We've seen my predictions. And with baseball officially showing up tomorrow, it's time for the Week 1 Preview.
We start with the game I think will be the big one to watch this week, as Content With Second takes on Accountants Do It In Numbers. Andrew and Randy both finished 2012 falling short of their expectations, but both put together solid teams in the draft. The fact that one of these teams will start off the year 0-1 is crazy, but such is the life of a fantasy player. Expect to see some big days from both of these guys, and expect a high-scoring battle.
Meanwhile, and equally enticing match-up looks to be The Fresh "Prince" taking on the Albuquerque Isotopes. Scott and Josh were the two teams that spent the largest part of last season in the battle for first, spending close to 150 days combined in the top spot during last season. Both teams still look strong, and it will not be a walk in the park for either of these teams. Josh appears to be favored on paper, but Scott is sure to have some tricks up his sleeve.
The rest of the match-ups also look like there could be some surprises in store. LC Legend and Uptown Sluggers face off in Week 1, with Kyle looking to get off to a better start than 2012 against what looks to be a very strong team from the newcomer, Shane. A New Era could begin right here in Week 1 as Austin looks to score another victory for a newcomer, but he will have to fend off Andy and his cleaned up team, now that he has No More Haren Addiction (See what I did there?). And to cap off the week, Brian and the Arlington Argyle Socks will look to take advantage of the opening night Texas/Houston game, take an early lead and hold on to it against Ervin and ThE RoUnD MoUnD Of ReBoUnD.
Baseball is back, and it's going to be interesting to see who gets off to a strong early start. Let's play ball, boys!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Lakeside Fantasy Baseball Pre-Season Power Rankings
The draft is over, and that means it's time to look ahead to the season. This time next week, games will be being played again, and baseball (And fantasy) will be back. And the trash talk can begin in full force. To help that along, I present the pre-season power rankings. This should be fun.
So basically what I did with this one was break the teams down and ranked them in six different position categories: Catcher, Middle Infield, Corner Infield, Outfield, Starting Pitching and Relief Pitching. What this means, of course, is that this will be completely inaccurate. Not only do the points matter, but some points matter more than others (A big advantage in your outfielders is better than a slim advantage in relief pitching, but they might both look the same here). And, with many of these rankings, you could switch everybody from 3rd to 8th and not get much of an argument from me. Oh yeah, and it's all just based on my personal gut feeling on each team. Nevertheless, it should provide some decent fodder for the trash talk.
So here's how it works: Each team is assigned a number, which is the average of their positions in those six categories. Lower number is better. As you'll see, most of the teams are fairly close to each other. So, with all that being said, here we go into the pre-season power rankings:
1. Content With Second-Andrew Blum (Average: 3.66)
Key Categories: Catcher (1st), Corner Infield (2nd), Outfield (2nd)
I have a feeling Andrew's name will be changing soon. I highly doubt second will be "good enough" this season, and Andrew is gunning for his third baseball title. The team he starts with gives him a strong shot at it. He's got catcher on lockdown with both Posey and V-Mart. His first baseman are terrific. And Bryce Harper and Ryan Braun make an otherwise average outfield something with major potential. Andrew is strong in most of the categories and will be tough to beat all season.
2. Albequerque Isotopes-Joshua Blum (Average: 4.00)
Key Categories: Outfield (1st), Catcher (2nd), Starting Pitching (2nd)
The only team left who has never missed the playoffs in the six years of this league, Josh looks to go back-to-back after finally winning a championship last season. And there is definitely potential for that to happen. This outfield is outstanding. You could take Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen out and it will still arguably be the best in the league, and certainly one of the top three. Matt Wieters is basically the best you can get at catcher outside of Posey. And, though his starting pitching might initially look short on volume, the quality of that pitching more than makes up for it. With Strasburg and Kershaw anchoring the pitching, there are going to be a lot of points from pitching each week. This should be another playoff year for Josh.
T-3. Accountants Do It In Numbers-Randy Blum (Average: 4.33)
Key Categories: Relief Pitching (1st), Middle Infield (1st), Starting Pitching (3rd)
Randy has consistently been a force to be reckoned with in his time in this league. That won't change this year. He brings back a solid team that he made some solid upgrades to in the draft. With Aroldis Chapman leading the way, his relief corps should be dominant. Zobrist and Tulo make this middle infield look great, and the potential from Profar could prove to be a huge factor. And, as long as the starting pitching stays healthy, this should be a good lineup. Between Greinke, Sale and Wainwright alone, Randy should get a fair amount of wins. Randy is another team who should be playoff bound, and don't fool yourself into thinking he won't do everything he can to make sure he gets there.
T-3. Uptown Sluggers-Shane Sandri (Average: 4.33)
Key Categories: Middle Infield (2nd), Corner Infield (3rd)
This was the first big surprise for me. Even as I was doing this, I knew I liked Shane's team. I was still surprised by exactly how much. And the biggest thing here is definitely right around the diamond. 1st, 2nd, SS, 3rd...they all look great. He may have overpaid for Pujols, but if Pujols is Pujols, it will be well worth it. And that outfield definitely has some major potential. Carl Crawford could prove to be a draft day steal if her performs. Shane looks like he could be a surprise upstart this year (Much like Scott last year).
5. A New Era-Austin Drake (Average: 5.00)
Key Categories: Catcher (3rd), Middle Infield (3rd)
Austin also looks poised to prove that, just because it's your first year in a league doesn't necessarily mean you won't perform. While I think Shane may have done a bit better on draft day, Austin picked up some very valuable pieces during the expansion draft. Yadier Molina has the potential to be the #1 catcher in the game. And, while I'm not a Dee Gordon fan, Jason Kipnis was a steal, and Elvis Andrus should prove to be pretty valuable as well. Beyond that, his pitching (Both starting and relief) look pretty solid. The two new teams could end 1-2 in Division 2, and it'll be fun to watch them battle it out if that happens.
6. The Greenhorn-Scott Stepaniak (Average: 5.83)
Key Categories: Starting Pitching (1st), Corner Infield (4th)
See, now this is one where I have a feeling I'm going to be very wrong, one way or the other. Scott's either going to flame out or destroy the rest of the league this season, and I don't think there's much in between. This one is more a culprit of how close a lot of these categories are, because he could easily end up with the #1 corner infielders, and I would not be even a little shocked. And this is another one where there might not currently be quantity in the starting pitching, but the quality is hard to argue with. A 1-4 of Verlander, Weaver, Lester and Burnett is something that no one is going to want to face on any given week. Yeah, Scott probably ends up higher than this for much of the season.
7. LC Legend-Kyle Trondle (Average: 6.33)
Key Category: Corner Infield (1st)
Kyle's team looks MUCH better than last season's version. He definitely has potential in a lot of spots, but right now, that's all it is. The one exception, and the category that makes him scary right now, is corner infield. Votto and Cabrera is a potentially devastating combination, and it's one that could easily put him in the playoffs. I don't think Kyle finishes 7th or 8th this year, but if he does, he'd be the favorite to win the consolation bracket (And potentially move up to Division 1).
8. Arlington Argyle Socks-Brian Rossen (Average: 6.66)
Key Categories: Relief Pitching (2nd), Outfield (3rd)
Brian has some really good players in some key positions. Kemp and Hamilton make his outfield look good. Craig Kimbrel is probably the best closer in the game again this season. But Brian also has a problem. Well, it's really more of an addiction. And that addiction is the Texas Rangers. He...just...can't...quit...them. And, ultimately, I think his team suffers because of it. If he goes reverse of what he did last year and parses out some of that Rangers talent to pick up some solid pieces, he could make a run. Right now, though, I don't see it.
9. ThE RoUnD MoUnD Of ReBoUnD-Ervin Demirasi (Average: 7.00)
Key Categories: Corner Infield (10th), Starting Pitching (10th)
I think the key categories say it all. Trading away Cabrera may have been a good depth move, but it left him with Longoria, and only Longoria, for the corners. And, though he made some trades to add quantity to the starting pitching, I don't think the quality is there. Gallardo could be good. Wilson and Hudson could be good. But I don't think any of them can be great, and there's not much else to like. It looks like it's going to be another rough season for Ervin.
10. Haren Addiction-Andy Ashbaugh (Average: 7.66)
Key Categories: Outfield (10th), Relief Pitching (10th)
I actually feel like Andy is better than this, and he is one who generally does better than I expect him to. Still, his team looks like this: Robinson Cano. David Price. Maybe Cole Hamels and maybe Mark Trumbo. That's about it. This team just looks like it needs too much to go right to do well. And, in a division with stiff competition, I think this could be a poor year for Andy when all is said and done. He may be joining Division 2.
So basically what I did with this one was break the teams down and ranked them in six different position categories: Catcher, Middle Infield, Corner Infield, Outfield, Starting Pitching and Relief Pitching. What this means, of course, is that this will be completely inaccurate. Not only do the points matter, but some points matter more than others (A big advantage in your outfielders is better than a slim advantage in relief pitching, but they might both look the same here). And, with many of these rankings, you could switch everybody from 3rd to 8th and not get much of an argument from me. Oh yeah, and it's all just based on my personal gut feeling on each team. Nevertheless, it should provide some decent fodder for the trash talk.
So here's how it works: Each team is assigned a number, which is the average of their positions in those six categories. Lower number is better. As you'll see, most of the teams are fairly close to each other. So, with all that being said, here we go into the pre-season power rankings:
1. Content With Second-Andrew Blum (Average: 3.66)
Key Categories: Catcher (1st), Corner Infield (2nd), Outfield (2nd)
I have a feeling Andrew's name will be changing soon. I highly doubt second will be "good enough" this season, and Andrew is gunning for his third baseball title. The team he starts with gives him a strong shot at it. He's got catcher on lockdown with both Posey and V-Mart. His first baseman are terrific. And Bryce Harper and Ryan Braun make an otherwise average outfield something with major potential. Andrew is strong in most of the categories and will be tough to beat all season.
2. Albequerque Isotopes-Joshua Blum (Average: 4.00)
Key Categories: Outfield (1st), Catcher (2nd), Starting Pitching (2nd)
The only team left who has never missed the playoffs in the six years of this league, Josh looks to go back-to-back after finally winning a championship last season. And there is definitely potential for that to happen. This outfield is outstanding. You could take Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen out and it will still arguably be the best in the league, and certainly one of the top three. Matt Wieters is basically the best you can get at catcher outside of Posey. And, though his starting pitching might initially look short on volume, the quality of that pitching more than makes up for it. With Strasburg and Kershaw anchoring the pitching, there are going to be a lot of points from pitching each week. This should be another playoff year for Josh.
T-3. Accountants Do It In Numbers-Randy Blum (Average: 4.33)
Key Categories: Relief Pitching (1st), Middle Infield (1st), Starting Pitching (3rd)
Randy has consistently been a force to be reckoned with in his time in this league. That won't change this year. He brings back a solid team that he made some solid upgrades to in the draft. With Aroldis Chapman leading the way, his relief corps should be dominant. Zobrist and Tulo make this middle infield look great, and the potential from Profar could prove to be a huge factor. And, as long as the starting pitching stays healthy, this should be a good lineup. Between Greinke, Sale and Wainwright alone, Randy should get a fair amount of wins. Randy is another team who should be playoff bound, and don't fool yourself into thinking he won't do everything he can to make sure he gets there.
T-3. Uptown Sluggers-Shane Sandri (Average: 4.33)
Key Categories: Middle Infield (2nd), Corner Infield (3rd)
This was the first big surprise for me. Even as I was doing this, I knew I liked Shane's team. I was still surprised by exactly how much. And the biggest thing here is definitely right around the diamond. 1st, 2nd, SS, 3rd...they all look great. He may have overpaid for Pujols, but if Pujols is Pujols, it will be well worth it. And that outfield definitely has some major potential. Carl Crawford could prove to be a draft day steal if her performs. Shane looks like he could be a surprise upstart this year (Much like Scott last year).
5. A New Era-Austin Drake (Average: 5.00)
Key Categories: Catcher (3rd), Middle Infield (3rd)
Austin also looks poised to prove that, just because it's your first year in a league doesn't necessarily mean you won't perform. While I think Shane may have done a bit better on draft day, Austin picked up some very valuable pieces during the expansion draft. Yadier Molina has the potential to be the #1 catcher in the game. And, while I'm not a Dee Gordon fan, Jason Kipnis was a steal, and Elvis Andrus should prove to be pretty valuable as well. Beyond that, his pitching (Both starting and relief) look pretty solid. The two new teams could end 1-2 in Division 2, and it'll be fun to watch them battle it out if that happens.
6. The Greenhorn-Scott Stepaniak (Average: 5.83)
Key Categories: Starting Pitching (1st), Corner Infield (4th)
See, now this is one where I have a feeling I'm going to be very wrong, one way or the other. Scott's either going to flame out or destroy the rest of the league this season, and I don't think there's much in between. This one is more a culprit of how close a lot of these categories are, because he could easily end up with the #1 corner infielders, and I would not be even a little shocked. And this is another one where there might not currently be quantity in the starting pitching, but the quality is hard to argue with. A 1-4 of Verlander, Weaver, Lester and Burnett is something that no one is going to want to face on any given week. Yeah, Scott probably ends up higher than this for much of the season.
7. LC Legend-Kyle Trondle (Average: 6.33)
Key Category: Corner Infield (1st)
Kyle's team looks MUCH better than last season's version. He definitely has potential in a lot of spots, but right now, that's all it is. The one exception, and the category that makes him scary right now, is corner infield. Votto and Cabrera is a potentially devastating combination, and it's one that could easily put him in the playoffs. I don't think Kyle finishes 7th or 8th this year, but if he does, he'd be the favorite to win the consolation bracket (And potentially move up to Division 1).
8. Arlington Argyle Socks-Brian Rossen (Average: 6.66)
Key Categories: Relief Pitching (2nd), Outfield (3rd)
Brian has some really good players in some key positions. Kemp and Hamilton make his outfield look good. Craig Kimbrel is probably the best closer in the game again this season. But Brian also has a problem. Well, it's really more of an addiction. And that addiction is the Texas Rangers. He...just...can't...quit...them. And, ultimately, I think his team suffers because of it. If he goes reverse of what he did last year and parses out some of that Rangers talent to pick up some solid pieces, he could make a run. Right now, though, I don't see it.
9. ThE RoUnD MoUnD Of ReBoUnD-Ervin Demirasi (Average: 7.00)
Key Categories: Corner Infield (10th), Starting Pitching (10th)
I think the key categories say it all. Trading away Cabrera may have been a good depth move, but it left him with Longoria, and only Longoria, for the corners. And, though he made some trades to add quantity to the starting pitching, I don't think the quality is there. Gallardo could be good. Wilson and Hudson could be good. But I don't think any of them can be great, and there's not much else to like. It looks like it's going to be another rough season for Ervin.
10. Haren Addiction-Andy Ashbaugh (Average: 7.66)
Key Categories: Outfield (10th), Relief Pitching (10th)
I actually feel like Andy is better than this, and he is one who generally does better than I expect him to. Still, his team looks like this: Robinson Cano. David Price. Maybe Cole Hamels and maybe Mark Trumbo. That's about it. This team just looks like it needs too much to go right to do well. And, in a division with stiff competition, I think this could be a poor year for Andy when all is said and done. He may be joining Division 2.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Top 20 Singles: Week of March 25, 2013
1. Radioactive-Imagine Dragons (3 Weeks At #1)
2. When I Was Your Man-Bruno Mars
3. Stubborn Love-The Lumineers
4. Lover Of The Light-Mumford & Sons
5. Restore-Chris August
6. Suit & Tie-Justin Timberlake (Feat. Jay-Z)
7. Can't Hold Us-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
8. Hero-Family Of The Year
9. Mountain Sound-Of Monsters & Men
10. Between The Raindrops-Lifehouse (Feat. Natasha Bedingfield)
11. 22-Taylor Swift
12. Recovery-Frank Turner
13. Mama's Broken Heart-Miranda Lambert
14. Carry On-Fun.
15. Surprise, Surprise-Billy Talent
16. Crystal Vases-The Last Royals
17. Back To Life-3Oh!3
18. Eye On It-tobyMac (Feat. Britt Nicole)
19. Highway Don't Care-Tim McGraw (Feat. Taylor Swift)
20. The Lightning Strike (What If The Storm Ends?)-Snow Patrol
Biggest Mover: Can't Hold Us and Recovery (Both Up 3)
Highest Debut: The Lightning Strike (#20)
Imagine Dragons continues strong this week, posting a 3rd straight week at #1 while fending off more of the same competition at the top. Suit & Tie drops out of the Top 5, making room for Mumford & Sons at #4 and Chris August at #5. Meanwhile, Family Of The Year continues to surprise, inching closer and closer to the Top 5 each week. But it is Can't Hold Us and Recovery that continue to show great promise this week. Both songs move up three spots, which puts Macklemore & Ryan Lewis already in striking distance of the Top 5 (And, of course, the top spot), and gives Frank Turner a continued strong showing, with the potential for a move into the Top 10 next week. In the lower half of the list, The Last Royals and 3Oh!3 make a few strides up the list this week, and both songs now seem to be ready for a run up the chart. Finally, Snow Patrol makes a relatively quiet debut this week, as The Lightning Strike (What If The Storm Ends?) peeks in at #20. This song is not one that I see making a huge run, but it could certainly stick around for a while and has the potential for a decent run.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
CD Review: The 20/20 Experience by Justin Timberlake
It feels rather appropriate that my first CD review in a couple years is a review of a CD from an artist who hasn't released new music in years. Of course, Justin Timberlake's album has a lot higher expectations to live up to than my reviews ever could. But hey, we'll go with it.
It's been seven years since Justin Timberlake last released a CD. The last time we heard new music, JT was still establishing himself as a solo artist. FutureSex/LoveSounds was where people really started to take him seriously as a musical artist rather than just a former boy band member looking to cash in on his fame. It was a very well done disc, and it looked like he was really on the verge of becoming something huge. And then...he disappeared (From music, anyway).
This ended up being a really smart move, because the anticipation grew. It was like everyone believed they would be getting more music from JT, but it always seemed just a little farther off. Of course, it was also a bad move, because when he finally returned with a new single and the anticipated release of this album, well, expectations were high. Very high.
Personally, I would say expectations for The 20/20 Experience were just too high going in. I don't think this disc was ever going to live up to critical expectations. So let's step away from the expectations and take the disc for what it is.
This disc is best described as "high class," I think, which is an admittedly odd description of music. But it fits in this case. From the moment the opening song, Pusher Love Girl, hits, you can tell you're in for a different experience. The first 30 seconds or so sound like an old movie intro, and then you get into a very smooth groove that fits around that sound. It is a preview of what's to come on this disc.
Timberlake plays with the beats really well on this disc, wrapping them around unexpected sounds, whether it be the classic 1930's big band sound, a 1950's movie, even modern R&B sounds, these songs are smooth. Songs like That Girl bring in the mix a classic R&B sound with modern beats, while songs like Suit & Tie mix a classy style with a well-placed guest verse from Jay-Z. Mirrors is a perfect choice for a single, as is Let The Groove Get In, which brings in a very chant-driven chorus that will undoubtedly snag people and draw them in.
And don't let the track list fool you. These 10 songs clock in at close to 70 minutes. Each track is its own little experience. Some work better than others, admittedly, but this disc definitely gives you your money's worth.
Overall, this is a strong return to the music industry for JT. It's not a perfect disc by any means, but the mixing of styles leads to a sound that you can't really find in the industry right now, and that works in The 20/20 Experience's favor. A great effort for Timberlake's third solo effort.
It's been seven years since Justin Timberlake last released a CD. The last time we heard new music, JT was still establishing himself as a solo artist. FutureSex/LoveSounds was where people really started to take him seriously as a musical artist rather than just a former boy band member looking to cash in on his fame. It was a very well done disc, and it looked like he was really on the verge of becoming something huge. And then...he disappeared (From music, anyway).
This ended up being a really smart move, because the anticipation grew. It was like everyone believed they would be getting more music from JT, but it always seemed just a little farther off. Of course, it was also a bad move, because when he finally returned with a new single and the anticipated release of this album, well, expectations were high. Very high.
Personally, I would say expectations for The 20/20 Experience were just too high going in. I don't think this disc was ever going to live up to critical expectations. So let's step away from the expectations and take the disc for what it is.
This disc is best described as "high class," I think, which is an admittedly odd description of music. But it fits in this case. From the moment the opening song, Pusher Love Girl, hits, you can tell you're in for a different experience. The first 30 seconds or so sound like an old movie intro, and then you get into a very smooth groove that fits around that sound. It is a preview of what's to come on this disc.
Timberlake plays with the beats really well on this disc, wrapping them around unexpected sounds, whether it be the classic 1930's big band sound, a 1950's movie, even modern R&B sounds, these songs are smooth. Songs like That Girl bring in the mix a classic R&B sound with modern beats, while songs like Suit & Tie mix a classy style with a well-placed guest verse from Jay-Z. Mirrors is a perfect choice for a single, as is Let The Groove Get In, which brings in a very chant-driven chorus that will undoubtedly snag people and draw them in.
And don't let the track list fool you. These 10 songs clock in at close to 70 minutes. Each track is its own little experience. Some work better than others, admittedly, but this disc definitely gives you your money's worth.
Overall, this is a strong return to the music industry for JT. It's not a perfect disc by any means, but the mixing of styles leads to a sound that you can't really find in the industry right now, and that works in The 20/20 Experience's favor. A great effort for Timberlake's third solo effort.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10
Monday, March 18, 2013
Top 20 Singles: Week of March 18, 2013
1. Radioactive-Imagine Dragons (2 Weeks At #1)
2. When I Was Your Man-Bruno Mars
3. Stubborn Love-The Lumineers
4. Suit & Tie-Justin Timberlake (Feat. Jay-Z)
5. Lover Of The Light-Mumford & Sons
6. Restore-Chris August
7. Between The Raindrops-Lifehouse (Feat. Natasha Bedingfield)
8. Mountain Sound-Of Monsters & Men
9. Hero-Family Of The Year
10. Can't Hold Us-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
11. Carry On-Fun.
12. 22-Taylor Swift
13. Surprise, Surprise-Billy Talent
14. Mama's Broken Heart-Miranda Lambert
15. Recovery-Frank Turner
16. Eye On It-tobyMac (Feat. Britt Nicole)
17. I Knew You Were Trouble-Taylor Swift
18. Crystal Vases-The Last Royals
19. Back To Life-3Oh!3
20. Highway Don't Care-Tim McGraw (Feat. Taylor Swift)
Biggest Mover: Can't Hold Us (Up 6)
Highest Debut: Crystal Vases (#18)
Imagine Dragons continues to prove that they are not one-hit wonders, with Radioactive sticking at the top for its second week. Bruno Mars continues to hold steady at #2, but yet another week away from the top spot puts into question if the #1 slot is even in the future for When I Was Your Man. The Lumineers crack into the Top 3 this week, knocking Suit & Tie back a spot to #4, with Mumford & Sons holding steady and rounding out the Top 5. There's not much movement in the rest of the Top 10, with the biggest exception being Can't Hold Us, which moves up a whopping six spots to #10, and this one certainly looks poised to make a strong run on the chart. Further down the chart, Frank Turner continues to move up, with Recovery moving to #15. This song continues to grow catchier with each listen, and that could mean good things in the long term. Finally, rounding out this week's list are two new songs, with The Last Royals checking in at #18 and Tim McGraw cracking at #20. Both songs could flame out by next week, but both could also end making a run up the chart, and it will be interesting to see which is the case.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Baseball Pre-Season Predictions
The world of baseball is gearing up right now, with spring training in full force and the 3rd World Baseball Classic in its second round (And with the USA and the Dominican Republic continuing to look like the two teams to face off in the finals...hopefully!). It's also gearing up in my head, with fantasy baseball preparation going strong. After adding two new teams to my league and holding an expansion draft last month, selecting keepers (And, as league manager, keeping track of everyone else's), our draft to fill our rosters is about 10 days away.
All of this stuff combines into one of those fun times of any sports pre-season: Prediction time. I've got my opinions, and I'm going to share them. I'm going to go somewhat in-depth, give some reasoning behind picks, maybe even make a few bold predictions. Hopefully the baseball fans among you will enjoy!
Let's start it off with the division predictions (And yes, I did records and made sure they matched up with the actual number of games that will be played across the league this season):
Detroit: 95-67
Kansas City: 85-77
Cleveland: 82-80
Minnesota: 76-86
Chicago: 70-92
The thought process: Detroit has arguably the best starting rotation in the majors, and they have a lineup that is potentially devastating 1 through 9 (If nothing else, the 1 through 5 is ridiculous). Meanwhile, Kansas City is that team that keeps looking like they're going to take a step forward. I think this is the year they do it, and finally contend for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Cleveland's offense looks to be enough to carry them to a respectable record, but I think their rotation puts them out of any real playoff consideration. And when it comes to Minnesota and Chicago, I just don't see either team really competing this season, and I think Chicago is one Chris Sale injury away from dropping a ton of games this season (And I kind of built that into my prediction).
AL East
Tampa Bay: 92-70
Toronto: 91-71
Baltimore: 88-75
New York: 78-84
Boston: 74-88
The thought process: On paper, this is the strongest division in baseball. And it will be, at least at the top. Starting at the botttom, though, the two teams who have been on top for so long look like the ones on the outside looking in this year. Boston fell apart last season, and they're still in rebuilding mode. They will be a stronger team in years to come, but this is not their year. New York...well, they're already showing that they have no depth. This could be a very bad season for the Yanks, and, if you're a fan, it doesn't look like it will be getting better anytime soon. On the high end of the division, Baltimore, Tampa and Toronto all look like strong teams this year. Toronto made the biggest moves, but I think it's Tampa's pitching and defense that leads them to their second division title in team history.
AL West
Los Angeles: 89-73
Oakland: 83-79
Seattle: 82-80
Texas: 77-85
Houston: 65-97
The thought process: This division holds what are probably three of my boldest calls. First, I don't see Houston losing 100 games, which seems pretty bold based on the projections. Second, I see Seattle having a good season. They've slowly been building up some really good depth, and they could become a playoff contender this season, at least when September begins. Finally, I see Texas falling off this season. Three straight heartbreaking seasons, losing their biggest player this off-season to arguably their biggest rival right now...it's a recipe for disaster. Oakland looks like a team that will probably drop off just a touch, but will still compete. But the Angels, with a full season of Trout and Pujols coming off his worst season (He can't do worse...right?) look like the team to beat in the division this year.
NL East
Washington: 100-62
Atlanta: 91-71
New York: 79-83
Miami: 74-88
Philadelphia: 73-89
The thought process: Washington looks like the only real competitor to Detroit for "best team" language, and they may arguably be better. With a young, incredibly strong lineup and rotation, this team is just so good. Atlanta looks great, too, but I don't see them being a match for Washington. The rest of this division? Ugh. New York looks like the best of the bunch, but Miami and Philly both look like teams that need to go back to the drawing board.
NL Central
Pittsburgh: 89-73
Cincinnati: 84-78
Milwaukee: 79-83
St. Louis: 76-86
Chicago: 66-96
The thought process: Pittsburgh has been on this path the last couple of years where they do great and then fall apart in the second half or last two months of the season. This is the season I think they keep it together (It's also a preview of one of the individual awards). Cincy looks strong, but Dusty Baker still scares me. I can easily see one of his pitchers (Aroldis Chapman) going down this season from overuse or poor use, and if the offense slumps, they're done. Milwaukee is another one of those teams that, frankly, I just don't believe in. They're probably the team most likely to prove me wrong, but I just don't trust their lineup. Same goes for St. Louis. And Chicago is still in rebuilding mode. Give Theo a little more time.
NL West
Los Angeles: 85-77
Arizona: 83-79
San Francisco: 83-79
San Diego: 82-80
Colorado: 60-102
The thought process: Colorado has no shot. Outside of that, this division looks really even. Even with the Dodgers spending barrels of money, they don't look good enough to run away with anything. I think they take the division, but it won't be by much, and it will be tough. Arizona and Frisco both look tough. And Diego could surprise some people this season. Their team could be better than they look on paper.
All of this stuff combines into one of those fun times of any sports pre-season: Prediction time. I've got my opinions, and I'm going to share them. I'm going to go somewhat in-depth, give some reasoning behind picks, maybe even make a few bold predictions. Hopefully the baseball fans among you will enjoy!
Let's start it off with the division predictions (And yes, I did records and made sure they matched up with the actual number of games that will be played across the league this season):
The Regular Season
AL CentralDetroit: 95-67
Kansas City: 85-77
Cleveland: 82-80
Minnesota: 76-86
Chicago: 70-92
The thought process: Detroit has arguably the best starting rotation in the majors, and they have a lineup that is potentially devastating 1 through 9 (If nothing else, the 1 through 5 is ridiculous). Meanwhile, Kansas City is that team that keeps looking like they're going to take a step forward. I think this is the year they do it, and finally contend for a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Cleveland's offense looks to be enough to carry them to a respectable record, but I think their rotation puts them out of any real playoff consideration. And when it comes to Minnesota and Chicago, I just don't see either team really competing this season, and I think Chicago is one Chris Sale injury away from dropping a ton of games this season (And I kind of built that into my prediction).
AL East
Tampa Bay: 92-70
Toronto: 91-71
Baltimore: 88-75
New York: 78-84
Boston: 74-88
The thought process: On paper, this is the strongest division in baseball. And it will be, at least at the top. Starting at the botttom, though, the two teams who have been on top for so long look like the ones on the outside looking in this year. Boston fell apart last season, and they're still in rebuilding mode. They will be a stronger team in years to come, but this is not their year. New York...well, they're already showing that they have no depth. This could be a very bad season for the Yanks, and, if you're a fan, it doesn't look like it will be getting better anytime soon. On the high end of the division, Baltimore, Tampa and Toronto all look like strong teams this year. Toronto made the biggest moves, but I think it's Tampa's pitching and defense that leads them to their second division title in team history.
AL West
Los Angeles: 89-73
Oakland: 83-79
Seattle: 82-80
Texas: 77-85
Houston: 65-97
The thought process: This division holds what are probably three of my boldest calls. First, I don't see Houston losing 100 games, which seems pretty bold based on the projections. Second, I see Seattle having a good season. They've slowly been building up some really good depth, and they could become a playoff contender this season, at least when September begins. Finally, I see Texas falling off this season. Three straight heartbreaking seasons, losing their biggest player this off-season to arguably their biggest rival right now...it's a recipe for disaster. Oakland looks like a team that will probably drop off just a touch, but will still compete. But the Angels, with a full season of Trout and Pujols coming off his worst season (He can't do worse...right?) look like the team to beat in the division this year.
NL East
Washington: 100-62
Atlanta: 91-71
New York: 79-83
Miami: 74-88
Philadelphia: 73-89
The thought process: Washington looks like the only real competitor to Detroit for "best team" language, and they may arguably be better. With a young, incredibly strong lineup and rotation, this team is just so good. Atlanta looks great, too, but I don't see them being a match for Washington. The rest of this division? Ugh. New York looks like the best of the bunch, but Miami and Philly both look like teams that need to go back to the drawing board.
NL Central
Pittsburgh: 89-73
Cincinnati: 84-78
Milwaukee: 79-83
St. Louis: 76-86
Chicago: 66-96
The thought process: Pittsburgh has been on this path the last couple of years where they do great and then fall apart in the second half or last two months of the season. This is the season I think they keep it together (It's also a preview of one of the individual awards). Cincy looks strong, but Dusty Baker still scares me. I can easily see one of his pitchers (Aroldis Chapman) going down this season from overuse or poor use, and if the offense slumps, they're done. Milwaukee is another one of those teams that, frankly, I just don't believe in. They're probably the team most likely to prove me wrong, but I just don't trust their lineup. Same goes for St. Louis. And Chicago is still in rebuilding mode. Give Theo a little more time.
NL West
Los Angeles: 85-77
Arizona: 83-79
San Francisco: 83-79
San Diego: 82-80
Colorado: 60-102
The thought process: Colorado has no shot. Outside of that, this division looks really even. Even with the Dodgers spending barrels of money, they don't look good enough to run away with anything. I think they take the division, but it won't be by much, and it will be tough. Arizona and Frisco both look tough. And Diego could surprise some people this season. Their team could be better than they look on paper.
The Playoffs
Wild Card Round
Toronto over Baltimore
Atlanta over Cincinnati
Division Round
Detroit over Toronto in 4
Tampa Bay over Los Angeles in 5
Washington over Atlanta in 5
Los Angeles over Pittsburgh in 4
Conference Championship
Detroit over Tampa Bay in 6
Washington over Los Angeles in 5
World Series
Detroit over Washington in 6
The thought process: Detroit and Washington look to be the best of the best in their respective leagues. The potential for a Verlander/Strasburg match-up in the World Series would be ridiculously awesome. Which means it probably won't happen. But I'm going to call it anyway.
The Awards
AL MVP
#1: Mike Trout, LAA
#2: Prince Fielder, Det
NL MVP
#1: Andrew McCutchen, Pit
#2: Bryce Harper, Was
AL Cy Young
#1: Justin Verlander, Det
#2: James Shields, KC
NL Cy Young
#1: Stephen Strasburg, Was
#2: Clayton Kershaw, LAD
AL Rookie of the Year
#1: Lenoys Martin, Tex
#2: Trevor Bauer, Cle
NL Rookie of the Year
#1: Adam Eaton, Ari
#2: Jedd Gyorko, SD
The thought process: I believe in Trout, and I don't see him dropping off this season. I think he battles another Detroit player for the award this year, with Fielder putting forward a monster season. But a full season of Trout is going to be ridiculous (Don't be shocked if he hits 40 HRs and steals 50 bases), and I think he gets the award this year. On the NL side, with my Pittsburgh prediction comes the idea that McCutchen proves he is a superstar, and I think he gets a well-deserved MVP this season. But I also think Harper comes up huge this year, too. Great, young talent is in the league right now.
When it comes to the Cy Young, I won't say "it's already decided," but there are definitely two favorites, and they are Verlander and Strasburg. When it comes to JV, he really should be going after his third straight, but I think he pulls out his second in three years after another season flirting with 25 wins. Strasburg could easily do the same in the NL. And as far as the #2s? I think the Shields trade will be a really good thing for Kansas City, at least in the short term. He gets strong Cy considerations for bringing the Royals back to contention. And Clayton Kershaw is still the best pitcher on the Dodgers. He is a perennial Cy Young candidate.
Finally, the rookies. In the AL, I'm going to go with a Rangers rookie, but not the rookie everyone's talking about. Profar could be great, but he may not even make the Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, the departure of Josh Hamilton may spell doom for the Rangers as a whole, but it does a great thing for Lenoys Martin. With limited potential breakout candidates in the AL, I think a full season could be the thing that seals it for Martin. Meanwhile, I think Bauer ends up having a solid season in Cleveland and proves to be the prospect Arizona originally thought they had (Also, I wouldn't be shocked if Wil Myers came up and stole this thing away if he gets called up in May, but if Tampa waits (Like they tend to do), I don't think he can get there). In the NL, there's a lot of potential. Shelby Miller could do great things in St. Louis. And, my #2, Jedd Gyorko, could prove very valuable in San Diego. But I think it's Adam Eaton, another Opening Day starter (It seems) that should take it as Arizona competes for a playoff spot. If he gets on base, he should have some pretty good stats out of the leadoff spot.
#1: Justin Verlander, Det
#2: James Shields, KC
NL Cy Young
#1: Stephen Strasburg, Was
#2: Clayton Kershaw, LAD
AL Rookie of the Year
#1: Lenoys Martin, Tex
#2: Trevor Bauer, Cle
NL Rookie of the Year
#1: Adam Eaton, Ari
#2: Jedd Gyorko, SD
The thought process: I believe in Trout, and I don't see him dropping off this season. I think he battles another Detroit player for the award this year, with Fielder putting forward a monster season. But a full season of Trout is going to be ridiculous (Don't be shocked if he hits 40 HRs and steals 50 bases), and I think he gets the award this year. On the NL side, with my Pittsburgh prediction comes the idea that McCutchen proves he is a superstar, and I think he gets a well-deserved MVP this season. But I also think Harper comes up huge this year, too. Great, young talent is in the league right now.
When it comes to the Cy Young, I won't say "it's already decided," but there are definitely two favorites, and they are Verlander and Strasburg. When it comes to JV, he really should be going after his third straight, but I think he pulls out his second in three years after another season flirting with 25 wins. Strasburg could easily do the same in the NL. And as far as the #2s? I think the Shields trade will be a really good thing for Kansas City, at least in the short term. He gets strong Cy considerations for bringing the Royals back to contention. And Clayton Kershaw is still the best pitcher on the Dodgers. He is a perennial Cy Young candidate.
Finally, the rookies. In the AL, I'm going to go with a Rangers rookie, but not the rookie everyone's talking about. Profar could be great, but he may not even make the Opening Day roster. Meanwhile, the departure of Josh Hamilton may spell doom for the Rangers as a whole, but it does a great thing for Lenoys Martin. With limited potential breakout candidates in the AL, I think a full season could be the thing that seals it for Martin. Meanwhile, I think Bauer ends up having a solid season in Cleveland and proves to be the prospect Arizona originally thought they had (Also, I wouldn't be shocked if Wil Myers came up and stole this thing away if he gets called up in May, but if Tampa waits (Like they tend to do), I don't think he can get there). In the NL, there's a lot of potential. Shelby Miller could do great things in St. Louis. And, my #2, Jedd Gyorko, could prove very valuable in San Diego. But I think it's Adam Eaton, another Opening Day starter (It seems) that should take it as Arizona competes for a playoff spot. If he gets on base, he should have some pretty good stats out of the leadoff spot.
The Conclusion
All in all, I think 2013 is going to be a great season. If we get a Detroit/Washington World Series, I believe we'll one of the better series in recent memory. But, as always, I think we're going to get some very surprising good (And bad) teams this season, and it will be interesting to see how everything plays out.
I'll be updating as the baseball season goes along, both about actual baseball and, of course, my fantasy league (It's time to gear up for a run at back-to-back championships!). If you enjoy baseball, I hope you will enjoy these updates!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Blogging Raw: March 11, 2013
Here we go:
00:02 Great tribute to Paul Bearer. One of the most well-liked individuals in WWE history (They say you couldn't find someone who would take bad about Moody in a business where everyone gets talked bad about).
00:06 The Undertaker tribute keeps it going. Classy WWE here.
00:07 And we get the easy heel heat from CM Punk. It always works well.
00:10 I said it last week, I'll say it again: CM Punk is the one guy in the company who could get a massive benefit from beating the streak. It probably won't happen, but would be interesting.
00:14 Smart move. Getting Kane involved in the Paul Bearer stuff and setting up a Punk/Kane match...should be good.
00:15 I know I probably won't actually get to see much of this, but I want to see some good singles action from Rollins tonight. The Shield can work.
00:19 Well, that's about right. Two minutes of wrestling before a gang assault. I know, I know, they're building to a Mania match. I get it.
00:20 Come on, Shield...John Cena can hit the AA on Show with no problem; you have an issue just getting him up for a triple powerbomb? Ah well, they hit it anyway.
00:23 Yes! Yes! Yes!
00:23 Bryan VS Ziggler? Oh, I say it again...Yes! Yes! Yes!
00:30 I wish these two would get more time than they're actually going to get. The one nice thing about the post-Wrestlemania stuff is that we'll finally (Hopefully) get back to building some of these higher mid-level guys into main eventers.
00:37 Daniel Bryan is awesome.
00:38 Is there any doubt that Ziggler is the WWE workhorse right now? I really hope they give him an extended championship run as they did with Bryan.
00:41 It sucks for it to come at the expense of Daniel Bryan, but that was a great win by Ziggler. They need to re-establish him as a threat. And please, please let him cash in at Wrestlemania. Just saying.
00:50 Yep, Clay and Tensai...we're skipping this one.
00:51 The gimmick may be silly, but I still want to see Fahn-Dahn----Goooo...wrestle.
00:55 The only way you can get The Rock on this week..a movie preview for which WWE has no vested interest.
1:00 Nice job, Rhodes Scholars. Made me chuckle.
1:05 I guess if you're going to utilize the New Age Outlaws, why not have Lesnar kick the crap out of them?
1:09 Well, it's a good thing Lesnar's okay with Heyman as his mouthpiece, because he's the only one who can get Lesnar over verbally.
1:15 Remember when Kofi wasn't used as a jobber? Yeah, me either.
1:18 Michael Cole, if you felt the force of that kick, you have a serious medical issue that you should probably get checked out.
1:20 Ah, the Bellas...oh, that's right, no one cares.
1:27 Oh, come on...Ryback VS Heath Slater? Moving on.
1:38 Cesaro is solid. Del Rio has a simple style, but he's also solid. This should be a good match.
1:43 Like I said, solid match so far. Looks like it'll be a short one, but good nonetheless.
1:45 The right outcome. Doesn't necessarily make the US Championship look amazing, but you can't have your WHC lose a match like that.
1:46 Kane is selling it well, though I'm sure it's not hard to "sell it" in what has to be a very emotional moment right now.
1:52 Really, though? We're going to fill our time with more replays? Well, again, I guess this is the only way to get Rock on TV this week.
2:02 This could be a sneaky good match. You've got two established competitors against two continue-to-be up-and-comers. All four seem to be able to work pretty well.
2:10 Strong match, strong finish. Can't complain about this one.
2:16 I do appreciate that they've given Paul Bearer much respect tonight.
2:18 Y2J...one of the greats. He's so good, he can disappear for months, reappear and not miss a beat. Oh yeah, and he can talk too.
2:19 Welcome to Raw...Is...Jericho!
2:20 Doesn't really matter what happened to the Jeritron 6000, all that matters is how well Y2J can take it in stride and turn it into a joke.
2:24 Come on...Jericho is hilarious!
2:25 Won't happen, but I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Jericho make it 10.
2:26 Well, with Brad Maddox out here, you may be right, Michael Cole...worst segment ever? Perhaps.
2:36 Predictable finish, but that's alright. Still a good match.
2:44 No desire to see Swagger/Cara. Sorry.
2:59 So either they're going past 3:05 or we're getting a very quick main event. Annoying either way.
3:09 I'm sorry, I love a Punk match, but it's ridiculous to me that Raw has to go 3 hours at all, let alone we're now going to "overtime." Come on WWE, stop putting a bunch of filler crap in the way and start getting done on time. Better yet, go back to two hours. This is where you show how bad of a move 3 hours can truly be.
3:12 Chokeslam to DDT counter. Nicely done.
3:13 Punk's roundhouse kick is just awesome. It looks like a knockout every time.
3:14 Beaten by the gong.
3:15 Yep, that's the way to use this death and put it into the storyline. Well done on that one, WWE. You could still could have done that in two hours, though.
00:02 Great tribute to Paul Bearer. One of the most well-liked individuals in WWE history (They say you couldn't find someone who would take bad about Moody in a business where everyone gets talked bad about).
00:06 The Undertaker tribute keeps it going. Classy WWE here.
00:07 And we get the easy heel heat from CM Punk. It always works well.
00:10 I said it last week, I'll say it again: CM Punk is the one guy in the company who could get a massive benefit from beating the streak. It probably won't happen, but would be interesting.
00:14 Smart move. Getting Kane involved in the Paul Bearer stuff and setting up a Punk/Kane match...should be good.
00:15 I know I probably won't actually get to see much of this, but I want to see some good singles action from Rollins tonight. The Shield can work.
00:19 Well, that's about right. Two minutes of wrestling before a gang assault. I know, I know, they're building to a Mania match. I get it.
00:20 Come on, Shield...John Cena can hit the AA on Show with no problem; you have an issue just getting him up for a triple powerbomb? Ah well, they hit it anyway.
00:23 Yes! Yes! Yes!
00:23 Bryan VS Ziggler? Oh, I say it again...Yes! Yes! Yes!
00:30 I wish these two would get more time than they're actually going to get. The one nice thing about the post-Wrestlemania stuff is that we'll finally (Hopefully) get back to building some of these higher mid-level guys into main eventers.
00:37 Daniel Bryan is awesome.
00:38 Is there any doubt that Ziggler is the WWE workhorse right now? I really hope they give him an extended championship run as they did with Bryan.
00:41 It sucks for it to come at the expense of Daniel Bryan, but that was a great win by Ziggler. They need to re-establish him as a threat. And please, please let him cash in at Wrestlemania. Just saying.
00:50 Yep, Clay and Tensai...we're skipping this one.
00:51 The gimmick may be silly, but I still want to see Fahn-Dahn----Goooo...wrestle.
00:55 The only way you can get The Rock on this week..a movie preview for which WWE has no vested interest.
1:00 Nice job, Rhodes Scholars. Made me chuckle.
1:05 I guess if you're going to utilize the New Age Outlaws, why not have Lesnar kick the crap out of them?
1:09 Well, it's a good thing Lesnar's okay with Heyman as his mouthpiece, because he's the only one who can get Lesnar over verbally.
1:15 Remember when Kofi wasn't used as a jobber? Yeah, me either.
1:18 Michael Cole, if you felt the force of that kick, you have a serious medical issue that you should probably get checked out.
1:20 Ah, the Bellas...oh, that's right, no one cares.
1:27 Oh, come on...Ryback VS Heath Slater? Moving on.
1:38 Cesaro is solid. Del Rio has a simple style, but he's also solid. This should be a good match.
1:43 Like I said, solid match so far. Looks like it'll be a short one, but good nonetheless.
1:45 The right outcome. Doesn't necessarily make the US Championship look amazing, but you can't have your WHC lose a match like that.
1:46 Kane is selling it well, though I'm sure it's not hard to "sell it" in what has to be a very emotional moment right now.
1:52 Really, though? We're going to fill our time with more replays? Well, again, I guess this is the only way to get Rock on TV this week.
2:02 This could be a sneaky good match. You've got two established competitors against two continue-to-be up-and-comers. All four seem to be able to work pretty well.
2:10 Strong match, strong finish. Can't complain about this one.
2:16 I do appreciate that they've given Paul Bearer much respect tonight.
2:18 Y2J...one of the greats. He's so good, he can disappear for months, reappear and not miss a beat. Oh yeah, and he can talk too.
2:19 Welcome to Raw...Is...Jericho!
2:20 Doesn't really matter what happened to the Jeritron 6000, all that matters is how well Y2J can take it in stride and turn it into a joke.
2:24 Come on...Jericho is hilarious!
2:25 Won't happen, but I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Jericho make it 10.
2:26 Well, with Brad Maddox out here, you may be right, Michael Cole...worst segment ever? Perhaps.
2:36 Predictable finish, but that's alright. Still a good match.
2:44 No desire to see Swagger/Cara. Sorry.
2:59 So either they're going past 3:05 or we're getting a very quick main event. Annoying either way.
3:09 I'm sorry, I love a Punk match, but it's ridiculous to me that Raw has to go 3 hours at all, let alone we're now going to "overtime." Come on WWE, stop putting a bunch of filler crap in the way and start getting done on time. Better yet, go back to two hours. This is where you show how bad of a move 3 hours can truly be.
3:12 Chokeslam to DDT counter. Nicely done.
3:13 Punk's roundhouse kick is just awesome. It looks like a knockout every time.
3:14 Beaten by the gong.
3:15 Yep, that's the way to use this death and put it into the storyline. Well done on that one, WWE. You could still could have done that in two hours, though.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Top 20 Singles: Week of March 11, 2013
1. Radioactive-Imagine Dragons (New #1)
2. When I Was Your Man-Bruno Mars
3. Suit & Tie-Justin Timberlake (Feat. Jay-Z)
4. Stubborn Love-The Lumineers
5. Lover Of The Light-Mumford & Sons
6. Restore-Chris August
7. Between The Raindrops-Lifehouse (Feat. Natasha Bedingfield)
8. Carry On-Fun.
9. Mountain Sound-Of Monsters & Men
10. Hero-Family Of The Year
11. Surprise, Surprise-Billy Talent
12. 22-Taylor Swift
13. Eye On It-tobyMac (Feat. Britt Nicole)
14. I Knew You Were Trouble-Taylor Swift
15. Mama's Broken Heart-Miranda Lambert
16. Can't Hold Us-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
17. Before I Die-Papa Roach
18. Recovery-Frank Turner
19. Bruises-Train (feat. Ashley Monroe)
20. Back To Life-3Oh!3
Biggest Mover: Restore (Up 3)
Highest Debut: Can't Hold Us (#16)
This week's chart sees a new #1, as Imagine Dragons jumps above Bruno Mars to take the top spot this week. Mars holds steady at #2, meaning that, after two weeks on top, Justin Timberlake drops to 3rd this week. The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons and Chris August all make strides toward the top this week as well, and all three looked poised for a potential run at that top spot. A bit further down the chart, Hero cracks the top 10 this week, and this is a song that could be a dark horse for a top spot run. If nothing else, it seems poised to crack the top 5 soon. And, finally, the week's biggest debut comes courtesy of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. After the massive popularity of Thrift Shop, something equally catch is going to be needed to follow it up, and I personally feel they've made the right choice in bringing back a former single in Can't Hold Us. This one already feels like a song that will be making a strong bid for the #1 spot and, depending on the competition at the time, it has the potential for a multi-week run. This is definitely a song to keep an eye on.
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