Jim Thome.... HOFer?

First off, Congratulations Jim Thome.

That is a great milestone and something you should definitely be proud of.  I know the talk has to come up about considering Jim Thome for the hall of fame but can't he just enjoy this moment and the highlight reel of home runs that will be shown on the major sports networks.  Why does the talk immediately have to go to, "Is Jim Thome a hall of famer?"  Even worse is that because of the "Steroid Era" of baseball the guy cannot even be praised without the notion of possible steroid use.  Let's just enjoy this moment of a guy reaching a milestone that only 7 other people have achieved in over 100 years of baseball. 

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Ok that is enough reveling in this achievement.  As a sports fan I cannot help but breakdown this argument.  First off this idea of a hall of fame.  By it's designation the hall of fame should have anyone or anything related to baseball that is famous or infamous.  Fame by definition is "widespread reputation, renown, public eminance" (Dictionary.com).  BTW its funny how typing fame into a search engine gives about a page and a half of links unrelated to the english word fame or its meaning or definition.  Is Jim Thome "renown" or have a "widespread reputation"?  Can we blame him for not being linked to the steroid conversation or for not having a polarizing personality?  I say no.  He quietly reached this milestone and that should not be a knock on his eligibility for the hall.

I believe that not being elite or a standout at any particular position will be a criticism when considering Thome for the hall of fame.  From my understanding he was a third and first baseman and then a DH.  I will not do it here but I could probably list at least five people in each of those positions that could be considered elite at those positions.  Does that mean Thome is not worthy of the hall of fame?  No.  But then the idea that people talk about then is "Well with the statistical performance Thome should be in the hall of fame, but he will probably be a Third or Fourth ballot hall of famer."

This is something that bothers me.  Why should it take so many chances for a retired player to be considered into the hall of fame.  Have the stats or performance changed at all?  Not to my knowledge.  But there is this unspoken code that nobody should ever be a 100 percent voted HOFer or his stats are good but lets belittle this accomplishment by putting this player in on his third chance?  REALLY?  Now are there some non-first ballot HOFers I believe should still be in.  Yes!  But I also believe they should have been considered from the first ballot.  The most recent being Bert Blyleven.  I feel he should have been in the hall long ago.  Blyleven has well over 3000 k's, nearly every outing was a complete game, and he had a wicked curveball.  But for the average fan, other than helping the Minnesota Twins win the 1987 World Series most people would not even know the name.  Especially on a team where the iconic figure was Kirby Puckett.  Back to Thome, is he a first ballot HOFer?  I say yes, but based on statistics.

Another argument that I have actually considered came from Colin Cowherd.  I was listening to the Herd on my local affiliate and Cowherd was explaining the idea that of the 8 guys in the 600 club, 5 of them reached the milestone after the year 2000.  This had to do with guys becoming naturally (and for some synthetically) stronger and bigger, pitchers throwing up to 10 mph faster than before 1980, and having a lower mound and some homer friendly parks.  I have to agree that this makes the feat a little less glamourous, but if you look at the next guys who are realistically is reach of hitting 600, only Pujols and Andruw Jones are in striking distance.  Pujols currently has 437 and is 31 years old.  If Pujols averages 35 hrs a season it would still take 5 seasons to hit that mark.  Definitely within reach.  A. Jones is 34 and has 414 hrs.  He realisitically has 5-6 years left and would have to hit about 32-39 hrs a season.  Possible but a little less probable.  Vlad Guerrero is in the conversation but his HR production has been on the decline and would need 40 HRs a year to hit 600 by his 40 bday.  Not likely to happen.

I believe of the active players, taking into account age and current total that only 4 players are realistically within reach of 600; Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Howard, Prince Fielder, and (wait for it) Mark Teixeira.  Now I am not a total stat geek and will not take the time to fully analyze this statistic (unless someone paid me for it =D) but thats only a total of 6 by my could who could make the 600 club.  And there is no guarantee any of these guys will reach that total, except for maybe Pujols.  I believe Thome should be considered for the Hall of Fame and it should be on a first ballot.  But I would almost guarantee that he will not make it until his 3 or 4th ballot.

What's your take?

So You Think You Can Dance... My love and hate relationship with it.

As a fan of dance I feel that SYTYCD gets the idea of a reality competition show correct.  There are two major components that SYTYCD does that other shows, mainly American Idol, just don't do.  First is that SYTYCD looks for America's "Favorite" dancer while AI looks for the "Next pop star".  Second, the show's elimination process is still controlled by the judges, before it was until the top 10 but this season they did it all the up to the finale.

These two points are very important in making SYTYCD a successful show.  By looking for America's favorite dancer there is no pressure to necessarily have the best performers make it from week to week.  Also this eliminates some of the critique that "the wrong person won the competition".  One example of this is in season four I felt that Will was just such a talented dancer and performed the hell out of each routine.  However Will did not even make the finale and Joshua won that season.  Am I upset? No! Again take season six where Russell won the competition.  I personally felt that Jakob and Kathryn were better dancers and better performers but I don't feel any anger or frustration with the decision.  And with this season, Melanie won the competition (Congrats Melanie!), however I felt Tadd was my favorite dancer and I'm not upset about the decision.

With AI there is just too much pressure to become the Next American Idol.  If I were too look back at the ten seasons of American Idol, I feel that Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jordin Sparks have actually been successful enough as "American Idols".  If fact there are probably more successful non-winners than actual winners.  I believe Clay Aiken has had more success and popularity than Ruben Studdard, Katherine McPhee and Daughtry over Taylor Hicks, Jennifer Hudson over Fantasia,  Archuleta over Cook, Adam Lambert over Kris Allen, and even Bowersox over DeWyze.  I was upset that Katherine McPhee lost in the finale.  Same with Clay Aiken.  It's hard to say that someone will become an American Idol, but it is not so difficult to call someone their favorite dancer.

Secondly, SYTYCD has the elimination process correct.  America gets to vote but the judges decide from the bottom 3 who gets eliminated.  Some may argue that it gives to much power to the judges and takes it away from the people.  I say that I would rather see the more talented or entertaining person make it through to the next week rather than squirm everytime someone who is not as talented as the rest of the competition try to perform at that level.  It also puts some responsibility on these people who are called judges.  They are not just giving criticism to a performance. 

Now let's reflect on AI.  AI narrows the field down to a top something (it has changed formats from season to season) and then leaves it to the voters to determine who heads home.  It sounds like a great plan to put the power into the hands of the people.  But there have many times in my mind where the wrong person got sent home.  Now I know that AI has recently put in a "Judges Save" that they could use one per season but it still doesn't make up for some of the unfortunate voting results.  All the back to season one, I feel that Kelly Clarkson was the clear winner (something that I felt from the first auditions) but I feel that Tamyra Gray was let go too early.  Did anyone think Justin would beat Kelly?  But if Tamyra was there, it could have been a little more dramatic.  Then again in season 3 to have Jennifer Hudson be eliminated at top 7, over finalists Diana DeGarmo and Jasmine Trias. Really?  Then again in Season 7 with Carly Smithson being booted before David Castro or Brooke White.  I'm sure there are others but these are the three that stand out. 

While I have been tooting the horn of SYTYCD in this post, there are some critiques I have that I hope they can implement for next season.  Firstly is Nigel leading the audience.  I think it's fair when he says a performance in not good but when he makes a comment such as "I believe a girl will win this season", it could have a strong effect on the audience voting.  Secondly is challenging the dancers.  Clearly a dancer will perform and shine when given a genre that is close to their practice, but mix it up a little.  If we just look at the finalists and what genres they had to perform.  (I am focusing only on the paired dancing)

Melanie - Contemporary (20), Jazz (20), Hip-hop (16), Jazz (14), Tango/Contemporary (12), Viennese   Waltz (10), Contemporary/Jazz (8), Hip-Hop/Broadway (6), Disco/Contemporary/Jazz/Contemporary (4).

Sasha - Contemporary (20), Hip-Hop (20), Contemporary (16), Hip-Hop (14), Paso Doble/Jazz (12), Hip-Hop (10), Quick-Step/Jazz (8), Contemporary/Waacking (6), Jazz/Broadway/Cha-Cha-Cha/ Contemporary (4)

Marko - Same as Melanie up to top 10 - Samba (10), Contemporary/Hip-Hop (8), Paso Doble/Lyrical Jazz (6), Disco/Broadway/Contemporary/Stepping (4)

Tadd - African Jazz (20), Viennese Waltz (20), Hip-Hop (16), Smooth Waltz (14), Contemporary/Broadway (12), Hip-Hop (10), Jazz/Foxtrot (8), Jazz/Broadway (6), Hip-Hop/Jazz/Cha-Cha-Cha/Stepping (5)

So if this were broken down
Melanie, a contemporary dancer, had 5 routines in her style, 5 more broadway and jazz, 2 ballroom and 1 disco.
Sasha, a contemporary dancer, had 4 routines in her style, 4 more broadway and jazz, 3 ballroom and 1 waacking.
Marko, a contemporary dancer, had 4 routines in his style, 4 more broadway and jazz, 3 ballroom and 1 disco.
Tadd, A B-Boy, had 0 in his style, 3 hip-hop routines, and one step routine.  4 routines were ballroom.

Obviously Melanie will look the best because of her routines, she had the most that were in her style or close to it (I am no expert in dance and I know that contemporary is different from broadway and jazz, but there are a lot of similarities in my eye.  I would love to have an expert correct me and school me in the differences).  Sasha and Marko had their own challenges but Tadd did not have one routine in his style.  He was constantly challenged by doing contemporary, jazz, broadway, and he had the most ballroom routines out of the finalists.

While I understand that the choosing of styles is random, and most of the dancers in this competition are contemporary or jazz dancers, there should be some control over the randomness of routines.  It may lead to some poorly performed routines but it endearing to see a performer be challenged and rise to the occasion.  Maybe if a performer gets a style thats similar to their specific genre, make sure the next week is obviously different.  Example: Performer is contemporary and has contemporary, jazz, or broadway, then the following week they should have to do some form of ballroom.  I know there is no exact formula for this and maybe Nigel has thought of this also, but I feel that Tadd was challenged every step of the way and was never really given a dance that we would expect him to thrive (minus hip hop).

It was another great season of SYTYCD.  A very talented cast but it felt predictable regarding who would make the finale and win.  The end of SYTYCD also means it is nearing the end of summer.  Hooray for network television coming back in full swing.

Katy Perry Concert 8/7/11 at NOKIA Theatre

I attended the Katy Perry - California Dreams Tour 2011 on Sunday, August 7, 2011 and Katy should have really named the tour "The Candyfornia Dreams Tour 2011"  It truly was a confectionery dream.  Everywhere you looked it was cotton candy, gummy bears, gingerbread men, and all the teeny-boppers in the LA county.  Katy has strung off four, and maybe soon enough, five number one hits off her Teenage Dream album so hearing she sold out all three shows in LA to kick off her tour was not a surprise.  What was a surprise was the experience I was about to receive from this concert.

I was informed through email that the Meet and Greet would be before the doors open at 7pm.  It actually didn’t start until closer to 745pm.  Seeing so many people dressed up as Katy Perry (i.e. wigs, short dresses) or having Katy Perry apparel on was entertaining.  There were 12 foot backdrops of Katy for people to take pictures in front of.  People were dressed up as gummy bears and even the tour manager come out for a bit (I was informed of this by a staff member of the Orange County Register).  

As I am directed into the theatre, metal detectors and the customary guy with the metal sensor wand.  I pass with no problems.  A bunch of us are directed down an escalator and a long hallway with both walls covered with 24” x 24” (I think) photos of previous shows that have taken place at the NOKIA theatre.  As I am waiting to see Katy, people are walking back and forth and I swear one of them looks like Katy’s sister Angela.  She asks a kid if he was a Katy Perry fan, kid does not give back a response but pointed at his parents.  Laughter from everyone.  I start conversing with the security staff and am informed that the room is stocked with candy.  Yay, sugar rush! 

Before I am allowed in, there is one more reminder that there will be NO AUTOGRAPHS, NO PICTURES.  I am finally allowed into the room and can smell the cotton candy in the room.  And I see her.  She looks at me and I give probably the goofiest wave hello I have ever done.  Then I notice that other than the photographer, I am the only other male in the room.  My friend and I are instructed that we are next to take picture with Katy.  I ask if she is Angela, Katy’s sister.  She says yes, asks my name, and comments on being involved every step of the tour and enjoying every minute with her sister.  It was a short but sweet chat with Angela before stepping up to Katy.

Before the picture is taken, Katy says my name.  I am stunned, “how does she know my name?”  Katy comments that she has super hearing.  Smiles.  My friend and I take our picture with her and I ask a couple of questions.  I ask about any interest in getting into acting, as she has already done the Smurfs and was in “Get Him to the Greek” even though the scene was scrapped from the final print.  “Of course I am interested.  It all depends on the timing.  But most importantly, it has to be CREATIVE.”  I thank her for taking the time to meet all her fans.  So the candy is ours to take and I load up on cotton candy, bazooka joe, gummy bears, smarties, ring pops, and a big lollipop.

Directed out of the meet and greet room I make my way into the theatre (my first time ever being there) and it looks huge.  I was escorted to my seats and notice that my seats are probably about 15 rows from the pit area and they are dead center.  I am starving from the long drive and go to concessions and grab a bite and drink.  There are a lot of beautiful people at this show.  I also hear a buzz that many stars are present for this concert.  Exciting.  Well on to the concert.

The show opened up with DJ Skeet Skeet spinning a set of upbeat party songs to get the crowd hyped up.  Given the crowd demographic and their intent to see Katy, I feel like DJ Skeet Skeet should have been an interlude between Robyn and Katy.  DJ Skeet Skeet definitely got the crowd's energy rising and I would be interested in seeing another show where he is spinning.  While this is going on, the two large screens on each side of the stage were shooting tweets of people who were at the show (of course they used a specific hashtag).  I did not tweet because my phone battery was low to begin with and I didn't want that going dead.  DJ Skeet Skeet also informs people that they could download for free a song from the set (can't remember which one).  Great plug and advertising.

The lights dim and  four men who looked dressed to do a paint job for a house walk on stage and take their positions behind their respective instrument.  The stage set up is minimal with a couple of synth kits and a couple of drum kits.  Robyn comes on stage and my immediate thought was, wow with that getup she's wearing it sure looks a lot like P!NK from her earlier years.  Anywho, Robyn does a great just keeping the energy high and her infectuous dance beats had me moving.  You would think Dance and Pop would mix together well but clearly everyone was anticipating Katy, most of the people actually sat throughout the entire Robyn set (I did not!).  I think Robyn's song, "Dancing On My Own", was a perfect track to sum up her performance.  Robyn danced, and boy did she dance, but not even the people in the pit were moving along with her.  This also showed what a great performer Robyn is.  I would probably feel unappreciated by how the audience was not doing anything, but Robyn continued to perform without a break or hitch.  Some other highlights of Robyn's set: She introduced a Baltimore based rapper (sorry I can't remember the name right now) with a flow very similar to Nicki Manaj and Robyn ate a banana on stage and chucked the peeling into the pit.

Second intermission before Katy comes on stage and a Hype crew comes out using an air cannon to shoot T-shirts into the crowd.  Also the Smooch cam is in full effect, catching the full range of couples; young, old, girl/girl, boy/boy, and even boy/boy/boy.  There was even one guy who they caught solo, so he kissed the stage.  The cameraman would pop a thumbs up or down after the Smooch was done.  Then a loud roar comes from the aisleway.  Russel Brand makes his way to his seat.  People try to take pictures of him or with him.  Heck Even I try to do it, I figure why not!  I don't get close enough and the theatre fades to black. (Side Note: For those fans of Victorious and Nickelodeon star Ariana Grande, she was present for the show and looked beautiful with her flowing red hair and huge bow.  In fact she could have passed for Ariel from The Little Mermaid!)

Loud cheers and the monitors play clips of Katy Perry's journey through what appears to be candyland.  It's like a mix of Alice in Wonderland meets the Wizard of Oz.  These videos clips become well placed interludes between songs that allow time for costume changes or stage setup.  Well Katy opens up with Teenage Dream and the place is jumping.  Everyone is out of there seats and Katy Perry delivers. 

For two full hours Katy Perry brings energy, lots of fun, and raw emotion.  For being a sugar filled pop concert, the show had some provocative and maybe not so age appropriate moments (considering a majority of the attendees were probably 14 and under).  From eating a "brownie" that leads to hallucinations, to using gestures during the song "Peacock" (these motions were done while repeating the word cock), to suggestive dancing by her backup dancers when performing "I kissed a girl", this show definitely had some adult content almost as if she understands that there will be adults in the audience and I wanna reach out to them also. 


If fact there were times that Katy did reach out to the audience.  She asked for a man to take off his shirt and join her onstage.  Of course lots of men did take it off, some even tried to throw their shirts on stage.  In the end she chose a thin, but very fit male (undetermined what team he plays for, even Katy said this) and he comes to the stage.  They have a playful chat about his name (it was Victor Do, or Don't, or Dong, or Dunn, not really sure) and she kisses him on the cheek, tells him he has to kiss her back (on the cheek), and then playfully comments that "my husband is in the audience". 

There was a moment during T.G.I.F. (actually thinking it over it might have been during "I wanna dance with somebody") where a gaggle of people were called on stage from the pit.  They all get to dance with her and some took pictures that are probably on their facebook right now.  The girl next to her nearly feinted.  (BTW, she is wearing a Twister themed outfit).  Commentary: I believe the first guy, Victor whatever, was staged and planned because he looked to comfortable and almost waiting to say his lines.  During T.G.I.F, these people were unprepared for what was happening.

There was a moment in the show where Katy strips down...the music and goes acoustic.  She dubbed this segment "Katy-oke".  She covered songs from Big Pimpin, Only Girl, Whip My Hair, and Friday (the Rebecca Black version, not Ice Cube although I would have loved to see that).  What Katy does here that I believe separates her from the other pop stars that are currently out there is she puts on display the vocal range she possesses, the strength behind that voice, and musical talent that she holds.  Katy can definitely hold a tune and doesn't need any type of auto-tuning or studio help for her voice.  I loved this segment of the show a lot and appreciate and respect her for singing sans big production behind her. 

As I said before the show is a two hour non-stop ride.  While there may be some parts where the show slows down, specifically for her ballads, there is not a loss of energy in the building.  Katy had me, and probably most of the audience, captivated and fully engrossed in the show.  For "Thinking of You" Katy steps aboard cotton candy looking cloud and brings herself out above the orchestra level seats and at common level as the orchestra seats.  Again the vocals do not disappoint. 


The show ends with "Firework" with actual fireworks shooting in the theatre.  Of course the show does not end as "California Gurls" was suspiciously missing from the set.  Katy comes back out to a roaring standing ovation and turns the NOKIA theatre into an indoor beach party.  There are huge beach balls bouncing throughout the theatre, Katy grabs a HUGE cannon and shoots what appears to be foam at the audience, and confetti shaped as candy and hearts and filling up the air. 


Anyone who is not a fan of Katy Perry should really consider changing their mind.  You will definitely not go home disappointed from her performance.  Katy shows a full range of vocal talent, shows the playfulness and geniune emotion from her facial expressions and from her interactions with the audience.  Katy even shows us what she can be capable of in regards to acting (not just the video interludes, but also during the live interludes between songs).  She is truly an entertainer and a performer.

 

A quick shout out to the dancers who perform the heck out of Katy's songs.  I personally appreciated when they were introduced using candy and sweet themed songs, such as "I want Candy", "Milkshake", and "Tootsie Roll"