BE HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

http://www.sistersrunningthekitchen.com/2011/01/giveaway-announcement/

Recommendations

The other day I was listening to a certain album and thought, "This is really good, more people should be listening to this". I started to think of the albums/bands I'd recommend the most. Then I started thinking of TV shows and movies, so then I decided to form lists.

These, for the most part, aren't my favorite things of these categories. In fact, I tried to keep them limited to things that I think most people would enjoy without knowing about already. The lists are in no order really except in the order I think of them.

Bands

1. The Clash
2. The Flatliners
3. The Gaslight Anthem
4. Rx Bandits
5. Street Dogs

TV Shows

1. Arrested Development
2. Freaks and Geeks
3. Breaking Bad
4. Mad Men
5. Undeclared
6. Parks and Recreation
7. Chuck
8. Better Off Ted
9. Party Down
10. Community
11. Did I mention Arrested Development?

Albums

1. The 59 Sound-The Gaslight Anthem
2. Revolutions Per Minute-Rise Against
3. Everything Goes Numb-Streetlight Manifesto
4. And the Battle Begun-Rx Bandits
5. Scrambles-Bomb the Music Industry!

Movies-Really, the only movie I'd highly recommend is "In Bruges". Go see that

Songs

1. And the Battle Begun-Rx Bandits
2. Have the Time-The Slackers
3. Great Expectations-The Gaslight Anthem
4. Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Cafe-Streetlight Manifesto
5. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais-The Clash

This post was a lot more interesting to come up with than to actually make

Baseball Hall of Fame: The Future

While the BBWAA did a good job with the Hall of Fame voting yesterday inducting Alomar and Blyleven, I still feel there are several guys on the ballot who should also be going in. While Edgar Martinez and Fred McGriff unfortunately went down in voting, Barry Larkin, Lee Smith, and Tim Raines had good showings.

So one thing I often wonder who currently playing will be future members of the Hall of Fame. As I sit here watching Big Bang Theory (and soon 30 Rock) I decided I'd go team by team to see who will one day be going to Cooperstown. I decided to break it down by "Future" Hall of Famers, "Too Early to Tell", and "I'd Listen to an Argument About". "Future" implies more or less locks, "Too Early" is for guys who have already done well for some time but don't have nearly enough credentials yet, and "I'd Listen to an Argument" are for those borderline guys.

For "Too Early to Tell", the plays have to have been around and doing well for some time as opposed to a early in his career guy. For example, it is "too early to tell" about Felix Hernandez but I won't even classify David Price into that category for another couple years.

Free agents are listed under last years team.

Yankees
Future Hall of Famers: Jeter, Rivera, A-Rod (yes, I know he juiced)
Too Early to Tell About: Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, (maybe?) Robinson Cano
I'll Listen to an Argument About: Andy Pettitte (yes, juiced), Jorge Posada

Red Socks
Future: None
Too Early: Youkilis, Pedroia, (maybe?) Crawford
Arguments: Ortiz

Rays
Future: None
Too Early: Longoria
Arguments: Non

Orioles
Future: None
Too Early: None
Arguments: Derrek Lee

Blue Jays: No one on the Blue Jays will ever be in the Hall of Fame

Twins
Future: Jim Thome
Too Early: Mauer, Morneau
Arguments: None

White Sox
Future: Omar Vizquel, Manny Ramirez
Too Soon: None
Arguments: Paul Konerko

Tigers
Future: None
Too Early: Justin Verlander
Arguments: Johnny Damon, Magglio Ordonez

Indians: The only person on that team even worth talking about in any context is Shin Soo Choo

Royals: No Royal will even be in the HOF

Rangers
Future: Vlad Guerrero
Too Early: None
Arguments: Michael Young

Angels
Future: None
Too Early: None
Arguments: Bobby Abreu

A's: The A's stink

Mariners
Future: Ichiro
Too Early: Felix Hernandez
Arguments: None

Phillies
Future: Roy Halladay
Too Early: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cliff Lee
Arguments: Jimmy Rollins, Roy Oswalt

Braves
Future: Chipper Jones
Too Early: Brian McCann
Arguments: Billy Wagner

Marlins: Too early on Hanley, everyone else stinks

Mets
Future: None
Too Early: David Wright, Johan Santan
Arguments: None

Nationals
Future: Ivan Rodriguez
Too Early: None
Arguments: None

Reds
Future: None
Too Early: Joey Votto
Arguments: Scott Rolen

Cardinals
Future: Pujols
Too Early: Matt Holliday
Arguments: None

Brewers
Future: Trevor Hoffman
Too Early: Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun
Arguments: None

Astros: They're horrible

Cubs: Also stink

Pirates: Even worse

Giants
Future: None
Too Early: Lincecum
Arguments: None

Padres-Stink

Rockies
Future: None
Too Early: Troy Tulo
Arguments: Todd Helton

Dodgers: Nada

Diamond Backs: More nothings.

So those the guys I think have a shot at the Hall of Fame. This is obviously subject to change (as I would have said Kevin Brown if this was 2002), but I feel pretty confident with these guys I listed.

Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 2011

Next Wednesday, the 5th, is the announcement for the 2011 class for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Last year I did some speculation about how I thought the vote would go, and I was pretty far off. My outlook at the Hall has changed pretty greatly since last year, so I wont bother linking my old thoughts. This year I'll once again talk about how I think the vote will go. I'll speculate how I think the writers will vote, and also how I'd handle it if I had a vote. You need 75% of the vote to be inducted.

Returning Players (Last year's vote %)

• Bert Blyleven (74.2%)
  Writers vote: Yes
  Personal vote: Yes
• Roberto Alomar (73.7%)
  Writers vote: Yes
  Personal vote: Yes
• Harold Baines (6.1%)
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No-Baines had very good numbers for his career. However, he is where I draw the line. Basically a player with his numbers isn't quite good enough, but a player who is superior should. That being said, I'd have no issue if he one day did make it.
• Jack Morris (52.3%)
  Writers votes: No
  Personal vote: No
• Barry Larkin (51.6%)
  Writers vote: Not this year, but eventually
  Personal vote: Yes
• Lee Smith (47.3%)
  Writers vote: Not this year, but eventually
  Personal vote: Yes
• Edgar Martinez (36.2%)
  Writers vote: Not this year, but eventually
  Personal vote: Yes-Edgar Martinez is my favorite baseball player of all time. Yes he was mostly a DH, but name one team in either league that wouldn't have wanted him there from the late 80's-04. His numbers would be even more impressive if he was batting 3rd in front of Griffey instead of the other way around.
• Tim Raines (30.4%)
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: Yes-If i had a ballot of over 10, Raines would be the one bumped. If he didn't spend the last third of his career as a bench player he'd be in easily, but that does hurt him
• Mark McGwire (23.7%)
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No-Those drugs enhanced him to put up hall of fame numbers, he wouldn't have done it on his own like others I believe would have. Shame, I liked him too.
• Alan Trammell (22.4%)
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No-Another one who just doesn't quite make it.
• Fred McGriff (21.5%)
  Writers vote: Not this year, possibly in the future
  Personal vote: Yes-Crime Dog has the numbers in an era of suspicion. And he should be in for "not hot dogging it". Google that phrase. Actually don't, just look at the glossary on FireJoeMorgan.com
• Don Mattingly (16.1%)
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No
• Dave Parker (15.2%)
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No
• Dale Murphy (11.7%)
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No

Players new to the ballot

• Raphael Palmeiro
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No-Another steroid guy who isn't deserving. 4 players have 500 homers AND 3000 hits. One won't make the Hall of Fame
• Jeff Bagwell
  Writers vote: Not this year but eventually
  Personal vote: No-STEROIDS, STEROIDS, STEROIDS, you have to be blind to not thing that. His career cashed at the end and he didn't put up those numbers without enhancement.
• Larry Walker
  Writers vote: Maybe, but probably not
  Personal vote: No-fantastic numbers in an era when everyone had fantastic numbers.
• John Franco
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No-I could be persuaded otherwise, but I don't think he'll get it.
• Juan Gonzalez
  Writers vote: No
  Personal vote: No-2 MVPs on steroids in a career that crashed and burned quickly.
• The other players on the ballot aren't really worth going into, they don't have much of a chance of even returning to the ballot next year.

So here is my hypothetical ballot:

1. Blyleven
2. Alomar
3. Larkin
4. Smith
5. Martinez
6. Raines
7. McGriff

2010 Music Awards

2010 might have been the best year for new music, but it was good none the less. My iTunes playlist for 2010 is made of 353 songs, all added since last Christmas.

Once again "of 2010" means it was released in 2010, while "new" just means added to my iTunes since last Christmas. Here it goes:

Best New Artist: Dan. P (of MU330)
Runner up: Toh Kay

• These were the only two artists who were added to my iTunes this year, from the split album "You by Me Volume 1". I enjoy Dan's revisions of the Streetlight songs more than Toh Kay's of MU330, but both are good.

Best Song of 2010: "I'm Shipping Up To Boston (Live)" Dropkick Murphys featuring the Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Runner Ups: "All Ages Show" (Bomb the Music Industry!), "A Moment of Silence" (Dan P.), "Monumental" (The Flatliners), "Animaniacs" (Less Than Jake), "Punk Rock Girl" (Streetlight Manifesto)

• I bought the Dropkick live album because I saw that the Bosstones were on the final track, and I loved it when they did that live in 2008. The album version does not disappoint.

Best New Song: "Oolooloo" by The Pietasters

Runner Ups: "Safe European Home" (The Clash), "July! August! Reno!" (The Flatliners), "I'm Shipping Up to Boston Live" (Dropkick Murphys ft. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones), "Mother Theresa Chokeslames The World" (The Flatliners), "Look At Me I'm a Winner!" (The Aquabats!)

• While not their greatest song, it is my favorite after their latest album (named after one of their older ones) and it does crack my top 100 songs.

Best Live Performance (Single Band): Less Than Jake at Sonar

Runner ups: The Aquabats! (at Rams Head Live!), The English Beat (at Rams Head Live!), The Flatliners (At 9:30), The Gaslight Anthem (At 9:30), Mustard Plug (At Ottobar)

• Less Than Jake put on the best live show I have ever seen. They played all of 'Losing Streak' in order plus others. I hope they top it in January

Best Live Show (Whole Show): The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Flatliners, Teenage Bottlerocket at 9:30

Runner Ups: Reel Big Fish/The Aquabats!/Suburban Legends (at Rams Head Live!), Fishbone/The English Beat (Rams Head Live!), The Players/The Toasters/The Pietasters (8x10)

• That line up was just great all around.

Best Album of 2010: 99 Songs of Revolution Vol. 1 by Streetlight Manifesto

Runner Ups: Adults!!!... Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited By Nothing!!!!!!! (Bomb the Music Industry!), "American Slang" (The Gaslight Anthem), "Cavalcade" (The Flatliners), "TV/EP" by Less Than Jake

• The first of the long-awaited "99 Songs of Revolution" Streetlight delivers 11 great covers.

Best New Album: 99 Songs of Revolution Vol. 1 by Streetlight Manifesto

Runner Ups: "The Great Awake" (The Flatliners), "All Day" (The Pietasters)

So let's see what 2011 brings