Veteran infielder Jeff Cirillo likes to hear the song “Machinehead,” by Bush, because he likes the guitar riff and identifies with the lyrics.

“The song goes 'Breathe in. Breathe out,'" Cirillo said. “It reminds me to breathe when I'm up there. I have to breathe.”

Rightfielder Geoff Jenkins likes “something with a little rhythm to it, ” so he steps to the plate accompanied by the song “Beautiful,” by Snoop Dogg.

“With me, it’s usually a rap song or an R&B song,” said Jenkins, who has used “Yeah,” by Usher in the past. “I like something with a beat. I usually pick a song and stay with it, but some guys have two or three that they kind of rotate. It’s just something that becomes part of your routine at the plate.”

Rookie outfielder Tony Gwynn, Jr., laughed when asked if he had requested a special song for his own personal intro.

“I haven’t even thought about that,” Gwynn said. “I’m just glad to be here. That’s the last thing on my mind. Right now, they can play whatever they want. I’m just glad to be in the big leagues.”

As it turns out, Gwynn will have plenty of time to ponder his choice. The Brewers sent him to the minor leagues on Wednesday in order to clear a roster spot for reliever Jose Capellan.

Reliever Matt Wise is in his third season with the club, is signed to a multiyear contract but he hasn’t requested a song yet and doesn’t plan to do so.

“They asked me about it, but I don’t have one,” he said. “Maybe I’m crazy, but I think that’s a sign of getting a little too comfortable. I really don’t care what they play. I don’t even really notice.”

Outfielder Brady Clark is in the same camp. “I don’t care what they play,” he said. “I don’t think about it.”

The intro music at Miller Park is controlled by the Aleta Mercer, the senior director of entertainment and broadcasting, Deron Anderson, the manager of audio/video production and the people who work in the scoreboard control room.

Although players are offered the opportunity to select their own songs, the scoreboard operators will pick one they feel is appropriate for players with no preference. Injured third baseman Corey Koskie, who is Canadian, likes the song “Limelight,” by Rush, a Canadian band. Reliever Dan Kolb likes the song “Stand Alone,” by Godsmack. Injured second baseman Rickie Weeks liked “Snap Yo’ Fingers,” by Li’l Jon. Outfielder Gabe Gross likes the song “I Can Only Imagine,” by the Christian rock group Mercy Me. Prince Fielder chose “Moments in Love,” by Art of Noise.

Earlier this season, catcher Damian Miller stepped to the plate to the sound of “World Wide Suicide,” by Pearl Jam, which happens to be a favorite band of new Brewers third baseman David Bell.

“When I was playing in Arizona, I had the Led Zeppelin song 'Kashmir,'” Miller said. “I picked that one, but you get to the age where it really doesn’t matter.”

Left-hander Chris Capuano warms up to “Fly From the Inside,” by Shinedown. “I like that song a lot,” said Capuano, who often wears an iPod while working out between starts. “It starts out great, but there are parts where it slows down, so I did my own edit and burned a CD for the scoreboard guys.”

Capuano also was responsible for picking an entrance song for reliever Derrick Turnbow, who comes into games to the strains of “Fuel,” by Metallica.

“It just seemed to fit,” Capuano said.

Given his recent struggles, Turnbow may think about changing his song. Some players do that regularly, but others stay with the same one for a whole season.

“I think you’ve got to stick with it,” said Bill Hall, who likes “What You Know,” by TI. “You’ve got to ride it out.”

Some players become identified with their intro music. San Diego closer Trevor Hoffman enters games to “Hell’s Bells,” by AC/DC. Atlanta’s Chipper Jones likes “Crazy Train,” by Ozzy Osbourne. Former Brewers pitcher/pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick liked “Cowboys Like Us,” by George Strait.

Early this season in New York, a mini-controversy erupted when Mets closer Billy Wagner jogged to the mound accompanied by “Enter Sandman,” the Metallica song that his Yankees counterpart, Mariano Rivera, has turned into a personal trademark over the years.

The furor made for spirited talk-radio debate, but died down quickly.

Some players, such as Anaheim’s Garret Anderson, the Yankees’ Bernie Williams, Texas’ Hank Blalock and Seattle’s Adrian Beltre, prefer that no music be played during their at-bats. Others find the snippets to be soothing, entrancing and at times amusing.

“The funniest one I can remember is when we went to Washington and Jeffrey Hammonds was there,” Jenkins said. “Hambone came up and they played that Aerosmith song 'I’m back! I’m back in the saddle again!' ('Back in the Saddle') That was good. I was laughing at that.”