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Opening day just a few away

Wednesday Mar 29, 2006 - Link to Entry

2006 marks the first time since 1918 that the White Sox are seeking to defend their world championship. With that in mind here are my final preseason predictions with varied reasons and thoughts detailed thereafter:

National League

NL West
1. Giants
2. Padres
3. Dodgers
4. Diamondbacks
5. Rockies

In another embarrasing season for this division the Giants win 84 to take this puppy down. They also fail to win one game in the post season.

NL Central
1. Cardinals
2. Brewers
3. Cubs
4. Astros
5. Pirates
6. Reds

This division doesn't fare nearly as well as last year. While the Brewers and Cubs challenge into August, good management and the only full rotation in the divison take it down with 94 wins and St. Louis goes back to the post season.

NL East
1. Braves
2. Mets
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Nationals

This division is very competitive but the Nationals end up on the bad side of trades, contraversy, and distraction and slip from last year. The all rookie Marlins are a lot of fun and challenge through July but wear and tear proves too much for this young team. The Phillies have the usual injury bug bites at all the wrong times and despite a very exciting outfield and a hitting streak, the wins don't pile up. The Braves and Mets go head to head, but the organization that can do no regular season wrong continues its dominance as the Braves win 97 and the division. The Mets win 94 and head off to St. Louis as the wildcard.

American League

AL West
1. Oakland
2. Mariners
3. Angels
4. Texas

I'm buying the Oakland hype. Perhaps its cause I'm reading Money Ball, or perhaps its because they picked up the Big Hurt. Either way I'm drinking the Oakland punch and I believe that with their starting staff and improved postion players this is a very good team (96 wins)The Mariners lead by their Japanese contingent and young pitching challenge for the wild card but fall short with 89 wins. The Angels find they cannot overcome the loss of their catcher, their true captain, and fail to reach the post season. Texas, still having one of the greatest offenses ever, and a complete lack of defense and holes in the pitching staff fails to reach .500.

AL Central
1. White Sox
2. Indians
3. Tigers
4. Twins
5. Royals

Who is the most improved team in this division? I'm favoring the Tigers and Royals for that answer. They made some impressive off season moves to make these cellar dwellers threats and both will be pains to the division. The Indians, while they improved the team for the 2007-2010 campaigns might have hurt itself for the '06 campaign. Still their spirit and intensity will be tough to fight off for the champs. The Twins are the only team in this division that really really doesn't impress me (in comparisson to previous performance). Despite Gardenhire's great track record, look for his job to be open in July. White Sox win 96 to take the division. The Indians sneak into the wildcard by actually winning the last week of the season and getting 94 wins.

AL East
1. Blue Jays
2. Red Sox
3. Yankees
4. Devil Rays
5. Orioles

The Red Sox and Yanks slug this division out for the first few months but then both teams realize that their pitchers are no longer dominant on the hill and are in fact over the hill or just overrated. The Blue Jays, despite wasting tons of money, did really improve their team and has the most solid pitching in this pitching poor division. Expect a late season surge by the Jays and the Rays as the Kings of the division flirt with 4th. Jays win 92 and head to Chicago for a rematch of the 1993 ALCS.

Post Season:

DS:
Cleveland over Oakland in 5
Chicago over Toronto in 4
Braves over Giants in 3
Mets over Cardinals in 5

CS:
Chicago over Cleveland in 5
Mets over Braves in 6

WS:
Chicago over Mets in 4

Just one guy's opinion.

I'm Recording Again

Monday Mar 13, 2006 - Link to Entry

For the first time since the fall of 2003 I found myself in the recording studio. Since it was more of a warm up and re-acclimate to the high intensity pressure that is released when the mic is on.

Well instead of recounting it moment for moment here is my latest recording which I have entitled Projectionist06 EP:

1. Projectionist06(mp3)

2. Before We Go Any Further(mp3)

3. Not Enough(mp3)

Track 1, Projectionist06, is a rerecording of track 1 of Forcythia. I will be rerecording the entire album for better sound quality purposes. This is a scratch track but you can get a feel for how the song will end up.

Track 2, Before We Go Any Further, is a collaborative effort between Brian Galloway and myself. When he first found out I was a songwriter he handed me some lyrics and said go to town. Basically when all was said and done he had spent 10 minutes writing the words, I spent 10 minutes composing the song, and we spent 10 minutes recording it. Still this is one you shouldn't miss and is NC-17 so listen with headphones if you are at work!!

Track 3, Not Enough, is my newest song. This is very much a scratch recording to help me write harmonies and guitar counter melodies. A significantly better recording will be available sometime in the future.

Enjoy and feedback is very welcome. Also feel free to share these songs with anyone and everyone. We are expected Before We Go Any Further to become an internet phenomenon.

AND THIS IS MY 400th ENTRY!!!!! WOO!

An Addendum

Wednesday Mar 8, 2006 - Link to Entry

Did I spell that right?

Jon Brion has a GREAT song called Her Ghost that I would like to add to the break up songs list, but more so as an honorary bonus track. It tells the story of a woman who has a ghost that overshadows her new lover.

Clearly this phantom is actually more than an apparition, he is a metaphor for an ex-lover that is haunting and plaguing his new relationship,

"And I have no ammunition, I'm the one who's being exorcized . . . And everywhere I turn I learn that she has memories that will never burn. . . So long as he's the life in her, he'll be the death of me."

Check it out.

...is hard to do.

Monday Mar 6, 2006 - Link to Entry

Yep, see, I told you the Oscars suck. Moving on.

Recently I was thinking about the truly great Break Up Songs. For me a big part of moving on has always been focusing on a song. Whether it be a song that I create (Disillusion, RSVP, Scar, Stagnant Waltz, or even new Not Enough) or a song that I make a strong connection to, music seems to help the healing.

I remember when I went through my first bad break up in high school I would listen to American Pie both before bed and first thing in the morning. This classic song about moving on in time helped me to move on.

Apparently compiling Break Up songs lists is a very popular past time for several websites and VH1. Still I present you with my top songs for getting through the rough times.

These are in no particular order.

1. Against All Odds - Phil Collins: Lyrically speaking this song is dead on.

"How can you just walk away from me,
When all I can do is watch you leave
Cos we’ve shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears
You’re the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, oh there’s just an empty space
And there’s nothing left here to remind me,
Just the memory of your face
Ooh take a look at me now, well there’s just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against all odds and that’s what I’ve got to face"

Good stuff.

2. Always - Bon Jovi: What's more gut wrenching than a Bon Jovi ballad? This guy knows how to get the juices flowing, albeit usually said juices are adreneline based, in this case scenario they have their roots in the juxtaposition of H2O and NACL.

3. Cryin' - Aerosmith: This is more of a great break up music video than song. And that may have more to do with my adolescent attraction to Ms. Silverstone, but that is neither here nor there. It does feature a woman doing her own liberating thing post break up. . . for what that's worth.

4. Don't Speak - No Doubt: We've all been in some bad situations but can you imagine breaking up with your bandmate and having to continue to co-exist and play songs about yourself and your breakup with your ex singing them? That is simply messed up.

5. King of Wishful Thinking - Go West: Speaking of having to work around an ex . . . I needed this song to get through an AP exam where my ex was sitting in front of me. I hummed it to myself and it slowly became my anthem for the remainder of the break up.

6. For No One - The Beatles: A very sad song that is worth listening to about love just fading away.

7. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette: It is the modern day Gloria Gaynor we women will survive song. Its laced with anger but also strong moving on energy. An instant classic as they would say over at ESPN.

8. I Will Survive - Cake: Its my list and I'll put the version down that speaks to me. I love cake.

9. Gone - Ben Folds: I'll just put these lyrics because this one really speaks to me.

"I thought I'd write, I thought I'd let you know
In the year since you've been gone I've finally let you go
And I hope you find some time to drop a note
But if you won't
Then you won't
And I will consider you gone

I know that you went straight to someone else
While I worked through all this shit here by myself
And I think that you should spend some time alone
But if you won't
Then you won't
And I will, and i will consider you gone

I wake up in the night
All alone and it's alright
The chemicals are wearing off
Since you're gone

The days go on, the lights go off and on
And nothing really matters when you're gone
If you think that you feel nothing at all
If you don't (If you don't)
Then you don't (No, you won't)
If you won't
Then you won't
Then I will
Then I will
Yeah, and I will consider you gone"

Great song. Dead on.

10. Through With You - Maroon 5: Have I really been reduced to little commentary and simply posting lyrics.

"Can you see me
Floating above your head
As you lay in bed
Thinking about everything
That you did not do
Cause saying I love you
Has nothing to do with meaning it

And I don't trust you
Cause every time you're here
Your intentions are unclear
I spend every hour waiting for a phone call
That I know will never come
I used to think you were the one
Now I'm sick of thinking anything at all

You ain't ever coming back to me
That's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that

Do you remember
The way we used to melt
Do you remember how it felt
When I touched you
Oh cause I remember very well

And how long has it been
Since someone you let in
Has given what I gave to you

And at night when you sleep
Do you dream I would be there
Just for a minute or two do you?

You ain't ever coming back to me
That's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just to give it back
No other lover has ever done that

Heartache heartache I just have so much
A simple love with a complex touch
There is nothing you can say or do
I called to let you know I'm through with you"

Apparently.

And finally... #11 of Jeremy's top Break up songs, a classic by Ben Folds 5 - Song For the Dumped:

Most of the songs on this list take the high road and show some emotion. This song is just plain bitter as he demands his money and black t-shirt back from the woman who he now affectionately calls "bitch."

Ta ta for now.