All The Children Are Grinding Their Jaws

New Music

Decemberists – The Hazards of Love – A co-worker got this album, and I listened to the concert on the NPR live concert podcast (thanks to freealonzo for pointing that music resource out).  I liked it, but after spending a couple of weeks with it, I think this will be one of those albums that stays in the back of my collection.  This album is definitely a step outside my normal listening routine, so I don’t have a lot of similar music to compare to in my experience,  but the second half was stronger than the first half, and overall there weren’t enough strong songs for me to keep coming back to it.

Random Ten Songs

The Offspring – Bad Habit – Smash
Nirvana – Negative Creep – From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
System of a Down – Revenga – Mezmerize
Rolling Stones – Shine A Light – Exile on Main Street
Korn – Daddy – Korn
Dredg – Sanzen – El Cielo
Mars Volta – Vade Mecum – Frances the Mute
Meat Puppets – 100 Percent of Nothing – II (bonus track)
Nine Inch Nails – Down In It – Pretty Hate Machine
Soul Asylum – String of Pearls – Let Your Dim Light Shine

Smash was my first CD.  I must have heard that song thousands of times.

Pretty dark start to the list – Bad, Negative, Creep, Revenge. Of course, I could keep going on that theme for a non-random depressing ten.

Atomship – Withered
Soul Asylum – Misery
Alice in Chains – Angry Chair
NIN – Hurt
Green Day – Panic Song
Fiona Apple – Criminal
Nirvana – Downer
Deftones – Deathblow
Radiohead – Paranoid Android
AFI – Malleus Maleficarum

Fun Fact – I serenaded my future wife with one of the songs off the second list on the evening I proposed to her (with modified lyrics, of course).

Series Preview in Blog: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox hosted the Royals in some pretty cold conditions this week.  The opener was pushed back a day due to snow (headline writers had a field day).  Other than a three-run homer by Jim Thome, the White Sox bats were just as cold.  They lost 2 of 3 in the series and are currently one game behind the first-place Kansas City Royals.  Jermaine Dye had a good series with 5 singles, but if you discount Dye and Thome the Sox went 10 for 68 in the series (that’s like Twins-without-RISP bad).  Not the best results out of the box for a lineup that might contain too many hitters of a certain variety.  The Jim Thome homerun off of Kyle Farnsworth, in addition to salvaging Opening Day for the Sox, was tailor-made for a hilarious episode of The Dugout.  THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY.

The White Sox have a few young players (Ramirez, Floyd, Danks) trying to follow up on good years last year.  No one would confuse this year’s edition of the White Sox for a team in the midst of a youth movement, and player development hasn’t really been one of the organization’s strengths, so it’s interesting to read about some prospects that have caught Sox fans interest.

I live in Chicago (and I’m going to Sunday’s game – it’s my way of celebrating Easter.  Here’s hoping the only eggs I find are put up on the scoreboard by Balckburn, am I right?) and I’ve really grown awfully tired of Sox and Cubs fans both.  And if they ever start discussing one another, forget it.  It’s good to know that I’m not alone.  At least occasionally Sox fans direct their dislikes in amusing directions (I link to that only for the title – it made me chuckle).

–PROBABLE STARTERS–

Dickey v. J. Contreras

Liriano v. B. Colon

Blackburn v. M. Buehrle

I just don’t like facing Buehrle.  Of course he’s pitching the game I’m going to, but what can I do?  If the weather is cold, at least we won’t be out in the elements for very long with his quick pace.  Buehrle had some stiffness in his arm during the spring, which may be a sign of him not being as young anymore.  The White Sox seem to think so as they made a point of suggesting Mark try some of this new-fangled “working out” thing in the offseason.

Contreras and Colon spent the spring in a “battle” for the fourth starter position.  The long and short of it is that neither of them inspire confidence.  It would seem they’re both nearing the end of their careers.  Perhaps the front office felt obligated to fill the AL Central quota for veteran starters?  With the Twins throwing everything out of alignment and not doing their usual part, they were probably just confused.

From the White Sox Opening Day, this is the correct way to “throw” out an opening pitch.  Hockey players rule! (I wonder if Beloit will let me do that when I get to throw out my own first pitch?)

Not Dead Yet

Against all odds, the Wild will play meaningful hockey in the last weekend of the season.  Below are the only scenarios in which the Wild make the postseason.  None seem terribly likely, but if they should come to pass – it’s playoff hockey!

Scenarios A₁ and A₂ -

Friday – Minnesota defeats Nashville in regulation and Columbus defeats St. Louis (A₁ = in regulation; A₂ = in OT/SO)

Saturday – Minnesota defeats Columbus

Sunday – Colorado defeats St. Louis (A₂ = in regulation)

Scenario B –

Friday – Minnesota defeats Nashville in regulation and Dallas defeats Anaheim in regulation

Saturday – Minnesota defeats Columbus and Phoenix defeats Anaheim in regulation

Scenarios C₁ and C₂-

Friday – Minnesota defeats Nashville in OT/SO and Dallas defeats Anaheim in regulation and Columbus defeats St. Louis (C₁ = in regulation; C₂ = in OT/SO)

Saturday – Minnesota defeats Columbus and Phoenix defeats Anaheim in regulation

Sunday – Colorado defeats St. Louis (C₂ = in regulation)