Photo from Lady Loves Pinstripes.
I haven’t done an Orioles post yet (Adam Jones to come), which is turning out to be a blatant oversight, being that they are in first place in the “AL Beast.” So, to pay tribute to their early success, I figure I’ll show you their walk-up jams. The O’s do not disappoint—they’ve put together a pretty nice mix.
I’ll try to go by lineup order (though I can’t find the new guy, Xavier Avery’s music):
JJ Hardy
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sWb1iR2mzM]
Moby, huh? You’re a power hitter, JJ. Time to start acting like one.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsMikuC8dzs]
You can roll the dice on pretty much any Timbaland track and it’s probably a great walk-up; however, this one is an all-time favorite of mine. Bubba Sparxxx had a moment there, huh?
Adam Jones
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWbXQQG9B6c]
San Diego-native Adam Jones picks a song that is so classic it’s almost cliche, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE891IHxyV8]
One of Dre’s best and a great pick for a walk-up. “No competition, sending all opposition to see a mortician.”
Matt Wieters
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRh-vBOS-dU]
So. Undeniably. Catchy. I wish I could say I didn’t watch that whole thing and smile and hum and bob my head and do the “WOAH-OH-OH” chorus part, but that would be a lie.
Chris Davis
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um0qstzRTqE]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFQPHgQRTBU]
This stuff fits nicely with his new Fu Manchu, but don’t count me as a fan—of the music, of course—that ‘stache’s is about two weeks from absolute dominance.
Wilson Betemit
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMB7YBP9fUg]
Music is a universal language but this one just got lost in translation. Why are they pretend-drinking from liquor-bottle-shaped cardboard? A miss from Betemit.
Nick Johnson
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6tqn7uhYKk]
What a pleasant surprise. Bay Area guys tend to stick with their hometown favorites, and Johnson is Sacramento-born, so Oakland’s very own Luniz is a classy, classy choice.
Robert Andino
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o-fFVU25wk]
Robert Andino goes with Ace Hood and I can’t blame him. Sinister beat and an aggressive rapper are a good mix.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP7m9Y-u-3g]
File this one under “Generic Latin American Dance Hit.” They all sound the same. Endy does get a free pass though since he made the most clutch defensive play I’ve ever seen.
Nolan Reimold
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVGHggXx8HM]
Gotta admit I’m not up on wrestling. I did watch it occasionally when I was forced to, but I just prefer real sports. Call me crazy. Song sucks, besides.
Tommy Hunter
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br98ad469og]
Guy in the hat really likes that microphone spin move he’s got, huh? And regardless of where you come from, an ERA over 5 is bad. Not a huge fan of this one, but I do like Montgomery Gentry’s Lucky Man—soulful.
Jake Arrieta
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNHlVo0cPa8]
The original is just way better. That’s all.
Brian Matusz
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMyH4XTlVgs]
Funky. Great for a pitcher because it needs a little time to warm up but when it gets going it doesn’t quit. Great call.
Wei-Yin Chen
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkyfRu-dpvc]
Wei-Yin FOR THE WIN! Nelly makes hits. America. Taiwan. All corners of Earth. If there is life on Mars, they probably listen to Nelly. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer in my book and if he isn’t in your book I don’t want to read it.
Luis Ayala
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdrtWX2J58M]
If they played this while I was trying to pitch I would throw four-seamers at the speakers until it stopped.
Matt Lindstrom
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbrjRKB586s]
The culminating song on one of the best albums ever made. Can’t make a better choice as a reliever. Nailed it.
Darren O’Day
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X_lOZI9KWI]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrmy_Yjc4Ik]
O’Day picked a few choice numbers from one of the only Rock & Roll bands left on the planet. No wonder he’s having such a great year.
Pedro Strop
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6P-7VUds0A]
This poor guy sounds like Iago from Aladdin. Do kids still watch Disney movies? The reference might be dated, but Aladdin was a classic. Great soundtrack.
Jim Johnson
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBjQ9tuuTJQ]
It can’t be easy for a band to make consistently good music for as long as the Foo Fighters have. I’m not real amped up about this pick for a closer, but if Johnson likes the Foo Fighters I can’t really hold it against him.
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