The Best Shape of My Life (And Other Performance-Enhancing Tales from Spring): David Price's LASIK and B.J. Upton's Shape

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 26, 2010 5:34 PM EST

Every spring about a half-dozen Rays-related stories about how so-and-so is in the best shape of his life or how this pitcher learned a new grip that should make him better and every year some fall into the hype trap; it's a rite of spring, really. This year I'm going to try and track the most notable ones, just to see whether they ever come up again upon failing to turn players into immortals. It's really a study in correlation and causation.

First up, a simple one: David Price underwent LASIK a few weeks back. Improved vision is a pretty respectable reason to improve and could be a reason for improved command. So could simple regression, as showed last season. There's a decent chance he's going to walk fewer than the 3.8 per nine innings he did this year. If that happens, you know what set the improvement off? Improved vision baby.

I don't believe anyone has actually reported that one yet (I'm sure they will now though!), but this MLB.com piece on B.J. Upton includes the most overused spring cliché of them all:

"I'm in the best shape I've ever been heading into a season," Upton said. "I'm more excited, definitely after coming off the year I had last year. I'm just ready to go and help this team win ballgames."

Fantastic. This lame attempt at a series is in the best shape of its life.

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Kazmir is already talking about how he's in the best shape of his life and touting a new grip

I wonder if his “mechanics are close” and if he feels like “we getting there, im almost there”

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by Tommy Rancel on Jan 26, 2010 5:36 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I was thinking we could do a Spring Training Cliche Police poll

Like throw out a cliche and see who the users think is most likely to utter those words.

I'm a writer.

by Andy Hellicksonstine on Jan 26, 2010 5:43 PM EST reply actions

Pat Burrell stated similarly, but then retracted his comment when the interviewer clarified that he said "best" not "barrel".

Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"

by PlayOnWords on Jan 26, 2010 6:38 PM EST reply actions

You can count on these

Sonny’s feel returning, JP Feeling fresh and renewed, Navi having no arb distraction and his focus back, Ptb feelingadjusted to both the AL AND dh, Percy being healthy and spry

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by FreeZorilla on Jan 26, 2010 7:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions