Rays walk-up bracket: First round
Sixteen match-ups for ya!
All right folks, welcome to the first round. We’re going to keep the introduction short because this year we’re keeping all 32 entries in the running (Chris Archer, Christian Arroyo, and Wilmer Font had selections that were difficult to find on YouTube, and 32 is a nice round number for a bracket, so sorry fellas) meaning an exceptionally long first round.
Make sure your voice is heard with your votes!
Willy Adames: Lírico en la Casa - Prendi
Ryan Yarbrough: Ladies and Gentlemen - Saliva
This is a pretty stark duo for our first matchup. Latin pop/rap vs. heavy metal spoke word (or something…). I’m just not a metal dude whatsoever. I can see choosing metal for a walkup song when it fits the bill, but honestly neither of these two songs are great. This is the downside to leaving all 32 songs in the first round, I suppose.
Jose Alvarado: Cali Aji - Grupo Niche
Hunter Wood: Duck Blind - The Bone Collector
I love Jose Alvarado so much. And I love him so much for making this his song. Easy choice.
Matt Andriese: Dazed and Confused - Led Zeppelin
Joey Wendle: Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Ah man. This is a bummer. As a bit of a Led Head, I was hoping these two could each make a bit of a run, but my elaborate matchup system of pairing the first name alphabetically with the last, and on, means we have to choose between two Led Zeppelin classics in the first round. I guess it’s for the best, since my value diversity in music here at DRB. For my money, I’m a “Whole Lotta Love” man.
Jake Bauers: What the Price - Migos
Jesús Sucre: Los Bandoleros - Don Omar
I’m just sad you guys killed “Me Acostumbre” in the play-in round. I’m sitting out this choice as a petulance response.
Diego Castillo: Say Yes - Michelle Williams
Ryne Stanek: Still Dre - Dr. Dre
“‘Cause when I frequent the spots that I’m known to rock
You hear the bass from the truck when I’m on the block”
Easy win.
Yonny Chirinos: Creere - Tercer Cielo
Brandon Snyder: Thunder - Imagine Dragons
I’m not pro-Imagine Dragons in many facets of my life, but they do enough for me to pick them here.
C.J. Cron: That’s What I Like - Bruno Mars
Blake Snell: Blue Notes - Meek Mill
I am among those who consider Bruno Mars one of the, like, five most talented people on earth. Is there anything that man can’t do? He certainly has enough to win a couple rounds here, I hope. Tough draw for Meek. (I’m guessing this is the match-up that I end up the furthest in opinion from the general readership.)
Matt Duffy: Hide - N.A.S.A
Mallex Smith: Swing My Way - K.P. & Envyi
Guys. It’s his walk-up song. And it has the word SWING in it! GET IT?! Also, it’s a great jam.
Nathan Eovaldi: Come Together - Gary Clark Jr.
Jamie Schultz: & Run - Sir Sly
Metal covers of classic rock songs rank above only Robin Thicke when it comes to my musical taste. How dare they dishonor The Beatles like that?! Also, I’m low-key kind of into this weird Sir Sly song.
Jake Faria: Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin
Sergio Romo: El Mechon - Banda Sinaloense Ms De Sergio Lizarraga
More Led Zeppelin! Maybe we can have the All-Zeppelin Final after all. That being said, I actually won’t be mad whichever way this vote goes. Although I can’t see Romo topping more than 10 percent if I’m being honest. “Immigrant Song” is riding that Thor: Ragnarok bump right now, too.
Johnny Field: Something Just Like This - The Chainsmokers
Chaz Roe: Hail to the King - Avenged Sevenfold
I’m sorry, I just can’t have Avenged Sevenfold making a run in this. If they do, I may have to go Goodell and start doing something sketchy rulings on the side.
Carlos Gomez: Spongebob Squarepants Theme - Painty the Pirate and Kids
Daniel Robertson: Thugz Mansion - 2Pac
Battle of the Titans right here. But if the Spongebob Theme doesn’t trigger a flood of memories for you, I’m not sure we can be friends. Plus, Gomez chose the song for his son. Cuteness points go a long ways in this type of bracket.
Adeiny Hechavarria: Walk It, Talk It - Migos
Rob Refsnyder: Lemon - N.E.R.D
Forget Mike Trout, Rihanna is the true G.O.A.T. Anything she touches turns to gold.
Micah Johnson: Not Today Satan - KB
Wilson Ramos: Wilson - Phish
A pair of play-in round winners, one will continue their run with their second victory. But the first victory is like those 12-seed play-in games in March Madness. The schools are quick to count them in the official record, but do they actually count? Let’s be honest.
As far as these two, despite my Vermont residence and the clever choice of a song that CONTAINS HIS NAME, I actually find this KB song exceptionally catchy. Micah for the win.
Kevin Kiermaier: Hustlin’ - Rick Ross
Austin Pruitt: Beautiful Disaster - 311
All right folks, here’s your chance to make Rick Ross go on the legendary run I know you want him to go on. My early pick for the 2018 winner.
Andrew Kittredge: Tom Sawyer - Rush
Adam Kolarek: Breed - Nirvana
Another match-up where if you like one song, you probably like the other, but Kitt’s “Tom Sawyer” pick is who I would put atop my personal rankings. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the strangely high pitched voice of Geddy Lee.
That’s all for now, check back for later rounds soon.
Please note: Google AMP and Apple News do not transpose our polls. Please go to the full DRaysBay to vote.