Why Curtis Granderson digs Busta Rhymes, and other at-bat stories

Some of the biggest stars in the game gathered at the MLB Fan Cave in Manhattan on Tuesday to help baseball kick-off the All-Star season. Naturally, they were peppered with questions from the press about what it's like to be an All-Star, what going to the game means for them and all the other queries for which they've developed canned answers.

So we decided to find out what songs get them pumped up.

So here, in their own words, is what four MLB stars—including two Yankees—use as their at-bat music and why:

Curtis Granderson, Yankees

The music: “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”, Busta Rhymes.

The reason: “I always try to pick something a little bit older, but a little bit catchy. Make you move your feet in the stands. Something that I can get a little energetic to. The beat was great I had some success with it last year and I kept it going this year. A lot of superstitions in baseball. You get some songs, you start getting some hits and you kind of keep it in the rotation.”

“There's a lot of songs I love out there, but the one thing I always have when I'm picking my song, I like to pick a song that no one else is going to pick. So the most popular songs don't necessarily get a good shot with me, cause I know someone else is probably going to do it. I want that song like 'Oh, I forgot that song!'”

Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

The music: “Mercy”, Kanye West; “Stay Schemin'”, Rick Ross; “I'm a Boss”, Meek Millz; “Everything”, Young Jeezy.

The reason: “I stick with what I like right then and there. It doesn't matter if I'm doing good or doing bad. It's not the music, it's me. So if there's a song that I like, I'm going to keep using it. If it's a song I kind of get tired of, I switch it up.”

(It's pretty difficult to find fully clean versions of Kemp's favorite tunes. Here's a link to "Mercy", but be aware that there is still some adult content and language)

Matt Joyce, Tampa Bay Rays

The music: “Papercut”, Linkin Park; “I Can't Stop”, Flux Pavilion.

The reason: “The last couple of years I went with Linkin Park...It was kind of like a musical intro, just kind of something to get you pumped up. This year I changed it to Flux Pavilion...It's more of a techno feel. I don't really listen to a lot of techno or house music. But I just kind of liked the beat, the intro. It kind of builds up. In my mind, I'd like to think I can't stop doing well. And getting hits and succeeding.”

“I'm actually debating on whether or not to switch it to Chevelle's 'The Clincher.'”

A reporter asked if Joyce is superstitious about changing his music. Before he finished five words of the question, Joyce cut him off.

“That's exactly why I haven't yet! I have not changed the music yet just because I've done pretty well so far.”

Joyce is hitting .289 with a .400 on-base percentage heading into Wednesday's action. Eighteen of his 46 hits have gone for extra bases. He may want to stick with Flux Pavilion for a little while longer.

And here are links to "Papercut" and "The Clincher."

Robinson Cano, Yankees

The music: “I always change it. I use whatever I feel like that day. So I just change it.”

Hoping to get a bit more out of him, a reporter asked if Cano was superstitious about changing his songs.

“No. Never.”

Fair enough.