An Introduction

The vast majority of my knowledge and interest is contained within two categories that the vast majority of people don't give half a shit about: punk rock music and baseball statistics. Because of that, I don't have too many friends. That's okay with me, because most of the things people find interesting bore the hell out of me anyway. If you think that we don't have much in common and wouldn't get along, you're probably right.

I guess I'll use this blog to write about whatever crosses my mind regarding punk music or baseball and more or less no one will give a shit. Maybe I'll print it as a zine at some point, but I don't have any delusions of grandeur.

The title of this blog comes from the B-side of the OFFENDERS I Hate Myself 7", which I've been playing to death lately. The OFFENDERS were an Austin, Texas punk band that started in 1978 but really came into their own in the early 80s as they transitioned from UK/77 style punk to faster, American hardcore along the lines of MDC, BAD BRAINS and CIRCLE JERKS. Lots of bands successfully made this transition around '82 but the OFFENDERS developed a style that really stood out. Their brand of introspective, self-loathing lyrics placed over raging songs that combine all out thrash, mid tempo punk, and slower, darker, melodic riffs with just the right amount of wailing guitar melodies really came to a head on this 1984 7" with "I Hate Myself" quickly becoming an anti-anthemic classic. The B-side is the real treat though. "Bad Times" perfectly encapsulates the desolate perspective of an outcast kid living in a world that makes absolutely no fucking sense. I'm usually wary of old punk lyrics denouncing God and religion because, about 90 percent of the time, they come off as oversimplified and rhetorical. "Bad Times" is neither. This is one of the best American punk bands of the early 80s that largely flew under the radar.

I've never been much for the more well-known '77 punk bands. Whenever I listen to '77 style punk my initial reaction is to wish they were just playing faster and dirtier, with less pop sensibilities and more recklessness. The DEAD BOYS are definitely an exception. This Chicago band retained all the insanity and threatening atmosphere of the best IGGY POP and the STOOGES records while somehow stripping it down and making it feel more accessible. "Ain't it Fun" is one of the greatest songs ever written by anyone.

"Ain't it fun when you're always on the run? Ain't it fun when your friends despise what you've become? Ain't it fun when you get so high that you, well you just can't come? Ain't it fun when you know that you're gonna die young?"

Fuck yeah!

On to the baseball side of things (just to alienate 90 percent of the 10 people who might still be interested)...

So the Phillies are the world champions. Fair enough. They were probably the second best team in the NL and maybe the 5th best team in baseball. Maybe. Outcomes have been wackier.

The Rays were clearly a superior team. Cole Hamels might be better than any starter on the Rays staff, but after that the drop-off for Philadelphia is massive. The Rays might have had the best starting rotation in baseball and have a great core of young, talented players who are locked up for at least a few years. They'll need to start trading their established players when they get too expensive in order to restock their system with young talent, as they won't have the luxury of drafting in the top 5 spots year in and year out anymore. They will see a modest increase in payroll, but they'll still be a small market team.

This Cinderella season for the Rays came about a year ahead of schedule, but it is not surprising. Their young talent just developed a bit quicker than I had expected. I'm not shedding any tears about them losing to an inferior team in the world series (7 game series...the ultimate small sample size). It's reasonable to assume that they weren't even the best team in the AL. The wild-card winning Red Sox had a better expected win-loss record based on runs scored/runs allowed. One could argue that the Angels were a better team as well. In any case, it will be exciting watching the Rays compete with the Red Sox and Yankees for the next decade in the AL East. The Blue Jays are stuck in a cycle mediocrity but will continue to be a .500 team. Even the Orioles are stacked with young talent after trading off veterans Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada for top prospects and finally having a couple successful drafts. Their time will come in 2-3 years.

Well, that's about all for now. Punk rock and Baseball. Whatever.

-Dan

Afterthoughts: The new Warcry album is awesome, despite the fact that it's less than 13 minutes of music on two sided 12".

Vinyl Conflict, a new record store in Richmond, Virginia, is beyond words. This is the best punk oriented record store I've ever been in. We are incredibly spoiled. Amazing selection, prices that can't be beat. Go spend lots of money there and make sure it never goes away.