As the Cubs’ season gets rolling and my friends and I talk baseball we start to develop nicknames for our favorite (and not so favorite) Cubbies. For the most part nicknaming players is an organic process, we don’t really think of them in advance the nicknames just show up in conversation. Also not all of the nicknames are our creations (but most are). Some of the nicknames are good; others… well, not so much. So in an attempt to spread the good nicknames, replace the bad ones, and gain nicknames for those who don’t yet have one I am posting our list; and asking that you comment with any nicknames you may have for our boys in blue. For the most part the nicknames followed by an explanation are those created by my buddies and I, the others are those we’ve heard and adopted. Without further ado the 2008 Chicago Cubs:
Starting Pitchers
Carlos Zambrano – Zorro (Z is his last initial, and he carves up opposing batters just like the famous swashbuckler)
Ted Lilly – The Prez (his full name is Theodore Roosevelt Lilly)
Ryan Dempster – Demps
Rich Hill – Capitan Hook (because of his big curve)
Jason Marquis – Marquis de Sob (because of his spring comments)
Relief Corps
Kerry Wood – Woody
Carlos Marmol – Pig-Pen (because Marmol’s pitches are always filthy, just like the Peanuts comic strip character)
Bob Howry – Jack Ross (the name of Kevin Bacon’s character in “A Few Good Men” who Howry looks a lot a like)
Michael Wuertz –
Kevin Hart –
Jon Lieber – Little Jon (because that what he give opposing hitters… very little)
Carmen Pignatiello – Where in the World (a take off of the show “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego”)
Catchers
Geovany Soto – The Conquistador (because of Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto)
Henry Blanco – Hank White
Infield
Derrek Lee – D-Lee
Daryle Ward – Psych (as in Psych Ward)
Mark DeRosa – The Doctor (because of the capital “D” and “R” in his last name, and his steady hands regardless of what position he plays)
Mike Fontenot –
Ryan Theriot – The Riot
Ronny Cedeno – Cola (R.C. are not only Ronny’s initials but the common name for Royal Crown Cola)
Aramis Ramirez – Rammi
Outfield
Kosuke Fukudome – Fuku
Reed Johnson –
Felix Pie – Felix the Cat (because of his speed, the ability chase down the ball, and the famous cartoon cat)
Alfonso Soriano – The Fonz
April 14, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Reed Johnson – Randall McMurphy? whata think Kenny?
April 16, 2008 at 10:30 am
Here’s my 2 cents:
-Carlos Marmol: Marmolade (His stuff can be sweet to watch, sticky for hitters.)
-Mark DeRosa: DeRo, or Quaker (DeRosa was the starting QB for the UPenn Quakers in college.)
-Mike Fontoent – The Flying Frenchman (for his penchant to make diving catches in the infield)
-Aramis Ramirez- Rambo (He attacks the ball and opposing pitchers, much like Sly Stallone’s character did in the action movie series.)
-Koskue Fukudome- Fu Fighter (A take-off of the band Foo Fighters.)
-Reed Johnson – Grunt (An homage to the famous Chicago restaurant RJ Grunt’s. Also, Johnson’s gritty style of play make this even more applicable.)
April 16, 2008 at 10:31 am
Almost forgot another one for DeRosa:
Little e (For the “e” on his uniform. For much of last season, DeRosa’s home uniform read “DeROSA” while his road jersey said “DEROSA,” but it looks like the problem has been fixed this year.