MLB Mid Season Report

Today’s game was the White Sox’ 81st this season, marking the official half way point.  Let’s look back at my predictions and see how wrong I have been so far.

Ok, I really haven’t been that far off, but there were a few things I was just plain wrong about, starting in the AL:

Detroit - I thought this team missed their chance last year and was going to die this year.  Miguel Cabrera is only putting up decent stats (on pace for 30 HRs and less than 100 RBIs) and Maggs Ordonez was benched.  Edwin Jackson has been lights out, but I’m standing by my prediction and expecting the Tigers to collapse in the 2nd half.

Texas - No idea where this came from.  On paper they still aren’t that good, they have one starter hitting over .300 and no one with more than 20 HRs, Kevin Millwood is their best pitcher as well.  They have shocked many so far, but barring a trade deadline addition I don’t see how they can keep up with Anaheim.

Alexi Ramirez - If anything he has regressed from last year, he looks lost while playing shortstop too many times.  He really came on in August last summer, so let’s see what happens this time around.

Not to sound cocky, but other than that my predictions are pretty accurate.  The White Sox are on pace to win 84 games (compared to my predicted 85) and the AL east appears to be a dog fight between the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays that won’t be decided anytime soon.  Felix Hernandez could win the Cy Young as predicted as well, playing on Seattle isn’t helping him though.

Now the NL:

Besides the Cubs and most of the NL West, I wasn’t wrong on much.  You can’t count the Mets because the entire heart of their order is on the disabled list.  When Reyes, Beltran and Delgado return they should still have enough time to lead the team into the postseason.

The Cubs appear to be ready to make a run in the central.  A-Ram’s return should spark a good 2nd half and catch, and then pass, St. Louis and Milwaukee. They SHOULD by all means make the playoffs still, yet that doesn’t mean much for the Cubs.

So far I was wrong about San Francisco and Colorado, but they aren’t going to catch the Dodgers so who cares.  I don’t really see them competing with the Mets, Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers for the wild card.

Not sure why I chose Manny over Pujols for MVP, Albert is on pace for 60 HRs, in what I like to believe is a relatively steroid free game now.  Johan has a great shot at Cy Young still, if the Mets make a run I expect him to win the award.

Overall I think my predictions have been pretty good.  I still think the same 8 teams will be playing in October, I do however think the Dodgers will win the pennant over the Mets, LA has just looked too good thus far.

The Sox and Cubs are both in contention as well, It should be another exciting 2nd half for Chicago baseball.  Carlos Quentin and Aramis Ramirez returning to the lineup will hopefully spark both offenses and take pressure of their pitching staffs, both of which have overachieved so far.  Perhaps I’m a homer, but I still think both teams will be in the playoffs yet again.

And if you couldn’t tell, me being surrounded by Cubs fans while working at WGN has started to turn my hatred for the north siders into a mere acceptance of what they stand for.  I will no longer be bitter about the Cubs winning or root against them for that matter.  Chicago is a better place when the Cubs are winning, and I have no reason to oppose their success.  If only Cubs fans could realize they have no reason to root against the White Sox we could all just be friends.

Taking it Seriously

For a very long time I’ve had an ongoing debate against myself if music needs to be taken seriously or not, or how seriously music should be taken. This started when I found it hard to confidently state that I like an actual band and the music I was listening to, and not just their songs. I felt for me to truely state that I like a band I need to not only like their music, but what they stand for as well.

Well I think I’ve come to a conclusion in this debate, that music does not need to be taken seriously. My favorite bands such as Jimmy Eat World and Valencia take every line they write seriously, and try to influence their listeners and help them through their daily struggles, but bands that do the opposite should not automatically qualify them as failures I now know.

I realized this mainly through listening to the new All Time Low album. I have always had fun listening to All Time Low, but could never actually determine if I liked them. Their songs were about partying and girls, and often very shallow. Their new album is nothing different, in fact, it may be even worse in terms of message, but it is a really fun album. All Time Low would never be a band I tell my kids about and how they changed my life (unlike Jimmy Eat World and Valencia), but that doesnt mean I shouldn’t listen to it.

Their new CD, Nothing Personal, is a great summer album. Whether just driving with the windows down or partying with your friends, it puts me in a good mood. When really thinking about taking music seriously I realize many of the most famous bands in the world didn’t take it seriously. Blink-182, one of the bands of our generation, by no means took (take, I guess, new music is in the works apparently) music seriously. Even songs by the Stones and Beatles are simply about having fun or chasing girls. I guess sometimes music can be used just to have fun.

Trying Something New

When I listen to music I basically look for one thing - something new.  I’ve listened to so much music (about 8 hours a day this summer) that not a lot of new music stands out to me.  A band must try something new, something I’ve never heard before in order for me to listen twice.  Forgive Durden have certainly tried something new.  After their debut album everyone left the band except for lead singer Thomas Dutton, due to “musical differences.” Dutton wanted to make a musical, and it’s safe to assume the rest of the band did not.  However Dutton went on to achieve his dreams, with the help of his brother (a composition major) to create and record a musical: Razia’s Shadow.  The album came out in October and was not commercially successful, but got great reviews.  I heard of the album because it made the top 5 in Absolute Punk’s 2008 albums of the year, then bought it on sale at Amazon MP3 for $1.99 (Amazon MP3 is the best thing in the world by the way).

The album really is a musical, not only is the music great, but there is an exciting story. There are 2 separate story lines actually, with Dutton playing the lead character in each.  He is accompanied by lead singers of other bands such as Panic at the Disco, the Hush Sound, the Audition and Say Anything who play other roles.  I had to look up the script online to fully understand the story, but once I did it felt like I was watching a movie (or play for that matter) rather than listening to music.

A few things that stand out to me are the different vocalists used in the musical, each of which has an amazing voice.  Likewise are the themes that follow the characters, they make the musical easier to follow and more interesting.  Lastly is the message Dutton is trying to get across.  At first glance the musical is a love story, but after a few listens it’s really about fulfilling your destiny, with love taking the back seat.  There is a narrator throughout the play that ends with the following monologue:

An idea is only relevant if it’s being thought upon.
So remember, never surrender.
‘Cause the unrelenting constancy of love and hope
Will rescue and restore from any scope.