Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
To be honest, I’m sick of spring training. Sure it’s great, in the middle of winter, to get those first photos and videos of the players out in the sunshine... but it’s sort of like watching a singer practice scales or something: interesting enough for a little while, but pretty soon, you just want the show to start. I've therefore been tuning out most of the desultory news from Tampa and, instead, thinking about the really meaningful things. Things like entrance music.
You know you’ve thought about it: if you were a baseball player, what would your at-bat song be?
Originally I was going to write this post about my own ideal selections. (You know, assuming I were good at baseball. And a guy). But every time I sat down to write, I got hopelessly bogged down in iTunes. This is not a simple question. Because first of all, what kind of imaginary baseball player are you? A home run hitter, or a speedy on-base guy? Are you slumping, or on a hot streak? These things matter. Then, of course, it has to be a song that can hold its own in a stadium – Radiohead may be a great band, but nothing from The Bends is going to fire up a crowd of 55,000.
I finally had to admit defeat for the time being, though I did manage to narrow it down to a list of 47 possible songs. (...And just think, my editors wonder why I have trouble making deadlines). So I'm taking the more general approach here, and hoping to get a good discussion going.
Just like some songs will always remind you of a certain phase of your life, or a romance, or a particular movie, some are forever connected in my brain to baseball. First you’ve got the obvious ones, Yankee Stadium songs like “New York, New York,” or “The Boys are Back in Town,” or, God help me, “YMCA.” Children seem to like it, and I suppose that’s why they do it (“you know, for kids!”) -- but the grounds crew dance got old fast, and I’m praying that when the team moves into the new building, they can leave this behind. Also: did anyone ever point out to the organization what that song’s actually about? Don’t get me wrong, I’m completely fine with lyrics about guys cruising for casual gay sex at the Y… I’m just a little surprised that the Steinbrenners are so cool about it. I have to assume that someone, at some point, must have said something; the song’s been out for thirty years, and it isn't exactly subtle to begin with.
Then there’s “Enter Sandman,” of course. I doubt I’ll ever think about anything besides Mariano Rivera when I hear it, even if I live to be 90 -- despite the fact that Mo himself doesn't much care for "that kind of music." Meanwhile, one of the many reasons I was madly in love with Paul O’Neill in my younger days is that he'd come to the plate accompanied by various Bruce Springsteen tracks, and by The Who’s “Baba O’Riley,” making him one of the surprisingly few ballplayers with good taste in music.
Unfortunately, song quality doesn't seem to matter when determining what'll stay with you. “Who Let the Dogs Out,” for instance, is tragically seared into my memory, thanks to the Mets' inexplicable and enthusiastic embrace of it during the 2000 World Series. In fact, whenever that Series is mentioned, my mind flashes immediately to Clemens throwing the shard of bat at Piazza, Luis Sojo's Game 5 bloop single, and the damn Baja Men, in that order.
Sometimes a less than great song is still the perfect choice for a certain player: who can forget Gary Sheffield’s flawless Yankee Stadium selection of Ludacris’s “Move, Bitch?” (or, as it was played at the Stadium: “Move, ....., get out the way/ Get out the way, ....., get out the way”). In the midst of his fielding meltdown, Chuck Knoblauch switched his music to Eminem’s bitter “The Way I Am,” and I still think of those painful throws to first whenever I hear it. “This is Why I’m Hot” features some of the silliest lyrics in recent memory, but it was completely appropriate for Alex Rodriguez’s insane 2007 season. And Kyle Farnsworth warms up to some godawful shrieking nu metal thing I can't identify, which, I'm afraid, feels about right.
On the whole, far too few players take advantage of the opportunity for comedy here, but there are always a few standouts. Giambi used to use a WCW Wrestling theme song -- the Wolfpack, I believe. And Mike Myers came out to the “Halloween” theme, which was cool, although it would’ve been much cooler had he pitched well. Cliff Floyd, formerly of the Mets, played the theme from “Sanford and Son.” Personally I’ve always thought it would be great for some aggressive power hitter type, ideally Sheffield, to step into the box with a Tori Amos song blaring one day, just to see the reaction.
So, to get things started, I've got two questions for you guys. First, what’s your at-bat song?
And second, can the Banter community please put its many heads together and, for the love of god, think of a better entrance song for Joba Chamberlain than Tim McGraw’s deeply awful “Indian Outlaw”? Seriously, look at those lyrics. If this kid’s going to be around as long as everyone hopes he will, this could be vitally important.
If I were a closer coming in from the bullpen, I would choose something pretentious, like "Sprach Zarathustra" or "Pomp & Circumstance"
"I been caught stealin....ONCE."
i always wish the really famous guys like arod or jeter or whoever (and no just becuase he was in a song juan pierre doesn't count) would use a line from a song they were in - like arod should come out to jay-z's all i need - shut your bumba i got arod numbers
last year, there were quite a few threads discussing possible Joba entrance tunes. i think Iron Maiden's "Run To The Hills" was the best... someone mentioned AC/DC's "Thunderstruck", too.
"Indians" by Anthrax, might also be a good one for Joba.
There's a lot of good energy songs on the debut Mind Funk cd...
There's gotta be a funny Infectious Grooves song for an at-bat.
Maybe Mo can switch to Van Halen's "Panama" ; )
theres a great wiki page on songs used by players, which reminded me about cliff floyd and sanford and son.
that has got to be my favorite...
if memory serves, there were some very interesting choices on that list. someone random had elliot smith (ryan freel? is that you?) and there was some belle and sebastian, no joke...
...i'm just gonna go find that page. brb.
nope, cant find it.
if i had to bring the rock, it would be the pixies version of 'head on' or sweet's 'fox on the run.' no idea why.
"theme from Sesame Street" for Huston Street.
ooh, there's gotta be some kind of "Taking To Myself..." type of song for Ryan Freel(and Farney, of course!)
for A-Rod's hot streak, he could've used Joe Jackson's "I'm The Man"!
Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" would be a good energy tune...
Led Zep has a bunch of tunes that would work...
http://tinyurl.com/2j8nrw
As for me, I'd use "Ace of Spades" by Motorhead.
http://www.toursdirectory.com/Tours/SmokeFromaDistantFire.mp3
I have no idea what my walk-up music would be, because it would probably (a) change from one day to the next, and (b) be defiantly idiosyncratic. Today might be Doc Watson playing "Way Downtown."
However, if Chris Britton makes the team, I might suggest Howlin' Wolf's "Three Hundred Pounds of Heavenly Joy."
I wondered about that and in keeping with an emerging Queen theme I'm wondering if somehow 'Fat Bottom Girls' might not be appropriate for Mr. Britton.
Farnsworth's would have to be Thin Lizzy's 'Waiting for an Alybi' me thinks.
I'd pick Baba O' Reilly (Who), TNT (AC/DC), Long Way to the Top If You Want to Rock N Roll (AC/DC), Thieves and Liars (Ministry), Start Me Up (Stones), opening music to Killing in the Name (Rage Against the Machine).
here's a few more to throw out there ...
The Thing That Should Not Be ... metallica
Voodoo Child ... Hendrix
Immigrant Song ... Zeppelin
Yankees: BDP "South Bronx," Dictators "Next Big Thing," solo Lou Reed version of "Sweet Jane," Moondog once in a blue moon, Talking Heads "Mind"
Debate over.
Me? I'd walk up to the plate to the intro music to Deep Purple's "Knockin' on your Back Door"
I always thought that Karim Garcia should use this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgWQ1erBnMo
;-)
1. Pearl Jam-Even Flow
2. Zeppelin-Battle of Evermore (you know the part where they sing about the ringwraiths)
3. Metallica-Wherever I Roam
4. Guns n Roses-Welcome to the Jungle
5. Pink Floyd-The Wall Part 2
The Who-Pinball Wizard
Actually, I already sing that for Jim Thome.
I still think Kyle Farnsworth should warmup to Every Rose Has its Thorn
Prior to the paragraph that mentions it the first album I thought of from this post was indeed The Bends! Weird...
"Wanted" by Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers.
I would go up to Metallica's "I Disappear" because I wouldn't be at the plate (or in the majors) for very long. ;)
And out of curiosity, can players choose anything or are they restricted by music rights?
"Thunderstruck" by AC/DC would be a good song to use, IMO.
"Devil's Dance" by Metallica...
"Know your Enemy" by Rage Against the Machine (for Sox games)
Ack, I'm blanking. Too much focus on metal in this post.
If I were a position player, I'd have "Slither" by Velvet Revolver.
Coming to bat, "Sexy M.F."
just because
For Joba how about "Nebraska" by Bruce Springsteen?
From the town of Lincoln Nebraska with a sawed-off .410 on my lap
Through to the badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path
49 LOL. Good point, joe. I'd probably make Billy Crystal look like Rod Carew...
I am so proud of the New York Yankees right now and proud to be a fan.
Doesn't Jeter come up to "The Way You Move" by Big Boi? that's a nice choice.
Send joba out to "bulls on parade" by Rage Against the Machine, I should think.
Wouldn't everyone imagine themselves as the 50 HR guy? HRs are sex and power, who doesn't love that? Nobody wants to be David Eckstein, but EVERYONE wants to be Albert Pujols. I mean, this is a fantasy, so why limit yourself? The only way I could see dreaming of being a speedy, toolsy-guy is if that guy is Ricky Henderson or Ty Cobb, and they were so much more than that.
I was kind of thinking I would work my way through albums, you know, all of Beck's Midnite Vultures or Sgt. Pepper's, just to keep it interesting. But if I had to choose one song, I'd probably go with Toots's "Pomps and Pride"
my buddy came out his wedding reception to that. classic.
Back in black ACDC
Ironman Black Sabbath
Crazy train Osborne
8th commandment Sonata Arctica
Not to mention the 'wrecking' of Yankee Stadium, I hate to see so much tradition lost. And it really bothers me that the new Stadium will cost $1.3+ billion, and it doesn't even have a roof.
Zack, I always see myself as Curtis Granderson, not Pujols. Maybe it's because I'm smaller than Eckstein (but still don't care that he's short).
I'd like to see Giambi step up to "Wenches and Mead" by Alestorm. Robinson Cano; Gamma Ray's "Shine On." Joba, I think, should come out to something like Candlemass, though "Run to the Hills" is a solid choice. For the Yankees as a whole, "Champagne Bath," Sonata Arctica.
Barry Zito should warm up to "Z.I.T.O." by Angra. Manny Ramirez? "Sweet Leaf," by either Black Sabbath or Green Carnation, pick the version you like. Over in LA, Torre's designated 'guy who will pitch too many innings' should get the choruses of "Do It Again" and "Dirty Work" by Steely Dan.
In basketball, Sam Cassell should always be introduced to "Big Balls," by AC-DC.
or
DJ Shadow's Midnight in a Perfect World,
http://youtube.com/watch?v=54_7m-CVTMY
If I was Matsui, something by DJ Krush, maybe Kemuri, http://youtube.com/watch?v=aVjgRlto8PI
Joba's theme should be "When the Lights Go Out" by the Black Keys. It's got a great rhythmic-yet-intimidating blues hook, and the refrain is "You'll know what the sun's all about when the lights go out."
A-Rod's theme should be "Stronger" by Kanye West.
Me? My theme would be something like "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters.
"Tom Sawyer" by Rush
"Renegades of Funk" by Rage
If a pitcher warming up it would be:
"Cochise" by Audioslave
"Club Foot" by Kasabian
If I had 21 minutes to spare during a rain delay it would be either:
"2112" by Rush or, if everyone in the stands wanted to smoke out during the delay, "Echos" by Pink Floyd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z4NKVHX8yI
Iggy & The Stooges-"Search & Destroy"
The Replacements-"IOU"
Rolling Stones-"Midnight Rambler"
Dictators-"Faster & Louder"
Led Zeppelin-"Out On The Tiles"
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