behind the plate
言われてみれば…というところでしょうか。日本の捕手のバッティングについて書かれています。キャッチング技術は素晴らしいと思いますが。
Power-hitting catchers still in short supply in Japan
Now the Yokohama BayStars have acquired, as an ikusei (developmental) player, a young backstop from Venezuela by the name of Kevin Moscatel. He’s just 21 but, having been signed to his first professional contract at age 16, he has four years of experience in the minor leagues in the U.S., playing in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Perhaps, of all the teams in the Central and Pacific Leagues, the BayStars are the one most in need of help behind the plate. Yokohama is listing just five catchers this season on the regular roster, and only three of them saw varsity action in 2012. In CL statistics, the three guys who played slammed a total of one home run, accounted for 20 RBIs and hit for a combined batting average of .167.
日本語で「プレート」というと「投手板」を思い浮かべるでしょう。しかし英語では「[the 〜] 本塁( home 〜); 投手板(pitcher’s 〜)」（『ジーニアス英和辞典 第４版』大修館）という意味です。よって赤字の部分は「ホームベースの後ろ」にいる存在であるためキャッチャーであることが分かります。(Minnesota)
