Afternoon Baseball

The Mirl.com (via Baseball Musings)


Apparently, Billy Wagner, a favorite of mine among closers, has also used the legendary (or sellout, depending on whether you moved on from the 1980s) Metallica anthem as his entrance music for several years now. Can't blame him. There are only so many epic songs with the right lyrics out there.
Trevor Hoffman uses that AC/DC song, and that's great. "Enter Sandman" is so good because it has an instantly distinguishable riff. From the first four or so notes, you recognize it. It builds, adding instrument upon instrument, with fiery vocals and a kick-ass solo that is usually starting up just as Mo finishes warming up. Hard to top that or blame Wagner for using it as well. Fans will freak out, but who cares? If the Red Sox start using the song, then we'll talk.

Some songs are missing a component. Audioslave's "Cochise" has the right sound, especially in Chris Cornell's acid-dripping vocals, and buildup, but the lyrics are kind of depressing. Ditto for other current, but popular songs like say, Incubus' "Megalomaniac." Unless that's Larry Bowa's song.
Numerous bands have songs that almost too catchy. You want some anticipation, some fear in your song. In other words, no Coldplay, no Eagles, no Counting Crows, no Yellowcard. On the flip side, some songs are too intense. Most rap songs, with the curses and the bitches and ho's, fail the test. "Still D.R.E." is an example, despite it being just a damn, damn cool beat. Death metal, too, becauses the visiting team should be worried, not the home fans.

Does anybody know if there's a closer (or middle reliever) who uses "Smoke on the Water"? That's a good entrance song. Any Guns 'N' Roses, of course, despite the stripper sound they have. "Purple Haze," especially if a closer gets busted for drugs. "For Whom The Bell Tolls," of course.
And lots of stuff that's actually from the last few years. I'm just going off the top of my dated head.

I'm sure you have much better suggestions.