Is TA too simple?

Terry "Fester" Adams

Just call me T-bone

"Tad."

I'm uncomfortable with this idea. It's like calling the guy who played Mr. Belvedere 'Brocktoon'.

I liked the quote Adams gave to the AP when he was signed...

"I know I'll be in the back end of the bullpen. I bring experience to the bullpen. Hopefully, I'll be able to get some outs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings."

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Terry "Back End" Adams.

I think TAdams and RAdams would differentiate between Terry and Russ. But TAdams sounds vaguely like a pet name a couple might use so that might not be appropriate. RAdams sounds vaguely like radioactive material.

I think the goal by 2006 should be to have a lineup of as many Adamses (?) as possible.

I'm going to second Back End Adams because it sounds vaguely dirty, as any good nickname should.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/players/5479/
I just did a quick search on the Addams Family, to jog my memory on the characters:

Gomez Addams
Morticia Frump Addams
Uncle Fester
Lurch
Grandmama Addams
Wednesday Friday Addams
Pugsley Addams
Cousin Itt
Thing the hand

If we are going to name him after one of these characters, I think he bears most resemblance to Gomez (COMN for a photo of Terry). If he'd just shave off the goatee and leave the little Gomez porn stash, they'd be twins!

http://economics.about.com

Nerdiest Suggestion of 2004

How about Bridgekeeper, as in he'll bridge the gap between the starters and the closers. Plus Terry (Gilliam) was the Bridgekeeper in Monty Python's Holy Grail.

I'm done nerding up the board for today.

Cheers,

Mike

I like T&A. I also like it as a nickname. :)

I think Bridgekeeper is easily the best suggestion... easily.
For practical use, Back End is better since people might not get The Bridgekeeper, but I second the Bridgekeeper. (Whether it'll Nerd up the threads or not ;-) )

The name "Adams" means Russ Adams around here, and it's hard to punctuate. Adams fastball? Adams's fastball? Adams' fastball? Adamses fastball? I'm befuddled.

I'm an Adams and I'm not even sure of the answer to this one.

Since the Blue Jays flat-out refuse to have a player named Ryan on their roster (they've only had one in their history), it's nice to see they're compensating by stocking up on guys named Adams. With Ricciardi's connection to the A's, I'm a little surprised he hasn't acquired Willie Adams yet.

Smirnoff gets my vote!

T&A also includes the back end concept, when you stop and think about it. :)

Bridgekeeper's kind of a mouthful, how about Bridger?

I'll vote for 'Bridgekeeper' or even just 'Bridge'. Most people would get that, I think.

'Bridge' would be OK to chant, too, thinking from a Cheer Club perspective.

'Bridger' would be even better to chant.

Nerdiest Suggestion of 2004

Mike, the year is young, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only former-D&D-playing, Python-watching, Simpsons-reciting, Star-Trek fanboy geek around here. We're just getting started, my friend.

Nonetheless, I really like Bridgekeeper.

Why'd you stop playing D&D?

http://economics.about.com
Mike, the year is young, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only former-D&D-playing, Python-watching, Simpsons-reciting, Star-Trek fanboy geek around here.

Hey, I'm only 2 for 4 on that scale! I've never played a single game of D&D in my life, though I played all those Gold Box Commodore 64 games.

Replace it with:

Nintendo playing, Python-watching, Simpsons-reciting, Star Wars fanboy geek around here.

That's better. :)

Cheers,

Mike

Well he probably won't go down as a dreamy star in Blue Jay history, but let's hope Terry doesn't have a marred stay, prompting him to angrily tell J.P. "Trade my ars!".

Oh, BTW, my favourite suggestion from the Internet Anagram Server is: Yardmaster

The correct usage is Adams' fastball, I believe.

Personally, I like to wait until we at least see a guy play before trying to nickname him. But, I support the Bridgekeeper - although I have a sneaky suspicion that I only feel that way because I saw the Secret Policeman's Ball on Bravo at 2 am a few nights ago...

I vote for "the Bridge". The alternatives Terry Back End Adams or Terry Bad Patch Adams are too laden with innuendo. After all, Babe Ruth was not to the best of my knowledge called the Sultan of Swig.

Why'd you stop playing D&D?

I discovered fantasy baseball. :-)

Nintendo playing, Python-watching, Simpsons-reciting, Star Wars fanboy geek around here.

Did I mention Strat-O-Matic baseball? I was into that, too. I should be getting bonus points here.

I played all those Gold Box Commodore 64 games.

Man, you had the cool games. I had to settle for hooking up the Radio Shack TRS-80 to the back of the TV set and playing Pyramid. I would've been happy with a stinking Colecovision....

I vote for Patch. As in patching up a hole in the bullpen. The name works because of the Robin Williams movie-- Patch Adams.

For the record, I am 0 for 4 on that scale. Am I at the wrong website?

http://economics.about.com
Did I mention Strat-O-Matic baseball? I was into that, too. I should be getting bonus points here.

You do get bonus points. I've never played that either, but that's more lack of opportunity than anything else. It seems like the kind of thing I'd enjoy.

Man, you had the cool games. I had to settle for hooking up the Radio Shack TRS-80 to the back of the TV set and playing Pyramid. I would've been happy with a stinking Colecovision....

Which Trash-80? The good original one, or the cheap Color Computer (CoCo)? I've got all three versions of the CoCo. The CoCo 3 is actually a pretty good machine, but I'm surprised Tandy/Rat Shack hadn't given up by then.

The Colecovision does not "stink". Greatest game machine *ever*. My first ever baseball video game was Super Action Baseball. I have to admit, though, it's lousy compared to Major League Baseball on the Intellivision which we friend and I played the hell out of between 1982 and 1987.

Cheers,

Mike

Ah this thread is bringing back great memories of playing Intelivision on my sick days trying to break the Edmonton record for Astrosmash and Lock N Chase. I then graduated to D&D and never played Strat-O-Matic but still have my Pursue the Pennant Game intact. I change my vote from Fester to Patch as I only hope Adams can do what Jeff Tam and Doug Creek couldnt do last year and patch up the pen.

Ah this thread is bringing back great memories of playing Intelivision on my sick days trying to break the Edmonton record for Astrosmash and Lock N Chase. I then graduated to D&D and never played Strat-O-Matic but still have my Pursue the Pennant Game intact. I change my vote from Fester to Patch as I only hope Adams can do what Jeff Tam and Doug Creek couldnt do last year and patch up the pen.

Regarding the whole -s' thing...I believe the rule is the Literary way is omiting the end S (Adams' nickname), and in journalism include the 2nd S (Adams's nickname.

Even though it's a little old and he's certainly been called this, I kind of like Patch too.

Late with the nickname suggestions BUT, how about stealing an old wrestlers name and dub him 'Magnum TA'

Since the Blue Jays flat-out refuse to have a player named Ryan on their roster
At least a Ryan has played the Majors. It'll be a long time til you see a Chaleff-Freudenthaler anywhere above high school ball.

Put me down for Patch. I thought Back End was great until...Well I'll just thank Named for Hank for changing my vote :-)

After consulting myself, I think we'll collect suggestions through Sunday. On Monday, provided I can figure out how, I'll post a proper poll for everybody to vote on the Official Batter's Box Nickname for Terry Wayne Adams. I'll pick the ones to be voted on based on popular support in this thread and my own preferences. I'm sure y'all will sufficiently burninate me if I'm off base with the options.

Speaking of burninate, does homestarrunner qualify as a present-day Sign of the Nerd? I'm getting into that lately...The highlights of my Nerd resume includes are the Commodore 64 and the Ultima RPG series. Anybody remember Gamestar Baseball? The entire field was shown at all times, and the players were pixilated stick figures. You could hit a liner into right field and be thrown out at first base.

http://economics.about.com
Gamestar Baseball?

You mean, *this* Gamestar Baseball:



Yeah, I remember it. Never played it much. I was more into "Hardball". I can still hum the music.

I think I'd be in contention for "Biggest Nerd of the Box" except I don't read any science fiction (or any fiction at all for that matter). Plus I'm obsessed with my hair.

Cheers,

Mike

Wait...his middle name is Wayne?

Obviously his nickname should be Killer.

Geek resume: Commodore 64 - check. D&D - check. Bonus items: Infocom games, TurboGrafX 16 (the baseball game was awesome), 1/32 scale slot cars, and I spend 7 hours a day working with Photoshop, which has to count for something.

http://economics.about.com
TurboGrafX 16 (the baseball game was awesome)

Next Cheer Club meeting I need to challenge you to a game of World Class Baseball. I get to be Tokyo, though. :)

Cheers,

Mike

You mean, *this* Gamestar Baseball

One and the same... thanks for the screenshot! It was entertaining much the same way as a hockey game we used to play, it may have been called "Faceoff Hockey". One-on-one (plus goalies) in a tiny rink. No resemblence whatsoever to reality, but a lot of fun to play.

http://economics.about.com
it may have been called "Faceoff Hockey". One-on-one (plus goalies) in a tiny rink.

I think you're thinking of Hat Trick Hockey. It was an arcade game that was ported over to a ton of systems, including the Commodore 64. Here's some pictures from the Atari 7800 version.

Faceoff Hockey was a C64/IBM game from around 1990. It was a full 5 on 5 game. A ton of fun, but way too easy to score from right in front of the net.

The scary thing is, I have a girlfriend. Plus she's cute. :)

Cheers,

Mike

I think I'd be in contention for "Biggest Nerd of the Box" except I don't read any science fiction (or any fiction at all for that matter).

Then that wasn't you I saw at the Pizza Feed with a copy of 'Quicksilver'?

I'd be 4-for-4 on that nerd-test except that I'm not a regular Star Trek watcher. Not that I haven't watched it a lot, but it's always been because I'm in the same room as other people who're watching it. (I'd still be playing D&D regularly if my friends weren't scattered all over the map.)

http://economics.about.com
Then that wasn't you I saw at the Pizza Feed with a copy of 'Quicksilver'?

Nope. I think that was Dave Till.

Cheers,

Mike

You are all just amateur nerds.

I was a Unix System Administrator (and still some of the week) that is professional level nerddom.

Which Trash-80? The good original one, or the cheap Color Computer (CoCo)? I've got all three versions of the CoCo. The CoCo 3 is actually a pretty good machine, but I'm surprised Tandy/Rat Shack hadn't given up by then.

The Colour Computer, I'm afraid, though I can't remember which version. "Tandy" ... wow, there's a name that shouts "1982." Those were the days, when the battle for computer supremacy was being waged among Tandy, Texas Instruments and Atari.

As for Colecovision, well, I'm just spitting sour grapes there. I really wanted an Atari -- I was seriously into Space Invaders -- but I would've been happy with a Commodore Pet. This must be why I keep buying massively overpowered PCs -- overcompensating for a silicon-deprived childhood.

Here's a couple of strolls down memory lane for y'all....

http://economics.about.com
but I would've been happy with a Commodore Pet. This must be why I keep buying massively overpowered PCs -- overcompensating for a silicon-deprived childhood.

It'd be cheaper just to buy the Atari. :)

Cheers,

Mike

Next Cheer Club meeting I need to challenge you to a game of World Class Baseball. I get to be Tokyo, though.

I'll have to steal it back from my brother.

We'd bring our relievers in some time around the fourth inning.

It'd be cheaper just to buy the Atari. :)

I recommend it highly. A friend has one, and it's great.

I do not have an Atari, but I have the next best (and slightly cooler) thing... the Atari Classics 10-in-1 Game. Missile Command *and* Asteroids, and I can take it anywhere (but never do... it sits on top of the TV, always ready).

http://economics.about.com
I'll have to steal it back from my brother.

We'd bring our relievers in some time around the fourth inning.

I could always bring my copy. You don't want to know how many video games I own. :)

RE: Relievers. I might complain about modern bullpen usage, but I worse. Last week I was playing Baseball 2K2 on the Dreamcast against a buddy of mine, and he was perplexed when I brought in my closer in the 2nd inning. It ended up being the first time I've ever beaten him in it (it's his game), so I guess it worked.

The Atari 10-in-1 is a ton of fun. They did a great job on it, unlike the Intellivision 25-in-1 which I've heard is pretty lousy.

Cheers,

Mike

Nerd Check:

D&D - check
Coleco baseball - check (who can forget the special baseball controllers)
Simpsons reciting - check
Monty Python watching - check
Quicksilver - check if you are referring to the Neal Stephenson novel
Star Wars/Star Trek - neither. I need something to point to when I try to argue that I'm not a nerd.

Put me down for Patch Adams as Terry's new nickname.

Just to chime in on the level of dorkness and old school games. I've got both. I'm writing a book on old school Tetris!

Faceoff Hockey was a C64/IBM game from around 1990. It was a full 5 on 5 game. A ton of fun, but way too easy to score from right in front of the net.

Loved that game, also "International Ice Hockey" for the C64.

I'd be in contention for "Biggest Nerd of the Box" except... I'm obsessed with my hair.

We'll have to reserve "Metrosexual of the Box" for you.

It's time for me to pull out the big ammo on the nerd front. Now, with respect, Gwyn's claim to "professional nerddom" is not quite correct. Being a Unix sysadmin qualifies you as a professional geek, but a geek and a nerd are not the same thing. While it's true that being a Unix sysadmin adds nerd credentials, we should keep the distinction in mind. (Also, keep in mind that nerddom colonizes its hosts early, while anyone at any age can become a geek. If you're not a nerd by the time you're 21, you are almost certainly safe.)

My own nerd credentials are, I think, well-established.

Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master
Science Fiction from the age of 10 until now - hell, I have a Robert Heinlein novel in my briefcase right now.
MUDs
Ran my own BBS
High School Chess Team
High School Debating Team
High School Math Team
High School Math Club
High School Bridge Club
1980s microcomputers programmed - Sinclair, TRS-80, TI 99/4, Commodore VIC-20, Commodore 64, Commodore PET, IBM PC, IBM PCjr, Apple II, Apple Lisa
Infocom Games - I beat Zork, Zork II, and Zork III. Hell, I still play Infocom games, I have an emulator on my desktop at home.
Thousands of pieces of Lego
Avalon Hill Baseball
Strat-O-Matic Baseball
Strat-O-Matic Hockey
Model train sets

Weep for me.

Oh yeah, Monty Python. When other fans recite Monty Python sketches, I tend to correct them. Ditto Simpsons. I am hopeless.

Oh yeah, I forgot the Lego.

Which leads me to the mother of all geek creds: Star Wars Lego.

What I love about baseball videogames is that you can win by playing against the established wisdom of the actual games.

I was on my high-school Reach for the Top and tennis teams I read a lot of sci-fi and watched tons of Doctor Who when I was a kid? Do I get any points?

In high school I was actively recruited for both the debate team and the chess club, but thankfully I was just cool enough to know to turn them down. :-)

I think you're thinking of Hat Trick Hockey

I've never had any doubt that the Biggest Nerd of the Box title is all yours, but you keep driving the point home. You're right again. Actually it might have been called simply Hat Trick for the Commie, and in my memory the graphics were a little better than that Atari version you linked. It was pretty slick at the time - The ice would become marked up as you played, and the Zamboni would come out and clean it up between periods.

How about M.U.L.E.?

Thousands of pieces of Lego

Lego is Nerd? Oh man, I didn't know that... I was raised on Lego!

Given that this thread started out at an attempt to assign a new name to Terry Adams, should we consider calling him The Nerd?

Double points for the Doctor Who.

My good friend Mike Cowie used to wear a Doctor Who scarf, which is like 100x points - not only is it incredibly nerdy, it looked stupid to boot.

Star Wars Lego? I never had that, though I had the whole medieval setup. I was into Lego a bit before the big explosion in branded Lego, which makes sense as I think I'm about four or five years older than Mike. I *do*, however, have basketball Lego. In my office. Where people can see. I truly have no shame!

http://economics.about.com
Actually it might have been called simply Hat Trick for the Commie, and in my memory the graphics were a little better than that Atari version you linked. It was pretty slick at the time - The ice would become marked up as you played, and the Zamboni would come out and clean it up between periods.

Yep, that's the game. The Atari 7800 version does the same thing, but the graphics aren't as good. The 7800 version is a cartridge, tho, so it loads instantly, which is a plus for someone as hyperactive as I am.

I never had that, though I had the whole medieval setup. I was into Lego a bit before the big explosion in branded Lego, which makes sense as I think I'm about four or five years older than Mike.

Aaron is the one that had the Star Wars lego, not me. I had one of the castles, which was almost entirely yellow for some reason. My officemate (an engineer from Cape Breton) and I are slowly putting together a Lego Machine Gun, so I guess we're still nerds.

I'd make fun of all your highschool clubs, except that I was a drama freak back then. :)

Cheers,

Mike

I should emphasize at this point that I actually do have several anti-nerd characteristics as well, such as playing on my high school basketball team (soccer team is nerdy, though) and having spent much of college with the drug crowd. But the nerd stuff predominates.

And I do collect stamps. Forgot about that one.

http://economics.about.com
I should emphasize that M.U.L.E. is only the greatest game in the universe and is probably the single largest factor in me becoming an economist.

I was a drama freak back then

I did drama too, though not all the time. I was Old Man Warner in The Lottery and Bailey in The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail, and a couple of other things I don't remember.

My specialty, as you can see, was playing gibbering idiots. This is entirely in my character.

I should emphasize that M.U.L.E. is only the greatest game in the universe and is probably the single largest factor in me becoming an economist.

So you're saying you still like the game in spite of it leading you into economics?

We loved it back in the day, but I never realized how complex it was until a few years ago. I got feeling nostalgic and discovered that there are C64 emulators for the PC. Besides playing all the old favourites, I found some sort of manual for M.U.L.E. Turns out it's extremely detailed, I didn't know the half of it.

I always liked the sound of Lenny Dykstra's nickname, "nails." Can we simply call Adams, "outs"?

My own nerd credentials are, I think, well-established.

Craig: you da nerd. I will tip over my king and bow out gracefully.

Star Wars Lego? I never had that, though I had the whole medieval setup. I was into Lego a bit before the big explosion in branded Lego

I didn't grow up with Star Wars Lego, I was talking about what kind of Lego I buy now.

And M.U.L.E. rocked. One time we played for seven hours.

My nerdiness quotient is moderate: Stratego/Diplomacy board games, Strat football and Replay, Strat and APBA baseball, 70s sitcoms. Craig defeats me easily, and I do weep for him.

Patch Adams and nerdiness seem like topics made for each other. I think that it's settled.

I always liked the sound of Lenny Dykstra's nickname, "nails." Can we simply call Adams, "outs"?
I thought that was Joe Carters nickname.

I must say that it seems strange to try and create a nickname for someone who hasn't thrown an inning. I prefer a more organic process, either earned or observed (i.e. Dykstra played tough as nails, Lurch due to his physical stature and facial resemblence)

Forced nicknames never work.

Forced nicknames never work.

Yup, this thread has been a real deadbeat.

Commodore 64 - check
D&D - negative
Monty Python - negative
Simpsons - check
Star Wars/Star Trek - big negative
Quicksilver & other SciFi - negative
Lego - Until I was 12, yeah

It seems I'm too nerdy for Cooltown and too cool for Nerdtown. Oh wait...I collect Batman comics. Where does that place me?

I'm with Benum. Let's wait until Adams merits a nickname.

MK in OH: Anything involved with wrestling at least gets my consideration. Magnum TA, being a talented wrestler with a tragic story, it's even meaningful. I'm not old enough to have seen him 'live' but I have seen him wrestle on ESPN Classic Canada and read about him. I guess that could go on a Nerd's "resume" ... I've watched wrestling from before the time I was born ;-)

I'll vote Bridgekeeper, as it references Python. I don't mind forcing the nickname as several of the ones suggested seem to work quite well. If they didn't work it'd be a different matter, but Back End or Patch work for me as well.

Stratego is a great board game, and I've always wanted to, but never played, Diplomacy. I do (or did) Python, Simpsons, Model UNs, RFtT (Reach), Debating Club, Tony LaRussa Baseball and Out of the Park. It doesn't beat Craig, but I'm ahead of the average Joe.

Plus, I really enjoyed the TV show Freaks and Geeks, and when you start identifying with the Geeks....

It seems to me that Da Box has already given a nickname to Batista, so why not Adams as well?

I will second (third?) the name "Patch"

And do any of you nerds remember Sega Game Gear and World Series Baseball? Or playing Duck Hunt on the NES?

Nerd quiz.

Macintosh, mid-80's: check.
D&D: check, plus several other RPGs. I'm staring up a campaign soon.
Monty Python: check, I can recite tons and correct mistakes.
Simpson: ditto.
Babylon 5 & Farscape: check.
Science fiction: (Quicksilver etc): big emphatic check.
M.U.L.E. experience: check.
Infocom library: check.
Nintendo baseball games: check.

Etc, etc.

I am a nerd soon to be 30. Luckily, I'm single. I don't inflict my nerdness on others at the moment.

Grr. "Staring"="Starting".

RBI Baseball 2 for the NES by TENGEN is still the finest baseball video game. The American League All-Stars rock. Mattingly is a hit machine and nobody can hit Eckersley for two innings.

Wow, I never thought coming to a baseball blog would have my self-confidence soaring so high, lol.

I guess all I hold to are playing with lego and other similar building toys (my dad was a kindergarten/pre-school teacher we had them ALL), being on Student Council as the Communications Executive, I co-founded a social justice network, I spent the majority of my Senior year talking to 40-60 year old education steakholders. I've used many hours of my life having petitions signed, giving out stickers, leaflets and buttons for an assortment of causes, as well as the hours of meetings dedicated to designing and planing the campaigns to go with the propaganda. Another major factor comes in the hours I've spent behind this very machine. Especially designing Web sites. However, my clear distinction comes from playing for Kent ;-)

I had a good friend with a Commodore and we played some cool text-only games on there - one was called "Leather Goddesses of Mars" - and either on that machine, or his first IBM type, we played a baseball game which I still have very fond memories of called Micro-League.

Sad part is, I was in my 20's already when all this happened.

I'm a borderline Python fan (mostly for Holy Grail and the TV shows), a big fan of the original Trek and DS9, a fan of the Tom Baker incarnation of Dr. Who, and quite the comic book fan in my youth (Batman titles especially, also the old-style (before the dumbed it down to a pre-teen title) Legion of Super Heroes.

Also, I'm a huge fan of Firefly for the two or three of you who know what that is.

So there are definatly nerd overtones there, but others here have me beat I think.

http://me.woot.net
I'm sorry to say that even though I am a current Waterloo Mathie, a programmer and sometimes system administrator, I am not much of a nerd. Sure, I am into fantasy and science fiction, and I love gadgets. But my family's first computer came in 1995 and I program for a company in the movie biz. (Star-struck, I am!) I also can't stand being near most other antisocial, unmannered geeks; a good example of these people are most Waterloo Mathies.

On the other hand, I try to have impeccable grammar and spelling, I don't run Windows and haven't for years, and I meddle in research into the way coders write code, which are all fairly nerdish. I guess if I were to want to describe myself in one word I'd call myself a hacker (which doesn't mean what you think it does).

Firefly rocks.

That is all.

Duck Hunt Best!

Duck Hunt Rules, followed closely by Intellivision baseball!

Let him be Patch.

I'm too boring to be a nerd, dammnit.

Seeing how he hasn't played an inning yet for the Jays, and from what's already been reported, I think we should call him Felix Heredia.

I’m in the "wait until Terry Adams does something" camp; rarely is the first suggestion as perfect as El Artista. I suppose Patch might stick, if enough people use it. Bridgekeeper and Yardmaster made me laugh out loud, among with many other things in this thread, like the awesome extent of Craig’s nerdosity.

anyone at any age can become a geek.

Sad, but true. In my teens I read my share of science fiction and loved Monty Python, but was more hippie than nerd. Since my mid 30’s, I’ve steadily become geekier, doing PC/LAN/Web consulting and Internet baseball stuff.

I used to go to school with a girl named Terri-Lynn Adams. Last I heard, she had joined the navy.

I vote for Patch

I can't believe I didn't check you guys out when this thread was going strong! My bad, I'll try not to be off-line that much in the future.

First off, I have to agree with some of you about giving a guy a nickname before he has even played for your team, but if you do decide on something (I think Patch is the best one so far), I'll be happy to bounce it off of him in Dunedin to see what he thinks.

By the way, Felix Heredia? Cheap. Very funny, but cheap. Almost as cheap as what I said last week about Adams arriving and Kelvim leaving.

The main reason I'm posting something, though, is because I know even moreso now that I am one of you:

I started out with my best buddy owning a Trash-80 and graduated to the 2600, then the C-64. Gamestar baseball was the be-all for me for longer than I'd like to remember - I even threw a perfect game at a friend of mine. I have M.U.L.E. experience, and I correct people who misqoute Monty Python and the Simpsons. I have about 5,000 comic books in my attic. I tend to be a bit of a grammar freak, you'll hear me correct people all the time. By the way, I will be saying "Adams's" on the radio. The way I learned it, you don't have to write the possessive "s" after the apostrophe, because it's understood, but you do have to pronounce it.

And of course: APBA and Strat (both for suckers), Pursue the Pennant and now Dynasty League Baseball. Also, a little-known game from way back called Statis Pro. To show how my advanced nerdiness would lead to future employment benefits, I replayed the Blue Jays' 1980 season at the age of 11. They went 81-81 (dig me!) and Dave Stieb won 30 games.

Perhaps I've revealed too much, how will you ever respect me?

First off, I have to agree with some of you about giving a guy a nickname before he has even played for your team, but if you do decide on something (I think Patch is the best one so far), I'll be happy to bounce it off of him in Dunedin to see what he thinks.

Thanks for stopping by Mike. I started the thread for the reasons stated, but I agree that it doesn't make a lot of sense to name a guy at random, and enough people have expressed that feeling that I'm not going ahead with voting on the suggestions. Not sure if I speak for the Box in general, but I'd appreciate it if you'd ask Terry if he already has a nickname. If he doesn't, Patch seems to be the most popular one. Although it's Bridgekeeper (/Bridge/Bridger) should be recognized as it started this huge nerd conversation...

I'm thinkin you'll garner even more of our respect now, Mike ;-) (not that you didn't garner a lot arund here already).

http://economics.about.com
Oh man, Wilner's one of us!

Welcome home, Mike.

Cheers,

Mike

Probably too late for my vote, but I like Patch (truly dreadful movie though), and the Anagrammatic "yArdmasTer" ... but in light of the killer middle name "Wayne", how about

Terry "Deathrow" Adams?

p.s. - Mr. Wilner, if you are a grammar freak, can you perhaps work from within to stop your on-air confreres for misuing "clinch"? As in you CAN clinch a playoff spot, but you CANNOT clinch a playoff series. You can WIN a playoff series, but "clinch" directly implies that there are more games to play, but you have achieved your goal. In North America, this NEVER applies to a playoff series.

Thank you. Thank you very much.