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The Dramatic Entrance
2008-05-03 15:38
by Will Carroll

There was a time in the late 90's where the WWF (as it was then) had perfected the introduction. Hot, driving music that was instantly identifiable, whether it was the breaking glass of Steve Austin, the droning beat that led out the Undertaker, or any of Mick Foley's many iterations, with my favorite being the car-crash at the start of "Mankind"'s open.

Baseball never got really good at it. "Enter Sandman" for Mariano Rivera and "Hell's Bells" for Trevor Hoffman was about as good as it got. Neither of them was nearly as good as the "Wild Thing" entrance for Ricky Vaughn in Major League either. I'm not sure why it never got more dramatic; maybe it's because baseball is a game of failure and having a closer come in to a dramatic setup might make a blown save all the worse. If Jose Reyes can get yelled at about complicated celebration handslaps, I can't imagine what someone might get for a video piece and a smoke machine.

So, if you were a closer -- or a hitter -- what would your entrance music be and why? And also, a friend of mine who is a major leaguer was recently asked to pick a tune for when he comes to the plate. He's not much of a music fan and is looking for suggestions. Hit the comments ...

Comments
2008-05-03 16:14:23
1.   Zach the Ripper
Scott,
Sorry to open up this can of worms again....but seriously....who does Clinton think she is fooling with this gas tax thing? I thinks it's about time for you to consider jumping ship to Obama or the independent candidate, and write a new super delegate post. At this point, she is basically insulting all of our intelligence.
Sorry about the aside, Will. Anyways...back to baseball.
To answer your question, I would be an
on-base machine and my entrance music would be that famous Begee's song.
2008-05-03 16:19:15
2.   kylepetterson
Making Love Out of Nothing At All - Air Supply.
2008-05-03 16:20:05
3.   kylepetterson
2 I really don't thing that that answer needs a why.
2008-05-03 16:56:47
4.   kylepetterson
3 don't think
2008-05-03 17:09:54
5.   Bluebleeder87
what would your entrance music be and why?

Well I've always thought the opening of "Bulls on Parade" from Rage against the machine was really cool so I guess I'd go with that.

2008-05-03 17:22:57
6.   Cliff Corcoran
Entrance music is best when it's keyed to the personality, playing style, musical tastes, or name of the player involved. It's hard to make a recommendation for "anonymous."

For example, you want great entrance music? How about Queen's theme to Flash Gordon for Tom Gordon or the Halloween theme for Mike Myers or the Shaft theme for Gary Sheffield ("I'm only talkin' about Sheff"), all of which they've actually used.

5 "Bulls on Parade" starts with the same two notes repeated for 25 seconds. I'd think if you wanted a Rage tune you could do better. The first 25 seconds of "Freedom" are more engaging and a lot more happens in the first 25 seconds of "Killing In The Name Of." "Sleep Now In the Fire" also opens with a more compelling riff and actually has some build to it.

2008-05-03 17:26:22
7.   Suffering Bruin
I always liked Eric Gagne's entrance during his heyday with the Dodgers: "Welcome to the Jungle" by G&R.

Myself, I'd go with "Cowgirl" by Underworld. The music is perfect for a closer though the title might raise some eyebrows.

2 LOL. A lot.

2008-05-03 18:24:25
8.   Will Carroll
Nothing titled "Cowgirl" is a loser here ...
2008-05-03 20:39:37
9.   dianagramr
8

Cowgirl in the Sand ???

I'd enter to "Heaven and Hell" by Black Sabbath.

Ya' think Andruw Jones should enter to Nirvana's "All Apologies" at this point?

2008-05-03 23:30:44
10.   Wrigleyviller
If I were a reliever, without a doubt, I would choose "All Medicated Geniuses" by Pretty Girls Make Graves. It's almost like that song was meant to be played for a closer.
2008-05-03 23:48:18
11.   joejoejoe
I think a good song cues a response from the crowd and isn't primarily about expressing yourself as a player. Self expression as a baseball player should come within the context of playing the game, like Rickey Henderson's snatch catch, Joe Morgan's bat waggle, or Manny or Reggie standing in the box and watching a home run sail into the stands. Just playing music and saying "Look at my cool music!" is lame. If you want to express yourself like that then become a DJ, not a RP.If your buddy loves pitching then 'Love is a rebellious bird that nothing can tame'

I'd pick music that cues a response from the crowd. Something loud and repetitive that is going to give the crowd energy that in turn will raise your own energy level. It's like you were saying about your comedy act. A crowd full of comedians is a tough crowd. You want the crowd energy up for when you start pitching, not while you are walking to the mound. The audience is different from the performer and I think any music should be picked to jack up the audience so that entering the game in the 6th inning of a tied game in Milwaukee becomes an event filled with tension and drama instead of just another pitching change.

You make a good point about not picking something too aggressive for music. Kyle Farnsworth throws 100 mph but it's not really that dramatic when it's rail straight and he's getting tagged. And if you get guys out with control and a good changeup how kick ass can your music be? Toby Keith singing about putting a boot in your ass isn't cool when your line is 1IP 4H 3BB 0K 6R.

I'd pick a piece that was dramatic but had uncertainty. I was thinking 'L'amour est un oiseau rebelle' from the opera Carmen sung by Maria Callas. Think about that scene in 'Shawshank Redemption' when Andy Dufresne plays the music for the camp. You want everybody to pay attention, even as they don't know what is going to happen next. That kind of music doesn't call attention to you but to 'What is happening?' and that's good.

2008-05-04 18:17:16
12.   Scott Long
Since dianagramr brought up a song he sung, I would have to go with Ronnie James Dio, The Last in Line. Why not tell the opposition how it is going to be.

We're all born upon the cross
The throw before the toss
You can release yourself
But the only way you go is down

I'm not a fan of the pandering policy of Hill's gas plan, but I do think it is time to pull the government subsidies we give to oil companies. I mean the profits that are going on there are ridiculous. I am not a free market guy.

The Hillary plan I'm guessing might partially be motivated from a gas tax pullback that a former Indiana governor (O'Bannon) did before an election that helped him win the election. I hated it then and think it was bad for the state's economy.

Having said this, I think Clinton's health care plan is better than Obama's and I have a couple of other things I like better of hers when I comparison shop, so this short-term gas tax removal is not something I consider big enough to change my mind on a candidate over. I don't like it though.

Sorry this bled over to rockin' reliever theme tunes.

2008-05-04 18:38:10
13.   Justin P
If I was a closer, I'd go with "Piper" (Grooverider remix) by Jonny L. Dark and menacing sounding drum-n-bass. OTOH, I don't think that 90% of the population knows who Jonny L is...
2008-05-04 22:05:18
14.   Hugh Jorgan
Too many problems
Oh why am I here
I don't need to be me
'Cos you're all too clear
And I can see
There's something wrong with you
But what do you expect me to do?

Problems by the Sex Pistols. This would be the perfect closers song.

2008-05-04 23:28:11
15.   MC Safety
Some good hitting music:

I'm Alive by Tommy James and the Shondells.

2008-05-05 07:03:16
16.   jgpyke
All piped in music at ballgames sucks, along with sound effects and other horsesh*t. I saw a game at Camden a few years back, and it was a freaking assault on the senses.

To bastardize the Bard, the game is the thing. If anything, some organ music like Wrigley used to do until this year. You can have your mullet rock, Sox fans.

(Perhaps this cheesiness is an AL thing?)

2008-05-05 07:23:39
17.   BALCO Lab Rats
Beginning of 'Down With The Sickness' from Disturbed, or 'Thunderstruck' by AC/DC.
2008-05-05 07:50:20
18.   Schteeve
You're Crazy by GnR. If I were a famous ballplayer, I'd be a bit on the flaky side.
2008-05-05 07:51:11
19.   Schteeve
I'd also change my music on a weekly basis.
2008-05-05 08:34:03
20.   David Arnott
Why not use the pro wrestling music? I'd use Vince McMahon's Corporation music if I were a closer.

"You've got no chance! No chance in hell!"

When Bobby Estalella was on the Giants, whispers were that he wore a jersey one size too small in order to show off his guns. Of course, he came to bat to the tune of The Rock's entrance music.

2008-05-05 09:09:41
21.   PBu
My softball team flirted with the idea of individualized batting music last year (I think it got to the point where one guy was putting mp3s on a disc, but the project was never completed). I chose what I have long considered to be my anthem: Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls." My teammates' selections included "Hello" by Lionel Ritchie and "Looking for a new love" by Jody Watley.

I wish relievers were still brought in from the bullpen on golf carts.

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