Billy: Oh, thank you.

 

Wash: Thank you, ma'am.

 

Billy: Very kind. How's the elbow, Scott?

 

Scott: You know, it's good. It's really good. It's great. Uh... I can't throw the ball at all.

 

Billy: Yeah. You've thrown your last ball from behind home plate. That's what I'd say.

 

Scott: Well...

 

Billy: Good news is, we want you at first. We want you to play first base for the Oakland A's.

 

Scott: Okay, well, I've only ever played catcher.

 

Billy: Scott, you're not a catcher anymore. If you were, our call wouldn't have been the only one you got.

 

Scott: Yeah. Hey, listen, no, I appreciate it.

 

Billy: You're welcome.

 

Scott: But the thing is, is...

 

Billy: You don't know how to play first base. Scott.

 

Scott: That's right.

 

Billy: It's not that hard, Scott. Tell him, Wash.

 

Wash: It's incredibly hard.

 

Billy: Hey, anything worth doing is. And we're gonna teach you.

 

Scott: Wait a minute here. I mean, but what about--?

 

Billy: Jason's gone, Scott.

 

Scott: You want me to take Giambi's spot at first base?

 

Billy: Yeah.

 

Scott: What about the fans?

 

Wash: Yeah. Maybe I can teach one of them.

 

Billy: The fans don't-- Good one. Fans don't run my ball club.

 

Scott: Honey, what are you doing awake? Sweetheart, can you...? That's my daughter. You got kids?

 

Billy: Uh, yeah, a daughter. Scott, this is a contract to play ball for the Oakland A's. A copy's been sent over to your agent. Discuss with your wife, let us know. Thank you. Bye-bye.

 

Scott’s wife: Bye.

 

Billy: Oh, and, Scott.

 

Scott: Yeah?

 

Billy: Don't tell anyone about the first-base thing.

 

Scott: Yes, sir.

 

Wash: Okay. Happy holidays.

 

Scott: All right.

 

*********************************

 

Billy: Any of these?

 

Casey: Um... I don't know.

 

Billy: Do you--?

 

Casey: This one's cool.

 

Billy: Is that good or bad? Butterflies.

 

Casey: They're okay. Look, that one's pretty. I like the red.

 

Billy: Should we try? No?

 

Casey: Oh, I like this one.

 

Billy: Yeah?

 

Casey: Dad, look at this one. Look how it's red.

 

Billy: It's beautiful.

 

Casey: This one's pretty.

 

Billy: Let's try it out.

 

Casey: Just right here?

 

Billy: Why don't we go over there? Can we go over there? Oh, honey, you need to sing. That's so good. That's beautiful.

 

Casey: Sometimes I sing. It's fun to sing with your song, but I don't want people to listen to me.

 

Billy: Well, honey, I think people would love to listen to you. That's beautiful. Would you sing a little for your dad? Right here in the middle of the store?

 

Casey: Little bit.

 

Billy: Little bit.

 

Casey: You ready?

 

Billy: I'm ready.

 

Casey: Okay.

 

♪ I'm just a little bit

 

Caught in the middle ♪

 

♪ Life is a maze¹

 

And love is a riddle² ♪

 

♪ I don't know where to go

 

Can't do it alone, I've tried ♪

 

♪ And I don't know why ♪

 

♪ I'm just a little girl

 

Lost in the moment ♪

 

♪ I'm so scared

 

But I don't show it ♪

 

♪ I can't figure it out

 

It's bringing me down ♪

 

♪ I know I've got to let it go ♪

 

♪ And just enjoy the show ♪♪

 

*************************

 

(Year 1984)

 

Commentators³: Billy Beane was taken in the first round of the amateur⁴ draft. I think this is a steal, to get Billy Beane. He's young, he's talented. A true five-tool player with speed. This guy is a can't-miss prospect⁵. This is a great sign for the New York Mets. And it could be the turnaround that they've been looking for.

 

Referee⁶: Ball one.

 

Commentators: I'll take Billy Beane over Strawberry. Billy Beane, an interesting pick, turned down a scholarship. He could've gone to Stanford. Sometimes you don't find out till you get to the big leagues...

 

Referee: Strike!

 

Commentators: This guy has never failed at anything. He's coming out of high school. Billy was gonna go to college. He could've been a great quarterback.

 

Referee: Strike three.

 

(Year 1985)

 

Commentators: There's not an organization in baseball who would not have taken a chance on this young guy. He didn't pan out. That happens every year. Some do, some don't.

 

Billy’s mother: I mean, if you're having any doubt at all about this...Having the scholarship...

 

Scout⁷: Your son was born with a God-given ability.

 

(Year 1986) (Year 1987) (Year 1988) (Year 1989)

 

Commentators: Few scouts⁸ can go into the mind of a young man and determine whether he's really confident about what he can do. So you can sign him based on his ability, but then he's gotta be successful to be confident. And once he becomes confident, that's when you've got something. You make a decision on what you see. And if things don't pan out, you move on. That's baseball. Many are called, few are chosen.

 

 

1. home plate: 本垒。

 

2. incredibly: 非常，很。看一下例句：I felt incredibly embarrassed.（我感到非常尴尬。）

 

3. maze: 迷宫。

 

4. amateur draft: 业余运动员选拔赛。

 

5. steal: 以极低廉价格买来的东西。请看例句：At $50 this TV set was a steal!（这台电视机只卖五十美元，真是便宜！）

 

6. turnaround: 转机。

 

7. turn down: 拒绝。例如：His proposal was turned down.（他的提议被拒绝了。）

 

8. pan out: 成功。请看例句：Uncle George's plans never pan out.（乔治叔叔的计划从来没有成功过。）

点击收听单词发音