We don't analyze salary implications. We don't delve into metrics. We opine on what we see. And how that might affect our Texas Rangers. And we don't really care how that affects the other team involved.
Ian Kinsler for Prince Fielder.
That is the crux of it.
The Rangers needed more power at first base. Fielder provides that.
The Rangers needed a spot for Jurickson Profar. Moving Kinsler provides that.
Are we happy about losing Kinsler? Of course not. Ian is one of our favorite players.
Are we excited about what Fielder may bring to our Rangers? Of course we are. Apologies to Mitch Moreland, but seeing Fielder hammering the Home Run Porch in Arlington has us salivating.
Losing two really good guys (David Murphy to Cleveland via free agency and Kinsler) is hard to swallow, but this is all about making the team better. Hopefully, this is just the start.
The Rangers still need to upgrade the outfield and get more productive at catcher.
We like this move, but it can't be all. There is more work to be done.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Your Decade of Music is ALWAYS Better Than Current Music
The title says it all. The music of the (insert decade here) is so much better than the crap they're putting out now.
How many times have you heard (or said) this? We have. Numerous times. And it's false.
Why?
Listen to your classic rock station. Listen to your "best of the '60s, 70s and 80s" station. Listen to your classic country station. A lot of good songs playing, right?
Of course there is. They only play the good stuff. Give any decade 20 years to sort out what was good and what wasn't and you can make a good radio station out of it.
Good music is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. Popular music is in the hands of the young and stupid. (we were once in that category).
The good stuff stands the test of time. That is what you keep hearing long after it has fallen out of current popularity. You forget about all the crap that was popular right along with it.
That is why your decade of preference is always better than current music. We haven't had a chance to weed out the bad from the good. That takes 20 years, in our opinion.
In the meantime, if you hear something you like, enjoy it. Share it.
If you hear something you don't like, ignore it, don't listen to it. Don't criticize it.
How many times have you heard (or said) this? We have. Numerous times. And it's false.
Why?
Listen to your classic rock station. Listen to your "best of the '60s, 70s and 80s" station. Listen to your classic country station. A lot of good songs playing, right?
Of course there is. They only play the good stuff. Give any decade 20 years to sort out what was good and what wasn't and you can make a good radio station out of it.
Good music is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder. Popular music is in the hands of the young and stupid. (we were once in that category).
The good stuff stands the test of time. That is what you keep hearing long after it has fallen out of current popularity. You forget about all the crap that was popular right along with it.
That is why your decade of preference is always better than current music. We haven't had a chance to weed out the bad from the good. That takes 20 years, in our opinion.
In the meantime, if you hear something you like, enjoy it. Share it.
If you hear something you don't like, ignore it, don't listen to it. Don't criticize it.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
The CMA Awards and Today's Country Music
We watched the CMA Awards. We were entertained.
George Strait and Alan Jackson doing George Jones.
Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles singing with Kenny Rogers.
Dave Grohl playing drums with the Zac Brown Band.
Mick Jagger, Ellen DeGeneres, Julia Roberts, etc. congratulating Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift with Vince Gill and Allison Krauss.
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Kieth Urban, Kacey Musgraves, the Band Perry, etc. performing.
It was all good.
But according to our Twitter and Facebook feeds, it was an unmitigated disaster. Why? Not because it wasn't entertaining. Not because the performances were bad. Because it wasn't country enough.
Guess what? It was exactly what is being played on country music radio. And you know what else? We agree. It really ain't country. But we don't care, it was entertaining. And we like to be entertained by entertainers.
If you want to play semantics, fine. It wasn't traditional country.
It all reeks of musical elitism to us. We like a variety of music. The last time we put our master playlist on shuffle it gave us the following: the Band Perry, Cinderella, Marc Cohn, Billy Joel, Tesla, Martina McBride, Casey Donahew Band, the Bangles, Alice Cooper, Grace Potter, Poison, Iron Maiden, Jewel, Bon Jovi, Kim Mitchell, Halestorm and Roger Creager. Go figure.
You can find the music you like if you want. Sometimes it takes work when your music of preference is not popular at the time. But it's out there. The machine on which you are reading this can take you to your genre of choice. And you may discover new and exciting music. Give it a try.
What was played at the CMA awards is what is considered country music today. You don't have to like it. But that's the reality.
If you are not entertained, change the channel. Don't listen to it.
Rather than bemoan what is wasn't, we prefer to be entertained. And we were.
George Strait and Alan Jackson doing George Jones.
Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Jennifer Nettles singing with Kenny Rogers.
Dave Grohl playing drums with the Zac Brown Band.
Mick Jagger, Ellen DeGeneres, Julia Roberts, etc. congratulating Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift with Vince Gill and Allison Krauss.
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Kieth Urban, Kacey Musgraves, the Band Perry, etc. performing.
It was all good.
But according to our Twitter and Facebook feeds, it was an unmitigated disaster. Why? Not because it wasn't entertaining. Not because the performances were bad. Because it wasn't country enough.
Guess what? It was exactly what is being played on country music radio. And you know what else? We agree. It really ain't country. But we don't care, it was entertaining. And we like to be entertained by entertainers.
If you want to play semantics, fine. It wasn't traditional country.
It all reeks of musical elitism to us. We like a variety of music. The last time we put our master playlist on shuffle it gave us the following: the Band Perry, Cinderella, Marc Cohn, Billy Joel, Tesla, Martina McBride, Casey Donahew Band, the Bangles, Alice Cooper, Grace Potter, Poison, Iron Maiden, Jewel, Bon Jovi, Kim Mitchell, Halestorm and Roger Creager. Go figure.
You can find the music you like if you want. Sometimes it takes work when your music of preference is not popular at the time. But it's out there. The machine on which you are reading this can take you to your genre of choice. And you may discover new and exciting music. Give it a try.
What was played at the CMA awards is what is considered country music today. You don't have to like it. But that's the reality.
If you are not entertained, change the channel. Don't listen to it.
Rather than bemoan what is wasn't, we prefer to be entertained. And we were.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
2013 NFL Survivor Pool: Week 10
If you're still reading this, that means you have survived 9 weeks of your eliminator pool. Congratulations.
So far, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Seattle, Denver, St. Louis, San Francisco, Green Bay, New Orleans and Dallas are off of our board.
Let's take a look at this week's games.
Jacksonville (+13.5) @ Tennessee - That is the pick. No need to go any further. At least for us. With the teams we have left this is an obvious choice. The Jags are just that bad. And the Titans are much better with Jake Locker behind center.
St. Louis (+9.5) @ Indianapolis - This one is solid. If you still have the Colts available. We don't.
Oakland (+7.5) @ NY Giants - Sure, the G-men have looked better as of late, but do we really trust them right now? No, we don't. This is one to stay away from.
There are five teams that are 6.5 point favorites - Green Bay over Philadelphia, Seattle over Atlanta, San Francisco over Carolina, Denver over San Diego and New Orleans over Dallas.
We have none of the favorites available to us.
That being said, Green Bay, without Aaron Rodgers? No thanks.
Seattle has not looked good in their last two games and playing in the Georgia Dome, who knows?
San Francisco playing at home against the Panthers may be the best of the lot. But Carolina is no pushover.
Denver on the road against a division rival? Not going there.
The Saints are good at home. Dallas is a mess defensively. Probably a good pick. But we wouldn't touch it.
The Pick
Stated above. Titans all the way.
So far, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Seattle, Denver, St. Louis, San Francisco, Green Bay, New Orleans and Dallas are off of our board.
Let's take a look at this week's games.
Jacksonville (+13.5) @ Tennessee - That is the pick. No need to go any further. At least for us. With the teams we have left this is an obvious choice. The Jags are just that bad. And the Titans are much better with Jake Locker behind center.
St. Louis (+9.5) @ Indianapolis - This one is solid. If you still have the Colts available. We don't.
Oakland (+7.5) @ NY Giants - Sure, the G-men have looked better as of late, but do we really trust them right now? No, we don't. This is one to stay away from.
There are five teams that are 6.5 point favorites - Green Bay over Philadelphia, Seattle over Atlanta, San Francisco over Carolina, Denver over San Diego and New Orleans over Dallas.
We have none of the favorites available to us.
That being said, Green Bay, without Aaron Rodgers? No thanks.
Seattle has not looked good in their last two games and playing in the Georgia Dome, who knows?
San Francisco playing at home against the Panthers may be the best of the lot. But Carolina is no pushover.
Denver on the road against a division rival? Not going there.
The Saints are good at home. Dallas is a mess defensively. Probably a good pick. But we wouldn't touch it.
The Pick
Stated above. Titans all the way.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Pet Peeve: Bye vs. Open
We blame the NFL.
For what, you say? For inappropriately using the word "bye".
For reference, here is the definition:
For what, you say? For inappropriately using the word "bye".
For reference, here is the definition:
bye 1 also by (b )
n.
1. A secondary matter; a side issue.
2. Sports The position of one who draws no opponent for a round in a tournament and so advances to the next round.
Did you see the second definition? Unless you are in a tournament (playoffs), there is no bye. The team just has an open week, i.e., they do not play. They are not advancing anywhere. If they played and lost, they still would play the next week.
The NFL started this bastardization when they started having open weeks. And now it has caught on.
It is not a bye. It is an open week.
This is of no consequence other than the further erosion of the English language. Feel free to use "bye" inappropriately at your free will. We will think less of you if you do.
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