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Jays have their corners covered with Glaus, Overbay

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com, 01/10/2007 2:20 PM ET

在上一季的藍鳥隊打線中,有兩個打序是無法變動的。
多倫多的教練John Gibbons總是希望他到球場的時候三壘手Glaus和一壘手Overbay是可以上場的。想到他們去年的貢獻,Gibbons對這兩人在下季的成績仍然充滿信心。

“你已經可以預測他們一定會打出好成績,”Gibbons說到。”前提我們必須維護他們倆的健康。”

如果去年有任何象徵,這兩位都在2005年十二月經由交易而來的球員都會盡力去證明他們不會受健康因素影響。上一季多倫多陣中只有四名球員出賽超過150場—Glaus和Overbay正是其中之二。

Overbay在2006年並未受到任何傷病的困擾。但是Glaus整年都受到他的膝蓋和肩膀的舊傷所困擾。但那仍無法阻止這名三壘手整季出賽了153場—他自2002年以來的新高—同時成績也是這幾年來佳績之一。

30歲的Glaus以38支全壘打領先全隊,這個成績不但是美聯所有三壘手的第一名,也是他個人自2001年以來的新高。在他的9年大聯盟職業生涯中,這是第五次他單季擊出30支以上的長打。這名6呎5吋的重砲手過去兩年總共擊出75支全壘打,同時也是藍鳥入選明星賽的5人之一。

除了全壘打之外,Glaus得到105分,這是他自2000年以來的新高。而這名三壘手去年所灌進的104分打點也是他自2002年以來的新高。同時是這名2002年世界大賽MVP生涯第四次單季打點突破100分。

“從年初到年尾,Glaus都在三壘,”Gibbons說到”他總是這樣。他是一名職業球員而他也展示出要如何應付每天的比賽。我在春訓時就知道這點了。”

Overbay同時也在多倫多發光發熱並把2006年轉成他生涯中成績最佳的一年。出賽數達到全隊最高的157場,這名左打一壘手整季打擊率有0.312同時22支全壘打、92分打點和181支安打都是生涯新高。經由一筆五人交易而從密爾瓦基來到多倫多的Overbay過去三年至少都出賽了157場。

他同時擊出了全隊最多的46支二壘打,這成績在美聯可以排到第四。從2003年起算,Overbay的二壘打總合(133支)是全大聯盟最多的。而過去四年來每一季他的單季全壘打數都在增加。

“我想Lyle正逐漸邁向他生涯的巔峰,”Gibbons如此說”去年的他非常穩定。他對球隊的貢獻非常巨大,不僅僅是攻擊上。就防守而言,他也是一名非常好的一壘手。”

Overbay去年的守備率達到0.994,絲毫不遜於他過去的表現。但是在防守上令人驚豔的卻是Glaus。

當2006年球季開始的時候,許多人質疑Glaus能否適應Rogers Centre的人工草皮。他以0.963的守備率來回應,這成績在美聯的先發三壘手中排在第五位,同時也高於他生涯0.947的守備率。Glaus也策動了37次雙殺,這是隊史上三壘手的紀錄。

當Gibbons對先發的一三壘手高枕無憂時,球隊在這兩個位置上的替補深度卻相對薄弱。

Zaun的替補Jason Phillips同時也可以肩付防守一壘的任務。過去四季在Phillips先後在藍鳥、道奇和大都會一共在一壘出賽了149場。Gibbons說他也會考慮原先守外野Matt Stairs。這名14年資歷的老將一共在一壘出賽過242場。如果Overbay需要休息,工具人John McDonald也可以頂替空缺。

如果Glaus受傷或是需要休息,誰可以代替他還不清楚。經由規則五選來的內野手Jason Smith和McDonald可以替補這個位置。Gibbons說他不會讓Hill來守三壘,即使在2005年他有花時間在這個位置上。

“在Glaus之後我們並沒有太多的選擇,”Gibbons說。”如果Glaus需要休息,Smith和McDonald都可以是選擇。”

在小聯盟的層級中,如果有緊急需求,球團也會徵召三壘手John Hattig。Hattig在九月被徵召上大聯盟,出賽13場留下0.333的打擊率。在3A的Syracuse,他出賽103場,打擊率0.276,擊出4支全壘打並有36分打點。

附上原文:

There were two spots on the Blue Jays' lineup card that remained virtually untouched throughout last season.

When Toronto manager John Gibbons arrived to the ballpark, he could almost always count on third baseman Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay being able to play. Considering the statistics that the pair compiled last year, Gibbons is very much looking forward to feeling that same confidence once again in 2007.

"You can pencil in good, solid numbers for both of them," Gibbons said. "The key is we have to keep those two healthy."

If last year was any indication, Glaus and Overbay, who were both acquired in trades in December 2005, will do their part to make sure health isn't an issue. Only four players on Toronto's roster played in more than 150 games last season -- Glaus and Overbay being two of them.

Overbay didn't experience any problematic injury issues in 2006, but Glaus, who has had knee and shoulder ailments in the past, battled through some leg soreness at various points throughout the year. That didn't stop the third baseman from appearing in 153 games -- his most since 2002 -- and putting together one of his best all-around seasons in years.

Glaus, 30, led the Jays with 38 home runs, which ranked first among American League third basemen and was his highest total since 2001. It also represented the fifth time in his nine Major League seasons that Glaus belted 30 or more long balls. The 6-foot-5 slugger has 75 homers over the past two seasons and was one of five Toronto All-Stars last year.

Beyond just home runs, Glaus scored 105 runs, the most he'd had since 2000. The third baseman also tallied 104 RBIs -- his most since 2002 and the fourth time that the '02 World Series Most Valuable Player cracked the century mark in that category.

"With Troy over there at third, he does it year in and year out," Gibbons said. "He always has. He's a gamer and he shows up to play every day. I sensed that in Spring Training."

Overbay also thrived in Toronto's potent lineup and turned in arguably his best season in 2006. In a team-high 157 games, the left-handed-hitting first baseman posted a .312 average and set new career highs with 22 home runs, 92 RBIs and 181 hits. Over the past three years, Overbay -- picked up in a five-player trade with Milwaukee -- has appeared in at least 157 games.

The first baseman also clubbed a team-high 46 doubles, which ranked fourth in the AL. Since 2003, Overbay has more doubles (133) than any other Major Leaguer. He has also increased his home run total in each of the past four seasons.

"I think Lyle is just coming into his own," Gibbons said. "Last year, he was steady as can be. He was huge for us -- he really was -- and not only offensively. Defensively, he's a very good first baseman."

Overbay posted a .994 fielding percentage at first base, which was on par with his previous performances. Glaus was the bigger surprise on defense, though.

When '06 began, there were questions about how Glaus would hold up on the artificial FieldTurf playing surface at the Rogers Centre. He responded to his critics by posting a .963 fielding percentage, which ranked fifth among AL starters at the position and was well above his career average (.947). Glaus also turned 37 double plays -- a new team record for a third baseman.

While Gibbons can take comfort in knowing he has two solid players starting at the corners, though, the depth behind Glaus and Overbay is thin.

Jason Phillips, who is the backup to catcher Gregg Zaun, can also chip in at first base. Phillips has appeared in 149 games at first over the past four seasons with the Jays, Dodgers and Mets. Gibbons said he would also consider using outfielder Matt Stairs, who has played 242 games at first over his 14-year career, or utility infielder John McDonald at first base if Overbay needed a day off.

It's not as clear who would replace Glaus if he needed rest or were to get hurt. Infielder Jason Smith, who was picked up in the Rule 5 Draft, and McDonald could help back up Glaus. Gibbons said that having second baseman Aaron Hill play third wasn't an option, even though he spent time at the position in 2005.

"We really don't have a whole lot of options [behind Glaus]," Gibbons said. "Smith could be a guy and McDonald [could be, too], if Troy needed a day off."

At the Minor League level, Toronto could possibly call on third baseman John Hattig in an emergency situation. Hattig was a September callup for the Jays and hit .333 over 13 games in the big leagues. With Triple-A Syracuse, the switch-hitter posted a .276 average with four homers and 36 RBIs in 103 games.
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