Chipper Jones takes off his cap, loosens his spikes and unbuttons his jersey.
His Atlanta uniform, he can leave in his locker. The expectations that come with playing for the Braves, he wears forever.
"Every year we're here at spring training, we're one of the best teams in baseball. We should make it to the postseason," the third baseman said.
"You're shooting for the apex of this game, the World Series," he said. "I don't think anything else will do for anybody in this clubhouse."
It didn't work out that way last year. After winning their record ninth straight division title, the Braves were swept by St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs.
"We were sitting home a lot earlier than in the past," Jones said. "That was no fun. I think it's made us a little more determined."
The Braves hoped the return of John Smoltz, who missed last season because of surgery on his right elbow, would put them in great position to add another World Series title to the one they won in 1995.
But after making it back to the mound in spring training, he felt inflammation in his elbow. Smoltz will start the season on the disabled list, though he hopes to be back by mid-April.
"My main goal is to still be pitching at the end of the season. If this means waiting and slowing down, it's better I do it now," he said.
Ah, the twists and turns from last year continue.
A look at the NL in predicted order of finish:
EAST
ATLANTA BRAVES: Expected to make a major play for Alex Rodriguez or Mike Hampton, the Braves kept quiet in the off-season and let Andres Galarraga walk away.
Then again, if Smoltz can contribute, that's the same as adding a top free agent, or maybe even better. He is Atlanta's best big-game pitcher at 12-4 lifetime in the postseason.
Greg Maddux (19-9, 3.00 ERA) and Tom Glavine (21-9) are no spring chickens. Born three weeks apart, they'll both be 35 by mid-April. Age probably won't affect them, though the tightened-up strike zone might.
NEW YORK METS: Masters of late-inning magic in the postseason, the Mets will find out right away how they stack up this year: Six of New York's first nine games are against Atlanta.
Bobby Valentine earned a new contract by leading his feisty band to the Mets' first pennant since 1986. The playoff road, however, did not go through Atlanta — this year, they play their nemesis 19 times in the regular season.
Free agents Kevin Appier (15-11 for Oakland) and Steve Trachsel (8-15 for Tampa Bay and Texas) need to pick up the wins and innings left by Hampton's departure.
Piazza (.324, 38, 113) wants to be known as the best-hitting catcher in history. In a couple more seasons, he might be — provided one more collision at home plate or a batter's wild backswing doesn't finish him. He hurt himself again this spring, injuring a knee in a running drill.
Gold Glove SS Rey Ordonez returns after missing most of last year. Newcomer Tsuyoshi Shinjo arrives from Japan and joins an outfield that lacks power.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: Tired of poor finishes under nice guys, Philadelphia hired a real spitfire as manager.
Larry Bowa told his old team he expected a turnaround and picked Omar Daal — who led the majors with 19 losses — to start on opening day.
Scott Rolen (.298, 26, 89), Bobby Abreu (.316, 25 HRs) and Pat Burrell (18 HRs, 79 RBIs) provide a strong nucleus. Rookie Jimmy Rollins could give the Phils their best shortstop since Bowa.
FLORIDA MARLINS: All signs are pointing up for the Marlins — several key players are under long-term contracts and Charles Johnson chose to return to the team he helped win the 1997 World Series.
Florida's win total has zoomed from 54 to 64 to 79 in the last two seasons, especially as the young pitchers improved. Preston Wilson set a team record with 121 RBIs and was baseball's only 30-30 player.
In a couple of years, this might be the team to watch.
MONTREAL EXPOS: Vladimir Guerrero, Jose Vidro and the young Expos showed early last season that there's talent in Montreal. Whether there's a future for baseball in the city remains to be seen.
Montreal will get help from closer Ugueth Urbina, who missed most of last season, and setup man Graeme Lloyd, who missed the whole thing.
Guerrero (.345, 44, 123) should be an MVP candidate for the next 10 years and Vidro got 200 hits.
CENTRAL
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: All eyes at Busch Stadium, and all around baseball, will be on Mark McGwire and Ankiel. If they're fine, St. Louis should be in great shape.
Reduced to a postseason pinch-hitting role by tendinitis in his right knee, Big Mac was fine this spring. He signed a two-year contract extension through 2003 — with 554 home runs now, he could be closing in on Hank Aaron's record of 755 by then.
The Central champions traded 3B Fernando Tatis to Montreal to add Dustin Hermanson (12-14, 4.77) to a rotation with opening day starter Darryl Kile (20-9), Andy Benes and a healthy Matt Morris.
HOUSTON ASTROS: The Astros' string of three straight Central titles ended as quickly as it took balls to fly out of new Enron Field. As in, right away.
Away from the pitcher-friendly Astrodome, Jose Lima (7-16, 6.65) and most of the Houston staff struggled. The Astros lost a major league-high nine games they led after eight innings — they hope a healthy Billy Wagner can close that problem. Just in case, the Astros reacquired catcher Brad Ausmus.
CINCINNATI REDS: Ken Griffey Jr. put up big numbers with 40 home runs and 118 RBIs in his first season in NL. The Reds, however, brought him home to produce a first-place finish.
To make up 10 games on St. Louis, new manager Bob Boone will need more than Junior, who's nursing an injured hamstring. He'll need Barry Larkin (.313 in 102 games) and Sean Casey (.315, 20 HRs) to stay healthy.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS: Miller Park opens up, and so does the team's payroll. Milwaukee still may be a long way from playoff contention, though it might be able to stop its string of eight straight losing seasons.
Geoff Jenkins (.303, 34, 94), Richie Sexson (30 HRs, 91 RBIs for Cleveland and the Brewers) and free agent Jeffrey Hammonds (.335, 20, 106 for Colorado) all signed rich deals.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES: Like a lot of first-time managers, Lloyd McClendon inherits a tough situation. At least he gets a chance to make his mark in a new place, PNC Park.
Pittsburgh has not posted a winning season since its 1990-92 run of division titles. Starting pitchers Jason Schmidt, Francisco Cordova and Kris Benson (10-12, 3.85) are hurt and probably out until May, forcing the Pirates to trade for Oakland's Omar Olivares.
CHICAGO CUBS: Todd Hundley, Tom Gordon, Jeff Fassero and Matt Stairs report to Wrigley Field, where the Cubs keep banking on iffy, older and oft-injured players.
Sammy Sosa (.320, 50, 138) stayed in Chicago while Mark Grace left the "friendly confines" for the desert. Kerry Wood (8-7, 4.80) will get help in a few years from a rich farm system.
WEST
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS: Bob Brenly moves from the broadcast booth to the dugout, and the result will be a clubhouse more relaxed than the one run by Buck Showalter.
Will it pay off on the field? Yes, particularly with Curt Schilling (5-6 with the Diamondbacks) pitching for a full season with Cy Young winner Randy Johnson (19-7, 2.64, major league-leading 347 strikeouts).
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: Dusty Baker's crew pulled an amazing feat, leading the majors with 97 wins. Now, the Giants will try to do something else special — reach the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since Carl Hubbell and Mel Ott did it in 1936-37.
NL MVP Jeff Kent (.334, 33, 125) and Barry Bonds (.306, 49, 106) need big seasons to make up for Ellis Burks (.344, 24, 96), who signed with Cleveland.
Colorado Rockies: Though Todd Helton's pursuit of .400 brought fans to the ballpark, the Rockies realized pitching will bring a contending team to Denver.
So they spent $121 million to sign Mike Hampton (15-10, 3.14) and another $51 million for Denny Neagle, hoping they can succeed in the thin air at Coors Field.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: On paper, the Dodgers look tough. Of course, all that potential added up to a big zero for Davey Johnson.
New manager Jim Tracy had a rough start this spring. Gary Sheffield (.325, 43, 109) caused a huge distraction with his demands, Shawn Green (24 HRs, 99 RBIs) and Adrian Beltre (.290, 20, 85) weren't healthy and Devon White was traded to Milwaukee for Marquis Grissom.
Los Angeles shelled out $55 million to keep Darren Dreifort (12-9, 4.16) and added Andy Ashby (12-13) to a rotation with Kevin Brown (13-6, 2.58) and Chan Ho Park (18-10, 3.27). Mike Fetters (3.24) starred in the bullpen.
SAN DIEGO PADRES: Padres fans will get to see big numbers this season. Not wins, but historic totals as Tony Gwynn and Rickey Henderson move up on major lists.
Gwynn has 3,108 hits, and needs 176 more to climb the career chart and move past Willie Mays for 10th place. At 40, Gwynn has been a bit wobbly since knee problems ended his season last June 27.