{"id":2995,"date":"2010-10-05T22:51:37","date_gmt":"2010-10-06T02:51:37","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2010-10-10T18:04:56","modified_gmt":"2010-10-10T22:04:56","slug":"2010-nlds-rate-a-record","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/2010-nlds-rate-a-record\/","title":{"rendered":"2010 NLDS Rate-a-Record: Are You Ready to Rumble?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe class='youtube-player youtuber' type='text\/html' width='425' height='355' src='http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LEUBV8qPZhw?rel=0&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%252526fmt%253D18' webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen frameborder='0'><\/iframe><br \/>\nSurely you recall some of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/index.php\/a-rock-town-hall-apology-or-revisiting-d\" target=\"_blank\">groundbreaking analyses<\/a> we&#8217;ve performed since 2008 in predicting baseball&#8217;s postseason play according to the power of each team&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/index.php\/talkin-baseball-walk-up-music\">walk-up music<\/a>. With the 2010 Division Series playoff matches about to begin, it&#8217;s time we get our first look at this year&#8217;s most-rocking contestants. Let&#8217;s start with the National League, and then we&#8217;ll catch up with the American League tomorrow. We&#8217;ll keep this initial overview concise to allow us room to drill down as less-musical teams are eliminated.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with my hometown team, the <em>Rocktober<\/em>-tested tough <a href=\"http:\/\/philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com\/phi\/fan_forum\/player_songs.jsp\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Philadelphia Phillies<\/strong><\/a>.<!--more--><br \/>\nAlthough some constants remain from the past 2 years&#8217; pennant runs, including <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.phawker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/led-zeppelin.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Chase Utley<\/a><\/strong>&#8216;s powerful &#8220;Kashmir,&#8221; <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/index.php\/all-star-jam-sour-grapes-edition\" target=\"_blank\">Shane Victorino<\/a><\/strong>&#8216;s steely &#8220;Buffalo Soldier,&#8221; and a reinvigorated, refocused <strong>Cole Hamels<\/strong>&#8216; warm-up theme of AC\/DC&#8217;s &#8220;Thunderstruck,&#8221; updates among veterans of past Phillies wars as well as the warm-up theme of newcomer and probable Cy Young Award winner <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/media.egotvonline.com\/files\/2010\/02\/cy-young.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Roy Halladay<\/a><\/strong> look to play key roles in the team&#8217;s opening round against the free-swinging <strong>Cincinnati Reds<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class='youtube-player youtuber' type='text\/html' width='425' height='355' src='http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IOb8otk7Y0U?rel=0&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%252526fmt%253D18' webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen frameborder='0'><\/iframe><br \/>\nHalladay&#8217;s warm-up twofer of &#8220;Moby Dick&#8221; b\/w &#8220;Good Times Bad Times&#8221; is the biggest addition to the Phillies&#8217; playlist &#8211; and possibly the biggest addition to the collective postseason playlist. Even upstart Reds fan bemoaning the New Big Red Machine have to admit that ROCKS! Among the veterans of past years, the most significant change in walk-up songs may be catcher <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/huff-wires\/20081029\/bbo-world-series\/images\/518ebd16-73b7-4aa1-8d77-74a3e33db821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Carlos Ruiz<\/a><\/strong>&#8216;s midseason switch to Phil Collins&#8217; &#8220;In the Air Tonight,&#8221; cued to start at the legendary drum fill. Always the team player, Chooch took the lead of new backup catcher <strong>Brian Schneider<\/strong>, who&#8217;d been using the tune since the beginning of the season. Word is Phillies pitchers appreciate and have benefited from the added consistency between the catchers&#8217; routines. If the Phils progress we&#8217;ll examine some melodramatic, Coldplay-esque tune that <strong>Jayson Werth<\/strong>&#8216;s been playing since dropping his badass Sammy Hagar song of past years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/cnati.com\/cincinnati-reds\/name-that-reds-tune-001938\/\" target=\"_blank\">The Reds<\/a> haven&#8217;t needed to compile a postseason playlist in years, but manager <strong>Dusty Baker<\/strong>, a well-known <a href=\"http:\/\/sports.espn.go.com\/mlb\/playoffs\/2010\/columns\/story?columnist=bryant_howard&amp;id=5647446\" target=\"_blank\">jazzcat<\/a> with plenty of postseason experience and a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cantstopthebleeding.com\/flippin-thru-the-crates-with-dusty-baker\" target=\"_blank\">cool record collection<\/a>, should offer guidance.<\/p>\n<p>The Reds will need it. Although likely NL MVP <strong>Joey Votto<\/strong> has used &#8220;Smells Like Teen Spirit,&#8221; more often than not he&#8217;s approaching the plate to &#8220;Drop it Low&#8221; or some other track featuring the likes of Chris Brown. Veteran third baseman and former Phillies Great White Hope <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/teamtobeat.files.wordpress.com\/2010\/07\/rolen1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Scott Rolen<\/a><\/strong> takes his place in the batter&#8217;s box to &#8211; <em>It figures!<\/em> says a chorus of his spurned phormer Philly phans &#8211; Coldplay&#8217;s &#8220;Viva la Vida&#8221; or U2&#8217;s &#8220;Breathe.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Reds do pack a few fierce Classic Rock numbers, like pitcher <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.myclassiccountry.com\/chubby\/Chubby_HomerBailey.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Homer Bailey<\/a><\/strong>&#8216;s use of Ted Nugent&#8217;s &#8220;Stranglehold&#8221; (a popular tune this postseason) and outfielder <a href=\"http:\/\/www.red-hot-mama.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/02\/gomes_mohawk.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Jonny Gomes<\/strong><\/a>&#8216; occasional use of &#8220;Johnny B. Good,&#8221; but the biggest surprise and coolest song in the Reds&#8217; playlist is definitely tiny reliever <strong>Daniel Ray Herrera<\/strong>&#8216;s use of Link Wray&#8217;s &#8220;Rumble.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em>PREDICTION:<\/em> Phillies get the Led out in 4.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class='youtube-player youtuber' type='text\/html' width='425' height='355' src='http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X0dUR6-ki1Y?rel=0&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%252526fmt%253D18' webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen frameborder='0'><\/iframe><br \/>\nThe other NLDS series pits the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.operationsports.com\/forums\/sounds-show\/415665-updated-sf-giants-2010-walk-up-music.html\" target=\"_blank\">San Francisco Giants<\/a><\/strong> against the wildcard <a href=\"http:\/\/braveslove.blogspot.com\/2010\/04\/2010-braves-intro-songs.html\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Braves<\/a>. The Giants, a mix of young pitching stars and veteran role players, bring possibly the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mccoveychronicles.com\/2010\/9\/1\/1663408\/at-bat-music\" target=\"_blank\">goofiest<\/a> of musical mixes to the postseason, led by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.procanes.com\/files\/aubrey-huff-purple-pants-giants2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Aubrey Huff<\/a><\/strong>&#8216;s use of The Bee Gees&#8217; &#8220;Stayin&#8217; Alive&#8221; and <strong>Pat Burrell<\/strong> getting all &#8220;Cutie Pie&#8221; on us. When he was a Phillies&#8217; <a href=\"http:\/\/citypaper.net\/blogs\/sports\/files\/2009\/03\/bait-parade.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">phixture<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/philliesphorum.mlblogs.com\/phightin_phils_phorum\/images\/pat_burrell_machine.JPG\" target=\"_blank\">chick magnet<\/a>, the media-burned Burrell consistently <a href=\"http:\/\/talksportsphilly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/pat_burrell.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">thumbed his nose<\/a> with <del>Glenn Frey<\/del>Don Henley&#8217;s &#8220;Dirty Laundry.&#8221; Everybody&#8217;s happy nowadays. Meanwhile, ace stoner <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/intershame.com\/img\/weblog\/tim_lincecum_mitch_kramer.PNG\" target=\"_blank\">Tim Lincecum<\/a><\/strong> mixes MGMT&#8217;s &#8220;Electric Feel&#8221; by MGMT and The Doors&#8217; &#8220;Light My Fire.&#8221; <em>Yeah, <a href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_sENKnrVltu8\/S1bA9_A2nlI\/AAAAAAAABRg\/2sqxbs6ggQ8\/s400\/Lincecum+4.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">spark it up<\/a>, Timmy!<\/em> <a href=\"http:\/\/cdn.bleacherreport.com\/images_root\/slideshows\/933\/slideshow_93303\/display_image.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Fauxhawked<\/a> reliever <strong>Brian Wilson<\/strong> also uses a tune that fits his <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cantstopthebleeding.com\/sfs-brian-wilson-god-only-knows-how-id-tweet-without-you\" target=\"_blank\">pushin&#8217;-too-hard personality<\/a>, House of Pain&#8217;s &#8220;Jump Around.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><iframe class='youtube-player youtuber' type='text\/html' width='425' height='355' src='http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JRbPWcLode0?rel=0&amp;fs=1&amp;ap=%252526fmt%253D18' webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen frameborder='0'><\/iframe><br \/>\nThe Braves&#8217; typical jock mix of materialistic hip-hop and lunk-headed modern rock is only spiced up by a few headbangers, like nearly over-the-hill <strong>Troy Glaus<\/strong>&#8216; &#8220;Over the Mountain&#8221; (Ozzy Osbourne), a Rage Against the Machine track from pitcher <strong>Tim Hudson<\/strong>, and survivor <strong>Rick Ankiel<\/strong>&#8216;s use of Blue Oyster Cult&#8217;s &#8220;Godzilla.&#8221; Too bad the last of the truly great Bobby Cox-era Braves, future Hall of Fame third baseman <strong>Chipper Jones<\/strong> is out for the season, not able to call the Blizzard of Oz&#8217;s &#8220;Crazy Train&#8221; into play.<\/p>\n<p><em>PREDICTION:<\/em> Giants fly their freak flag in 5.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/index.php\/2010-alds-rate-a-record\" target=\"_blank\"><em>See also:<\/em> KingEd breaks down the ALDS playlists.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Surely you recall some of the groundbreaking analyses we&#8217;ve performed since 2008 in predicting baseball&#8217;s postseason play according to the power of each team&#8217;s walk-up music. With the 2010 Division Series playoff matches about to begin, it&#8217;s time we get our first look at this year&#8217;s most-rocking contestants. Let&#8217;s start with the National League, and <a href='https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/2010-nlds-rate-a-record\/' class='excerpt-more'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[57],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2995"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2995"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2995\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}