Plate Introductions

At any big league ballpark you go to, when a batter from the home team is announced a portion of a song is played to introduce the would-be hero. Typically, the song is the proper mix of non-explicit lyrics and badassness. (Is badassness a word?) Take, for example, Scott Rolen. The Cardinal third baseman walks to the plate to a refrain from Limp Bizkit. "Keep rollin' rollin' rollin'! Keep rollin' rollin' rollin'!" Obviously appropriate, even if the rest of the song might not be. Intros are not just for batters. Trevor Hoffman, San Diego's fearsome closer, is introduced to the sound of "Hells Bells" by ACDC.

When the autopilot is on and there's nothing else to do, I've often wondered about player intro music, and what would be played if the most appropriate tune could be selected. Shouldn't Jason Isringhausen trot in from the bullpen to the sounds of circus music, for example? More often than not however, I end up thinking if any of my friends or I happened to find ourselves in the Show, what songs would introduce us? KP, "As Himself" would clearly have to be introduced to some George Thoroughgood. "One Burbon, One Scotch, and One Beer!" Tim "Are You Serious?" Fisher would come to bat to the tune of Manfred Mann. "Blinded By the Light!" Jim Roach would stride to the plate with Huey Lewis in the background. "The Power of Love."

What about Dan "The Postman" Higa though? Van Halen, "Where Eagles Fly"? Meatloaf, "Bat Out of Hell"? Queen, "I Want to Break Free"? LL Cool J, "Mama Said Knock You Out"? Who knows, but I'm sure several of you will be happy to comment on what I'm sure I'll consider some inappropriate tunes.

On a final note: Albert Pujols is currently introduced to a contemporary Christian song. All well and good, but I think there is a much more fitting tune for "El Hombre." How about the theme from the Natural? As Max Mercy says in the movie, "Everything he wants to hit, he hits. Everything he wants to do, he does!"