What can rock bands teach us about college baseball? A good bit
Why? For one, MLB starts in much warmer weather, and you try getting a flat beer and a lukewarm hot dog at a college ballpark for $15.
This year team's will look to unseat Vanderbilt from atop the college baseball landscape.
All that hope, all that promise, all at its highest with that first pitch.
One thing that makes baseball opening day interesting from a non-sport perspective is the walk up music. Sure, hip-hop and EDM have seen a rise, but not much can send shivers up a batter's spine than a reliever coming in while rock music blares over the speakers.
In truth, rock bands can teach us a little bit about baseball.
No, not just the factor chemistry plays a big role, or finding people who have a common vision or sound of how things need to be. Also, the roles and importance of players.
Let's begin.
Ask yourself, what gets butts in seats? Big hitters with big personalities. Call them the lead singers of the band.
Big hitters in today's game are the face of a team, and a big part of the bands success is the front person.
Picture your favorite band. Now take away the lead singer.
Is it the same?
No, and unless they are like AC/DC, there is a huge dropoff. Call this the Queen effect. Freddie Mercury was great with Queen, but on his own, well, there is a reason there is not a Freddie Mercury greatest hits album.
Equally important is the ace pitcher. Think of them as the lead guitarist of the group.
Can also gets people in the door, but think of guitar solos as innings pitched: After you have experienced a few, you pretty much know what you are getting.
Staying on the ax, relief pitchers are like the rhythm guitarist. They support the lead guy, can maybe even do one or two things better than the lead, but they also fill a specific role..
In this drawn out analogy, just guitarists need a rock to rely on in a bassist, pitcher's need a catcher. If they didn't have them, you would have a lot more mistakes, and a lot messier game.
Like catchers, bassists are often overlooked, are in the background and are criminally undervalued. But without them, there is nothing to build off.
Sure, there are a few that shine and become headline roles, but for many catchers and bassists it rings true that it is a dirty, thankless job.
But you also realize how good one is when they aren't there. Just see Cliff Burton and Metallica.
Finally, the drummer.
Frankly, without a drummer, you don't have a band. Who would be there to keep time?
Think of your infield defense as the drummer. They are the backbone of success, backup the pitchers and set up the singer.
Also as with music, you build from bass and percussion up, just like how a good baseball team builds on defense and is captained by the catcher.
Drummers like bassists can rise to stardom, but let's be honest, just like how not many went to see the Beattles to see Ringo, not many fans go to baseball games to exclusively watch infield defense.
Also like the bassist, you really notice a bad drummer.
What of the outfielders in baseball? Simple, the roadies/tech crews. Big supporters of the band, and without them the show couldn't happen, and you only notice them with things go horribly wrong.
All this is a big, round-about way of saying baseball is truly a team game. You have your stars, but there are nine players out there for a reason. You are down one, or have a big weakness at these positions, you will get exposed.
These same rules also apply to softball.
So remember, on opening day announce your presence with authority and may your game be played joy and verve and poetry.
And remember to stick it to the man...I mean umpire.
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