Best Shape of His Life

[Centerfield]

Sure. It's the most common one. But there are plenty more signs that a player is about to have a big year.

"With the surgery now (one)(two)(three) years removed, he is pain-free for the first time in years."

"He had gotten pull-happy during his years with the ___. But now, he is hitting the ball to all fields. He looks more balanced at the plate."

And of course:

"Last year I had an oblique injury. No I didn't. Yes I did. I'm not making excuses. Who told you that!?!?!"

[Edgy MD]

"This new team I'm on now is being clear about my role. That other team was just a bad situation."

"I'm not kidding. This is the best bunch of guys I've ever played with. Everything is just... looser. We're not fighting ourselves. Don't get me wrong --- it's still professional."

"Now that I'm married/I have have a kid/lost my grandma, it's giving me a new perspective. Baseball isn't the most important thing anymore. Which is totally going to make me a better baseball player."

"I have a new workout regimen. Now I don't concentrate on just upper-body strength, but overall awesomenesszz. I can't wait to put this nu body into action."

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: "I have a new workout regimen. Now I don't concentrate on just upper-body strength, but overall awesomenesszz. I can't wait to put this nu body into action."

I believe David Wright went with this one this year.

[dinosaur jesus]

"Since I stopped wearing a jockstrap, it's really freed up my swing."

[Edgy MD]

By the way, unless the guy is, well, a pathological liar, or a total asshole, I totally buy in on every one of these pronouncements at least a little bit.

If nothing else, it lays the groundwork for the narrative of each of their seasons, which feeds the narrative of the team's season, which feeds the narrative of the history of the team.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: "I have a new workout regimen. Now I don't concentrate on just upper-body strength, but overall awesomenesszz. I can't wait to put this nu body into action."

I know that guy. He worked on his flexibility this off-season instead of piling on the weights. Yeah, he looks great.

[Theoldmole]

I just want to help the ballclub. There's no "I" in "team."

[Lefty Specialist]

"That flaxseed oil has done wonders for my strength and conditioning."

[Edgy MD]

"I been studying the tapes real closely and i'ts amazing how out-of-whack my motion has been. I worked on it with my dad/high-school coach/former major league star who wasn't doing anything else and I almost immediate added three miles an hour to my fastball. Can't wait to let this rip in a game."

[Theoldmole]

Or, the one we won't hear this year: "I got some great tips on adjusting my stance from Ralph."

[metirish]

�I�ve never played with a team like this � the manager talks to us like a father,�

did I make this up?????

[Frayed Knot]

Player on a new team or with a new manager who is less of a disciplinarian: "It's great here, things are much more relaxed. Players here are allowed to be themselves without looking over their shoulders every minute afraid of being called out for making a mistake. It's just a much easier way to play the game and I think the difference will show up in our record"

Player coming from a team or manager where things were less regimented: "It's great here. In the past there were too few rules, too many guys going their own way, doing their own thing, running on their own, that sort of thing. Here everyone knows their role, knows what's expected of them, and I think the difference will show up in our record."

[Edgy MD]

"Now that the injury is a year behind me, I can put it out of my head, not have to worry about taking it easy, and just play hard. That was last year. I finally feel 100%"

"Now that the injury is two years behind me, I can put it out of my head, not have to worry about taking it easy, and just play hard. That's history. I finally feel 100%"

"Now that the injury is three years behind me, I can put it out of my head, not have to worry about taking it easy, and just play hard. That's ancient history. I finally feel 100%"

[Fman99]

"I'm on a diet of just soy. So much soy that my anus hurts. I even rub soy on my genitals and dance around on top of the dugout like the Phillie Phanatic. It's going to show on the field this year, you wait and see."

[Lefty Specialist]

"I just wanted to simplify things. So I went back to what worked for me in (high school/the minors/previous team where I was good)."

[Zvon]

metirish wrote: �I�ve never played with a team like this � the manager talks to us like a father,� did I make this up?????

No you did not.