Surely you recall some of the groundbreaking analyses we’ve performed since 2008 in predicting baseball’s postseason play according to the power of each team’s walk-up music. With the 2010 Division Series playoff matches about to begin, it’s time we get our first look at this year’s most-rocking contestants. Let’s start with the National League, and then we’ll catch up with the American League tomorrow. We’ll keep this initial overview concise to allow us room to drill down as less-musical teams are eliminated.
Let’s start with my hometown team, the Rocktober-tested tough Philadelphia Phillies.
Although some constants remain from the past 2 years’ pennant runs, including Chase Utley‘s powerful “Kashmir,” Shane Victorino‘s steely “Buffalo Soldier,” and a reinvigorated, refocused Cole Hamels‘ warm-up theme of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” updates among veterans of past Phillies wars as well as the warm-up theme of newcomer and probable Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay look to play key roles in the team’s opening round against the free-swinging Cincinnati Reds.
Halladay’s warm-up twofer of “Moby Dick” b/w “Good Times Bad Times” is the biggest addition to the Phillies’ playlist – and possibly the biggest addition to the collective postseason playlist. Even upstart Reds fan bemoaning the New Big Red Machine have to admit that ROCKS! Among the veterans of past years, the most significant change in walk-up songs may be catcher Carlos Ruiz‘s midseason switch to Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” cued to start at the legendary drum fill. Always the team player, Chooch took the lead of new backup catcher Brian Schneider, who’d been using the tune since the beginning of the season. Word is Phillies pitchers appreciate and have benefited from the added consistency between the catchers’ routines. If the Phils progress we’ll examine some melodramatic, Coldplay-esque tune that Jayson Werth‘s been playing since dropping his badass Sammy Hagar song of past years.
The Reds haven’t needed to compile a postseason playlist in years, but manager Dusty Baker, a well-known jazzcat with plenty of postseason experience and a cool record collection, should offer guidance.
The Reds will need it. Although likely NL MVP Joey Votto has used “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” more often than not he’s approaching the plate to “Drop it Low” or some other track featuring the likes of Chris Brown. Veteran third baseman and former Phillies Great White Hope Scott Rolen takes his place in the batter’s box to – It figures! says a chorus of his spurned phormer Philly phans – Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida” or U2’s “Breathe.”
The Reds do pack a few fierce Classic Rock numbers, like pitcher Homer Bailey‘s use of Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold” (a popular tune this postseason) and outfielder Jonny Gomes‘ occasional use of “Johnny B. Good,” but the biggest surprise and coolest song in the Reds’ playlist is definitely tiny reliever Daniel Ray Herrera‘s use of Link Wray’s “Rumble.”
PREDICTION: Phillies get the Led out in 4.
The other NLDS series pits the San Francisco Giants against the wildcard Atlanta Braves. The Giants, a mix of young pitching stars and veteran role players, bring possibly the goofiest of musical mixes to the postseason, led by Aubrey Huff‘s use of The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” and Pat Burrell getting all “Cutie Pie” on us. When he was a Phillies’ phixture and chick magnet, the media-burned Burrell consistently thumbed his nose with Glenn FreyDon Henley’s “Dirty Laundry.” Everybody’s happy nowadays. Meanwhile, ace stoner Tim Lincecum mixes MGMT’s “Electric Feel” by MGMT and The Doors’ “Light My Fire.” Yeah, spark it up, Timmy! Fauxhawked reliever Brian Wilson also uses a tune that fits his pushin’-too-hard personality, House of Pain’s “Jump Around.”
The Braves’ typical jock mix of materialistic hip-hop and lunk-headed modern rock is only spiced up by a few headbangers, like nearly over-the-hill Troy Glaus‘ “Over the Mountain” (Ozzy Osbourne), a Rage Against the Machine track from pitcher Tim Hudson, and survivor Rick Ankiel‘s use of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Godzilla.” Too bad the last of the truly great Bobby Cox-era Braves, future Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones is out for the season, not able to call the Blizzard of Oz’s “Crazy Train” into play.
PREDICTION: Giants fly their freak flag in 5.
See also: KingEd breaks down the ALDS playlists.
Pretty odd, without even thinking about music, that was my prediction for those series yesterday, but why oh why must you remind me of Dane Cook and his Rocktober?
I eagerly await what seer HVB has to say regarding the postseason winners.
Who has the most kick-ass double-shot of warm-up music among postseason pitchers? Who pitched the second no-hitter in postseason history tonight? That’s right, Roy Halladay.
Orlando Cabrera has proven himself to be a complete punk by claiming an umpire conspiracy to aid Halladay after last night’s game. It makes that much more sense that he’s previously used Nickelback as his at bat music in the past. Meanwhile, Jonny Gomes was thoroughly classy in his comments after the game, so his use of a classic makes sense.
Herrera’s use of Rumble is pretty great, and perhaps explains the relative strength of the Reds’ bullpen last night.
Is there any reason what the Panama-born Chooch doesn’t use Van Halen’s Panama? Somebody needs to help him out, especially since the “drum part from In The Air Tonight” has suddenly become so in vogue.
Now where did I leave my pince nez… Oh, here they are.
Ah-hem, “Dirty Laundry” is performed by Don Henley, not Glen Frey.
Halladay’s double-shot of getting the Led out = no-hitter!
Chase Utley’s “Kashmir” = most (only?) hated man in Cincinnati.
Cole Hamels’ “Thunderstruck” warm-up music = complete game shutout and ball hit to the warning track off the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Scott Rolen’s Coldplay = COLD PLAY in the field and at bat.
Jay Bruce’s “How Low” (Ludacris) = understanding how low a player can feel in the playoffs when he misses a relatively easy fly ball.