A lot has been made of walk-up songs around Major League Baseball this year. From Josh Reddick’s turn to Careless Whisper to Yaisel Puig’s Turn Down For What, there is a wide variety of music players choose. Some good, others probably purposely bad.Â
This music does a couple things. First, it gets the players jacked for their at-bats and pitchers for their appearances on the bump. Second, fans get into the game a tad more when a song they like blares on the sound system.
I would go with Eminem’s Lose Yourself or Bohemian Rhapsody from Queen, but that’s just me.
In any event, enjoy the music and find out some stuff about your favorite players.
Note: Some of the songs contain graphic language.Â
Paul Goldschmidt:Â One Step Closer by Linkin Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSPYshruW8I
The beats are solid here, but the lyrics seem to rival Green Day during its emo-rock days. “Nothing seems to go away…just like before.” Goldschmidt must have a personal reason for this song, because in the end it doesn’t really apply to hitting a baseball…much like most of the songs listed here. Now I can’t get the vision of Goldy head-banging in a rave during his next visit to Northern California.
Robinson Cano: Tom Ford by Jay ZÂ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkgekVh7oKI
Coming up, coming down. Riding clean, fix your head on my crown.
Cano has yet to be knighted by the powers to be in Seattle but if they continue this hot streak to a playoff appearance, Mariners fans may just do this with Tom Ford playing in the background. Now all we need is Macklemore agreeing to do a duet with Jay Z. That would set the Pacific Northwest on fire. Honestly, this is a pretty darn good song.
Dustin Pedroia: Still D.R.E. by Dr. Dre
Going with a little retro here. And I like it a lot.
Cause when I frequent the spots that I am known to rock, you hear the bass from the truck when I am on the block.
Maybe this should be more about the former AL MVP when he’s riding the bases or something. In any event, you can’t go wrong with Dre, especially with the crap modern hip-hop that these players come up to the plate with.
Matt Wieters: Raised On It by Sam Hunt
Who doesn’t love this song? It’s modern and retro all at the same time.
Snap backs and Levi jeans. Pbr and burnt CD’s. Running for the grass on the hot concrete. Still working on our own summer feet.
Kinda reminds me of being a child in the 1990’s. Hunt’s lyrics are pretty darn awesome and they fit Wieters’ old-school mentality as a catcher on the baseball diamond. Good stuff here.
Scooter Gennett:Â Courage To Grow by Rebelution
An uplifting track here. I just envision Gennett finding out he loved this song while attending a Tony Robbins self-help event or something.
You want a brand-new car, you want the world to change…you better take some action right now.
Maybe the Brewers infielder is speaking to an apathetic American society. Or he could just want a new car. Continue playing like you are kind sir, and you will be able to afford one soon enough.
Lucas Duda: All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix
An all-time hit by one of the greatest musicians in the history of the world. Not only are Hendrix’ guitar-playing skills the best ever, the lyrics in this specific song stand out. Much like a ton of the best songs of this era, Bob Dylan actually wrote All Along the Watchtower. The more you know, aye? Good for Duda pulling out this gem.
Trevor Cahill:Â White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane
Yet another all-time great, White Rabbit was a perfect representation of the counter culture-era psychedelic rock age of Northern California in the 1960’s. A long with the Joan Baez’s and Jimi Hendrix’ of the world, Jefferson Airplane stood above all the others. Here, Grace Slick dominates the stage. Good work Mr. Cahill, now show you can still do it on the bump.
Yasiel Puig: Turn Down For What by DJ Snake & Lil JonÂ
Why not? Puig couldn’t care less about what his skeptics think of him. While this song is vastly overplayed, it’s one of those things that defines a player coming to the plate. Puig simply doesn’t turn down for anything. If we are being honest, he couldn’t have picked a better song. Too bad the video is a bad version of Jesse Pinkman’s crack house scenes in Breaking Bad.
Troy Tulowitzki: The Sign by Ace of Base
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNPjeIamsck
I am truly disappointed more players didn’t choose some of the best rock songs of the 1980’s and 1990’s. We all need more Ozzie, Guns N’ Roses and Metallica in our lives…wouldn’t you agree? Ace of Base wasn’t necessarily one of the best rock groups of this era, but The Sign was pretty much them on the top of their game. Any time a player goes away from the norm and selects a song that’s not popular among other players, I am willing to give him some credit. Let’s see if Tulo keeps this when he’s wearing the Yankee pinstripes next year.
Danny Espinosa: Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Simply one of the best songs ever created. The original Lynyrd Skynyrd band may have died tragically in a plane accident back in 1977, but their music lives on forever. Greats such as Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama will forever live, but this one song is probably their best ever. It opened…
Mama told me whan I was young, come sit beside me, my only son and listen closely to what I say.
You have to believe that there is a deep-seeded personal reason Espinosa uses this as a walk-up song. And good for him. That’s what it should be all about.
Sean Doolittle: For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg92QpjRcJk
Are you surprised at all? Somehow I envision Doolittle and James Hetfield rocking out to this song in the musicians Marin County garage while throwing back a few beers. The hair, the mentality, the odd behavior that a closer must display. It’s all a perfect fit with one of the best Metallica songs ever. Gotta love it.
Josh Reddick: Careless Whisper by George Michael
I am so glad Reddick went back to this one after a brief stint with Wild Thing. It’s George Michael at his absolutely best, which wasn’t that great. The hair Michael displayed (circa 1984) is something Reddick can only hope to strive for one day. “Time can never mend” with those piercing eyes stairing at you on the monitor. Reddick knows what he’s doing and we’re all only here for the ride.
A.J. Pierzynski: AJ Scratch by Kurtis Blow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J6Buzte7rM
This one is so bad that it’s good. The beats from the mid 1980’s were simply horrendous, as were the background singers in this specific song. We know full well why Pierzynski went with this song. It was nothing more than him attempting to be ironic. An attempt that succeeded with flying colors.
Jake Peavy:Â Badlands by Bruce Springsteen
One of the most underrated Springsteen songs ever, Peavy picked out an absolute dandy here. While I personally like Born to Run more, this is a darn good selection.
I’m caught in a crossfire that I don’t understand but there is one thing I know for sure girl: I don’t give a damn for the same old played out scenes. I don’t give a damn for just the in-betweens. Honey, I want the heart, I want the soul, I want control right now.
Talk about stepping up your game, Bruce. Let’s just hope for the sake of the San Francisco Giants, Peavy is prepared to do just that down the stretch.
Photo: USA Today