glaus to become the Blue Jays' third baseman and Overbay their first baseman. The moves also displaced a pair of Jays from their corner infield jobs and forced the team to find them different roles for the upcoming season.

Glaus and Overbay should help add a little pop to a Toronto lineup that had just one player hit more than 20 home runs and no players break the century mark in RBIs. Glaus, a former World Series MVP with the ability to hit 30 or 40 home runs, can bat cleanup, helping to give Vernon Wells more pitches to hit. Overbay should thrive on the FieldTurf in the Rogers Centre with his tendency to hit doubles to the gaps.

Getting these two players into Toronto uniforms wasn't a simple chore for Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi by any means.

In order to pry Glaus away from the Diamondbacks, the Blue Jays had to part ways with Orlando Hudson, who won the American League Gold Glove award at second base last year, and pitcher Miguel Batista, who saved 31 games in 2005. Toronto also had to hope that Glaus would waive his no-trade clause to accept the deal.

Glaus spared any suspense and gave a quick response to the trade proposal.

"After a couple of days of thinking about it, it became clear this was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up," Glaus said, sitting alongside Overbay at the Dec. 27 press conference at the Rogers Centre. "I'm excited to be here. I'm very excited about this team. I think it's moving in the right direction."

Glaus has topped 30 homers fours times and 40 long balls twice in eight seasons. The third baseman was the AL home-run champ with 47 in 2000 and was an integral part of the 2002 Angels team that defeated the Giants in seven games to win the club's first World Series.

Since then, Glaus has battled various injuries. He managed to have a productive season last year despite playing with a strained tendon behind his left knee. Glaus took cortisone shots to help with the pain, and he played in 149 games and had 37 home runs and 97 RBIs. There hasn't been any indication that any of his past injuries should linger into the 2006 season.

Acquiring Glaus forced Toronto to reevaluate where third baseman Corey Koskie fit into the equation. Koskie didn't live up to expectations after signing a lucrative contract with the Jays prior to last season. Koskie appeared in just 97 games due to a broken thumb he suffered in May, and he never got into a groove at the plate. In the end, Ricciardi dealt Koskie to the Brewers in exchange for Minor League reliever Brian Wolfe -- a move that was more for salary reasons than anything else.

It was an earlier trade with Milwaukee that helped strengthen Toronto's situation at first base.

The Blue Jays received Overbay and Minor League pitcher Ty Taubenheim from the Brewers in exchange for pitchers Zach Jackson and Dave Bush and outfielder Gabe Gross.

Overbay is projected to bat in the No. 5 hole. He hit .276 with 19 home runs, 72 RBIs and 34 doubles in 158 games last year. In 2004, he led the Majors with 53 doubles. Only 27 Major Leaguers in history have managed at least 53 in a season.

Overbay also has a solid glove at first base. Last season, he had a .992 fielding percentage, and he has a career fielding percentage of .993 across three seasons.

Glaus and Overbay will be welcome additions to the infield, but they also caused Shea Hillenbrand and Eric Hinske to be pushed into new roles.

"Hinske is going to get his at-bats playing left field, and Hillenbrand is going to DH and get some at-bats playing third and first," Ricciardi said recently.

Hillenbrand split time between first and third base last year. As Ricciardi noted, though, Hillenbrand will find most of his work as the designated hitter this season. He could still help out as needed at the corners, too. One thing is for sure, he'll be in the lineup consistently. Hillenbrand hit .291 with 18 homers and 82 RBIs and was Toronto's lone representative at the All-Star Game last year.

Hinske, who played 100 games at first base a year ago, may fill in at the corners if there is an emergency. He seems destined to test his outfielding skills in left, though. Ricciardi wants the big left-handed hitter in the lineup against right-handed pitchers, and that leaves the outfield as the only way to get Hinske more at-bats.

The adjustments for Hillenbrand and Hinske are a small price to pay for adding two key players to the corners. Toronto is pinning a lot of its success this year on Glaus and Overbay, who help create a powerful trio with Wells at the heart of the lineup.

A lot of players were moved to bring these two new faces to Toronto, and the coming months will reveal how well the trades paid off.
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