You are listening to English World.

  I am your radio friend Guo Wen-Jie.

And I am your radio friend Mark.

  Mark, last time we talked about baseball. It was fun.

Yeah.  Baseball is a favorite American pastime.

  棒球比赛是美国人最爱的休闲活动

Parents bring their children to a baseball field.

  父母亲会带着子女到棒球场地

And teach them the game.

  教孩子怎么打棒球

Through this, Family ties are strengthened.

  通过这样经验，家人之间的关系被增强了

And children learn important values.

  孩童们也学到了重要的价值观

Media coverage of Baseball games, can draw hugh crowds.

  而大众媒体对棒球赛的转播，更吸引了大批的观众

That results in larger stadiums being built to accommodate the crowds.

许多大型的运动场也因此被兴建起来

And many sport super stars were born.

  许多运动明星也产生了

Well, I love Baseball.

  So does our producer Josh. 

Baseball has over 150 years of history. Can you imagine that?

  对阿，棒球历史已经超过150年了  That’s a very long time. 

Indeed it’s long.

The Baseball Diamond 棒球场地 A baseball field is also called a ball field, a ball park or a baseball diamond.   棒球场地，英语有许多称呼ball field, ball park, baseball diamond. The first baseball field was created in 1845.   第一个棒球场地，是1845年被创立的 Since then, the basic layout of the diamond hasn’t changed much.   从那时至今，棒球场地基本上没有任何大的更改 The distance between bases is 90 feet.   垒与垒之间的距离，还是90英尺 90 feet is the right balance between hitting and fielding.   90英尺正是打击和守备都平均的最佳距离

  Mark, you know baseball very well, right?

Of course.  I am familiar with the basic rules.

  Great.  Maybe some of our listeners don’t quite know the sport, can you explain it?

I’d love to.

  马可要来说说棒球的基本比赛规则

OK, The basic rules of baseball are like this:

During a game, one team is up to bat and the other is playing the field.

  球赛进行时，一队进攻，另一队作防守

The team up to bat is trying to hit the ball.

  进攻的那一队，试着击中球

Players will run the bases and pass home plate to score runs.

  打中球的球员绕着垒跑, 直到跑过本垒得分

The other team in the field they play defense.

  在场上的那队则作防守

They have a pitcher who throws the ball at the batter.

  他们的投手扔球给对方打击手

And try to catch a hit ball

  这队也试着接住被打出去的球

If a fly ball is caught, the player is out.

  如果高飞球被人接到，那个打击手就出局

If a player is touched by another player with that ball, he is out.

  如果打击手被拿到球的人触击身体，他就出局

The hitters are allowed three strikes before they are out.

  打击手能挥棒，直到他被三振出局

After three outs, at part of the inning is over, and the teams switch sides

  三个人出局后，那一局就算结束，整个队伍换边对打

The entire game is divided into nine innings,

  整个球赛被分成九局

And each inning gives each team a chance to score.

  每局里，两边队伍都有机会能够得分  Well, it sounds simple enough.

Yes.  But it’s not that easy to hit the ball or catch the ball.

  That’s why there are professional teams.

You are right. And Baseball is as popular now as ever was.

  棒球运动现今仍然和过往一样的风行

And interestingly, do you know Baseball has a strong influence on American language?

  在美国，棒球运动对语言也有很大的影响 

Especially in English Business.

  特别在商用英语上

Well, listen to the following dialogue, then you know what I mean.

  我们来听接下来的对话就会明白了

Two co-workers are chatting about the situation at work place.

  两位同事在谈跟工作有关的情况

One of them just gave a presentation.

  其中一位刚刚给了报告

How did he do?  Let’s find out.

  结果如何呢？

Dialogue  (two co-workers talking)

A:  That was a great presentation. A home run.
B:  Oh, thanks.  I was afraid I’d drop the ball and make a big mistake.
A:  You did a fine job.  Tomorrow will be my turn. 
B:  That’s right.  How is the preparation going so far?
A:  Good. I have all the bases covered.
B:  Be careful.  They might throw you a curve ball.
A:  Don’t worry.  I won’t strike out.
B:  Good luck to you.

首先，我和马可来帮助你了解会话内容

That was a great presentation. A home run.
  你给的报告太好了。是个全垒打

Oh, thanks.  I was afraid I’d drop the ball and make a big mistake.
  谢谢。我原本很担心我会有失误

You did a fine job.  Tomorrow will be my turn. 
  你作得很好。明天将是换我了

That’s right.  How is the preparation going so far?
  对阿。你准备得如何了？

Good. I have all the bases covered. 
  很好。我已经全部预备妥当了

Be careful.  They might throw you a curve ball.
  要小心。他们可能给你来个出乎意料的难题

Don’t worry.  I won’t strike out.
  别担心。我不会被三振出局的

Good luck to you.
  那祝你好运

Let’s review some of the baseball terms used in the business world.

A Home Run (全垒打）

When this phrase is used in business, A Home Run means someone’s performance is great.

  在商业英语上，这表示某人的表现很棒

To Drop the Ball（把球掉了）

Dropping the Ball means you make a big mistake.

  在商业英语，这表示有了大的失误

Have All the Bases Covered（所有的垒上都有人，满垒）

Having all the bases covered can mean being prepared for anything.

  在商场上，这指全然准备好

Throw Someone a Curveball（投一记角球）

To throw a curveball can mean an unexpected, unpleasant surprise.

  商业英语上，这意思是  一个让人意想不到的出击

Strike Out （三振出局）

Striking Out means someone is out of the game because he has made too many mistakes.

  商业英语上，这表示一个人患了太多错误，所以被开除解雇

All right.  Now that you understand the content, let’s review it one more time.

A:  That was a great presentation. A home run.
B:  Oh, thanks.  I was afraid I’d drop the ball and make a big mistake.
A:  You did a fine job.  Tomorrow will be my turn. 
B:  That’s right.  How is the preparation going so far?
A:  Good. I have all the bases covered. 
B:  Be careful.  They might throw you a curve ball.
A:  Don’t worry.  I won’t strike out.
B:  Good luck to you.

To be able to play Baseball well, you have to work hard,

  要把棒球打得好，你必须认真勤奋

You have to learn to play a variety of positions.

  你必须学习胜任不同的职位

You have to develop skills and perseverance.

  你必须发展各样技巧，学习耐力

You also have to work together with teammates to achieve a common goal. 

  你也必须要和队友合作，来完成共同的目标

And of course, as a game, your main goal is to win the game.

  当然了，球赛运动一个最主要的目标，就是能比赛得胜

For that goal, everyone is trying their best in every game.

  为了这个目标，每个球员每场比赛都尽上最大努力

Verse For Life  生命经文 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.   凡较力争胜的、诸事都有节制． They do it to get a crown that will not last;   他们不过是要得能坏的冠冕． but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.   我们却是要得不能坏的冠冕。 1 Corinthians 9:25  林前

As Christians, we are working toward a much bigger goal.

  身为信徒，我们为了更大的目标在努力

This is the eternal prize which God promises to give us.

  这乃是神应许给我们的永恒奖赏

For that crown, we are training ourselves.

  为了那个冠冕，我们正训练自己

In personal life and in community life,

  在个人生活及团体生活上

To have a disciplined life

  过一个有纪律的生活

According to the teaching of the Bible.

  按着圣经的教导来生活

Well, listener friends, we hope you enjoy our program today.

  Today’s lesson was : Baseball and American Language

Actually, learning English is very much like playing a sport.

  Right.  You have to be committed.

Willing to work hard and keep it up.

 And not just today, but everyday.

That’s very true.  So, don’t forget to come to our website and review the lessons we taught.

  We are so glad you have joined us today

And we hope to meet with you again next week, same time.

  This is your radio friend, Guo Wen-Jie.

And I am your radio friend Mark.  Until next time in English World.  Zai-Jian.

Mark, baseball is quite genius.

I agree. If the game is 27 up and 27 down, that’s just amazing.

  What does that mean?

It means there’s no hits and no walks.  The pitcher threw a perfect game.

  Then, it’s boring.

No, it’s not.

  Yes, it is.