"The toughest thing for a baseball player is when they project negative situations when they haven't happened yet, and that's what I was doing early in the season," Zito said. "But now I just try to project positive situations.

"It's all mental. I mean, I've made a few mechanical adjustments, but if your mental game is not in place, you're not going to have success."
  -ESPN game recap http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=250720103
(sorry I don't know how to link text to hrefs...unless its just like it is html.  Maybe someone can tell me)

Wow, thats really cool.  I know a lot pitchers talk about how a slump or whatever can be changed by fixing some mechanics but I truly believe anyone who's ever pitched know that a huge part is mental.  And the truth is that I see Zito now compared to Zito in the seasons after his Cy Young year - he's grown.  Before he would look shaken up, he was emotional (which is good but bad when not harnessed correctly), and just like a kid with a lot to learn.  Now, apparently he achieved some enlightenment and handles things more optimistically.  

I can definetely relate to this - one's attitude towards life makes things better.  Zito just took this approach and applied it to baseball.  I know a lot of drama people have and a lot bad things going on in their lives can be changed very easily by changing perspective.  And I notice that people who are overall most happy, enjoy life to the fullest, also become the most successful in life.  

Zito is a good example of why we should not worry and be happy.  (hit the music) People all over the world...join hands...start a love train, love train, (coors light beer train comes rushing through arlington in Texas)...

Is this a bit too hippy for AN'ers?