The Rockies’ trade with Toronto forright-handed reliever Seunghwan Oh on July 26 brought the team a proven veteran arm who, through his first handful of appearances, has lived up to his steely billing.
Adding to the awesomeness of Oh’s arrival in Denver are the nicknames he brought with him, as the 36-year-old was dubbed both “Stone Buddha” and “Final Boss” for his prowess in South Korea and Japan before coming to Major League Baseball in 2016.
But how do Oh’s monikers rank among known nicknames up and down the Colorado roster? Here’s my ranking of the 10 best nicknames on the team:
10. “Patty Barrels” —Pat Valaika
An often-dropped nickname whenValaika was tearing it up as a designated hitter in 2017 with a .328 average and a major league-leading 16 RBIs as a pinch-hitter — the best such mark for a rookie since 1958 — it’s much tougher to live up to when batting.157 as the 25-year-old is doingin a reserve role this season.
9. “Golden Nolan” — Nolan Arenado
While that accurately describes the way Arenado mashes balls and handles the hot corner, “Golden Nolan” is a better fit for the five-time Gold Glove winner, likley future Hall of Famer and — some would say — potential best third baseman of all time.
8. “True” — Trevor Story
With an MLB record seven home runs in his first six games in 2016, the nicknames stemming from the shortstop’s last name cropped up in a hurry. And while “Story Time” is an apt one, the legitimacy of Story as a potential perennial all-star shortstop — and not simply some hyped-up flash in the pan — is best reflected by
7. “Showtime” —Yency Almonte
With his signature flashy gold chain around his neck and a heater that runs upwards of 98 mph, the rookie reliever’s nickname fits his swagger even in situations like his pressurized debut, and Rockies fans could use more “Showtime” in their lives via his1.29 ERA in seven innings out of the bullpen this season.
6. “Cyborg” — Wade Davis
A nickname bestowed on Davis by fans back in his Kansas City days — and one that even inspired — it effectively sums up the effective robotic approach Davis has in both his methodical pregame routine as well as his ninth-inning performances.
5. “The Gray Wolf” — Jon Gray
There’s no cheering in the press box, but hardly a Gray start goes by without at least one of the Rockies’ beat writers after the right-hander records a strike out or makes an otherwise big pitch. Gray’s flowing locks and chilled clubhouse demeanor help make the nickname even better.
4. “El Yolo” —Gerardo Parra
Parra’s nickname dates back to his childhood inZulila, Venezuela, and Everyone in his neighborhood called her “Yola”, and so they called him “Yolo”, which he said translates to “you only live once”. Hence the veteran outfielder’s infectious energy and thousand-watt smile at the ballpark every day.
3. “CarGo” — Carlos Gonzalez
The perfect moniker for casual fans and announcers alike, CarGo isn’t just a nickname in Denver anymore — it’s a cornerstone catchphrase when discussing baseball at a mile high. The nickname brings to mind the veteran’s still-sweet lefty swing which has been known to launch balls to The Rooftop; it stirs up visions of the outfielder streaking for a diving grab as he still often does.
2. “Final Boss/Stone Buddha” — Seunghwan Oh
Yeah, the new guyhas not just one but two nicknames that are pretty darn good. Oh’s unflinching facial features and overall poise while pitching are reminiscent of a stone buddha for sure, but perhaps the bridge-less Colorado bullpen could amend his other moniker to “Seventh Inning Boss”? That’s what the Rockies most desperately need.
1. “Chuck Nazty” —Charlie Blackmon
It began when the Rockies media department set Blackmon up in 2011, and the outfielder was asked to choose a handle. Off the cuff he chose Chuck Nazty, and it stuck because itencapsulates the gritty way he approaches the game as well as his bearded, mountain-man lifestyle. Also, don’t forget to swap the ‘s’ for the ‘z’ in Nazty, because washed-out southpaws turned batting champions can spell their own way.
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Scores, Stats and Standings
Must-Read
After catching fire in July, Carlos Gonzalez is “ready to be the guy who comes through” for the Rockies down the stretch
Gonzalez is less coiled in his stance, which has helped him lower the barrel of the bat to get through the zone more quickly and enable him to hit to the opposite field more often. Read more…
Rockies podcast: An outsider’s perspective of the team and breaking down the trade deadline
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Kiszla: Rockies have shot to win World Series because of 3 words we’ve never heard at Coors Field: Championship. Quality. Pitching.
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Quick Hits
+ Second baseman DJ LeMahieu comes off DL and Garrett Hampson has been optioned to Triple-A.
+ Undrafted Rockies prospect Josh Fuentes is having a breakout season with Triple-A Albuquerque. Side note: he’s also Nolan Arenado’s cousin.
+ Garrett Hampson’s major-league debut with Rockies was a joyful but chaotic journey.
+ Prudent or too cautious? The Rockies stayed quiet as the other NL West contenders made trades.
+Chad Bettis might be used in the Rockies bullpen when he returns from DL.
+ Rockies Record Tracker:See how Colorado has fared against each opponentthis season.
+Want to chat about the Rockies?
By The Numbers
3.16
The Rockies’ team earned-run average for the month of July, the lowest for a single month in franchise history. Colorado’s July revival is based on historically good pitching and hot bats. Read more…
Parting Shot
Can Matt Holliday be the Golden Thong 2.0 for the Rockies?
Back in 2009, Giambi was a veteran with pop in his bat who joined Colorado at 38 years old, when most players are thinking about retirement. Holliday is a 38-year-old outfielder that isn’t ready to take his bat and go home. Read more…
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