When you are an MLB Closer — and your number is called — you have to deliver. It’s not so different from other sports positions in that way — except that you have to sit through seven to eight innings of baseball only to be called upon.
But the new Phillies closer isn’t worried about any of that. He’s got an interesting way entering the game in only a way that he can.
Fifty years ago — Phillies reliever Tug McGraw brought his signature “you gotta believe!” theme developed when he was with the Mets to Philadelphia. He amassed and incredible 180 saves over a nine year career including the most iconic saves in the 1980 World Series against the Kansas City Royals.
The lights now dim at Citizens Bank Park with an impressive visual showing of flames and spiders accompanied by an audio mix (of Farruko’s “El Incomprendido” mixed with “Hot” by Pitbull and Daddy Yankee.) It’s a mix and signature sound that accompanied Jhoan Duran to Philadelphia from the Minnesota Twins.
The Phillies are hoping that Jhoan Duran’s theme blasts throughout Citizens Bank Park from August all the way through to a Red October. They brought him here to shut the door on opponents as one of the last missing pieces of a Franchise with a high payroll and goals of capturing that 1980 World Series magic once again. Either way — the incredible showmanship of the newets edition to the team isn’t just ordinary.
It is unmistakable. Hopefully — it will be unmistakably unstoppable.
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