The Closer

The bullpen door opens. It’s him, he’s the guy, the guy that’s going to seal the deal. The final nail in the coffin. It’s the 9th, the most important inning and in his hands is where you want the ball to be. Bases empty or juiced, he’s that guy.

You know it’s him, ‘cuase you heard the dong of the bells, the slow somber bells; followed by the hard electric guitar… then the drums… then the beat explodes and he appears through the swung bullpen doors… Trevor Hoffman.

The music hits you, the slow start creating anticipation as you recognize the song, the rhythm grabs you and then it explodes into intimidation as you sing the words getting ready for the 9th. It’s the closer.

The entrance music for the closer sets the stage for the 9th inning. The music creates an atmosphere at the park. An atmosphere of intimidation to the guys on the other side. It let’s them know, you’re here to close the deal, it’s over. Some closers in the majors really got the right song for entering into a save situation. What would make a good song for the situation? Well it would be a song that would have to

1. Slow Start – the song would have to have a slower introduction, one that’s recognizable and builds anticipation before the song really gets going.
2. Recognizable – a song that is recognizable to the majority of people; even those who aren’t regular listeners of that genre can recognize the song.
3. Intimidating – a song that is hard, loud, rough, instills fear. Genre’s like metal, hard rock, even some hip hop could work, but you can’t have a closer come into a game to a Boyz II Men song.

Some of the closers in this league got some really good music that they enter to. Here’s a list of some of the ones I feel are really good and the few that make me scratch my head.

The Good

Trevor Hoffman: AC/DC – Hells Bells

Mariano Rivera: Metallica – Enter Sandman

Keith Foulke: Danzig – Mother

Billy Wagner: Metallica – Enter Sandman

Jonathan Papelbon: Dropkick Murphys – Shipping Up to Boston (This only works in Boston)

Chad Qualls: Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name of

Jose Valverde: Notorious B.I.G. Big Poppa (Love this one, click his name, take a look at the man, then you’ll see why)

Troy Percival: Godsmack – Keep Away

Huston Street: Nas – Hate Me Now

Rob Nen: Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water

John Smoltz: AC/DC – Thunderstruck

Eric Gagne: Guns N Roses – Welcome to the Jungle

Fernando Rodney: Angel y Khriz – Ven Ballalo (Gotta have some latin flavor)

The Bad

Jonathan Broxton: Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode

Armando Benitez: Jay-Z – Big Pimpin’ (I remember jamming it up to this song back in 99/00, but I think this jam would be a better intro for a catcher as he walks to the plate. As my boy eyebleaf over at Sports And The City said of one Raul Chavez, who’s got a rocket for an arm behind the plate, and I quote “He throws bitches out like a pimip”.)

Brad Lidge: Drowning Pool – The Game

The Ugly

Brandon Lyon (Red Sox): The Lion Sleeps Tonight

I wonder what Scott “The Snake” Downs’ entrance music is. If he doesn’t have one maybe we could come up with one for him. I’m thinking going with the whole snake theme, he could go with Jake “The Snake” Roberts theme from the WWF. Not a really intimidating song, but got a decent intro. Or maybe he could go with M.O.P. – Ante Up… that songs hard, rough, grimey, gets you fired up. Or maybe Jimi Hendrix – Voodoo Child.

What would you pick as your entrance music?

 

No-No

J. Sanchez pitching during the 6th inning of his eventual no hitter

Jonathan Sanchez pitched a no hitter tonight at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The kid had a perfect game going through 7 innings. Were it not for an error in the 8th inning by Juan Uribe, we’d be talking about a perfect game rather than a no hitter. It’s the first no hitter for the San Francisco Giants since 1976. Well done kid. Baseball fans everywhere are tipping their caps.

 

Oh Canada.

Oh Canada

Happy Canada Day.

Be proud that we live in Canada where…

Health care is free.

Our beer is not watered down.

We are recognized for peace not war.

Hockey is not just a game, it’s a religion.

Different cultures live together in harmony.

 

Michael Jackson 1958 – 2009

1958 - 2009. The greatest of all time.

I’m still in disbelief. He’s gone, he’s really gone. One of my childhood idols is dead. It was about 3 pm yesterday afternoon when a friend of mine had his facebook status as “R.I.P. Michael Jackson”. I immediately turned on the news to find that earlier in the afternoon he suffered cardiac arrest and had been rushed to the hospital. After his death was confirmed, I felt saddened.

I remember being 5 years old in Bombay, India watching Moonwalker on my vcr over and over. I remember saying to myself one day I will own that yellow suit. I used to love that yellow suit. I thought it was so cool. I remember constantly rewinding the song Smooth Criminal over and over trying to do the dance moves.

MJ revolutionized the music industry. He truly was a musical genius. A gifted performer and the greatest entertainer this world has ever seen. I still in my heart believe if Billie Jean were to come out today it would hit #1. My MJ CD’s will be in heavy rotation for the next few weeks.

While the media here in North America loved Michael for all the scandals, he was possibly the most adored and beloved man on this planet. His popularity was still very prominent outside of North America across the other six continents. Michael might have been the most popular man there has ever been across the world. But through all the love and adoration that poured out for him during his life, his life was one that was tragic. He never knew a normal life, a normal childhood. While Michael’s life took many different twists and turns, I hope history will remember him for his music, and the smiles he provided worldwide and not his trials.

Here’s to you Micheal Jackson, the greatest entertainer this world has ever known. I hope you finally have your peace.

 

WOW!!!!!!!

This is why he is the best player in the world right now, and will eventually become the greatest player of all time.

 

UNBELEIVABLE…

 

 

How Sweet It Is

 

How sweet it is

 

As I was driving back from grad school in Buffalo last night my radio was glued to the Fan 590. Absolutely nothing was going to take my attention away from Doc Halladay putting on a clinic against former Jay A.J. Burnett. A.J. joined the Dark Side, he is part of the Evil Empire. Doc proved again, that good always triumphs over evil. I only wish I could have been there at the game with the boys enjoying it live. I’m sure my buddy eyebleaf had a few pints on my behalf, while enjoying the meaningful complete e gamfive hitter pitched by the GREAT Doc Halladay.

 

Big Popi

 

Yet another high pop out.

Big Papi Popi has lost it. It’s over, it was a good run. Two World Series, the adoration of a city, it was great, while it lasted. To all the Massholes out there, Big Popi is done, finsihed, finito. He’s lost it, but did he ever really have it?

This may come as a shock to the Boston faithful, but Big Popi was never that great, but rather a product of hitting before Manny Ramirez. Want proof; i’ll give it to you.

 

David Ortiz’s stats with Minnesota from 1997 to 2002 (without Manny Ramirez).

  G          AB          R          H          HR          RBI          BB          AVG        OBP          SLG 

455     1477       215      393       48            178          186          .232          .325          .386

 

David Ortiz’s stats with Boston from 2003 to 2007 (with Manny Ramirez).

  G          AB          R          H          HR          RBI          BB          AVG        OBP          SLG

737      2738      523     826       168          642          465          .302          .401          .611

 

David Ortiz’s stats with Boston in 2008 (half the year with Manny Ramirez).

  G          AB          R          H          HR          RBI          BB          AVG        OBP          SLG

109       416         74       110         23            89             70           .264          .369          .507

 

David Ortiz’s stats with Boston in 2009 so far. (without Manny Ramirez). (Updated weekly)

  G          AB          R          H          HR          RBI          BB          AVG        OBP          SLG

  39        149         15        30           1              18             22            .201          .309          .309

 

It’s pretty obvious that Manny Ramirez was the reason for Big Popi’s success. With no Manny hitting behind him, protecting him, pitchers are going after Big Popi and he just can’t get it done. Big Popi must really miss Manny.

 Update – Literally minutes after I put this post on my blog, news broke about Manny Ramirez testing for a banned substance and has been suspended for 50 games. Talk about irony, however it still doesn’t change the fact that Big Papi Popi’s success was still a product of hitting ahead of Man Ram.

 

Sublime Finish

 

Iniesta celebrating after scoring in the 93rd minute to send Barcelona to the Champion's League final.

It took 3 minutes of extra time for Barcelona to finally find the key to the lock that was Chelsea’s defense. Iniesta’s beautiful strike at ‘90 + 3 booked Barcelona a ticket to Rome for the Champions League final on May 27th.

 

What an incredible game, with an even better finish. Considering the 1st leg went without a goal, it took Barca 183 minutes to finally solve Chelsea. Chelsea struck early at Stanford Bridge, scoring in the 9th minute off the foot of Essien. Chelsea then did what they do best for 84 minutes, defend. It looked like it would be an all England final, till Iniesta broke Chelsea’s hearts in extra time.

It was an absolute bullet of a shot just outside the box on a pass from the great Messi. It was Unexpected, Unconciounable, Unbelievable.

Barca is off to Rome to face Manchester United, in a rematch of last years Champion Leagues semi-final, in which Man U were victorious. Barca should have a much better showing against Man U this year; coming off today’s sublime finish.

 

King “MVP” James

LeBron James took home the first of many MVP awards today. LBJ is a man among boys on the basketball court. It was just a matter of time till King James took home the MVP award. In all honesty, this should be the King’s second MVP award, he was robbed last year. LeBron was the MVP, not Kobe Bryant.

LeBron chose to accept the award in his old high school gym saying “This is a place where all my dreams started and where I thought they could become real,” James said in accepting the award at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. “There’s really not a better place.”

What athelete today do you know accepts his award at his old high school. That just shows how connected LeBron is to his community, to where he came from. That’s what makes him so appealing. His teamates, peers, coaches and fans all love him. Today most athelete’s have a disconnect with the fans, LeBron has found that connection. His persona, his character are genuine and fans can see that and are drawn to it.

I just hope fans realize how lucky we are to be watching this guy play. He’s a combination of Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. LeBron, go and get your first of many championships this year so your legacy can begin. A legacy that will end with you being the greatest player to ever play on the hardcourt. Sorry Michael.

 

Katt Williams – Club Dance

This is funny as hell…