Music Monday

 And today this baseball-obsessed Mets fan will talk about the intersection of music and baseball.  A few days ago I posted a video, without further explanation.  Today I re-post that video, but now I will explain.

There are certain rituals at every baseball stadium. The game starts with the singing of the national anthem and a ceremonial first pitch.  The crowd sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch.  The team mascot entertains.  

And then there is the music.  Bits and pieces of songs played to rev up the crowd.  Randomly selected songs, except …

Whenever a member of the home team comes up to bat, the “walk up” song he’s chosen for himself is played.  Similarly, when a relief pitcher enters the game, his “walk out” music is played as he makes his way from the bullpen to the mound.

In the fall of 2017, the duo Blasterjaxx and collaborator Timmy Trumpet recorded a piece called “Narco”. The following spring, pitcher Edwin Diaz — then with the Seattle Mariners — chose that song as his walk-out music.

Diaz is now the Mets’ closer.  The Mets are having a phenomenal year, and Diaz is one of the reasons for that success.  

When the trumpets of “Narco” sound, Mr. Met and Mrs. Met grab trumpets, the crowd cheers …Diaz makes his grand entrance to save the game…

So last Tuesday the Mets invited Timmy Trumpet to Citi Field.  Trumpet is Australian and had never been to a baseball game before, but he quickly got caught up in the spirit of the event.  He threw out the first pitch.  And then, at stretch time,

  

But Diaz didn’t pitch that night.  So Trumpet came back Wednesday night, and this happened.

  

Only in New York.

Want to hear the whole song?  Of course you do.

  

The song is now a global sensation.

Of course, nothing in baseball is without controversy,  ask William Contreras.  The Atlanta Braves catcher uses “Narco” as his walk up music, to the consternation of Mets fans ….