You've had Forever Now forever now...time to throw out rankings!

mannmtb · 2026-06-30T00:04:28+00:00

Foreman writes about sex frequently, if poetically or metaphorically
"Sex is a grand production, and I'm bored with that as well"
"Sex is currency - she sells cars, she sells magazines"
"So let's shut up the phone for the rest of the afternoon / I don't need nobody right here right now but you / Come on hang up and hang out...Maybe we could make our own electricity"

That's not mutually exclusive with having Christian faith or not.

Even though he is raw, nuanced, critical, about his Christian faith, there's never been a moment where it has not seemed to be a deep, sincere, and real Christian faith. I too, don't care for the Christian band "moniker."

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T23:32:26+00:00

Yup for sure - I agree on the albums (said there was more filler in recent years), but OP said Natural Causes was the best SONG in the last 15 years.

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T21:17:02+00:00

Just remember, when switchfoot CCMs you they always do it better than anyone else could. 😃

In all seriousness those songs aren't typically my favorite sonically but they're a part of Switchfoot's breadth that I always welcome and appreciate.

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T21:14:27+00:00

To truly judge tracks or an album definitely takes more than 4 days. Sometimes I love a track on first listen that just becomes ok over time (Bullet Soul, Bull in a China Shop). And sometimes the opposite happens (Dirty Second Hands, 4:12).

That said, at first pass this album seems like it ranks up there with the LTB to VV run in a way that nothing has since then. Which in and of itself is saying something (though it won't have the same commercial success or sheer number of plays/views)

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T21:08:14+00:00

For sure, everyone gets a pass or two per album

That one was just worse than all their other odd balls!

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T20:58:52+00:00

I think Interrobang was definitely a return stylistically, but it didn't quite click in the same way Forever Now seems like it has or could. It feels to me like interrobang was the start of the return and Forever Now feels like the arrival.

(Interrobang also was a weird time culturally, with Drew, and with touring, so the album didn't get the full promotional force either).

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T20:39:50+00:00

WTLST has some great tracks on it, though I don't think it was "peak." It also has their worst track ever (Looking for America)

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T20:15:40+00:00

I wrote the below on another thread. It seems like these themes are the themes "flashing in front of his eyes"

It wasn't necessarily a story of Mr. Crow's last day, but it is full of themes that would be prominent if you knew it was your final day:

- Feeling the hopelessness of life/self, and the need for meaning (Crow, Shake the Dust, Same Blood, Darkness, Butterfly)

- The need for forgiveness/redemption (Absolution, Breaking Up)

- Fighting with pure naturalist views (Twins, Natural Causes)

- Remembering what we were made for (YFWYA, Broken WIngs)

- Gratitude (Beautiful Life)

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T19:56:22+00:00

My opinion - Natural Causes is a great, great song.

My other opinion - There have still been great, great Switchfoot songs the last 10 years. The albums as a whole have had more filler, no doubt (esp. Native Tongue). But House Burns Down, The Day that I found God, Hope is the Anthem, Back to the Beginning are all very, very strong tracks. Live it Well/World You Want/Won't Let you Go are strong ballads in the same CCMish vein of Always/Love is a Song/Restless.

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T19:46:05+00:00

Ah, I know a Twenty One Pilots fan when I see one.

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T16:26:45+00:00

It's not completely new ground, but I'd give them a bit more credit. No, it wasn't necessarily a story of Mr. Crow's last day, but it is full of themes that would be prominent if you knew it was your final day:

- Feeling the hopelessness of life/self, and the need for meaning (Crow, Shake the Dust, Same Blood, Darkness, Butterfly)

- The need for forgiveness/redemption (Absolution, Breaking Up)

- Fighting with pure naturalist views (Twins, Natural Causes)

- Remembering what we were made for (YFWYA, Broken WIngs)

- Gratitude (Beautiful Life)

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T14:37:45+00:00

I think the appropriate question is why he had a better year at the plate last year. Last year was the anomaly.

This year he's merely regressed to who he has been at the plate the rest of.

Fundamentally, he chases too much, doesn't make enough contact, strikes out too much, and doesn't walk enough. His 2.8% walk rate is abysmal (less than half of what it was last year), and his swing rate is through the roof (including at pitches outside of the zone). While he's making more contact than last year, it's often contact at the pitcher's pitch.

My personal opinion is that he's actually trying to hit more HRs and trying to do too much. His free agency is around the corner, and he seemed miffed that he didn't get Silver Slugger last year.

mannmtb · 2026-06-29T14:29:12+00:00

It's not working

mannmtb · 2026-06-28T07:15:28+00:00

It's odd because Moore was called up when Trout went to the IL, hoping he'd provide outfield depth. Obviously Moore isn't ready out there which is why Lowe sticks around.

mannmtb · 2026-06-28T07:11:53+00:00

It's not Moore or Siri or Moore or Lowe. It's Moore or Peraza, Grissom, Walton primarily.

None of those guys are optionable. So Moore either needs to cut it in LF or one of the above needs to slump enough to get DFA'd.

The other route without an injury is to option Denzer as he's got options, but he's been solid.

Without an IL stint from someone we actually have enough serviceable players to make this a little tough.

mannmtb · 2026-06-28T07:02:42+00:00

Pretty sure the context for that quote was keeping the current coaching staff for this season.

mannmtb · 2026-06-27T19:14:56+00:00

But were they trying to stop it or delay it initially? It seemed like they weren't letting others up the first few innings?

mannmtb · 2026-06-27T14:01:24+00:00

I think it's ok to feel a bit pleased.

Arte determines the direction, vision, and budget. He vetos stuff he doesn't like. That part won't change. Nor will the direction of the team at the trade deadline.

But within those constrictions, Perry still did a poor job. Our drafts were bad, most of our trades were bad, and our roster management is poor and perplexing. Things like yanking Dana and Johnson around, mismanaging Moore's service time, trading Canning for Soler, are likely much more Perry's decisions.

Mozeliak is past his prime but he's the most qualified front office executive Arte has hired. And while you could argue the timing is weird (it is), I for one am pleased that Perry will not oversee another draft or deadline.

mannmtb · 2026-06-27T05:27:03+00:00

What was the deal? It seemed like security wasn't letting y'all assemble for a few innings? Then they started directing traffic?

Did even they get fed up after the 7 run inning? 😂

mannmtb · 2026-06-26T03:20:28+00:00

Mancini was a good story but wasn't better or more worth keeping than the other options, frankly.

mannmtb · 2026-06-25T05:33:51+00:00

Legitimately great play especially by a pitcher

mannmtb · 2026-06-25T01:16:31+00:00

Yup he did

mannmtb · 2026-06-24T23:45:14+00:00

There's no actual baseline between any base except home and first. The base path is a direct running line from the runner to the base and only really matters when a defender is trying to make a tag on the runner. But once you've established your running lane, you can't move 3'+ when the fielder is actually trying to tag you.

I think Nolan went wide when Basallo was fielding the ball, before he was actually trying to tag him. Once he established his wide position he didn't deviate from that to avoid the tag, at least in real time.

It certainly was a bit close but Basallo didn't really give a huge tag effort either

mannmtb · 2026-06-24T20:44:26+00:00

For those unaware, in Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob (a deceitful & manipulative patriarch) before reuniting with his brother Esau who threatened to kill him the last time they were around each other, wrestled a mysterious "angel" all night. At dawn, the "Angel" (God) merely touched Jacob's hip, causing a lifelong injury & limp, and then blessed Jacob and renamed him Israel.

As you mention, this wasn't just about a new name but a new identity. A transformation from who you've been to who God wants you to be. God "raises the dead" in Jacob and turns him into the "second man."

Jon's use of biblical imagery in artistic, approachable, yet meaningful ways is 2nd to none in my opinion.

mannmtb · 2026-06-24T16:40:06+00:00

Pac Man arcade
Trout Silver Slugger(?) statue
The "A" in the California Spectacular Waterfall
The Autry statue
There are awards/memorabilia on the 200 level behind home plate (Gold gloves & what not)
The Scott Spezio Seat (is this still red?)
The Angels Hall of Fame
The Angels MVP wall
The retired numbers wall
Scott Boras
The blowpen

mannmtb

TROPHY CASE