Walk Out Music

Two weeks ago my friend and I were at the Mets game. On the way into the stadium my friend looked at me and said, “I hope that either Julio Franco is starting or pinch hits at some point in the game.”

I looked at him with the same face Matt Leinart had when Tagliabue announced the Jets selected D’Brickashaw and said, “What?”
My friend then went on to talk about how every time Franco walks out to the plate a song with the lyrics “People get ready, Jesus is coming” is playing.  At first I said no way and that it was impossible. Sure enough the next night I was watching the game and I clearly heard in the background “People get ready, Jesus is coming.”

Now I don’t know where this would rank on Bill Simmons’ unintentional comedy scale but it has to be up there. Does “People get ready, Jesus is coming” really get someone that psyched up to get a hit? Obviously it does something for Franco because he is 80 years old and has stolen five bases.

I am going to get off point here but seriously is there anything worse than being a major league catcher and not being able to throw out a 48 year old man? I would have to say the closest equivalent would be not being able to hit Chad Bradford’s blazing 74 MPH fastball. On second thought, I think not being to throw out Julio Franco is ultimate ego bruiser.

Let me try to get back on track here, what was I talking about? Oh Yeah, walk out music. Every player has a song. For example, every time Carlos Beltran steps to the plate this song “Eres Aqui” comes on. I don’t understand a word of it, but I like it. It’s catchy. Apparently so does Beltran who has 33 home runs and 96 RBI.

While talking to my friend about “People get ready, Jesus is coming” I decided to write an article about what my top 5 “walk out” songs would be:

5.) “Thunderstruck” ACDC – With the two bangs of the bass drum at the beginning I can almost see myself walking out to the plate, bat in hand, staring at the pitcher. It’s a good choice because it would pump me up as well as the crowd. Every time I hear this song I think of “Varsity Blues.” This was the song that was playing when Mox takes the boys to the strip club the night before a game. To me this still is the best placed song in a movie. I always felt that the song further emphasized the pain that was being inflicted on the players. With that being said, I could only hope the opposing pitcher saw the same scene, otherwise I would look like a giant fool.

4.) “Have a Cigar” Pink Floyd: Now I know it’s a little strange that I picked a song by Pink Floyd, but this song does pump me up. I figure any song you can play a mean air guitar to is good enough to hear while walking to the plate. The opening guitar riff is nice and upbeat which should be enough for the time it would take for me to get my fat arse to the plate.

3.) “We Don’t Get Fooled Again” The Who – I know I am going old school here, but there is a specific part in this song that gets me riled up. Towards the end there is a great drum solo that keeps building and building until you hear Roger Daltry screaming “YEEEAAHHHH.” You’d have to be a corpse not to be ready to hit a few home runs after hearing that. Also with the crowd going crazy it may just rattle the nerves of the opposing pitcher.

2.) “Ridin'” Chamillionaire- Nothing says intimidating like a white guy from Westchester walking out to, “I’m riding, they’re hating, patrolling trying to catch me ridin’ dirty.” I don’t listen to the radio much so I just heard this song and I love it. I’ll play it out in about a week, but still it would be awesome if this were my entrance music. With this song you could walk with a nice swagger and maybe a little sway. It’s all about the sway…

1.)”Baba O’Reilly” The Who –  For those of you who don’t know it by title this is “Teenage Wasteland.” Now there are songs on this list I could easily put ahead of this one, but a friend asked me what my entrance would be 5 years ago and this was it so I am sticking to my guns. Tino Martinez walked out to this a few years ago and ever since I thought it was perfect. “Dun…dun …dun, Out here in the fields” I just can’t get enough of it. Perfect.

The beauty of entrance music is that everyone’s is different. Some are perfect for certain players and others make no sense. For example LoDuca walks out to 70’s disco music (“Staying Alive”), which for the life of me I can’t understand. You also have Sid Fernandez who warmed up with the “Hawaii Five-O” Theme song blasting from the speakers of Shea Stadium.

Whatever your walk out song may be, you can always go with the reliable, “People get ready, Jesus is coming.” Apparently its working wonders for Julio Franco.