Reader Challenge: Just in the Nick(name) of Time ...

Thursday, August 13 2009 @ 10:35 AM EDT

Let's start with our shocking statistic of the day, the one that will make you think "who?"

Since rookie Tommy Hunter joined the Texas Rangers rotation on a regular basis back on June 28, he leads the American League with a 1.97 ERA, over eight starts.

That has led the Rangers TV crew, Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve, to tag the young righty with a wonderful nickname that works on about six levels: Tommy "Big Game" Hunter. Genius!

In honor of that, let's dole out some other "those really should be" nicknames to players around the game, Toronto and otherwise. The do not need to be -- and in fact, shouldn't be! -- "real" nicknames, but rather just plays on words using player names.

A few rules (and examples) ...

• Let's stay away from the borderline offensive nicknames, ranging from Todd "Go to" Helton all the way to whatever some of you have already thought up for Albert Pujols. Keep it clean!
• They can be real stretches -- if you want to try Aaron "Jack and Jill Went Up the" Hill, be my guest.
• Spelling doesn't matter -- Matt "Happy" Holliday will be glad to know. But pronunciation does, as in Roy Halladay "Greetings."
• First name plays-on-words are always on the clock -- right, Justin "Time" Verlander?
• Nicknames don't have to come between the first and last name, though that's ideal. After all, what would we do without Jason Marquis "de Sade" and "Welcome" Matt Cain?
• In fact, the nickname can come before AND after some part of the given name -- giving us Adam "Over and" Dunn "With."
• Partial names are fine, too -- see Jonathan Papelbon "Apetit!"
• What else strikes you? Huston "Sesame" Street? Heath "Taco" Bell? Who's going to suggest Nick "Name" Markakis?

Dive in, Bauxites -- creativity calls!

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