Walk-Up Songs at Fenway

 I stumbled across this article this morning, and while there's nothing I can add to it, I thought it would be a good reference for anyone who is wondering about what songs Red Sox players come out to, both batters and pitchers.  Thank you to NESN.com and Jenny Dell for the lists.

Hitters' At-Bat Music 
Mike Aviles: "Rocketeer," Far East Movement
Marlon Byrd: "Work," Gang Starr; "Get Like Me," David Banner; “I’m The Sh*t," Meek Mill
Carl Crawford: "Balling," Young Jeezy
Jacoby Ellsbury: "Let It Rock," Kevin Rudolph; "Hustle Hard (Remix)," Ace Hood
Adrian Gonzalez:"Levantate/Get Up," Pitbull; "Bon, Bon," Pitbull
Darnell McDonald: "Public Service Announcement," Jay-Z, "Leanin'," Stuey Rock
Will Middlebrooks: "Texas Flood," Stevie Ray Vaughn; "Levels (Skrillex Remix)," Avicii
Daniel Nava: "Dream," Lecrae
David Ortiz: "King Of Diamonds," Rick Ross; "Schemin'," Rick Ross
Dustin Pedroia: "Gettin' It," Too $hort
Nick Punto: "Mother," Danzig
Cody Ross: "Livin' On A Prayer," Bon Jovi; "Who Am I? (What's My Name)," Snoop Dogg
Jarrod Saltalamacchia: "Rock Me Amadeus," Falco
Kelly Shoppach: "Kick It In The Sticks," Brantley Gilbert
Ryan Sweeney: "Good Good Night," Roscoe Dash; "The Motto," Drake
Kevin Youkilis: "Just A Friend," Biz Markie; "Till I Collapse," Eminem

Pitchers' Entrance Music 
Alfredo Aceves: "Iberia Sumergida," Héroes Del Silencio
Matt Albers: "Sleep Now In The Fire," Rage Against The Machine
Scott Atchison: "Heartland," George Strait
Daniel Bard: "Slow Ride," Foghat
Josh Beckett: "My Kinda Party," Jason Aldean
Clay Buchholz: "Buckaroo Man," Dave Stamey
Aaron Cook: "Hit The Floor," Linkin Park
Felix Doubront: "Contéstame El Teléfono," Alexis Y Fido
Rich Hill: “First of the Year,” Skrillex
Jon Lester: "I Use What I Got," Jason Aldean
Franklin Morales: "Fever," Wisin Y Yandel
Vicente Padilla: "La Despedida (Remix)," Daddy Yankee featuring Tony Dize

When the Bullpen Mafia Speaks, You Listen

Photo: Cleveland.com

The Cleveland Indians aren't messing around this season.  There's no Ricky Vaughn, Willie Mays Hayes or Pedro Cerrano.  Instead, there's Derek Lowe, Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner and Chris Perez.

The Tribe has come out of the gates with a 23-19, two and a half games in the lead for the AL Central division.  While its not a staggering lead this early in the season, the Indians have been playing good baseball.  The Tigers, with arguably the scariest line-up in the American League, are sitting in third place.  So with the standings the way they are, what's getting under the skin of the closer, Chris Perez?

"I'm not stupid, I understand the economy's bad around here. I understand that people can't afford to come to the game," Perez said Sunday. "But there doesn't need to be the negativity. I don't understand the negativity, why? Like, enjoy what we have. You have a first place team. How many third-place towns in the country would want that right now?"

The Indians have an 11-12 record at home, the only division-leading team to have a losing record in their respective ballpark.  Perez pointed out that its because the fans aren't giving them any sort of home-field advantage.

"It's just a slap in the face when you're last in attendance. Last. It's not like we're 25th or 26th. We're last. Oakland's outdrawing us. That's embarrassing."

Can't argue with that, it is embarrassing.  The Tribe open up a series with Detroit on Monday, a series that will surely draw a few more fans, but whether or not they'll be wearing the Cleveland colors could be a different story.

Sox Reinforcements?

The Sox pulled their best Adele impression on two consecutive days to beat the Mariners and the rain for their fourth and fifth straight wins.  Working at Fenway Park, you see and hear some weird stuff.  Today was one of the most interesting I've heard in a long while about the team.

"Nobody has reinforcements coming like we do."

A few regulars were talking baseball around the EMC Club, talking about how the team was really heating up, things were starting to turn around.  I mean, they're not wrong.  Jon Lester and Josh Beckett have shut everybody up in their last two outings (now, who knows what's in store next time out...), and the offense has found its stroke of late.  But back to that quote -- who are we talking about?

Jacoby Ellsbury was recently placed on the 60-day DL, meaning he won't be back til at least mid-June, if before the All-Star break at all.  Kevin Youkilis is no surprise to see on the DL, and will be starting a rehab stint today, Wednesday in Pawtucket... Cwhere he belongs.  Andrew Bailey won't be back til the back half of the season with a pitching thumb injury, hopefully replacing Alfredo Aceves, who, to his credit, has stopped giving Boston fans nightmares when he steps on the mound this season.

Carl Crawford is making his case better and better by the day for "Worst Free Agent Signing in History," although he has been at Fenway lately shagging flies and taking BP.  Bobby Jenks crashed into a car and drove away from a strip club named "Babes."  I'm all set with that one.

Darnell "Put The Team On My Back" McDonald will be back soon after a right oblique strain, adding to an already insanely good outfield.  And Daisuke Matsuzaka seems to be on the fast-track back, who honestly, I would welcome into the rotation.  So of those names, who do we want to see back?

I have finally bought a ticket on the Ellsbury train this season, picking him up on my fantasy team, and no longer ragging on him for dodging his team during his injury time two years ago.  The outfield with Ellsbury, Sweeney, Ross and Nava would be unstoppable (sorry, Darnell).  Bailey out of the bullpen would be awesome, since our regular bullpen guys pitch every single day, it seems.

I can do without Youkilis, without Jenks and even without Crawford at this point.  Selling high is out of the question, but let's at least get someone other than Marlon Byrd or Scott Podsednik, please?

Ripley's Believe It Or Not: Sox Win Three in a Row

Its not whether you win or lose, its how you play the game, right?  Completely wrong.  The Red Sox have a $171 million payroll, so if they're not winning, no one's going to even watch them play the game.

Boston currently sits at 15-19, six and a half games behind the AL East leading Baltimore Orioles.  Now the O's are a completely different story here, so we'll put that on the back burner for now.  Let's start the the positives, though.

1.) The Sox are better than the Twins, Royals and Angels, Cubs, Rockies and Padres. What does that say?  Not much, but at least we have something to hang our hats on.

2.)  They're finally .500 at home.  Home field advantage has been non-existent for them this season, between the fans booing Bobby Valentine and Josh Beckett and leaving in the 5th inning when the Sox are getting crushed, there hasn't been a whole lot to cheer about.  During these past three games, however, fans have stayed put, singing Sweet Caroline louder than ever and getting rowdy right until Dirty Water.

3.)  The Farm boys.  Daniel Nava and Will Middlebrooks.  The two have come up and totally caught fire the past week, totaling 13 runs on 19 hits, including four home runs and 17 RBI, averaging over .450 at the dish.

I was going to start talking about the negatives, but I'll let this one stand alone for now.  Let's just let this post be positive and see how it's received.

Birthday Shout-Outs

Today may be one of the best birthday shout-out days we've had in blogging history, so without further ado...

Miranda Cosgrove
Mark Zuckerberg
Frank Gore
BeardyMan
Eddie House
Roy Halladay
Cate Blanchett
Tony Siragusa
The douche who coaches the Canucks
Tim Roth
Ronan Tynan
Norodom Sihamoni - King of Cambodia
Robert Zemeckis
George Lucas

The Answers: Sweet Caroline

New installment for the blog; I'll be trying to make this a weekly thing, it may turn in to biweekly, but that remains to be seen.  So what will happen is I will take something popular, maybe something trending, and reveal the truth about said phenomenon.  Today's phenomenon comes with a grain of salt.  I can't believe I have to write this, but its become too big to ignore.

You're in Fenway Park, America's most beloved ballpark, and the Red Sox are losing by 8 runs in the middle of the game.  You could leave early, beat some traffic on the way out, sure.  Or, you could forgo caring about the game and just stay til the middle of the 8th inning to hear "Sweet Caroline" come on!

Don't worry, if you don't know the lyrics, they're on the smaller scoreboard out in right field.  And if you even glance out there once, then its clear this article is directed at you.

"Hands,
Touchin' hands.
Reachin' out,
Touchin' me,
Touchin' youuuuu..."

Everyone's with me so far?

"Sweet Caroline..."

Now what?  Answer: "BAH BAH BAH"

Where have people gotten this idea that the horns suddenly changed their noise to "OH OH OH"?  If you listen closely, you'll hear any number of idiots doing it, because clearly they don't belong in Fenway Park.  Take the video at the top -- those guys are hammered and still singing every word right.  So next time you're at Fenway belting our "Sweet Caroline" and you hear some chumps around you say "OH OH OH," kindly escort them out of the park with a swift kick in the ass.

I Can Explain...

Hey everybody, I'm sorry its been almost a week since I last posted, but I had to trudge my way through finals and squaring away everything for Senior Week at Emmanuel.  Three If By Strike hasn't just been on autopilot all week, though, and I got some pretty good material coming your way.  For now, I'll leave you with this video for you viewing pleasure.


Absolutely amazing.  From her name down to her assumption that nobody has time for bronchitis.  Welcome back, everybody.