Jordan Walden needs a walk-out song.
You know, something inspiring and energy-inducing — for him and Angels fans.
Walden, the Angels closer, reached out to fans on Facebook hoping they'll help him choose the music that accompanies his walk from the bullpen to the mound in the ninth inning at Angel Stadium this season. (UPDATE: Walden has narrowed the suggestions down to five. Click here to vote.)
If the Yankees' Mariano Rivera has Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and the Giants' Brian Wilson has House of Pain's "Jump Around," Waldon should have something equally energizing — a song to rev up his inner engine.
"It's something I really wanted to do because I really don't know," Walden told the team's website. "I was thinking to myself what I wanted to come up to, so I felt like it could be better if I had a list of songs."
Walden has narrowed his list of songs suggested by fans down to five: Motorhead's "The Game," Motley Crue's "Kickstar My Heart," Rage Against the Machine's "Renegades of Funk," Danzig's "Mother" and Korn's "Blind." Click here to vote.
Walden, who had a team-high 32 saves in 2011, acknowledges that fans usually favor heavy metal because it can be menacing. Anything that gets fans out of their seats for the last three outs is welcome.
Last season, Angels teammate Dan Haren picked Rob Zombie's "Dragula" for Walden, but the closer said he's looking for something different. Of course, his 10 blown saves last season (tied for most in the major leagues) might have something to do with his desire for change.
"When one sticks, it sticks, I guess," Walden said of closers' music. "I'm just looking for the right one. I want to see what the fans have to say, see what they can come up with."
Who knows? Walden might find a song that becomes forever linked to him, such as Rivera and "Enter Sandman" or former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman and "Hells Bells" by AC/DC.
But Walden would be well advised to stay away from "Wild Thing," the walk-out music used by the fictional character Rick Vaughn in the movie "Major League." Nothing good is associated with that one.
