One little victory...

The moment many music geeks have been waiting for is here at last: the Canadian power trio Rush has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I've always thought it was a travesty that they weren't already included and it's a little sad that, after nearly four decades of creating music and selling millions of albums, CDs, eight-tracks, cassettes or DVDs, it took a vote of the fans to get them in. I'm sure they, like me, see the humor in it and they, also like me, probably aren't too concerned with it. Who cares how long the journey takes, as long as you get there, right? This is more for the fans than the band, anyway.

Still, it is long overdue.

Consider, if nothing else, the lyrics. There is always something of substance there, whether it was a sci-fi inspired story such as the epic 2112 or nods to fantasy fiction with songs like The Necromancer and By-Tor and the Snow Dog. And who else would think to combine space travel and mythology, as they did in the 20-minute Hemispheres?

Consider, in no particular order, some of my favorites:

"Life is just a candle and our dreams
must give it flame"
--The Fountain of Lamneth

"Courageous convictions will drag your dreams into existence"
--Vital Signs

"Once we loved the flowers,
now we ask the price of the land
Once we would drink water
but now it must be wine,"
--I Think I'm Going Bald

"Everyone would gather on the 24th of May
sitting in the sands to watch the fireworks display
Dancing fires on the beach,
singing songs together
although it's just a memory
some memories last forever"
--Lakeside Park

"Each of us: a cell of awareness
imperfect and incomplete
genetic blends
with uncertain ends
on a fortune hunt that's far too fleet"
--Freewill

"Some are born to move the world
to live their fantasies
but most of us just dream about
the things we'd like to be
sadder still to watch it die than never to have known it
for you, the blind who once could see,
the bell tolls for thee"
--Losing It

and all of Something For Nothing.

I could go on, of course, but will stop there in the interests of time.

Suffice it to say that it wasn't essential for Rush to be in the hall of fame, but it's a nice little tribute to a musical career that has already meant so much to so many. I'm sure the guys in the band care more about that, anyway.

"Put me in coach; I'm ready to play, today..."

Another baseball season is here and 2013 is another year of high expectations for the Detroit Tigers.

As I write this, they are fresh off an Opening Day victory over the Minnesota Twins, in which I saw some of the same things that irritated me so often in past years: stranded runners, a too-short outing from our staff ace, a cringe-inducing bullpen...but why quibble. A win is a win.

Today, Anibal Sanchez will be on the mound and he is one of the keys to the Tigers' season. He is one of the top prospects for team whipping boy this year. The contract he signed during the off-season was much too lucrative for a guy who has only had one winning season.

I will not claim to be a very well-educated baseball statistician, but here are my thoughts on the upcoming season:

Reasons for concern:

1. The bullpen. Lack of a defined closer is a major issue, no matter what the Tigers' brass is saying about it right now. Manager Jim Leyland said as much early on in spring training when he referred to his preference for a regular 9th inning guy.

2. Sanchez. While his career ERA is a solid 3.75, Sanchez has never topped 13 wins in a single season and has a sub .500 record for his career. Granted, on a team led by Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Doug Fister, he doesn't have to carry a huge load, but with Scherzer's relative inconsistency and Fister's injury troubles last year, he'll be an important—and expensive—cog in the pitching rotation.

3. The bench. Not very deep or talented.

Reasons for optimism:

1. Starting rotation. Yes, there are question marks, but if everyone performs up to their potential and there are no major injuries, the rotation is as good as or better than the starting five on most other clubs. If things go really well, look for Rick Porcello or Drew Smyly to be used to gain some additional pieces later this year—perhaps a closer or more well-rounded shortstop.

2. Fewer questions. Last year, we didn't know who our starting second baseman was until Omar Infante joined us late in the season. We have a regular DH now, in Victor Martinez, who will help protect Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, and a solid number-two hitter in Tori Hunter. Martinez will probably not be able to duplicate his pre-injury numbers, but he doesn't have to be that good. He just has to be better than the collection of guys stuck into his spot last year.

3. Better outfield defense. Hunter is one of my favorite players and by far the Tigers' best signing of the off-season. His addition and Andy Dirks' status as the regular left fielder will no doubt be an improvement over Brennan Boesch and Delmon 'Baby Steps' Young.

Prediction:

I'll put them in first by a game or two. It will not be the runaway that many have suggested. I think The Royals will hang around for a long time, as will the White Sox. The Royals are always hungry and scrappy, continually playing above their talent level. I think the Tigers will take the division, in the end, and I just hope it won't be as irritating to watch as it was last year.

Play ball!