Baseball season is never officially underway until Vista Blue properly opens it with a baseball-themed release. But we didn't have long to wait this year, as Vista Blue released Batting Around the day after the real Opening Day (one game on Netflix doesn't count) — and on Mike's birthday to boot. Mike got an early present in the form of a Pete Crow-Armstrong contract extension with the Cubs, and now he and Mark have gifted us four new Vista Blue tracks that no ABS system will ever be able to deny.
The title track starts things off with some snappy, toe-tapping punk rock that celebrates one of the most formidable achievements a baseball lineup could ever hope to attain (and no, Meta AI, "batting around" does not refer to casually hitting the ball in a relaxed or informal setting). "Good Reputation" takes things in a more pop direction. It's a song about the one guy who's on the roster because he's respected in the clubhouse and contributes to the team in ways that are never apparent on the stat sheet. "What's Your Favorite Lockout?" is one of my favorite types of VB songs — a 30-second speed-burner that makes The Queers sound like Emerson, Lake & Palmer. And I'm absolutely on board with '94 being the gold standard for MLB lockouts. "I Don't Wanna Be DFA'd" is in classic VB territory. Paired with "Good Reputation," this song finds Mike and Mark speaking up for the guys who aren't big stars with massive contracts. A lot of players have to fight for roster spots and hope the axe doesn't fall on them when it's time to designate someone for assignment. I'll be pouring one out for Garrett Stubbs, a Phillie with a good reputation who has sadly been DFA'd.
From that first chord of "Batting Around," I knew I was in for another first rate Vista Blue release. I'm always open to interpreting this band's sports songs on a metaphorical level, so let's hope that this is a year where all of you clear the bases in your life and put some crooked numbers on the board.
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