Wednesday night Carlos Gomez became the 8th person in Minnesota Twins history to hit for the cycle (a cycle is hitting a home run, triple, double, and single in the same game). Gomez continues show super-star potential. He also continues to hack away at pitches outside the strike zone making for some ugly at bats.
Gomez’s fielding has been first rate. He has better range and a better arm than Torii Hunter did. However, Gomez lacks Hunter “feel” for playing defense. Hopefully with time and experience Gomez will pick up this “feel”.
Gomez is the best base stealer the Twins have had in long time, and is on pace to lead the American League in stolen bases.
A lot of people complained when the Twins traded Johan Santana for Gomez, Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, and Derlios Guerra. Now with Gomez off to good start not as many people are complaining.
People are starting to call Gomez the Latin Kirby Puckett. They point out that early in his career Puckett hacked away at pitches, bunted a lot, stole bases, and played with the same kind of enthusiasm as Gomez does.
I am not ready to call Gomez the Latin Kirby Puckett. Gomez has some similar traits to Puckett, but it is unfair to hold Gomez to such lofty expectations. I will say I always look forward to Gomez’s at bats just like I did Puckett’s, because Gomez like did Puckett has the potential to be a game changer.
Congratulation Carlos on hitting for the cycle; I hope this is just the beginning of brilliant career with the Twins. We need you.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Alan Jackson's single "Good Time"
Alan Jackson’s new single “Good Time” is not receiving “the love” from reviewers at some blogs. Their basic contention is that it just another formalistic song from Nashville and they expected better from Alan Jackson.I like “Good Time”. Yes it is a bit simplistic, but so was Alan’s songs “Tall, Tall, Trees” (written by George Jones & Roger Miller) and “Little Bitty” (written by Tom T. Hall).I find “Good Time” to be a great song to listen to while riding in your car, or spending a day on the lake.
When I listen to songs, I first listen to melody. If I like the songs rhythm, beat, and tempo, then I like to focus in on the singer’s voice. If those two elements are appealing, I listen in to the songs’ words. If I don’t like those first two elements of a song, I don’t really care to listen to the words, as the song already has lost its appeal to me.
If fact, I love a lot of bluegrass songs that are just instrumentals, because I enjoy the melodies.
That may not be how other people judge songs, but it is how I judge them. I love “Good Time” rhythm, beat, and tempo. Alan Jackson vocals are great. The words? Like Brooks & Dunn’s “Boot Scootin Boogie” and numerous others party songs, they words to “Good Time” will not entered in a creative writing contest anytime soon.
Still, I like this song. Enjoy playing it. And I am not alone, as “Good Time” is rolling up the country single chart. In the end reviewers will get their say in, but the masses ended up deciding what a success is and what is not. After all history only remembers good artists if they were popular as well.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Graduate School Ends, Computer Crashes
I graduated with a Masters Degree in Technical Communication last week. I am the first person in my family to rise to this level of education. I have to say that the accomplishment of it all has yet to sink in.
I was lucky I like to work ahead on my school work. My computer crashed just days before the last paper was due in my last class. My computer was not fixed for two weeks. Luckily, I had e-mailed myself a copy of my almost finished last paper, so I was able to retrieve that copy with a computer at school and finish it up.
I would have hated to have to start all over with just a few days left to get it done. I was lucky and very happy.
I was lucky I like to work ahead on my school work. My computer crashed just days before the last paper was due in my last class. My computer was not fixed for two weeks. Luckily, I had e-mailed myself a copy of my almost finished last paper, so I was able to retrieve that copy with a computer at school and finish it up.
I would have hated to have to start all over with just a few days left to get it done. I was lucky and very happy.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Live Concert Videos on YouTube
More and more people are recording country music artists in concerts, and posting those videos on YouTube. Some of these video are quite well done. Like this one of Miranda Lambert. The person taking the video is so close that at one point you can her Miranda stomping her boots on the floor.
This leads to a key question for country music artists - should they allow the videos remain on YouTube, or order them taken down. Copyright laws allow country artists to demand YouTube remove the bootleg videos. Artists may feel that the bootleg videos cut into their concert ticket or video sales. After all why pay for what you can get free.
However, an artist should think why the person who made the video put it up in the first place. Most videos are uploaded by enthusiastic fans eager to promote their favorite artist, and show how good they are in concert. This kind of enthusiasm spreads, and can lead to more people going to that artists concert, and buying the artist’s music. It is the core, enthusiastic fans that carry an artist career. Alienate those fans, and the artist is done.
I have notice most country artists are leaving the videos up. Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift seem to the most popular country artists for fans to post videos of. Here is a Carrie Underwood one I think is pretty good.
This leads to a key question for country music artists - should they allow the videos remain on YouTube, or order them taken down. Copyright laws allow country artists to demand YouTube remove the bootleg videos. Artists may feel that the bootleg videos cut into their concert ticket or video sales. After all why pay for what you can get free.
However, an artist should think why the person who made the video put it up in the first place. Most videos are uploaded by enthusiastic fans eager to promote their favorite artist, and show how good they are in concert. This kind of enthusiasm spreads, and can lead to more people going to that artists concert, and buying the artist’s music. It is the core, enthusiastic fans that carry an artist career. Alienate those fans, and the artist is done.
I have notice most country artists are leaving the videos up. Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift seem to the most popular country artists for fans to post videos of. Here is a Carrie Underwood one I think is pretty good.
Lack of Good Country Artists Biographies
A while back I posted a bio of Alan Jackson, because I thought there was a lack of a truly comprehensive Alan Jackson bio on the Web. Many country artists have bio on their official Web sites, and on their label’s Web site. They are usually the exact same bios on each site, and they almost always focus on the artist’s latest album.
I’m sure some label person thinks that is a great market tool, but it really tells us nothing about the artist’s past. Wikipedia.com and allmusic.com also have bios of country artists. Allmusic.com is an offshoot of the reference book All Music. Like all reference books, it is only as up to date as the year it was written. On their Web site it’s just a copy of what is in the book with maybe a line or two update on the artists recent album. Often the bios are not extensive and sadly some are not much more than a few paragraphs
Then there is Wikipedia. I checked out the bios of Alan Jackson, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Pam Tillis, Vince Gill, and some of new artists as well. Some bios were pretty good, some are not. Some have incorrect information in them. Some seem to be more PR pages written by fans trying to make them look good. Some have extensive tables showing the artists album and single chart success. Some list awards the artist has won. Some have everything, some have little or nothing.
In graduate school, I studied Wikipedia and its effect on our society. When you have a collective effort there will always some good and some bad. The problem with collective efforts like this is getting the people with knowledge involved in the project.
For instances, I could write some real good biographies on some of the artists I have listed. I have read numerous magazine, newspaper, and reference articles about these artists. I have listened to numerous interviews with these artists. I know a lot about them. However, I have to list my sources in any bio I put on Wikipedia. If I have no sources, my work would be called into question. The problem is I don’t have the time, or want to put forth the effort to create such things.
This leads to a lack of true and comprehensive biographies of country music artists. That in turn can lead to people making up whatever they want about the artist and this misinformation spreading across the Internet.
Artists should take more responsibility for making their complete biographies available on-line. For if they don’t they may find themselves representative incorrectly.
I’m sure some label person thinks that is a great market tool, but it really tells us nothing about the artist’s past. Wikipedia.com and allmusic.com also have bios of country artists. Allmusic.com is an offshoot of the reference book All Music. Like all reference books, it is only as up to date as the year it was written. On their Web site it’s just a copy of what is in the book with maybe a line or two update on the artists recent album. Often the bios are not extensive and sadly some are not much more than a few paragraphs
Then there is Wikipedia. I checked out the bios of Alan Jackson, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Pam Tillis, Vince Gill, and some of new artists as well. Some bios were pretty good, some are not. Some have incorrect information in them. Some seem to be more PR pages written by fans trying to make them look good. Some have extensive tables showing the artists album and single chart success. Some list awards the artist has won. Some have everything, some have little or nothing.
In graduate school, I studied Wikipedia and its effect on our society. When you have a collective effort there will always some good and some bad. The problem with collective efforts like this is getting the people with knowledge involved in the project.
For instances, I could write some real good biographies on some of the artists I have listed. I have read numerous magazine, newspaper, and reference articles about these artists. I have listened to numerous interviews with these artists. I know a lot about them. However, I have to list my sources in any bio I put on Wikipedia. If I have no sources, my work would be called into question. The problem is I don’t have the time, or want to put forth the effort to create such things.
This leads to a lack of true and comprehensive biographies of country music artists. That in turn can lead to people making up whatever they want about the artist and this misinformation spreading across the Internet.
Artists should take more responsibility for making their complete biographies available on-line. For if they don’t they may find themselves representative incorrectly.
Friday, March 28, 2008
My View of the Twins Lineup
Here is my view of the Twins lineup.
Joe Mauer, catcher – I don’t think Mauer will ever show that much power. At best, he may be only a 15-19 HR hitter. Still gold glove caliber, .300 plus hitting catchers are very rare. Mauer will thrive in the #2 spot of the batting order.
Justin Morneau, 1st – As Morneau goes, so go the Twins. He needs to be consistent about hitting HR’s throughout the season, not just hitting a bunch in one half of the season and hardly any the other half. He has to do this because other than Delmon Young, Morneau is the only big-time run producer the Twins have.
Brendan Harris, 2nd – Harris played his first full major league season last year and produced nicely offensively. His defense looks iffy. That means manager Ron Gardenhire favorite Nick Punto will be waiting in the wings. Punto is a great defender, but has been miserable offensively since the beginning of last year. This position could be unstable all year and that is not good.
Adam Everett, ss – He will save several runs with his brilliant defense, and he will kill many rallies with his weak hitting. But with the lack of stability around him at 2nd and 3rd, his defense prowess should vastly outweigh his offensive deficiencies.
Mike Lamb, 3rd – Lamb has never played full-time, so we can’t be sure of what he can do. He looks like he can hit, and hit with some power. However, the reports on his defense are not good. Luckily for the Twins Adam Everett defense can cover up some of Lamb weakness on defense. The Twins need Lamb to hit 20-25 HR’s. Anything less will be considered a disappointment.
Michael Cuddyer, rf – First off Cuddyer is the nicest baseball players I have ever met. He also has one of the best throwing arms in baseball. That said, he has to produce some runs. Last years 16 HRs and 81 RBIs are not enough. I think the less pressure he feels, the better he will produce offensively which is strangely why hitting 3rd in the lineup is best for him. He knows he will have Morneau batting behind him to pick him up, and he won’t have worry about producing if team’s walk Morneau.
Carlos Gomez, cf – I have mixed feelings about Gomez starting the year with the Twins. Part of me sees Gomez hitting well, hitting with power, stealing 50ome bases, and playing brilliant defense. The other part of me sees Gomez struggling and ruining his long term future that would have better served with a year in the minors. Hopefully The Twins need Gomez to feel motivated to prove his detractors wrong and have break out season. If he does not, a lot of questions will be asked of GM Bill Smith and manger Ron Gardenhire.
Delmon Young, lf – Young needs to become the super-star he is projected to be. Most Twins fans are obsessed with Mauer and Morneau so at first the fans will not get on Young about his production. However, it will soon become apparent who the second most important Twins regular is. That would be Young. If he does not produce, teams will pitch around Morneau, and the Twins offense will be worse than last year.
Jason Kubel / Craig Monroe, dh – The Twins did have any power to bring off the bench last year. With Kubel and Monroe platooning at dh, that problem will be solve. Still both men need to be consistent in their production. The Twins need both of them to have good years as they will likely bat sixth behind Morneau and Young.
The Bench – Mike Redmond, Matt Tolbert, Nick Punto and whoever is not dhing will fill out the bench. Redmond is the best backup catcher in the league, and a natural leader. Punto, as mentioned earlier, is all glove not hit. Tolbert has never played in the big leagues, but has potential to hit good and field solidly as 2nd, ss, and 3rd. Monroe and Kubel, as mentioned previously, will provide some pop off the bench.
Joe Mauer, catcher – I don’t think Mauer will ever show that much power. At best, he may be only a 15-19 HR hitter. Still gold glove caliber, .300 plus hitting catchers are very rare. Mauer will thrive in the #2 spot of the batting order.
Justin Morneau, 1st – As Morneau goes, so go the Twins. He needs to be consistent about hitting HR’s throughout the season, not just hitting a bunch in one half of the season and hardly any the other half. He has to do this because other than Delmon Young, Morneau is the only big-time run producer the Twins have.
Brendan Harris, 2nd – Harris played his first full major league season last year and produced nicely offensively. His defense looks iffy. That means manager Ron Gardenhire favorite Nick Punto will be waiting in the wings. Punto is a great defender, but has been miserable offensively since the beginning of last year. This position could be unstable all year and that is not good.
Adam Everett, ss – He will save several runs with his brilliant defense, and he will kill many rallies with his weak hitting. But with the lack of stability around him at 2nd and 3rd, his defense prowess should vastly outweigh his offensive deficiencies.
Mike Lamb, 3rd – Lamb has never played full-time, so we can’t be sure of what he can do. He looks like he can hit, and hit with some power. However, the reports on his defense are not good. Luckily for the Twins Adam Everett defense can cover up some of Lamb weakness on defense. The Twins need Lamb to hit 20-25 HR’s. Anything less will be considered a disappointment.
Michael Cuddyer, rf – First off Cuddyer is the nicest baseball players I have ever met. He also has one of the best throwing arms in baseball. That said, he has to produce some runs. Last years 16 HRs and 81 RBIs are not enough. I think the less pressure he feels, the better he will produce offensively which is strangely why hitting 3rd in the lineup is best for him. He knows he will have Morneau batting behind him to pick him up, and he won’t have worry about producing if team’s walk Morneau.
Carlos Gomez, cf – I have mixed feelings about Gomez starting the year with the Twins. Part of me sees Gomez hitting well, hitting with power, stealing 50ome bases, and playing brilliant defense. The other part of me sees Gomez struggling and ruining his long term future that would have better served with a year in the minors. Hopefully The Twins need Gomez to feel motivated to prove his detractors wrong and have break out season. If he does not, a lot of questions will be asked of GM Bill Smith and manger Ron Gardenhire.
Delmon Young, lf – Young needs to become the super-star he is projected to be. Most Twins fans are obsessed with Mauer and Morneau so at first the fans will not get on Young about his production. However, it will soon become apparent who the second most important Twins regular is. That would be Young. If he does not produce, teams will pitch around Morneau, and the Twins offense will be worse than last year.
Jason Kubel / Craig Monroe, dh – The Twins did have any power to bring off the bench last year. With Kubel and Monroe platooning at dh, that problem will be solve. Still both men need to be consistent in their production. The Twins need both of them to have good years as they will likely bat sixth behind Morneau and Young.
The Bench – Mike Redmond, Matt Tolbert, Nick Punto and whoever is not dhing will fill out the bench. Redmond is the best backup catcher in the league, and a natural leader. Punto, as mentioned earlier, is all glove not hit. Tolbert has never played in the big leagues, but has potential to hit good and field solidly as 2nd, ss, and 3rd. Monroe and Kubel, as mentioned previously, will provide some pop off the bench.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Joe Nathan Signs Extension
The Minnesota Twins have signed closer Joe Nathan to a contract extension that will keep him around till 2011 with an option for 2012. He will get over $11 million dollars a year which is less than half what Johan Santana will be making a year with the Mets.
Nathan was good player to retain. As a person who lived through the Ron Davis era of blown saves and stunning loses in the mid-eighties, I know the value of a great closer. Nathan is possibly the best closer in the all of baseball. With the exception of Pat Neshek, the Twins had no one else capable of handling the role of closer. With Nathan signed, and Neshek set as his set-up man, the Twins bullpen has an excellent back end which should help the whole pitching staff.
It is well known Twins fans did not like losing Torii Hunter and Johan Santana. However, the Twins have now locked up Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, and Joe Nathan to long term deal. They will have not significant free agent issues till after the 2010 season.
This should bring some peace to an organization and fan base which has been very nervous about such things. Now maybe the Twins can get back to playing and winning some games.
Nathan was good player to retain. As a person who lived through the Ron Davis era of blown saves and stunning loses in the mid-eighties, I know the value of a great closer. Nathan is possibly the best closer in the all of baseball. With the exception of Pat Neshek, the Twins had no one else capable of handling the role of closer. With Nathan signed, and Neshek set as his set-up man, the Twins bullpen has an excellent back end which should help the whole pitching staff.
It is well known Twins fans did not like losing Torii Hunter and Johan Santana. However, the Twins have now locked up Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Michael Cuddyer, and Joe Nathan to long term deal. They will have not significant free agent issues till after the 2010 season.
This should bring some peace to an organization and fan base which has been very nervous about such things. Now maybe the Twins can get back to playing and winning some games.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Alan Jackson's "Good Time" Debuts
Alan Jackson’s “Good Time” lands at #1 on both the Billboard Country and Overall Album sales charts. It is the 12th time Alan has topped the country album chart and the 4th topping the overall album sales chart.
The 119,000 copies sold of “Good Time” is the 5th best opening week of Alan Jackson’s career. Considering the poor state of albums sales right now that is not a bad opening week number.
Ashton Shepherd also debuted this week selling 8,000 copies of “Feels So Good”. She comes in at #16 on country album charts and #90 on the overall albums sales chart. Not a bad start for a new artists still fighting for her first top ten hit.
A side note. Looks like Alan’s “Small Town Southern Man” will get to #1 on the country singles chart. If so, it will be his 23 #1 country single on the Billboard’s Country Singles chart. That would tie him with for 9th overall. George Strait is #1 with 42.
The 119,000 copies sold of “Good Time” is the 5th best opening week of Alan Jackson’s career. Considering the poor state of albums sales right now that is not a bad opening week number.
Ashton Shepherd also debuted this week selling 8,000 copies of “Feels So Good”. She comes in at #16 on country album charts and #90 on the overall albums sales chart. Not a bad start for a new artists still fighting for her first top ten hit.
A side note. Looks like Alan’s “Small Town Southern Man” will get to #1 on the country singles chart. If so, it will be his 23 #1 country single on the Billboard’s Country Singles chart. That would tie him with for 9th overall. George Strait is #1 with 42.
Monday, March 10, 2008
A Review of Alan Jackson's "Good Time" Album
I have been listening to Alan Jackson’s brilliant new album “Good Time” which features 17 great country songs. I think it is his best album since “Drive” back in 2002. Here are my thoughts on the songs.
Good Time – A great up-tempo song about having a good time. Looks like it could be a big hit. It is one of my personal favorites from the album.
Small Town Southern Man – A wonderful story song. In fact the narrative in the song is so well done; I am analyzing it for an assignment in my graduate class on rhetorical theory.
I Wish I Could Back Up – I touching ballad about wanting to go back and love a woman again because he had become “smarter” about why he loved her.
Country Boy – Good song, nice tempo. Could have been a Hank Williams Jr. song from back in the 80’s.
Right Where I Want You – This ballad is good, but I am not enthralled with it
1976 – A great auto-biographical song about Alan’s life back in 1976. Nice mid-tempo beat to the song.
When the Love Factor’s High – A ballad that recalls some of the better traditional country music of past. I like this song better than some of people whose reviews I have read.
Long Long Way – An up-tempo bluegrass song that makes me wish Alan had done the bluegrass album he had wanted to do. The trains whistle noise Alan makes recalls the same whistle noise he made in “I Only Want You” from the “Honky Tonk Christmas” album.
Sissy Song – A touching song about the death of a woman who had worked for the Jackson household.
I Still Like Bologna – A humorous and perceptive look at the raise of technology. The melody recalls “If French Fries Were Fat Free” from the album “What I Do”, but the lyrics are superior thereby making this a stronger song.
Never Loved Before – A bouncy duet with Martina McBride about love. The song lets people hear Martina without any of her normal vocal gymnastics.
Nothing Left to Do – The chorus of this songs is hilarious. I like the melody of song as well.
Listen to Your Senses - Not bad, not great.
This Time - Yawn
Laid Back and Low Keyed (CAY) – Another song about being the beach. Kenny Chesney has done 100 of these. Still it’s not bad. An enjoyable listen if you do not try to analyze it to much.
If You Want to Make Me Happy – A brilliant, traditional country ballad. The first time I heard it I knew it would be one of my favorites. Repeated listens have only strengthen that view.
If Jesus Walked the Walked the World – A song about how if Jesus came back today he would be a common man working in the plant and preaching in a country church. The choir at the end of the song was a predictable element, but still a good song.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Update on the New Female Country Singers I Have Been Talking About
Ashton Shepherd releases her new cd on March 4th. Her lead single has made the top 30, but is not advancing well. I will be interested to see how a second single does for her.
I was able to listen to a preview her album. I would have like some more up-tempo songs, but the music is good. Still I do wonder what, if any, song on the album will break her through to stardom.
I wrote here about how Star De Azlan would use social media to overcome the obstacles that faced her. Well, her lead single “She’s Pretty” is fading at radio. I also don’t see her, as I hope she would, making full use of social media to generate buzz. Lady Antebellum is a good example of how country artists should be doing things on the social media front.
I still like Star’s song, but I worry things could be slipping away.
Julianne Hough has released her debut single to country radio. Not surprisingly it is not sprinting up the charts. However, it was just release, so there is plenty of time. It helps that Julianne is a more country-pop which is what radio likes. Also her fame from “Dancing with the Stars” helps too.
Each of these women have lots of work ahead of them.
I was able to listen to a preview her album. I would have like some more up-tempo songs, but the music is good. Still I do wonder what, if any, song on the album will break her through to stardom.
I wrote here about how Star De Azlan would use social media to overcome the obstacles that faced her. Well, her lead single “She’s Pretty” is fading at radio. I also don’t see her, as I hope she would, making full use of social media to generate buzz. Lady Antebellum is a good example of how country artists should be doing things on the social media front.
I still like Star’s song, but I worry things could be slipping away.
Julianne Hough has released her debut single to country radio. Not surprisingly it is not sprinting up the charts. However, it was just release, so there is plenty of time. It helps that Julianne is a more country-pop which is what radio likes. Also her fame from “Dancing with the Stars” helps too.
Each of these women have lots of work ahead of them.
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