FanHouse

Little did you know Rays and Reds castoff Jorge Cantu has torn it up this spring for the Marlins, collecting the second highest batting average (.431), sixth highest slugging percentage (.706) and second most hits (22) in the bigs. So what do we attribute this sudden burst in offensive prowess. Steroids? Nope. HGH? Nope.

Try some underwater training. And xxxxxtreme yoga. (Extra x's added for effect.)

... Cantu's career was reenergized because of a unique offseason program that pushes players by using everything from underwater exercises to yoga to swinging chains.

''We have our own techniques,'' trainer Dennis Fay said of the Texas Sports Medicine facility in Houston. ``We use water exercises, breathing-underwater drills, extreme yoga. We work on a player's bat speed with a series of chains. The chains are on a handle, and they swing the chains to build up their speed.''

Props to Cantu on the early success here; I hope he keeps it up throughout the season. Always good to see a guy work hard at something new and have it pay off. But inquiring mind want to know about extreme yoga: please tell us more. I'm envisioning Cantu doing the downward facing dog with the mat on fire as he slams a lemon lime soft drink.

TV commercials, they've left a mighty impression on me.

Via Ballhype.