This will be the only time that I do this check in type post on how I am doing with my resolutions this year. I don't know if it's true or not, but I would think that the first month or two are the hardest for resolutions or changes in your lifestyle. Once you get into the routine, it becomes part of your life (hence the word routine) and it is just something that you do. The first few months are hard because you are adjusting to something new or different. This is why I've never set a goal of working out for an entire year as a resolution. That first month is hard. It would be especially hard this year because it has been so cold here in Minnesota that you don't want to go out once you are home from work. Or if you have the day off, you don't want to leave the house. Writing more, drinking less, saving more are all things I can do inside.
One thing that is going well is the writing. With this post, I am right on track to finish with one hundred and twenty posts for the year. Next month will be interesting because it is the shortest month of the year. I am using up all the days this month to get to my tenth post. It's hard to sit down and think up posts each day. Not only to think them up, but to write them all at once. What I have been doing, and I got this idea from a friend who has been writing for a long time, is to just start the post. Write down a sentence or paragraph and then go back to it when you have time. I've started to do this and have four drafts that I can finish up when I have time. The one thing I have been doing is writing when the television is off. Getting rid of distractions has been working great, although I do get distracted by Twitter from time to time. Just listening to music or podcasts is all I do when I write. Another thing I have been doing is writing when I am home by myself. I get self conscience when my wife is watching me write. I don't know why, it just is.
The drinking less and saving more has been going....okay. Our bank account has been growing with my wife's new job, so that is great. After looking for a job for four years and watching our savings slowly shrinking because of only having one income, it's nice to see deposits more than twice a month. But more than getting a second income, we have not changed our spending habits. It's one thing to have a second income, but it's another thing to not go crazy with that money. We cut back a lot once my wife was laid off, but we need to stay focused on our goal: saving money. One thing to help with the saving money is not drinking as much because alcohol can get hella expensive real quick. One bad thing is that my store has a small wine and beer store attached to it. I don't drink wine, but the beer is there. And it's all craft beer, you can't get Busch Light or Labatt's there. Which is cool because you can try new stuff. They do the 'build your own six pack' which, if you look at it, is a bit of a rip off. Unless, UNLESS (!), they do a promotion like save thirty percent on 'build your own six pack'. Plus I get a discount. So I'm saving quite a bit on it, but I'm still spending money. I have built three six packs with this double discount and I feel great about it. Plus it's special beer that I have never tried so I don't rush home and drink it all within a week. I space it out. Put two in the fridge at a time.
The good thing with this is that I haven't stepped foot in a liquor store since the new year. I know, I know, it's one month in so it isn't the greatest accomplishment. But it's something, isn't it? Using that discount, let's say I spend seven or eight dollars after tax. That's ten dollars less for a case of beer. On the other hand, you are getting less. But the quality of the beer in the six pack is much higher. So it's quality versus quantity. There are going to be times, most likely in the summer at the height of baseball season, when I am going to go out and buy a case of beer because they go so well together. When I watch baseball and drink beer, I don't want to drink a pale ale, I want to drink a Busch Light or a Hamm's. That's what I do. That's one thing I have always linked together. Baseball and cheap beer. And once I do that, I won't be buying those craft beer six packs.
All in all, I have been doing okay with these resolutions. I can definitely watch my spending on the beer. I can write more too. Instead of watching a sports game involving teams that I do not care about, I could be exercising my brain with the writing. But who wants to do that? I want to watch television after a long day at work. I don't always want to sit down and think about stuff.
10/120
31 January 2014
29 January 2014
Are the Twins Still a Joke?
After finishing my post on the Kansas City Royals, I thought that writing a little bit about the rest of the American League Central would be a fun idea. Like most fans of the game, I am getting needy for baseball. Most people look at the AL Central as a bit of a joke because there is not much competition. It's a fair assessment. Three of the five teams are rebuilding. The other two are going to fight for the division while the rest slowly creep up on them. But they won't creep up on me. I'm always watching out for teams with great farm systems. Great farm systems means that they have great players that will one day be ready.
Let's talk about the Minnesota Twins. As of late, they have been sitting at the bottom of the AL Central. And after game 163 (Tigers fans understand), they belong there. All anger aside, I enjoy the way the Twins have played the game for the past couple of years. Relying more on running and contact hitting as opposed to trying to get all the runs with monster swings. I like the way the organization is run. Producing and developing their talent from within. Being a small market team, much like the Kansas City Royals, they have to develop their players as opposed to going out and signing the big name free agents. They pick up a few players here and there, but it isn't anything that turns heads. The problem is that once the talent is developed, there is a small window of opportunity with these players. Once they are able to hit the free agent market, they go for the money. Not for love of the game. A statement about the sporting world if there ever was one.
One of the smartest things that the Twins did this offseason is move Joe Mauer to first base. The man is your franchise player and has been absolutely destroyed the past two years behind the plate. With concussion problems and knees issues, this was the smartest thing they have done since letting Jack Morris pitch in the tenth inning in '91. His career is going to be extended quite a few years because of it. Last year, Justin Morneau and the Twins parted ways. It was that move that let everyone know that they were ready to start rebuilding. Morneau, much like Mauer, was a mainstay in the Twins lineup.
Big questions surround their pitching rotation. The rotation is pieced together right now until their pitching prospects are ready to go in a couple of years. But they need to hurry because watching the current rotation is painful, even for a casual fan. Their two key offseason signings were Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes. Not major signings, but veteran guys that can help some of the younger pitchers (although Hughes is coming off a horrible season, so they may not look to him for advice). Not the best signings, but it gives the prospects at least another year.
So, are the Twins any kind of threat? Not this year. Or the next. Or the one after that. Despite the fact that they have one of the better farm systems in the league, that doesn't always equal MLB ready. Their top two prospects (Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano) are close to being ready, but still a few years away in my opinion. The Twins might not want to rush their prospects after what happened to Aaron Hicks last year. This is one of those teams that five to seven years down the road, if everything pans out for them, that can contend again. At least within the division.
9/120
Let's talk about the Minnesota Twins. As of late, they have been sitting at the bottom of the AL Central. And after game 163 (Tigers fans understand), they belong there. All anger aside, I enjoy the way the Twins have played the game for the past couple of years. Relying more on running and contact hitting as opposed to trying to get all the runs with monster swings. I like the way the organization is run. Producing and developing their talent from within. Being a small market team, much like the Kansas City Royals, they have to develop their players as opposed to going out and signing the big name free agents. They pick up a few players here and there, but it isn't anything that turns heads. The problem is that once the talent is developed, there is a small window of opportunity with these players. Once they are able to hit the free agent market, they go for the money. Not for love of the game. A statement about the sporting world if there ever was one.
One of the smartest things that the Twins did this offseason is move Joe Mauer to first base. The man is your franchise player and has been absolutely destroyed the past two years behind the plate. With concussion problems and knees issues, this was the smartest thing they have done since letting Jack Morris pitch in the tenth inning in '91. His career is going to be extended quite a few years because of it. Last year, Justin Morneau and the Twins parted ways. It was that move that let everyone know that they were ready to start rebuilding. Morneau, much like Mauer, was a mainstay in the Twins lineup.
Big questions surround their pitching rotation. The rotation is pieced together right now until their pitching prospects are ready to go in a couple of years. But they need to hurry because watching the current rotation is painful, even for a casual fan. Their two key offseason signings were Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes. Not major signings, but veteran guys that can help some of the younger pitchers (although Hughes is coming off a horrible season, so they may not look to him for advice). Not the best signings, but it gives the prospects at least another year.
So, are the Twins any kind of threat? Not this year. Or the next. Or the one after that. Despite the fact that they have one of the better farm systems in the league, that doesn't always equal MLB ready. Their top two prospects (Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano) are close to being ready, but still a few years away in my opinion. The Twins might not want to rush their prospects after what happened to Aaron Hicks last year. This is one of those teams that five to seven years down the road, if everything pans out for them, that can contend again. At least within the division.
9/120
24 January 2014
How Best to Beat the Bookstores
I found a gift card for a chain bookstore in my wallet the other day. It had been there for such a long time I forgot who gave it to me or when they did. I thought there was close to nothing on it because it had been there for such a long time. I went to the website to check the balance and there was enough to cover the price (or at least most of it) of a new book! I was so excited. I don't go to the bookstores much because the prices for the books is crazy. Especially because there are several options that are not big chain bookstores.
One option is used bookstores. Used bookstores are usually local and independent so it's great for them and the local economy. Look at it as giving back without getting tons of those address stickers in the mail from some random organization you donated to once back in college. There are some drawbacks. The books are not always in the best of condition. The selection isn't always the best either. But it's cheap! Plus, you may stumble across a book or an author you have never heard of before and thought 'what the hell, it's only three dollars.' That is the glory of used bookstores. I'm reading 'Main Street' by Sinclair Lewis right now. I had never heard of it and found it in a used bookstore. Come to find out, it's considered a classic book. And he was from Minnesota, so yeah.
Another option is the library. What?! What is this strange thing that I have forgotten about? Go old school and go get a library card. Someone like me, a slow reader, this might not be the best option. It would depend on how long you are able to check out a book. I think most libraries are one to two weeks. I have a hard time reading a book in a month or two months. So I don't know how I would be able to read a book in half the time. But at the same time, it would force someone to read more or at a quicker rate. I remember being a kid and going to the library a lot during the summer. It was great. I had my own library card. I took total advantage of the library to get pizza from Pizza Hut via the Book It program. It was wonderful. The one disadvantage is not owning the book. If you find a random book and fall in love with it, you do have to return it. Or never ever go back to the library again. The choice is yours.
The last option is a great website we found several years ago. So here are the advantages: it's cheap to mail the books (about $2.50 [more for hardcover] using media mail), you get as much as you give, every single book you could ever want is available, and popular books are in high circulation. Here are some disadvantages: if it's not a popular book, you'll be waiting for a long ass time, you don't know the true condition of the book, you have to wait for the book to arrive. We have not had many problems sending or receiving books through this website. There are options you can use so you don't end up with books that were once in a smoker's house or that have been sitting in an attic or basement and are all musty too. So that's nice. The major problem I have found is requesting books that are not in high demand. I have been waiting for three books to come up and I have been waiting for them for quite a while. Part of me just really wants to go out and buy them. But I'm waiting. Ever so patiently. You essentially wait your turn for the book to be posted and you claim that you want it and then it is sent to you. It's a great and cheap way to keep refreshing your personal library. You can keep the books you truly wanted and send off the ones that you wanted to read and be done with. A great program.
These are all great ways to keep your library fresh and updated. And all these options are within reach of everyone. These options are also great for those who are living on a budget but still want to continue to read. Why spend twenty dollars on a new book at a chain bookstore when you can buy the same book at a much cheaper price? Now don't get me wrong, every once in a while I want a new book. Brand new. Without any creases or bends in the pages. New is fun sometimes. The only downside to that is that it doesn't have that used book smell. You all know what I mean.
8/120
One option is used bookstores. Used bookstores are usually local and independent so it's great for them and the local economy. Look at it as giving back without getting tons of those address stickers in the mail from some random organization you donated to once back in college. There are some drawbacks. The books are not always in the best of condition. The selection isn't always the best either. But it's cheap! Plus, you may stumble across a book or an author you have never heard of before and thought 'what the hell, it's only three dollars.' That is the glory of used bookstores. I'm reading 'Main Street' by Sinclair Lewis right now. I had never heard of it and found it in a used bookstore. Come to find out, it's considered a classic book. And he was from Minnesota, so yeah.
Another option is the library. What?! What is this strange thing that I have forgotten about? Go old school and go get a library card. Someone like me, a slow reader, this might not be the best option. It would depend on how long you are able to check out a book. I think most libraries are one to two weeks. I have a hard time reading a book in a month or two months. So I don't know how I would be able to read a book in half the time. But at the same time, it would force someone to read more or at a quicker rate. I remember being a kid and going to the library a lot during the summer. It was great. I had my own library card. I took total advantage of the library to get pizza from Pizza Hut via the Book It program. It was wonderful. The one disadvantage is not owning the book. If you find a random book and fall in love with it, you do have to return it. Or never ever go back to the library again. The choice is yours.
The last option is a great website we found several years ago. So here are the advantages: it's cheap to mail the books (about $2.50 [more for hardcover] using media mail), you get as much as you give, every single book you could ever want is available, and popular books are in high circulation. Here are some disadvantages: if it's not a popular book, you'll be waiting for a long ass time, you don't know the true condition of the book, you have to wait for the book to arrive. We have not had many problems sending or receiving books through this website. There are options you can use so you don't end up with books that were once in a smoker's house or that have been sitting in an attic or basement and are all musty too. So that's nice. The major problem I have found is requesting books that are not in high demand. I have been waiting for three books to come up and I have been waiting for them for quite a while. Part of me just really wants to go out and buy them. But I'm waiting. Ever so patiently. You essentially wait your turn for the book to be posted and you claim that you want it and then it is sent to you. It's a great and cheap way to keep refreshing your personal library. You can keep the books you truly wanted and send off the ones that you wanted to read and be done with. A great program.
These are all great ways to keep your library fresh and updated. And all these options are within reach of everyone. These options are also great for those who are living on a budget but still want to continue to read. Why spend twenty dollars on a new book at a chain bookstore when you can buy the same book at a much cheaper price? Now don't get me wrong, every once in a while I want a new book. Brand new. Without any creases or bends in the pages. New is fun sometimes. The only downside to that is that it doesn't have that used book smell. You all know what I mean.
8/120
23 January 2014
On Why Kansas City Scares Me
I am stringing together quite a few posts on baseball right now. Mainly because the season is getting closer. So close you can almost smell the fresh cut grass...once you get all the snow off the baseball field. So close you can hear the crack of the bat just as well as you can hear the ice scrapers on the windshields of all the cars. So close you can hear the beer and hot dog vendors just as well as you can hear all the cars running for ten minutes before leaving. Okay. So we aren't very close to Opening Day. But we can all dream.
Since the mid-90s, the Kansas City Royals have not been a good team. One or two seasons aside, they have floundered for close to two decades. One side note: they have won a World Series more recently than the Detroit Tigers, so good for them (sad panda moment for Tigers fans). Being a smaller market team, they are not ever really in the picture when it comes to big name free agents because they don't have the money to lure these players to America's heartland.
They have the bats to keep them in games. One of the benefits of being so bad for so long is you get early draft picks. Draft picks do not always pan out, but when they do, and when the players have time to develop, look out. The Royals have a corp group of young players that, if they can keep them all together, could be tearing up the American League for the better part of the next decade. They have the corner infielders in Hosmer and Moustakas that can anchor them for a long time. Up the middle they have solid defenders. Their outfield is young and full of speed. And the designated hitter is a true pure hitter. They are young and full of potential. And as a fan of a divisional rival, this scares me.
They have some pitching, but their starting rotation is not near the top of the league. Two veterans and three youngsters make up their starting rotation. As an organization, they seemed to have spent a lot of time developing their offense. Their bullpen on the other hand, puts shit on lockdown. Everyone raves about Atlanta and Boston, but Kansas City flies under the radar when it comes to the seventh inning onward. While not a pitching staff that will wow everyone, it is serviceable. And serviceability can get the job done.
Their roster is ready to go for the next few years, so why are more people afraid of this team? It has to do with money. All these former high draft picks are high draft picks for a reason. They have talent. And talent doesn't stay in Kansas City these days. They want to get paid. Once their contracts run out, unless they fall in love with the city of Kansas City, they are most likely going to be leaving. So the Royals spend all this time and effort developing these players and before they can get into their prime, they are gone.
I don't know how the season will shake out in the AL Central. I would like to think that the Tigers will sit on top once again this year, but Kansas City is slowly closing the gap on them. And if the Tigers want to stay on top, they need to keep developing their talent. And draft for the future, which is coming quickly.
7/120
Since the mid-90s, the Kansas City Royals have not been a good team. One or two seasons aside, they have floundered for close to two decades. One side note: they have won a World Series more recently than the Detroit Tigers, so good for them (sad panda moment for Tigers fans). Being a smaller market team, they are not ever really in the picture when it comes to big name free agents because they don't have the money to lure these players to America's heartland.
They have the bats to keep them in games. One of the benefits of being so bad for so long is you get early draft picks. Draft picks do not always pan out, but when they do, and when the players have time to develop, look out. The Royals have a corp group of young players that, if they can keep them all together, could be tearing up the American League for the better part of the next decade. They have the corner infielders in Hosmer and Moustakas that can anchor them for a long time. Up the middle they have solid defenders. Their outfield is young and full of speed. And the designated hitter is a true pure hitter. They are young and full of potential. And as a fan of a divisional rival, this scares me.
They have some pitching, but their starting rotation is not near the top of the league. Two veterans and three youngsters make up their starting rotation. As an organization, they seemed to have spent a lot of time developing their offense. Their bullpen on the other hand, puts shit on lockdown. Everyone raves about Atlanta and Boston, but Kansas City flies under the radar when it comes to the seventh inning onward. While not a pitching staff that will wow everyone, it is serviceable. And serviceability can get the job done.
Their roster is ready to go for the next few years, so why are more people afraid of this team? It has to do with money. All these former high draft picks are high draft picks for a reason. They have talent. And talent doesn't stay in Kansas City these days. They want to get paid. Once their contracts run out, unless they fall in love with the city of Kansas City, they are most likely going to be leaving. So the Royals spend all this time and effort developing these players and before they can get into their prime, they are gone.
I don't know how the season will shake out in the AL Central. I would like to think that the Tigers will sit on top once again this year, but Kansas City is slowly closing the gap on them. And if the Tigers want to stay on top, they need to keep developing their talent. And draft for the future, which is coming quickly.
7/120
22 January 2014
More on Contracts
I've been thinking on what I wrote about previously on getting rid of multi-year contracts. I know there would be no chance in hell that this idea would work. I don't always live in the world of possibility, but I enjoy thinking about alternatives to what we have. Nothing makes me cringe more than see these decade long contracts because everyone knows a player (more often than not) is not going to be staying around for the full length of the contract.
So why wouldn't it work? Monetary security for one. Players probably don't want to go season to season not knowing where they will be playing the next year or how much they will be making. You always hear players playing at a higher level because of a 'contract year', so why wouldn't they play for their contracts? Makes sense to me. It could raise the level of play each and every year. But these multi-year contracts guarantee they'll be getting paid what they think they are owed. Who wants to go year to year and possibly make less money because of a bad year? Not any player I can think of. No one person I can think of either. Who wants to make less money because you had a bad year at your job?
Who would want to pick up and move year to year? One thing that makes me feel bad for professional athletes is the amount of time they spend traveling. Especially the players that have families. Every year, you see a handful of players miss one or two games because their wife/girlfriend gave birth. The player gets there, sees the baby, and then is off again. That would drive me nuts. If I were in that situation, I would think having at least one week off to spend with your family would be a must. Imagine being a kid and moving to different states once every two or three years? But then again, it's no different than a military family is it? But still, if given the option from moving every two years to maybe once every six or seven years? I'm sure I would take the latter.
From the aspect of a person who can't stand the amount of money athletes get paid, moving away from these multi-year contracts would make me really happy. Why? I'm not sure. I think that it's the fact that they get so much money for what they love to do. I love my job, why don't I get hundreds of millions of dollars? Because I can't hit a nasty twelve to six curve? Most likely. It's jealousy. I want athletes to know what it feels like living paycheck to paycheck. From the aspect of a person who understands that athletes are actually people, I feel bad about the fact that they are away from their families for such a long period of time.
Another solution? Just pay everyone the same when they come into the league and raise their salary across the board once they reach career markers. A raise at three years, five years, seven years, etc. Imagine that. Every player gets paid the same. And the focus would be on trading and developing the farm system. Interesting...
6/120
So why wouldn't it work? Monetary security for one. Players probably don't want to go season to season not knowing where they will be playing the next year or how much they will be making. You always hear players playing at a higher level because of a 'contract year', so why wouldn't they play for their contracts? Makes sense to me. It could raise the level of play each and every year. But these multi-year contracts guarantee they'll be getting paid what they think they are owed. Who wants to go year to year and possibly make less money because of a bad year? Not any player I can think of. No one person I can think of either. Who wants to make less money because you had a bad year at your job?
Who would want to pick up and move year to year? One thing that makes me feel bad for professional athletes is the amount of time they spend traveling. Especially the players that have families. Every year, you see a handful of players miss one or two games because their wife/girlfriend gave birth. The player gets there, sees the baby, and then is off again. That would drive me nuts. If I were in that situation, I would think having at least one week off to spend with your family would be a must. Imagine being a kid and moving to different states once every two or three years? But then again, it's no different than a military family is it? But still, if given the option from moving every two years to maybe once every six or seven years? I'm sure I would take the latter.
From the aspect of a person who can't stand the amount of money athletes get paid, moving away from these multi-year contracts would make me really happy. Why? I'm not sure. I think that it's the fact that they get so much money for what they love to do. I love my job, why don't I get hundreds of millions of dollars? Because I can't hit a nasty twelve to six curve? Most likely. It's jealousy. I want athletes to know what it feels like living paycheck to paycheck. From the aspect of a person who understands that athletes are actually people, I feel bad about the fact that they are away from their families for such a long period of time.
Another solution? Just pay everyone the same when they come into the league and raise their salary across the board once they reach career markers. A raise at three years, five years, seven years, etc. Imagine that. Every player gets paid the same. And the focus would be on trading and developing the farm system. Interesting...
6/120
18 January 2014
A Solution to Contracts
Big contracts are all the rage when it comes to sports. Whether it is baseball, hockey, football, or basketball, you see athletes signing seven and eight year contracts for hundreds of millions of dollars. Even soccer players in Europe sign multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts. The most recent of these contracts is Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angels Dodgers who signed a seven year, two hundred fifteen million dollar contract. That's a lot of bank. And he's worth it. He is one of the top pitchers in the game right now. Big name players get big time contracts. That's just how it works. On the same day, Max Scherzer of the Tigers signed a one year, fifteen million dollar contract. Most believe that Scherzer is going to test the free market once the year long contract is up. And he'll be looking for just about the same, if not more, amount of money and length of contract. This got me thinking about something. What if sports moved away from the longtime contracts and went with just one year contracts for everyone? Of course, there are pros and cons to this idea.
The first problem is contracts themselves. Especially the contracts that are in the seven year plus range. Unless the players are getting signed to these monster contracts in their first couple of years, as the years go on, the player gets older and production typically goes south. Most of the money is in the beginning or middle of the contract and tapers off near the end, so that makes sense. But there are those contracts that are seen as absolutely horrible. A player comes off a monster two years and signs a ten year contract and then is bitten by the injury bug for the next five years. It's considered a bust move and the team is stuck with the player and the contract because no one wants a broken down player or the money he is owed. That doesn't always happen, but when it does, it is scrutinized by everyone. A few names that come to mind with contracts that don't seem to be worth it are Carl Crawford (Red Sox), Veron Wells (Blue Jays/Angels), Andruw Jones (Dodgers), and Albert Pujols (Angels).
Each year, teams go to arbitration with players on the roster that have been playing for six full years in the MLB. There are more details to it than that, but that is the basic idea behind it. Basic idea: player comes to the bargaining table with what they think they should be paid (say five million dollars) and the organization comes to the table with what they think the player should be paid (say three million dollars). They then negotiate with each other. Sometimes they reach an agreement (say four million dollars) and everyone is happy. Other times they don't reach an agreement and have to go before a panel of three arbitrators. Again, there is more to it than that, but that's the basic idea. You see players come out with long contracts and players come out with one or two year contracts. It all depends. Players and organizations usually reach an agreement. They look at how well the player played over the last few years and base their offer on that. Of course the player wants to up-sell themselves and usually send a number that is worth more. They gots ta get paid. As long as everyone thinks the offers are fair, then they sign it and go about their business.
So why can't organizations do this every year for every player? Start with your stars or upcoming players that you definitely want to keep on your team and go from there. You have the salary cap so you know where you need to spend the money. Plus, it keeps the organization away from those long contracts. Players who have monster years can benefit from it, but not so much that four years later, the organization is trying to move the player to free up salary cap space. It would make the off season that much more interesting. Can you imagine each winter wondering how your favorite team will keep their roster together? Or, if there is a big name player that wouldn't be resigning with their team, could you imagine the frenzy to sign him? So how would this work? The way I see it: the organization has until February 1st to sign the players that they want on their team. Let's say there are four players that underwhelmed the previous year, the organization gives them the option to either take a demotion to AAA or become a free agent. If you have a prospect that is ready to play, you can sign him to a contract. After February 1st, all free agents can start talking to any team that they want.
Big name players are still going to get a ton of money because of who they are and how good they are. But the lesser known players could also get what is due to them based on their ability. It may not be with your favorite team, but another team might see their ability and give them a chance. It gives a team a chance to retool each year if they want. Plus, they could sit down with the team and discuss how they are going to go about signing their players. And, how awesome would it be for players to stand up and say 'I'll take less money this year if it'll help sign another guy.' Hey, I can dream can't I?
5/120
The first problem is contracts themselves. Especially the contracts that are in the seven year plus range. Unless the players are getting signed to these monster contracts in their first couple of years, as the years go on, the player gets older and production typically goes south. Most of the money is in the beginning or middle of the contract and tapers off near the end, so that makes sense. But there are those contracts that are seen as absolutely horrible. A player comes off a monster two years and signs a ten year contract and then is bitten by the injury bug for the next five years. It's considered a bust move and the team is stuck with the player and the contract because no one wants a broken down player or the money he is owed. That doesn't always happen, but when it does, it is scrutinized by everyone. A few names that come to mind with contracts that don't seem to be worth it are Carl Crawford (Red Sox), Veron Wells (Blue Jays/Angels), Andruw Jones (Dodgers), and Albert Pujols (Angels).
Each year, teams go to arbitration with players on the roster that have been playing for six full years in the MLB. There are more details to it than that, but that is the basic idea behind it. Basic idea: player comes to the bargaining table with what they think they should be paid (say five million dollars) and the organization comes to the table with what they think the player should be paid (say three million dollars). They then negotiate with each other. Sometimes they reach an agreement (say four million dollars) and everyone is happy. Other times they don't reach an agreement and have to go before a panel of three arbitrators. Again, there is more to it than that, but that's the basic idea. You see players come out with long contracts and players come out with one or two year contracts. It all depends. Players and organizations usually reach an agreement. They look at how well the player played over the last few years and base their offer on that. Of course the player wants to up-sell themselves and usually send a number that is worth more. They gots ta get paid. As long as everyone thinks the offers are fair, then they sign it and go about their business.
So why can't organizations do this every year for every player? Start with your stars or upcoming players that you definitely want to keep on your team and go from there. You have the salary cap so you know where you need to spend the money. Plus, it keeps the organization away from those long contracts. Players who have monster years can benefit from it, but not so much that four years later, the organization is trying to move the player to free up salary cap space. It would make the off season that much more interesting. Can you imagine each winter wondering how your favorite team will keep their roster together? Or, if there is a big name player that wouldn't be resigning with their team, could you imagine the frenzy to sign him? So how would this work? The way I see it: the organization has until February 1st to sign the players that they want on their team. Let's say there are four players that underwhelmed the previous year, the organization gives them the option to either take a demotion to AAA or become a free agent. If you have a prospect that is ready to play, you can sign him to a contract. After February 1st, all free agents can start talking to any team that they want.
Big name players are still going to get a ton of money because of who they are and how good they are. But the lesser known players could also get what is due to them based on their ability. It may not be with your favorite team, but another team might see their ability and give them a chance. It gives a team a chance to retool each year if they want. Plus, they could sit down with the team and discuss how they are going to go about signing their players. And, how awesome would it be for players to stand up and say 'I'll take less money this year if it'll help sign another guy.' Hey, I can dream can't I?
5/120
12 January 2014
Some Favorite Albums I Have
Each year, I go through and listen to each song that my wife and I collectively own. It's just something fun to do. It usually takes me a couple of months to get through them all. I am taking full advantage of the commute I have to and from work to get through all the music. Listening to everything over again reminds me of albums I may have forgotten how great they are.
This type of post is nothing new. In fact, I'm sure I have written a post like this in previous years. And I could go back into the archives and check, but you know.....laziness. Anyway, I was driving home from work last night and a song came up on my phone and I thought to myself, 'I'm happy I found that band because this whole damn album is so good.' It was a country song, which is strange for me because while I listened to country a lot when I was younger I don't so much anymore. So here's a list of some of favorite albums I have and what I think are the best tracks in case you are interested in something you might not have or were curious about.
The DeWayn Brothers: 'Farmer'. DeWayn Brothers hail from Kansas and were introduced to me while working at Cowtown by a co-worker. Again, while not a big country fan anymore, I gave them a listen and watched a performance at a local bar. It was great. From beginning to end 'Farmer' is a solid album that I have no regrets purchasing. I really enjoy the fact that they have essentially co-lead vocals on most of their songs. Harmonizing male and female voices make the song sound more complete. Best tracks you might not know: Wantcha Gone, Storm
Johnny Cash: 'Live at Folsom Prison'. Another country album, but it's Johnny Cash! Everyone loves Johnny Cash. I have never heard anyone connect with the people at a live performance the way he does on this album. And you probably never will again. Whether you found him because of 'Walk the Line' or because he was introduced to you by someone or you found him on your own, there is at least one song he has made that everyone likes. Best tracks you might not know: I Got Stripes, Green Green Grass of Home, Cocaine Blues
Fugees: 'The Score'. I was never really one for rap or hip hop. Over the past five or six years, I have found songs here and there that I have enjoyed. A couple of years ago, I kept seeing this album come up on 'best of' lists over and over again. And I had heard the few songs that were released, but then I took a listen to the rest of the album. HOLY SHIT! It is so good. Well written songs, three individual voices and ideas crammed into fluid thoughts, and an amazing cover at the end of the album. I am so happy that I was open to listening to them or else I wouldn't have ever given them a chance. Which brings me to a point: don't be closed minded about music just because it is something you haven't listened to before. You might find something you like. Best tracks you don't know : No Woman, No Cry, How Many Mics, The Beast
The Killers: 'Hot Fuss' and The White Stripes: 'Elephant'. Nothing restored my faith in musicians than these two albums. I bought them on CD (an archaic format these days) back in 2004. I was looking for some new music to listen to. I went into a music store and immediately grabbed 'Elephant' and then just started searching for something else to buy. The random employee that appeared to actually be enjoying their job suggested 'Hot Fuss'. I am forever grateful for your suggestion obviously high music store employee. Best tracks you might not know (Hot Fuss): Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, Believe Me Natalie. (Elephant): There's No Home For You Here, You've Got Her in Your Pocket, Hypnotize
Led Zeppelin: 'Physical Graffiti'. Is that the one with 'Stairway to Heaven'? No. Shut up. This double album is just fun to listen to. It doesn't have a ton of their hits, but covers a few music genres that they were constantly using. While not their best album, it's a great listen if you enjoy hearing how diversely one band can be within one album. Are you sure 'Stairway to Heaven' isn't on this album? I will stab you. Best tracks you might not know: In My Time of Dying, Down By the Seaside, Night Flight, The Rover
4/120
This type of post is nothing new. In fact, I'm sure I have written a post like this in previous years. And I could go back into the archives and check, but you know.....laziness. Anyway, I was driving home from work last night and a song came up on my phone and I thought to myself, 'I'm happy I found that band because this whole damn album is so good.' It was a country song, which is strange for me because while I listened to country a lot when I was younger I don't so much anymore. So here's a list of some of favorite albums I have and what I think are the best tracks in case you are interested in something you might not have or were curious about.
The DeWayn Brothers: 'Farmer'. DeWayn Brothers hail from Kansas and were introduced to me while working at Cowtown by a co-worker. Again, while not a big country fan anymore, I gave them a listen and watched a performance at a local bar. It was great. From beginning to end 'Farmer' is a solid album that I have no regrets purchasing. I really enjoy the fact that they have essentially co-lead vocals on most of their songs. Harmonizing male and female voices make the song sound more complete. Best tracks you might not know: Wantcha Gone, Storm
Johnny Cash: 'Live at Folsom Prison'. Another country album, but it's Johnny Cash! Everyone loves Johnny Cash. I have never heard anyone connect with the people at a live performance the way he does on this album. And you probably never will again. Whether you found him because of 'Walk the Line' or because he was introduced to you by someone or you found him on your own, there is at least one song he has made that everyone likes. Best tracks you might not know: I Got Stripes, Green Green Grass of Home, Cocaine Blues
Fugees: 'The Score'. I was never really one for rap or hip hop. Over the past five or six years, I have found songs here and there that I have enjoyed. A couple of years ago, I kept seeing this album come up on 'best of' lists over and over again. And I had heard the few songs that were released, but then I took a listen to the rest of the album. HOLY SHIT! It is so good. Well written songs, three individual voices and ideas crammed into fluid thoughts, and an amazing cover at the end of the album. I am so happy that I was open to listening to them or else I wouldn't have ever given them a chance. Which brings me to a point: don't be closed minded about music just because it is something you haven't listened to before. You might find something you like. Best tracks you don't know : No Woman, No Cry, How Many Mics, The Beast
The Killers: 'Hot Fuss' and The White Stripes: 'Elephant'. Nothing restored my faith in musicians than these two albums. I bought them on CD (an archaic format these days) back in 2004. I was looking for some new music to listen to. I went into a music store and immediately grabbed 'Elephant' and then just started searching for something else to buy. The random employee that appeared to actually be enjoying their job suggested 'Hot Fuss'. I am forever grateful for your suggestion obviously high music store employee. Best tracks you might not know (Hot Fuss): Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, Believe Me Natalie. (Elephant): There's No Home For You Here, You've Got Her in Your Pocket, Hypnotize
Led Zeppelin: 'Physical Graffiti'. Is that the one with 'Stairway to Heaven'? No. Shut up. This double album is just fun to listen to. It doesn't have a ton of their hits, but covers a few music genres that they were constantly using. While not their best album, it's a great listen if you enjoy hearing how diversely one band can be within one album. Are you sure 'Stairway to Heaven' isn't on this album? I will stab you. Best tracks you might not know: In My Time of Dying, Down By the Seaside, Night Flight, The Rover
4/120
09 January 2014
Change!
You know what I miss? Baseball. The other day, Fox Sports North rebroadcast a game from last year. It was awesome! I got a little baseball fix and moved on. Each time they do this, which is infrequently, it makes me miss baseball even more during the offseason. Opening Day is slowly approaching and Spring Training feels like it is just around the corner. Sadly, it is still a few months away. But teams are just a month away from reporting for Spring Training! So there's that. After seeing this exciting news, I realized I didn't touch the Detroit Tigers offseason moves at all. Again, I went into a downward spiral with writing last year and I wanted to write about it, but didn't feel like it.
The Tigers have a new manager. I love Jim Leyland. I will miss him. I will miss yelling at him from my couch each time he trusts a pitcher for one too many batters. I'm glad he is sticking around with the organization because I feel like they want to win a World Series for him but they know they couldn't win one with him managing. If they win a World Series when he is still working with the organization and Leyland is not thrust upon the shoulders of players, I will cry. And here's why they couldn't win a World Series with Leyland managing. I think that he was too stuck in his ways of winning games by out slugging the other team and didn't want to play small ball or running. You know, the way teams win games when their power hitters go cold. Yes, you can bash your way through the season and yes, you can bash your way through the playoffs. But what happens when your team runs into another team with great pitching and more well rounded hitters? You lose in the playoffs a couple of times and lose in the World Series a couple of times. With a new manager at the helm, Brad Ausmus, they can try something new. And in a few major moves, they have done so.
With the big trade involving Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler, you could tell the organization was looking to revamp. I enjoyed Fielder's short time with Detroit and I hated the fans that were booing him in the playoffs. He worked hard one hundred percent of the time and enjoyed playing the game (see: taking nacho from fan, having runners tag themselves out when he was standing between them and first base, his constant smile). He hustled all the time. He played hard all the time. He is what is good about the game. Everyone knows he is going to rake down in Texas and I hope the Tigers don't run into them in the playoffs in the future. And I hope that when he plays his first game back in Detroit, he is cheered and not booed. Be classy Tigers fans. Please. We aren't Philadelphia. I love Kinsler's game. He brings a solid glove to second base which the Tigers have been missing since Sweet Lou retired. He brings a great running game and solid bat. He's like Placido Polanco with stolen bases. And I loved Polanco when he played in Detroit and I still do.
The trade that made most everyone mad was the Doug Fister trade. I was thinking that when he was traded that Dombrowski was pillaging their farm system and found out that was not the case. Then I thought it was to free up salary to sign Max Scherzer to an extension and that does not seem to be the case. It was for a utility player and two pitchers. Hmmmm. I get nervous talking about it because it seems like a one sided trade in favor of the Nationals on paper. I hope that, if anything, Ian Krol becomes a solid pitcher and then it will seem like a fair trade. And we'll see what they can do with Robbie Ray. I will give this trade three years to see where it goes before I totally weigh in on it. But, for now, I am uneasy.
The Fister trade I thought was to free up salary for Max and then the Tigers signed Joe Nathan (Yeah! A solid closer!) and then Joba Chamberlain (ummmmmm....). Then I looked at how much Fister was owed and didn't realize he didn't take up as much salary as I thought he did. Whatever. The pitching rotation does take a hit with losing Fister, but it is still solid front to back. I am most interested to see what the offense will be like this year. It appears to be more contact oriented and focused on base running. It'll be like watching a small ball team with thump in the middle of the lineup to keep people on edge. Personally, I have always enjoyed watching a team that hits and runs. That is what the game is about (to me). Home runs are always just an added bonus and batting lineups should not be based around power hitters. The infield defense which has been a sore spot over the past few years is much much better. On paper, this defense can win games for the team. Rick Porcello has been okay since he started, but should see an upswing in wins and a lower ERA because of the defense. I just hope there isn't a case of the injury bug this year. If there is, I don't want to see players try to play through it. I want to see them get healty in a timely manner.
So who knows how the season will turn out. I still think the Tigers are going to control the AL Central. It helps to be in a division with lesser teams. But those lesser teams are closing the gap. The Royals, continual basement dwellers and overall laughing stock of the MLB, are getting better and better each year. They scare me more than the other AL Central teams. It won't surprise me to see them and the Tigers neck and neck throughout most of the year in the next few years.
3/120
The Tigers have a new manager. I love Jim Leyland. I will miss him. I will miss yelling at him from my couch each time he trusts a pitcher for one too many batters. I'm glad he is sticking around with the organization because I feel like they want to win a World Series for him but they know they couldn't win one with him managing. If they win a World Series when he is still working with the organization and Leyland is not thrust upon the shoulders of players, I will cry. And here's why they couldn't win a World Series with Leyland managing. I think that he was too stuck in his ways of winning games by out slugging the other team and didn't want to play small ball or running. You know, the way teams win games when their power hitters go cold. Yes, you can bash your way through the season and yes, you can bash your way through the playoffs. But what happens when your team runs into another team with great pitching and more well rounded hitters? You lose in the playoffs a couple of times and lose in the World Series a couple of times. With a new manager at the helm, Brad Ausmus, they can try something new. And in a few major moves, they have done so.
With the big trade involving Prince Fielder and Ian Kinsler, you could tell the organization was looking to revamp. I enjoyed Fielder's short time with Detroit and I hated the fans that were booing him in the playoffs. He worked hard one hundred percent of the time and enjoyed playing the game (see: taking nacho from fan, having runners tag themselves out when he was standing between them and first base, his constant smile). He hustled all the time. He played hard all the time. He is what is good about the game. Everyone knows he is going to rake down in Texas and I hope the Tigers don't run into them in the playoffs in the future. And I hope that when he plays his first game back in Detroit, he is cheered and not booed. Be classy Tigers fans. Please. We aren't Philadelphia. I love Kinsler's game. He brings a solid glove to second base which the Tigers have been missing since Sweet Lou retired. He brings a great running game and solid bat. He's like Placido Polanco with stolen bases. And I loved Polanco when he played in Detroit and I still do.
The trade that made most everyone mad was the Doug Fister trade. I was thinking that when he was traded that Dombrowski was pillaging their farm system and found out that was not the case. Then I thought it was to free up salary to sign Max Scherzer to an extension and that does not seem to be the case. It was for a utility player and two pitchers. Hmmmm. I get nervous talking about it because it seems like a one sided trade in favor of the Nationals on paper. I hope that, if anything, Ian Krol becomes a solid pitcher and then it will seem like a fair trade. And we'll see what they can do with Robbie Ray. I will give this trade three years to see where it goes before I totally weigh in on it. But, for now, I am uneasy.
The Fister trade I thought was to free up salary for Max and then the Tigers signed Joe Nathan (Yeah! A solid closer!) and then Joba Chamberlain (ummmmmm....). Then I looked at how much Fister was owed and didn't realize he didn't take up as much salary as I thought he did. Whatever. The pitching rotation does take a hit with losing Fister, but it is still solid front to back. I am most interested to see what the offense will be like this year. It appears to be more contact oriented and focused on base running. It'll be like watching a small ball team with thump in the middle of the lineup to keep people on edge. Personally, I have always enjoyed watching a team that hits and runs. That is what the game is about (to me). Home runs are always just an added bonus and batting lineups should not be based around power hitters. The infield defense which has been a sore spot over the past few years is much much better. On paper, this defense can win games for the team. Rick Porcello has been okay since he started, but should see an upswing in wins and a lower ERA because of the defense. I just hope there isn't a case of the injury bug this year. If there is, I don't want to see players try to play through it. I want to see them get healty in a timely manner.
So who knows how the season will turn out. I still think the Tigers are going to control the AL Central. It helps to be in a division with lesser teams. But those lesser teams are closing the gap. The Royals, continual basement dwellers and overall laughing stock of the MLB, are getting better and better each year. They scare me more than the other AL Central teams. It won't surprise me to see them and the Tigers neck and neck throughout most of the year in the next few years.
3/120
06 January 2014
There's Cold and Then There's Cold
It got a little cold here today in Minnesota (and everywhere in the northern midwest). I got a screenshot of the weather app on my phone to prove it. It's from when I woke up to make sure the cars started for work.
It was so cold, that they cancelled school for the entire state on Friday for Monday. Halfway through the day, school was once again cancelled for Tuesday. The wind is just so cold and cuts through the layers of clothes no matter how many you are wearing. Seriously. I went out and started my car just to see if it would start. I had on long johns (top and bottom), jeans, wool socks, shirt, hooded sweatshirt, wool coat, hat, scarf, gloves, Sorel boots. You know, the norm. And I could still feel it.
I was suppose to go to work at 6:00 this morning, but got a call not to come in until 9:00. It was one degree warmer. It made no difference. Stores were closing early all over the place just to make sure that their employees got home before it got too cold for the evening commute. My store closed at 5:00. Safe to say, it was not a busy day.
As much as I am complaining about it, I liked it. I have never felt that kind of cold. It wasn't so much cold as it was pain. Frostbite apparently sets in within five minutes of exposure, so this weather is no laughing matter, but it was cool to know what it feels like when it is fifty degrees below zero. Scary stuff. But to say that you voluntarily went out in negative fifty degree weather is something to be proud of. I guess. If you like that stuff. Like I do.
2/120
I was suppose to go to work at 6:00 this morning, but got a call not to come in until 9:00. It was one degree warmer. It made no difference. Stores were closing early all over the place just to make sure that their employees got home before it got too cold for the evening commute. My store closed at 5:00. Safe to say, it was not a busy day.
As much as I am complaining about it, I liked it. I have never felt that kind of cold. It wasn't so much cold as it was pain. Frostbite apparently sets in within five minutes of exposure, so this weather is no laughing matter, but it was cool to know what it feels like when it is fifty degrees below zero. Scary stuff. But to say that you voluntarily went out in negative fifty degree weather is something to be proud of. I guess. If you like that stuff. Like I do.
2/120
05 January 2014
A Year of Actual Goals
Over the past two years, I have set goals of reading. Not the biggest goals for a year, but I felt great about it. I am a slow reader (as my wife so lovingly reminds me each time she finishes a book) so setting goals for getting through the stacks on my shelf were great. I am nearing the end of my unread books. I have a stack of ten books and just got one for Christmas. So eleven total books left to read. Not bad, but I am in no rush to get them done by the beginning of 2015. I have come up with a few goals for this year. Actual goals.
Drink less. While I do not have a full on drinking problem, I do know I want to drink less (it will be tied into another goal I have this year). I came to the following realization near the end of December regarding my work and drinking:
Save more. Tomorrow, my wife starts a new job! For the first time in about three and a half years, we will have two incomes. And it's not like she hasn't been looking for a job, it's just that her industry has taken even longer to recover from the recession. Thanks for that recessionObama Bush. So with this new income development, we will be looking to move from our apartment hopefully. We have been watching our spending ever since she was laid off, but it is hard to keep your savings balance up with one income. And a retail income at that. Who knows if we will have enough of a savings to start looking for an actual house or if we just stay another year and continue to save save save. With this new job, my wife will be driving forty five to fifty minutes each way each day. So a move south of where we are now will be prudent.
Write more. Tons more. While I have felt great about what I have written over the past two years, I feel like I have missed out on plenty of writing opportunities. Maybe it is because of writer's burnout or just shear laziness, but I know there were times over the last two years where I thought about writing and then just didn't. I am going to set a goal of one hundred and twenty entries this year. Ten a month if you do the math. Do I have the most interesting or original ideas? Not really. Do I have the most interesting life that people want to follow? Not really. In the middle of August I did accidentally deleted a couple of published posts and some drafts that I was working on. It was really disheartening after I realized I could not recover the deleted posts. And the drafts I was working on were really in depth posts. It was right around that time that I kind of gave up on writing hardcore last year. At the bottom of each post, I will be keeping a counter to see if I can reach my writing goal for the year.
1/120
Drink less. While I do not have a full on drinking problem, I do know I want to drink less (it will be tied into another goal I have this year). I came to the following realization near the end of December regarding my work and drinking:
Four days before Christmas and I haven't been drinking heavily after work. Each. Day. Yeah, I made a smart move.
— Michael Litzner (@Litzner) December 21, 2013 I always looked at November and December as 'the heavy drinking months' because of my job at Target. Now that I have a far less stressful job, I have not been coming home really wanting to drink heavily. I have come home and had one or two beers, but that is about it. I no longer have a need for four or five just to unwind from work. So, with a less stressful job I won't be drinking as much and therefore won't be spending as much money. Which leads to my next goal. Save more. Tomorrow, my wife starts a new job! For the first time in about three and a half years, we will have two incomes. And it's not like she hasn't been looking for a job, it's just that her industry has taken even longer to recover from the recession. Thanks for that recession
Write more. Tons more. While I have felt great about what I have written over the past two years, I feel like I have missed out on plenty of writing opportunities. Maybe it is because of writer's burnout or just shear laziness, but I know there were times over the last two years where I thought about writing and then just didn't. I am going to set a goal of one hundred and twenty entries this year. Ten a month if you do the math. Do I have the most interesting or original ideas? Not really. Do I have the most interesting life that people want to follow? Not really. In the middle of August I did accidentally deleted a couple of published posts and some drafts that I was working on. It was really disheartening after I realized I could not recover the deleted posts. And the drafts I was working on were really in depth posts. It was right around that time that I kind of gave up on writing hardcore last year. At the bottom of each post, I will be keeping a counter to see if I can reach my writing goal for the year.
1/120
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