Yanks nix stripes for nicknames
TORONTO — From Aug. 25-27 in the Bronx, you may not be able to recognize the Bombers.
That’s because they won’t be wearing their signature pinstripes.
Instead, in a joint venture by MLB and the Players Association that is sure to drive purists crazy but just as easily connect with younger fans, the league has decided to have teams wear nickname jerseys during its inaugural “Players Weekend.” So yes, the Yankees will also have names on the back of their uniforms — not just numbers.
“I think there are some traditionalists that may not care for it,” Joe Girardi said. “I think that’s in everything when there’s change in life. But I think there’s probably going to be a lot of people that like it. I think the younger generation is probably going to love it, but that’s something that we go through all the time when there are changes in the world or changes in sports. You’re always going to have those traditionalists, and that’s OK, too.”
Aaron Judge will go with “All Rise,” though it took some convincing from Todd “The ToddFather” Frazier. Judge went by “AJ” while playing baseball growing up, but that didn’t have much of a ring to it. Judge also plans to unveil some video-game themed cleats.
Starlin Castro, a four-time All-Star, went with “All-Starlin.” Aaron Hicks, clearly a fan of Key and Peele, went with “A-A-Ron.”
Sonny Gray is “Pickles,” which he got while playing in Oakland. His actual name already sounds like a moniker, so he hasn’t heard “Pickles” very often and doesn’t expect anyone to call him that in New York. Ex-A’s teammate Josh Phegley gave him it as sort of an inside joke.
“Every time I pitch I wore a green jersey, and it just kind of happened that way,” Gray said. Phegley’s nickname? “PTBNL” or “Player To Be Named Later” in a trade. Girardi didn’t know what nickname he’d go with. He’s never had one. Girardi has long referred to his players like a hockey coach, adding –y or –ie to the ends of their names. If the matchupdriven manager wanted to have some self-deprecating fun, he could go simply with “Binder.”