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Friday, September 16, 2011
Closers need these songs more than anyone. Pitching just one inning to end the game, they rely on elements of intimidation that workhorse starters can’t sustain over six or seven innings. Closers are performers in the full sense of the word, and their entrance music is nearly as much a part of their personas as a filthy slider or 97-mph fastball. Yet few understand what makes a good entrance song. They have much to learn. Most of which, incidentally, can be found in the following guide.
Dudefella
Posted: September 16, 2011 at 02:05 PM | 48 comment(s)
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1. Dag Nabbit and his Bible blog Posted: September 16, 2011 at 03:38 PM (#3926964)A Tigers closer using Stranglehold could work too.
Link the appropriate starting spot.
Sure it's pretty obscure, but considering it's a Boise band maybe someone could get away with it in Seattle.
my top 5:
"high-fiving mother-######\" by local H
"breathe" by prodigy
"on your way down" by stabbing westward
"come out and play" by offspring
"miseria cantare--the beginning" by AFI
The judge who married my wife and I was Edmund Fitzgerald. 9 years later, we are still together. We have yet to go sailing on Lake Superior though.
Failing that, I'd just appropriate some kick-ass movie music. Probably from Star Wars. Say what you want about the Prequels, but "Duel of the Fates" and "Battle of the Heroes" are awesome.
The organ opening to "Chest Fever" would be great.
As for a batter's walk-up music, I don't think you could better the opening of Puffy AmiYumi's "Mole-Like".
In the same vein, it'd be great if Monday Night Football dropped the Hank Jr. and went with another Richard and Linda Thompson song for the broadcast:
"There's crazy people running all over town
There's a silver band just marching up and down
And the big boys are all spoiling for a fight
I want to see the bright lights tonight"
and
"A couple of drunken nights rolling on the floor
Is just the kind of mess I'm looking for.
I'm gonna dream 'till Monday comes in sight
I want to see the bright lights tonight"
Not bloody likely, of course.
Metal and indie rock are practically mortal enemies so I guess it's kind of an inverted closer song. But #### it, I'd pick it.
That said, his first ever bullpen entrance was memorable too, ABBA is a terribly underrated band.
That's brilliant!
Has anyone ever used a song with his own name in this way?
There are so many possibilities.
Alejandro De Aza
Dallas McPherson
John Buck
Eli Whiteside
Fernando Rodney marches to the mound on another starry night.
John Franco came in to the melodious strains of "Johnny B. Goode".
As far as I am concerned, the best closer entry music is the Il Commendatore scene from Don Giovanni. #### this rock ########.
Actually, my understanding is that Edmund Fitzgerald was the name of the son of the guy who built the boat (i.e., the boat's builder named it after his son). I assume the father was Bud's partner. Which is very cool, as I did not know that.
A fact about the younger Edmund Fitzgerald: he was CEO of Nortel for a number of years. In addition, I took a course on globalization that he taught a few years ago.
...
Hmm, unless the father was also named Edmund. I'm confused.
I like the point the author makes about building a brand. Papelbon's "Shipping up to Boston" works, but only in Fenway. He couldn't use it if he pitched anywhere else. It's not really Papelbon's song, it's Papelbon's Red Sox song.
On the other hand, I think the "brand" thing cuts against his point about Rivera. While Rivera (or the Yankee Stadium sound people) did rip off Wagner and Houston, that song is much more associated now with Rivera than with Wagner. He appropriated it, and it's now his song.
You are one of God's mistakes,
You crying, tragic waste of skin
Of course only if you're not really good at pitching.
Nobody has used Ace of Spades yet, which I find really surprising. I guess the gambling bit and "win some, lose some/it's all the same to me" probably doesn't instill the right kind of message, but the music is money.
I've always wanted someone to use "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story.
Scott Rolen used to use Limp Bizkit's "Rollin'."
I always thought Mark Mulder should have used the theme from The X Files.
EDIT: House/trance music is ideal for any closer, although it may be murder for fans 70+.
Just sayin'.
In StL Rolen could have used Proud Mary ("Rollin' on the river")
I don't know, I think Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 worked well for Hrabosky.
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