Covering the Division Series in both leagues is too much for one man, so I offered to relieve Mr. Moderator of the burden of analyzing the walk-up music selections of the four American League contenders: the Tampa Bay Rays, the Minnesota Twins, the Texas Rangers, and the New York Yankees. In doing so, I also hope to steer clear of Mod’s Rockist NLDS analysis and pay attention to the relative strengths of the hip-hop and modern-rock selections that many of the sport’s contestants choose. I don’t want to harp on this, but it was probably Mod’s Rockist bent that caused him to overlook the threat of the Yankees against his beloved Phillies in last year’s World Series.
Let’s start with a team that was covered in depth through their 2008 playoff run, the Tampa Bay Rays, managed by baseball hipster Joe Maddon.
I don’t live near Tampa Bay, or whatever town the Wall-Mart in which that underappreciated Rays team actually plays, so I can’t tell you from personal experience what walk-up songs the 2010 Rays use. I was expecting to find a relatively accurate list on the Web, as Mr. Moderator and I have easily found for other teams in the postseason – and as one can even access for a team as irrelevant as the Washington Nationals, but clearly the Rays have few true fans other than Dick Vitale, who doesn’t strike me as the type to blog about walk-up music, and seven other folks who are wondering why they, too, can’t find a list of their team’s walk-up songs. (If a walk-up song plays in an empty stadium does it make a sound?) Since we have no idea what the 2010 Rays play while approaching the batter’s box, let’s award this ALDS series to their opponents, Texas Rangers
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The Rangers did a ton of roster juggling since the beginning of the season, so the list that was published in April will need some updating. Late-season acquisition Jorge Cantu, for instance, supposedly uses this cool, traditional Mexican song. Rangers fans in the Hall are welcome to help out regarding other late-season acquisitions. As for players still on the roster since opening day Michael Young‘s use of the Beastie Boys’ “Sure Shot” should give the team a charge, but what’s with Nelson Cruz using a song called “Prrrrum” by some Pirates’ fan named Cosculluela, who’s seen hanging around a strip club? Priorities, Rangers, priorities – and think about Josh‘s health, will you?
PREDICTION: The Rangers’ 5-game upset helps us learn more about the walk-up music of all their late-season acquisitions.
The other ALDS series matches the Minnesota Twins vs the defending champion New York Yankees, who enter this year’s postseason as a near-favorite wildcard.
The mighty-might, small-market Twins enter the 2010 postseason revitalized with their occasional set of retro uniforms and a new, outdoor ballpark. It’s gonna be freezing in late October, as the Twins progress through the ALDS, but the real chill will come from Michael Cuddyer‘s use of Bassnectar’s “Bass Head.” This is cutting-edge stuff for baseball players, and the Twins can make a claim for being one of this year’s most cutting-edge teams, with the revolving mix of Southern hip-hop from the unconventional O-Dog, Orlando Hudson, and Delmon Young‘s use of two previously unreleased Lil’ Wayne songs. What’s next, a player approaching the plate in German True Stereo? With a few nods to Rockists and other young dudes mixed in (eg, AC/DC, Metallica, Beastie Boys), the Twins have just about all the bases covered.
The Yankees’ uninspired 2009 playlist beat the odds, but this year’s squad has beefed up with some old school rap (Curtis Granderson‘s use of Africa Bambaataa’s “Lookin’ for the Perfect Beat”), classic Floyd (fleet-footed Brett Gardner‘s use of “Run Like Hell”), and a little Twisted Sister (Mark Teixeira‘s “I Wanna Rock”). All right, the Twisted Sister tune is as lame as Tex’s golly gee Look and is probably more suited to Mets’ fans, but it adds a little flair to the conservative Yankees’ style.
PREDICTION: Twins make it interesting for the home crowd in 5 games.
Previously: Mr. Moderator analyzes the NLDS playlists.
Um, the Twins are playing the Yankees and the Rays are playing the Rangers.
I found this for the Rays, what’s most notable is Zobrist’s song is written by his wife.
Jason Bartlett – “Hotel Room Sevice” – Pitbull
Reid Brignac – “Sky is The Limit” – Lil Wayne
Carl Crawford – “Lose My Mind” – Young Jeezy feat. Plies. Carl’s other songs: “Swag So Official” – Lil Wayne and “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” – Lloyd Banks
John Jaso – “Whole Lotta Love” – Led Zeppelin
Gabe Kapler – “Run On” – Moby
Evan Longoria – “Down and Out” – Tantric
Matt Joyce – Linkin’ Park – One Step Closer
Carlos Peña – “Chica Fina” – Unknown
Sean Rodriguez – “I’m a Believer” – Tedashii feat. Trip Lee & Soy
Kelly Shoppach – “She’s Country” – Jason Aldean
B.J. Upton – “On Fire” – Lil Wayne. B.J.’s other songs: “Stupid Wild” – Gucci Mane, “Popular Demand” – Clipse ft. Cam’Ron & Pharrell and “All The Way Turnt Up” – Roscoe Dash ft. Soulja Boy
Ben Zobrist – “The Tree” – Juliana Zobrist
Pitchers
Grant Balfour – “One” – Metallica
Joaquin Benoit – “La Botella” – Mach Daddy
Randy Choate – “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”
Wade Davis – “Hillbilly Deluxe” – Brooks & Dunn
Matt Garza – “Hip Hop Police” – Chamillionaire
Jeff Niemann – “The Day That Never Comes” – Metallica
David Price – “Ha Ha” – Fat Joe
James Shields – “Du Hast” – Rammstein – AC/DC
Andy Sonnanstine – “Superstar” – Lupe Fiasco
Rafael Soriano – “Fuego” – Pitbull ft. Don Omar
Dan Wheeler – “Step Up” – Drowning Pool
Choate certainly wins the scrappy award for his.
mockcarr, you may need to relieve me of the added responsibility of covering the AL. KingEd really dropped the ball here, but I’ll take my share of responsibility. Thanks for pointing out this gross oversight. Thankfully the modular nature of KingEd’s analysis made for a quick prognostic fix that is probably no more or less accurate.
I believe Andy Pettitte uses La Grange by ZZ Top. Note this prognosticator HVB!
I think I ignore about 95 percent of what these guys use, largely because it’s rap/hip hop, if it goes lower than the level of Jay-Z or Eminem, I probably don’t even know who it is.
To be honest, I think I’d rather have them bring back the organist in the ballparks given these lists.
This is what I get for trying to jump in and help a Townsman out. Sorry, man. I really blew it. You’re right mockcarr – I was holding onto that Holy Trinity-worthy Pettitte number in case the Yankees progressed PAST THE TWINS.
Rangers 5, Rays 1 after 7. Nelson Cruz has homered for the Rangers. Ben Zobrist just homered for the Rays. Think that song his wife wrote for him was going through his head?
I see that Cuddyer, the Twins’ musical tastemaker, has hit a home run.
I’ve kinda liked the Rays since 2008, when they were a worthy opponent to the Phils and positioned themselves as young upstarts to the horrible Yankees/Red Sox baseball juggernaut. But after seeing that list mockcarr has provided, I’m not only glad that they lost Game 1 yesterday, I’m glad no one goes to see them play and I’m glad the team will be broken up by management during the off season. That’s some shameful shit, down to the least imaginative choice for a Zeppelin song. I hope Choate, who has the only solid pick on there, makes fun of Zobrist for using his wife’s song.
Joe Maddon should be ashamed. He’s now #2 on my list of potential RTH interview subjects (still behind Hamish Stuart, naturally), just so the Mod could lead off with “How could you let this happen?” Maybe Maddon will redeem himself for Game 2 by coming up with his own walk-up playlist.
I was guilted into doing fantasy baseball for the first time this year and Michael Young was my team’s every day MVP, so I’m heartened to see his choice of Sure Shot, instead of something easy like Sabotage.
I also had most of these three at one time or another, so I’m also pleased to see what a formidable roster of walk-up music Granderson, Swisher and Gardner bring to the table. Swisher seems like kind of a dope otherwise, so I suspect they’ve brought in a ringer (maybe Granderson himself?) to pick his songs for him. That would be a classic Yankees move.
Cuddyer hit a 400+ foot home run for the Twins last night in a losing effort. Combine that with his duties as their Musical Captain and it’s clear he’s their best chance to advance.
We’re working on a Joe Maddon-Hamish Stuart-John Cusack roundtable, alexmagic.