Offering variations on a theme

Here is the difference between the two men who play third base for the teams in New York and the fans who blog about their every move:

The Mets are letting fans pick which song is played this season when David Wright comes to bat.

The Yankees, aware of FCC regulations and sanctions, would never let their fans do that with Alex Rodriguez.

The Mets have offered fans a list of songs from which to choose, but right away, one suggestion sounds better-suited for A-Rod than Wright: “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” by Snoop Dogg (featuring Pharrell).

Trivia time

What is Wright’s nickname among his Mets teammates?

Different kind of hit parade

A few other songs from the list intended for Wright also seem to be better fits for others in the sports world:

“Born to Run” (by Bruce Springsteen): Nick Saban.

“All These Things That I’ve Done” (The Killers): Sammy Sosa.

“Move Along” (All American Rejects): Kenny Lofton.

“Chasing Cars” (Snow Patrol): Frank McCourt.

“Throwing Stones” (Grateful Dead): UCLA Bruins against Florida.

“I Write Sins Not Tragedies” (Panic! At the Disco): Cincinnati Bengals beat writer.

“Sympathy for the Devil” (Rolling Stones): Duke basketball beat writer.

“Song Remains the Same” (Led Zeppelin): Chicago Cubs.

“Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” (Fall Out Boy): Washington Nationals.

“Crazy” (Gnarls Barkley): Charles Barkley.

Batting 1.000

Another song suggestion for Wright was Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks.” Of course he does. Why would anyone pitch to him, especially with the game on the line?

Can you win the pennant in a raffle?

Ignoring that the Dodgers are averaging 0.05 playoff victories a season since 1988, four of the six most popular preseason baseball publications have picked the Dodgers to reach the World Series.

Athlon, Lindy’s, Street & Smith’s and Sports Illustrated all have the Dodgers winning the National League pennant. ESPN the Magazine picks the Mets, and Sporting News goes with the Phillies.

None of these publications is getting carried away with the Dodgers’ chances in the World Series, however.

Athlon and Lindy’s have them losing to the Yankees. Street & Smith’s projects them to lose to the Red Sox. And Sports Illustrated -- ignoring nearly five decades of gridlocked Freeway Series dreams -- has them losing to the Angels.

Trivia answer

Visine. In a 2006 interview with Sports Illustrated, Mets closer Billy Wagner explained.

“He’s Visine,” Wagner said. “You know, eyewash. One time he dove to catch a bunt he could have caught standing up. We all went like this ... “

Wagner then rubbed a finger along his eye, as if to wipe away a tear.

And finally

Will Ferrell, on the “Late Show,” discussing how he learned to figure-skate for his new movie, “Blades of Glory”:

“As a 38-year-old man, I decided this is the right time to take on figure skating, and you know, it looks hard on TV. It’s not.”

mike.penner@latimes.com