ST. LOUIS -- Turning the corner down the corridor at Busch Stadium, the Pirates' clubhouse could be heard well before it could be seen.
Forgive your local beat reporter for not getting the song in question as Derek Shelton addressed traveling media after the Pirates' 5-0 win over the Cardinals Thursday. I am, to put it gently, painfully un-hip, Shazam failed me and it seemed like a fruitless endeavor to go into the clubhouse and ask, "what was playing three songs ago? You know, the one that I could literally feel the vibrations of the bass line from when I was standing in the hall?" Especially since when the traveling media did walk into the clubhouse and the music was turned down, a sea of sarcastic boos from the players waved over the room in unison.
Sorry, guys.
I can't speak for 2020 or 2021 since COVID-19 kept media out of clubhouses, but this is such a departure from 2022. There were plenty of times last year where that clubhouse was fairly subdue, even after a win. This year, it's been a lot more vibrant.
"Man, it’s not fake, that’s for sure," Connor Joe said. "It’s infectious. The energy’s amazing."
This isn't just the rookies celebrating, either. Ji Hwan Bae was quick to point out that the veteran players are having just as much fun alongside the kids.
"I think the energy fits me really well," Bae said, via interpreter Daniel Park.
This team hasn't been short on celebrations. Dauri Moreta's money fingers and amped up exits were a story out of the gate this year. The players in the dugout wield a cutlass whenever they homer.
They're playing hard on the field, and if they win, they'll play hard off it too.
"This game is really hard," Joe said. "I think the fact that, we as a team, celebrate, whether it’s a big shutdown inning or a big base hit or a big RBI or homers, to celebrate those and have fun as a team is awesome. It’s infectious. It’s a really fun clubhouse to be a part of."