MLB Opening Day is officially upon us, and it's time to get into the swing of things with a look at the Player Music picks of last year's World Series Champs, the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have exploded into the stratopshere with their 3rd World title in the last 5 years, and have moved into the upper echelon of modern baseball dynasties and are slowly becoming a perennial contender year in and year out. Despite the loss of Pablo Sandoval to the Red Sox, the team is otherwise unchanged from last year with a stellar starting rotation that includes the masterful Bumgarner and the revitalized Cain after elbow surgery, and a predominant offense that includes Buster Posey and Brandon Belt ready to get the team clicking on all cylinders right out of the gate. I've compiled the music picks of the Champs to get a sense of their personalities and how their music choices keep their mindset in check when at the plate. Here are their picks:
Brandon Belt - Jay-Z "99 Problems"
Brandon Crawford - Drake "Forever
Buster Posey - Brantley Gilbert "Hell on Wheels"
Casey McGehee - Shinedown "Simple Man"
McGehee comes in after Pablo jetted off to the Red Sox on a 5 yr. $95 million deal. Casey comes in from the Marlins, who had a hot streak a few years ago but has cooled off as of late. While he doesn't possess the power numbers of Pablo, he definitely shores up the defense quite a bit and provides some much needed offensive support when its needed.
Hunter Pence - White Zombie - "More Human"
Pence will be starting the season on the DL after breaking his arm during Spring Training, so he won't be seeing any baseball action into early May at the latest. Here's to a speedy recovery from a guy knowing for his highly unorthodox batting stance and ability to spray the ball all over the ballpark to drive in those cruicial runs when the time counts.
Jake Peavy - Bruce Springsteen "Badlands"
Madison Bumgarner - Curtis Stigers "John The Revelator"
Nothing more needs to be said about this beautifully bearded man, coming off a 3rd World Series title, brilliant dominator in last year's postseason, and supposedly sliced and diced a rattlesnake all while saving some baby jackrabbits in the process (completely true according to a Sports Illustrated article!) The best pitcher in the land is also the world's greatest storyteller this side of Daniel Boone.
Matt Cain - Kenny Chesney "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy"
Nori Aoki - Flo Rida "Right Round"