Comments on: Situational Essay: Nicknames

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:13:27 +0000

Well, technically Kemp is The Bison, I think. But I like “dolla dolla” for Chad.

By: BMcD

BMcD — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:11:34 +0000

Okay, Matt Kemp is “The Buffalo” this is well-known and awesome. He’s so large for a center fielder that it fits perfectly. I would like to propose Chad “dolla dolla” Billingsley y’all. Just because Chad Billingsley looks like he never listened to hip hop once in his life.

By: pauler

pauler — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:15:10 +0000

as a dodger fan i think casey “the foundation” blake is awsome,i refer to matt “hemp” kemp,or even adam “roachclip” laroach.i guess its something that comes in time by the players in the clubhouse a good solid fan base or ever just some creative media personallty to finally come up with something that sticks to a player.but i am concerned about alot of the unimagintive ones going around the mlb.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:08:28 +0000

Oh, and Reds fans had about 50 nicknames for Corey Patterson during his tenure there, but none of them are fit for print. You can trust that many were very visually descriptive.

While I’m on the Reds, “Big Donkey” is a pretty funny one.

and “Fat Elvis” is funny for sure. OK I’m done…I think.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:04:34 +0000

I think “the Sandman” is pretty good. Nothing wrong with “the Big Hurt.” Also, Ichiro’s name sometimes appears with an exclamation when written, and seeing “Ichiro!” even in mundane surrounding discussion always brings a smile to my face for some reason. It’s like its own brand name. In Reds circles, we have two names for Bronson Arroyo – “Goodroyo” and “Badroyo” to describe how he pitched in that particular game (because there is no in-between). Descriptive and versatile. A lot of people like “Pronk,” though I can’t see why. “The Flyin’ Hawaiian” is good. David “Just Enough” Eckstein is great, mainly because I dislike him, I think. “Slammin’ Sammy” is one that sounds like it came straight from the bygone era. “Da Meat Hook” is great too – Dmitri Young.

I don’t think there’s anything to the notion that nicknames were so much better in the old days. They were more widespread, but I wouldn’t say better.

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:45:37 +0000

Agreed on “Spaceman,” Paul. That’s the perfect nickname, describing both his personality and his playing style. What if we used today’s method and nicknamed him BLee. What a loss to culture that would be.

It goes without saying that the finest nicknames come from yesteryear. Nothing in the last 50 years has come close to “The Say Hey Kid.”

Another question: why do the best players of yesteryear have the best nicknames? Were the most deserving repaid with the most poetic, or were there just that many great nicknames going around?

By: Paul F.

Paul F. — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:21:42 +0000

Though far from a top-flight player, I’ve heard Matt Herges called “Hergie-pie,” which I always found amusing.

By: Alex

Alex — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:11:56 +0000

El Duque

By: Paul Catalano

Paul Catalano — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:38:09 +0000

Forgot ‘El Presidente” Dennis Martinez.

By: Paul Catalano

Paul Catalano — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:37:24 +0000

Always liked ‘The Spaceman” for Bill Lea. And “The Candy Man” for John Cadelaria.