What’s In A Name?

What’s In A Name?

 

 

The annual Bill James Handbook hit the shelves in early November and we’ll be diving into all the statistical information in future blogs. However, there is some information in the player section that is usually overlooked and that is the correct pronunciation and structural emphasis of MLB player’s names. So, as you get into those hot stove conversations with your baseball buddies, you’ll sound much more informed if you know the following…

 

> The young Rockies SS is named kris-tee-Yahn ah-dah-MAZE

 

> A potential Cub OF for 2016 is air-es-MEN-dee al-CAHN-truh

 

> The Giants back-up infielder is wah-KEEN AH-ree-us

 

> The White Sox just signed pitcher fih-LEEP ah-MOHNT

 

> At the back-end of the Yankees’ bullpen, you’ll find DELL-inn buh-TAN-siss

 

> The Rangers on-base machine is SHIN-sue CHEW

 

> The Padres’ swing man is oh-DREE-sa-mehr des-PAHN-yay

 

> The Mets Closer is jeh-REES fuh-MEAL-yuh

 

> The Dodger backstop is yaz-MON-ee gran-DAHL

 

> At SS for the Marlins is a-DAY-nee hetch-a-VA-ree-a

 

> A possible OF starter for the Rays is MIKE-ee MAH-took

 

> There are two baseball brothers and they’re both named ROOG-ned oh-DORE

 

> At the hot corner, the Padres have YAWN-gurr-veess sol-LAHR-tay

 

You should also try to remember that…

 

> In Seattle, it is TIE-wahn Walker

 

> The first name of the Braves possible Closer is ah-ROH-dis

 

> In the Cards’ bullpen, Samuel’s last name is TOO-ee-vah-la-la

 

> North of the border, Devon is pronounced DEV-in

 

> If he makes the cut out of Spring Training with the Braves, Joey’s last name is ter-DOSS-low-vitch

 

> The “h” isn’t there in the name of Julio tay-Ronn

 

> This future Hall of Famer is known by the single name of EE-chee-row

 

> If you want to call the Reds SS by his first name, it’s ay-yoo-HAY-nee-oh

 

> The Marlins slugger who used to be Mike, is now john-CAHR-loh

 

> There doesn’t seem to be an “R” in Marc zepp-CHINN-ski

 

> Hector is rahn-DOHN while Bruce is ron-DOAN

 

> Tanner should own a large boat because he’s ROW-ark

 

> That Marlin behind the plate is J.T. ray-al-MOO-toh

 

> Now that he’s retired, we’ll ah-RAH-miss Ramirez

 

> Casey gets two more letters than Jake, but they’re both McGEE

 

> Brandon gets an extra “r”, but he and Joe are both MAUW-er

 

> Alfredo & Ketel are mar-TAY while Starling & Jefry are marr-TAY

 

> Machi & Segura are both GENE

 

> Brett is LORI, but Jed is LAU-ree

 

> The “K” disappears in Jung Ho GAHNG

 

> The “J” disappears in Taylor YOUNG-man

 

> What happened to the “G’ & “y” in Jedd JERK-oh

 

> Conor is guh-LESS-pee while Cole is gil-EH-spee

 

> Elvis is in the building and his name is pronounced AHN-drews

 

Once you’ve committed all those to memory, don’t forget that Fiers is FIRES, Aybar is EYE-barr, Barmes is BAR-mess, Benoit is ben-WAH, Rusney is ROOZ-knee, Cishek is SEE-sheck, d’Arnaud is dar-NO, Jaff is JEFF, Goins is GO-inns, J.A. is JAY, Niese is NIECE, Pham is FAM, Plouffe is PLOOF, Puig is PWEEG, Strop is STROPE, Vogt is VOTE, ARod is CHEATER and Papelbon is BOZO.

 

OK, you’re ready for the off-season.