美国国家公共电台 NPR--Baseball's 2023 season has a slate of new rules, all aimed at speeding up games

Baseball's 2023 season has a slate¹ of new rules, all aimed at speeding up games

Transcript²

NPR's A Martinez talks to baseball analyst³ and former pitcher⁴ Mark Gubicza about the rule changes introduced by Major League Baseball for the new season.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

It's opening day for Major League Baseball. And when you watch on TV or at the ballpark, the game will definitely look different. New rule changes are being put in place, designed to speed up the action and create more scoring. Mark Gubicza was a World Series champ and a two-time All-Star pitcher with the Kansas City Royals. He's now in the LA Angels broadcast booth. Which of the two, the batter⁵ or the pitcher, has had to make the biggest adjustment so far?

MARK GUBICZA: A, that's a great question. I think - because most pitchers⁶, especially some of the younger guys have been kind of doing this same thing in the minor⁷ leagues - their adjustment period is none at all. Veteran pitchers - maybe a little bit. But I think the hitters, to get in there and comfortable in the batter's box - you know, you're kind of trying to figure out what kind of pitch is going to be thrown to you. So you got to be in there, ready to hit, with eight seconds left as a hitter. And if you work quick, you have a good opportunity for your defense⁸ to make plays behind you, and you have less time to think about what you're going to throw. Just put that sign down and go.

MART?NEZ: Yeah. Don't think, just throw. Is it working, though?

GUBICZA: Yeah.

MART?NEZ: I mean, is the game moving faster?

GUBICZA: There's been some trouble here and there, but for the most part, I think it's really helped out. I mean, you're seeing guys at a quicker pace. You know, just the energy level in the stands, on the field, in the dugout is way better. I think, in the end, it's going to work. At least MLB has been doing this since the first day of spring. So you've knocked off 30 games trying to adjust to it.

MART?NEZ: Yeah. I know the minors⁹ shaved off almost 30 minutes from their game time, so that's definitely a quicker game. All right. Now to the rule change where you can't shift all your players in the infield to one side against a batter who tends to hit to that side. What was happening that Major League Baseball decided¹⁰ to ban that shift?

GUBICZA: Well, obviously, 'cause a lot of guys were trying to hit the ball over the shifts, that are hitting the ball in the air. When you're trying to hit the ball in the air, it creates more strikeouts. Teams were able to put not necessarily the best athletes in the infield like they used to have to do with limited range. I've never, in all my time, whether playing or broadcasting, have I seen so many incredible athletic¹¹ players now in baseball. Now we're going to get to see it, I think - because everyone goes, why don't you hit the other way? Well, you know what? It's not easy to deal with when you're dealing¹² with a hundred-mile-an-hour fastball or breaking balls with all this spin rate and all this other thing.

MART?NEZ: Now, the bases are going to be bigger by three inches. How will the game change now?

GUBICZA: Well, I mean, if you look at the data from spring training from this year compared to last year, there's many more stolen base attempts. So that tells me the guys that are going to be more apt - even though when you slide in there and - I think it shortens up by about six, seven inches, from going to first base, second or second to third. The more action you create, the better it is for the game, the better it is for the fans that are coming to the ballpark. Instead, it's waiting around for these three true outcomes which were homeruns, strikeouts, or a walk.

MART?NEZ: Baseball, Mark, has been a sport that almost takes pride in resisting innovation, resisting change. How necessary are these changes, and what's the end game for MLB?

GUBICZA: For whatever reason, the other sports have changed, evolved. Baseball, I think, finally realized if you want to gain a newer audience - and that's the younger generation where there's going to be more action - it was necessary. And think - I've always been a big believer, A, in - I think the best highlight to see and show - it's not a homerun. It's a great defensive¹³ play for me. So you're going to see that more. And a stolen base - that threat messes with pitchers, believe me. Rickey Henderson used to do that to me. It's going to make the offense¹⁴ better. The game is going to be quicker. You're going to see more runs and more action.

MART?NEZ: That's World Series champ and two-time All-Star Mark Gubicza. Gubie, thanks.

GUBICZA: Hey, appreciate it, man. Always great to talk to you.

(SOUNDBITE OG STAGE KIDS' "QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS")

1 slate   

n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订

参考例句：

• The nominating committee laid its slate before the board.提名委员会把候选人名单提交全体委员会讨论。
• What kind of job uses stained wood and slate? 什么工作会接触木头污浊和石板呢？

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

4 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

5 batter   

v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员

参考例句：

• The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
• Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。

6 pitchers   

大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Over the next five years, he became one of the greatest pitchers in baseball. 在接下来的5年时间里，他成为了最了不起的棒球投手之一。
• Why he probably won't: Pitchers on also-rans can win the award. 为什麽不是他得奖：投手在失败的球队可以赢得赛扬奖。

7 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 minors   

n.未成年人( minor的名词复数 )；副修科目；小公司；[逻辑学]小前提v.[主美国英语]副修，选修，兼修( minor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors. 法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had three minors this semester. 这学期他有三门副修科目。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

12 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

13 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

14 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。