Remembering March 16-20, 1992

Twenty years ago today, Uncle Tupelo finished recording their third album, March 16-20, 1992.

When Uncle Tupelo went into the studio to record their third album, the No Depression movement was only just beginning to gel, as more and more musicians realized they could approach country music with a DIY punk attitude. Surprisingly, the trio ditched their electric guitars for this album of mostly acoustic numbers, but lost none of the urgency and grit. Comprised of originals and covers of traditional tunes that would have been doubly obscure in the pre-iTunes era, March 16-20, 1992 opens up new possibilities of American folk music in general and alt-country in particular, and 20 years later, Uncle Tupelo’s explicitly leftist, pro-union, anti-corporate stance lends the album extra weight and relevance in the Occupy era.

"Listening to it now what I hear most in my voice is fear, although someone else might construe it as emotion. It was very raw." - Jay Farrar

The final song on March 16-20, 1992 (at least in its original form) is also my favorite. It's essentially a demo: guitar, harmonica, and Farrar's voice. That's it. Totally skeletal. But, what else could it possibly need? The lyrics are moving, even profound, cryptically addressing betrayal, trust, and the thin line between love and hate. Is it anticipating the schism in Uncle Tupelo? Is it already looking ahead to Son Volt and Wilco?

In reading Farrar's quote above, I'm struck by how similar it is to something Tweedy said shortly after the album's release. When asked about the abundance of religious material on March, Jeff replied, "What I really get from those songs is that they're more about fear than they are about religion. They're really frightened sounding songs.''

With the benefit of hindsight, maybe this is what makes "Wipe The Clock" so effective, not to mention the entirety of the March album. That fear that makes those old folk and country songs resonate never went away. It's still with us and it was with us in 1992. Every now and then, certain musicians are able to tap into it, like they're tuning a radio to a very specific, hard to reach frequency. This was the genius of Uncle Tupelo. They were able to harness that fear, that generational insecurity, and translate it into a language that we understood. Lots of musicians have musical talent, but this is beyond that. It's a gift from the gods, and 20 years later it's a gift that keeps on giving.

no joy in mudville

i've barely slept. i cried all night. i cried on the way to work. i've cried at work this morning. i'm crying right now as i type this. i gave more emotionally to that game than i have in five years of marriage.

“It breaks your heart. Baseball is designed to break your heart."
- A. Bartlett Giamatti

but baseball is still the greatest game, i have love it ever since my father introduced it to me in 1977 at the old arlington stadium, but some days it's the most difficult to take.

the rangers have not lost consecutive games in over two months, they need to be just that good one more time. there is a strong sense [even by me] that you'd rather be the cardinals than the rangers tonight. but i'd rather be the rangers than the other 28 teams NOT here. teams dreams every spring of the opportunity to do what what can be done tonight when pitchers and catchers reported 8 1/2 months ago.

but only two are left.

a new generation of ranger fans [or a big rangers fan base in general] are being built on the foundation of back to back pennants. i took my infant son to his first [of many i hope][pictured above] world series game [rangers won 4-0] all i've ever wanted was to live in a baseball town, it's the only sport that matters to me. it may not be a baseball town but baseball now matters in these parts and will moving forward.

i need the rangers to put me on their back one more time. they've earned my faith. they never quit.

but whatever the baseball gods decide. they decide. i have only so much more i can give.

texas can win the world series tonight.

#wegotthis #onemorehanger #rallybaby

WE GOT THIS

in 1977 i was five years old and my father took me to my first rangers game at old arlington stadium and for over thirty years i have mostly suffered but sometimes rejoiced on occasion with this organization, tonight something i've always wanted since my first ballgame in 1977 can come true. i sat diligently through all the other octobers of my youth waiting patiently for the chance of what can occur tonight to happen. i'm a big believer in acting like you've been there before. but my emotions haven't. i'm also not going to sit and and try and describe what i'm feeling, if you know me well enough, you know.

at the end of the night tonight i will be either somewhere on the continuum of frustrated, drained and uneasy or somewhere entirely different. i place i've never been.

through 29 spring training games, 162 regular season games and 15 postseason games, a game of the likes of which i've never had to get ready for, i have no idea what to say or feel. because i have NEVER been here before. and if the baseball gods smile down on us for one more victory, i don't know what i'll say or feel. because i HAVEN'T been here before.

the know the scene in star wars where luke shuts his cockpit off and fires the kill shoot to destroy the death star, relying on the force? tonight i'm going to shut off the controls and visualize ian kinsler stepping into the box for the 867th time in 2011 and settle in for the first moment like it of my life.

#wegotthis #onemorehanger

meet me in st. louis

Meet me in St. Louis

"Meet me in St. Louis, Louis,
Meet me at the fair,
Don’t tell me the lights are shining
any place but there;
We will dance the Hoochee Koochee,
I will be your tootsie wootsie,
If you will meet in St. Louis, Louis,
Meet me at the fair.”

i only have the utmost respect for the history of the st. louis cardinals franchise. i've been to old and new busch stadium. my lovely bride and i spent our first anniversary at new busch. as a christmas gift the following year she bought me old stadium seats from old busch that now sit in my "baseball room." i've met hall of famer lou brock and got his autograph. i have an original saturday evening post, the one where there's the image of stan "the man" musial in front of his locker, autographed. some of my all-time favorite players are cardinals. i have an ozzie smith and bob gibson jersey hanging in my closet.

but for the second year in a row my local nine, the rangers, are fortunate enough to make it back to the world series [you may recall they lost 4-1 last year to the giants, who hadn't won one since moving west to san francisco] but this season i believe they are deeper, stronger and better than last year's rangers team.

it's difficult enough to win back to back pennants [photo above is from saturday night's pennant clinching game celebration over the tigers.] the rangers join the '92-'93 blue jays and the '98-'00 yankees as the only A.L. teams to do it since 1990. and i am very thankful that the rangers have won two A.L. pennants now in my lifetime.

but now it is time to see if they can carry the banner for an entire league.

as it sinks in for me and we are roughly 48 hours away from game one of the fall classic, the texas rangers are happy but not satisfied.

#oneextrahanger

2011 baseball predictions

i think this season there will be several tight division races. the central and west in both leagues could have one of three or fours teams competing. the AL east could have all teams finishing with a .500 record. and everyone is giving the phillies the NL east crown because of their pitching. but it's a long season so we'll see.

AL WEST
1. athletics- it's their year. best pitching in division, improved offense and the release of the movie version of "moneyball"
2. rangers- pitching issues, but plenty of hitting and talent, could make trade for pitching to push for division.
3. angels- will be better once 1B morales comes back. offense shaky overwise. starting pitching will be there.
4. mariners- king felix and no offense. but watch for 2B rookie dustin ackley should be good for years to come.

AL CENTRAL
1. white sox- fewest questions in division.
2. tigers- good pitching, starting and relief. but white sox have better offense.
3. twins- too many areas of uncertainty- infield, bullpen, injuries. but it is the twins and they've won the last two division titles.
4. royals- transition to moustakas and the rest of the youth movement is set to begin. rated best farm system in the game
5. indians- if sizemore gets healthy, he will be part of selling off of veteran pieces as the season goes on.

AL EAST
1. red sox- even with all the talk of adding carl crawford and adrain gonzales, if beckett and lackey falter flip a coin, the yankees could win it.
2. yankees- they're the yankees even with question marks they will try and get someone at the trade deadline. even if starting pitching shaky at back end. bullpen = great.
3. rays- they will compete, even if they lost a ton of people, especially out of their bullpen. if they get that straightened out they could fight for division.
4. orioles- if young pitching comes around, veteran players stay healthy and help. buck factor. could finish .500
5. blue jays- lost too much talent from last year, but plenty of help on the way.

AL
MVP- alex rodriguez, yankees- it pains me to say it but with a monster spring he just might bring this home.
ROOKIE- desmond jennings, rays- carl crawfords "replacement" will showcase he just may be. could also be teammate jeremy hellickson as well.
CY YOUNG- jon lester, red sox- another good season, will lead sox into playoffs. wouldn't be shocked if it was david price of the rays either.
MANAGER- terry francona, red sox- he could celarly have won it last year almost leading the red sox to the playoffs with all those injuries. so he'll get it this year instead.

NL WEST
1. giants- enough pitching to avoid world series hangover. but rockies and dodgers will be looming.
2. rockies- the big three: tulo, cargo and ubaldo. do they have enough surrounding players to help?
3. dodgers- this team could fall anywhere from first to fourth. they have the talent but can they learn how to win. first year manager don mattingly will help them.
4. padres- better up the middle, but the trade of gonzales to the red sox hurts and their pitching might not be as good.
5. diamondbacks- below average team in all facets of the game.

NL CENTRAL
1. cubs- in a very tight and tough race where any of the top four teams could finish in first, i'm picking the improbable. somewhat weak offense but better pitching than the rest.
2. cards- no wainwright, but larussa will keep them competitive in what could be pujols' last year with team. which could be rallying cry.
3. reds- good club, but thin margin for error if starters get hurt and cueto already is.
4. brewers- greinke, marcum already will miss time. rotation depth, lineup depth, bullpen, defense all concerns.
5. astros- starting pitching will help them compete. overall talent thin this year. youth movement under way with brett wallace and j.a. happ replacing berkman and oswalt.
6. pirates- the hiring of clint hurdle will be good. intriguing young position players, starting pitching, terrible.

NL EAST
1. braves- that's right not the phillies. this team has a better everyday players, youth and a stronger bullpen.
2. phillies- rotation should carry them into the postseason but age and injuries have already hit the everyday players and bullpen plus they may not see chase utley all year.
3. marlins- plenty of upside, could surprise but won't beat out either braves or phillies.
4. nationals- weak rotation but beginning to turn it around. next year with strasberg back and werth and zimmerman hitting could reach .500.
5. mets- santana hurt and among off the field stuff with their owners it probably will be a long season in queens. where's the new york giants when you need them?

NL
MVP- albert pujols, cardinals- will have a monster year with free agency looming for the first time
ROOKIE- craig kimbrel, braves- will be saves leader on division champ
CY YOUNG- cole hamels, phillies- the forgotten fourth guy in a great rotation rises to the challenge.
MANAGER- jim tracey, rockies

WILD CARDS: YANKEES, PHILLIES
ALCS: RED SOX OVER YANKEES
NLCS: BRAVES OVER GIANTS
WORLD SERIES: RED SOX OVER BRAVES

2011 san francisco giants preview

(via seamheads.com)

San Francisco Giants
(2010 record: 92-70)

Notable additions:
SS Miguel Tejada

Notable subtractions:
SS Edgar Renteria, INF Juan Uribe

The offense:
Catcher: Buster Posey

Infield: Aubrey Huff (1B), Freddie Sanchez (2B), Miguel Tejada (SS) and Pablo Sandoval (3B)

Outfield: Mark DeRosa (LF), Andres Torres (CF), Cody Ross (RF)

This is not a lineup that is going to score an over-abundance of runs. The good thing for the Giants and their fans is that it won’t have to, thanks to a pitching staff that posted the best ERA in the NL last year (3.36) and is likely to compete for the designation as the league’s top staff again this season. That said, it is an offense that should be similar to, or slightly better than, the 2010 edition – which was 9th in the league in runs scored with 697 (just under the league average of 701 runs scored).

The organization signed Miguel Tejada to play shortstop this season in place of the now-departed Juan Uribe. The team will come up a little short on that exchange as Uribe hit 24 HR and drove in 85 runs whereas Tejada hit 15 HR and had 71 ribbies. But the loss will be more than offset by having catcher Buster Posey for a full season (the reigning NL Rookie of the Year hit .305, with 18 HR and 67 RBI in just 406 at-bats last year).

The team appears set to overhaul its outfield. According to reports, it will turn to LF Mark DeRosa (.194/1/10 in an injury-shortened season), CF Andres Torres (.268/16/63) and RF Cody Ross (.269/14/65) to take over for last year’s triad of Pat Burrell (.266/18/51), Aaron Rowand (.230/11/34) and Nate Shierholtz (.242/3/17). The net impact of these changes will be beneficial, especially if DeRosa can stay healthy.

1B Aubrey Huff (.290/26/86) returns to anchor the Giants offense. Aside from a full season from Posey, he would be most helped by a return to form by 3B Pablo Sandoval, who hit just .268, with 13 HR and 63 RBI in 2010.

The pitching staff:

Starting Rotation:
Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito

Bullpen:
Closer Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez, Ramon Ramirez and Sergio Romo

Pitching and defense win championships, and the Giants seem to have the pitching portion of the equation covered. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are as good as any 1-2 punch in the game of baseball, so the key to the upcoming season will be whether Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner prove to be consistent performers in the rotation. If they struggle, or take a small step backward, they could be in a catfight for the division.

Sanchez has taken a huge step forward in the last two years, finally living up to the potential most scouts assigned to him several years ago. Of particular concern is Bumgarner, who saw his workload increase by 73 IP last season – the kind of increase from year-to-year (for any pitcher under 25 years of age) is problematic and can be a harbinger of exhaustion or injury in the following season.

Of the pitchers in the bullpen listed herein, only Affeldt had what could be considered a sub-par year in 2010. While some of these guys are unlikely to repeat their success of last year, they should be good enough to keep the Giants in position to claim their 2nd consecutive division title.

2011 colorado rockies and milwaukee brewers preview

continuing the 2011 previews of all 30 teams. additions and subtractions of key players in the off season and their projected starting lineups and rotation candidates.


COLORADO ROCKIES
2010 RECORD (83-79)

ADD:
relief pitcher- matt lindstrom
infielder- jose lopez
catcher- jose morales
infielder / outfielder- ty wiggington

SUB:
second base- clint barmes
relief pitcher- octavio dotel
starting pitcher- jeff francis
third base- melvin mora
catcher- miguel oliva

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP:
center field- dexter fowler
first base- todd helton
left field- carlos gonzelez
short stop- troy tulowitski
right field- seth smith
second base- jose lopez
third base- ian stewart
catcher- chris iannetta

ROTATION CANDIDATES:
ubaldo jimenez
jorge de la rosa
aaron cook
jhoulys chacin
jason hammel

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
2010 RECORD (77-85)

ADD:
starting pitcher- zack greinke
starting pitcher- shaun marcum
short stop- yuniesky betancourt
relief pitcher- takashi saito

SUB:
short stop- alcides escobar
relief pitcher- trevor hoffman
relief pitcher- jeremy jeffress
second base- brett lawrie

PROJECTED LINEUP:
second base- rickie weeks
right field- corey hart
left field- ryan braun
first base- prince fielder
third base- casey mcgehee
short stop- yuniesky betancourt
catcher- jonathan lucroy
center field- carlos gomez

ROTATION CANDIDATES:
shaun marcum
zack greinke
randy wolf
manny parra
chris capuano
chris narveson
yovani gallardo