{"id":8744,"date":"2014-04-10T09:19:20","date_gmt":"2014-04-10T13:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=8744"},"modified":"2014-04-10T09:19:20","modified_gmt":"2014-04-10T13:19:20","slug":"nationals-2014-walk-on-music-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nationalsarmrace.com\/?p=8744","title":{"rendered":"Nationals 2014 Walk-on music review"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the home opener, when\u00a0Nate McLouth<\/strong> came to bat we were stopped in our tracks by his walk-up music: “Kyrie”\u00a0<\/em>by 80’s band\u00a0Mister Mister<\/em>. \u00a0My wife and I immediately thought this was a rather odd choice.<\/p>\n

It made me wonder: should we critique every one of the Nats’ batter’s walk-up songs? \u00a0Of course we should!<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the team lists each player’s 2014 walk-up music<\/a> for us on their official MLB.com page. \u00a0And, here’s some research by fellow blog DistrictSportsPage on this year’s walk-up songs<\/a> (and\u00a02013’s walk-up songs<\/a>) for comparison purposes (note; the official website list isn’t accurate according to those actually listening to and Soundhounding the songs).<\/p>\n

Here’s some thoughts on each player’s selection (we’re only going on their primary\/1st at bat selection). \u00a0We’ll list this in the rough batting order and then tack on the bench guys. \u00a0And I’ll give my personal, baseless, unscientific “grade” for the song from a crowd-involvement and song-selection standpoint.<\/p>\n

Starters<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Denard Span<\/strong>: “Gotta Have It<\/em><\/a>” by Kanye West\/Jay-Z. \u00a0Fitting song to start; last year he used a selection of hip-hop songs, but not really a big crowd involver. \u00a0Grade: D<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Bryce Harper<\/strong>: “Flower<\/a><\/em>” by Moby. \u00a0A repeat from last year. \u00a0 Interesting selection for the young Harper; he doesn’t seem to be the typical Moby fan, but the song is catchy and unique. \u00a0He also uses a slew of different songs from many other genres for subsequent at-batss. \u00a0Grade: B-<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Ryan Zimmerman<\/strong>: “This Is How We Do It<\/a><\/em>” by\u00a0Montell Jordan. \u00a0His 2014 actual song differs from the official website; I like this pick. \u00a0A familar song, if not a big sing-along song.\u00a0\u00a0Grade: B-<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Adam LaRoche<\/strong>: “The Only Way I Know<\/a><\/em>”\u00a0by Jason Aldean and Eric Church. \u00a0Also fitting; LaRoche is a ranch-owning, game-hunting good ole-boy. \u00a0And he’s buddies with the singer Aldean<\/a>. \u00a0So he continues to use his songs as he did in 2013. \u00a0Grade C+<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Jayson Werth<\/strong>: “Warehouse<\/a><\/em>”\u00a0by Dave Matthews Band. \u00a0This is the crowd-favorite where everyone calls out, “Wooh!” after each interlude. \u00a0Of course, I can’t figure out where in the song that occurs from the video. \u00a0Werth also uses “Werewolves of London<\/a><\/em>” periodically (of course). \u00a0Brilliant.\u00a0\u00a0Grade: B+<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Ian Desmond<\/strong>: “One Sixteen<\/a><\/em>”\u00a0by Trip Lee (feat. KB & Andy Mineo). \u00a0Does not seem fitting for him, but clearly he likes this genre of hip-hop\/rap since his alternates from last year are by and large the same kinds of songs. \u00a0Unfortunately for Desmond I’m a middle-aged white guy and can’t stand modern hip-hop. \u00a0Grade: D<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Anthony Rendon: “<\/strong>No Competition<\/a><\/em>”\u00a0by Bun B. Feat. Raekwon & Kobe. \u00a0Eh. \u00a0Don’t like it, don’t get it. \u00a0I will say this: I liked his song from last year moreso (“Still D.R.E.<\/a><\/em>”\u00a0by Dr. Dre\/Snoop Dogg, which you’d recognize if you ever saw the movie\u00a0Training Day). \u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Grade: D<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Wilson Ramos:\u00a0<\/strong>“Wepa<\/a><\/em>”\u00a0by Gloria Estefan. \u00a0I’m not sure if he’s still using this (its a holdover from 2013) since he got hurt so quickly, but its got a good dance beat and latino flavor. \u00a0 No offense to Lobaton’s selections, but lets hope we’re hearing more Gloria Estefan sooner than later. \u00a0Grade: B<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Bench Guys<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n