Baseball nicknames just aren’t what they used to be. As imaginative as abbreviations can be (insert sarcastic font here), referring to Alex Rodriguez as “A-Rod” or Derek Norris as “D-No” has become the standard for hardball monikers. And while there remains a few exceptions to this disappointing rule (the aptly-named “Big Papi” absolutely fits into this demographic), the majority fall far short of the standard set by high-profile stars of seasons past. Mickey Mantle as the Commerce Comet. Willie Mays as the Say Hey Kid. Ted Williams as the Splendid Splinter. Baseball’s Golden Age of Awe-Inspiring Epithets came early. White Queso: Enter stage right. Who’s White Queso, you ask? That would be Wil Myers, the first baseman for the Swingin’ Friars of San Diego. He’s a former top prospect, the 2013 A.L. Rookie of the Year, and the centerpiece of two massive trades in two years. Oh, and he should be the clear-cut favorite to be the San Diego Padres’ lone representative when the organization hosts the MLB All-
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