大聯盟春訓開始讓媒體終於有機會看到阿民,也讓年假期間的新聞總算有更新的時候。台灣媒體把焦點放在阿民身上很正常,不過多少有膨脹的嫌疑,還是看看阿兜仔的報導才算數:目前看來,外國記者對洋基隊關心的話題,除了幾位球星的續約,主要還是討論新來的日本投手井川慶表現如何。
不過,還是有人為阿民寫了一篇報導。以下是 New York Daily News 體育記者ANTHONY McCARRON的文章。
Bombers' hidden ace
Wang back to work, but few really notice
【Originally published on February 18, 2007】
AMPA - When Chien-Ming Wang flew home to Taiwan for a two-month stay during the offseason, hundreds of fans were waiting at the airport. When he pulled up outside his parents' home, more fans were standing outside.
Autograph seekers dogged Wang's every step when he tried to go out, which meant he needed bodyguards. "Too crazy," Wang said. "It was a mess. I couldn't go anywhere."
But when Taiwan's biggest baseball star arrived at Yankee camp last week, there was little fanfare. In any other camp, the appearance of an ace would be big news, but it wasn't for Wang, who tied for the major-league lead in victories last season with 19 and was runner-up to Johan Santana in the American League Cy Young voting.
Wang is a quiet guy, and there have been other stories swirling around the Yanks - Mariano Rivera's contract snarl, Mike Mussina's make-up meeting with Carl Pavano, the will-he-or-won't-he-return Bernie Williams saga and Steve Swindal's DUI arrest.
And there are more popular stars - while Wang and the rest of the Yanks' projected rotation threw off five bullpen mounds, fans nearby mostly ignored Wang, instead yelling, "Welcome back, Andy" to re-signed lefty Andy Pettitte or telling Jorge Posada he looked good.
Wang prefers the anonymity. "Pitching is my job; that's all I care about," he said.
"If he doesn't say anything, you think he's missing and you think you have to go look for him," said pitching coach Ron Guidry. "He's not a highlights type of guy. He takes more pride in doing the job than talking about it."
"He's been flying under the radar for a year and a half," Mussina added. "He doesn't say much. He's got a goofy smile when you talk to him. It's how he is. He doesn't do anything flashy, strike out 10 a game, but it doesn't mean he can't pitch."
Wang's talent was evident again yesterday, even though it was only the second time he's thrown off a mound in camp. His renowned sinker dipped through the strike zone, causing catcher Ben Davis to whoop, "Way to go, Wanger" on several occasions.
"I don't know how you can make a ball move like that," Davis said later. "It's amazing how good that pitch is. He's got a gift, that's for sure."
Wang was less impressed, at least for the day, saying, "It's the first time this offseason the ball moved."
After a hectic November and December in Taiwan, in which he made numerous public appearances, sat for several press conferences and did commercials for Nike, Ford, a Taiwanese bank and a computer company, Wang went to Arizona for a month. For the past three years, he has worked out at Fischer Sports, a training facility in Phoenix.
There, he got away from his busy winter, slipping back into the anonymity he likes while getting into what he called the best shape of his life.
"I want to build on last year," Wang said. "My arm is stronger and I'm in better shape."
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