What’s in a name? White Sox loosen up for Players’ Weekend

Evan Marshall wins for originality. The White Sox right-handed reliever’s nickname on this Players’ Weekend jersey is “FORGETTING SARAH” as a nod to the 2008 romantic comedy film “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.”

Marshall’s first thought was “Marsh,” which is what teammates call him, so give him points for raising the bar.

“If they can squeeze it on a jersey, I thought it would be a funny one,” Marshall said. “The movie is great.”

Since 2017, Players Weekend has relaxed uniform rules allowing players to express individuality through nicknames, colorful cleats, equipment and accessories.

Runners-up for best Sox names include “THE BIG BABY” for left fielder Eloy Jimenez; “SUPER NOVA” for right-hander Ivan Nova, who actually has been nothing short of that in his last six starts with a 0.85 ERA and five wins; and “McCANNON” for strong-armed catcher James McCann (bestowed in college by the father of former Arkansas teammate Dallas Keuchel).

Lucas Giolito will be one of nine major-league players with “THANK YOU TY,” a tribute to Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died suddenly July 1 before a game against the Rangers.

“Leroy” seemed like a no-brainer for Leury Garcia — that’s what Sox manager Rick Renteria, “RICKY,” calls his multidimensional outfielder/infielder — or, better yet, “Leury Legend,” as coach and Larry Bird fan Joe McEwing pinned on him years ago. But Garcia is going with “LEO,” what his family affectionately called him as a kid.

“We talked about Leroy, but I’m going to do it next year,” Garcia said.

Others weren’t so colorful. Rookie Dylan Cease went with (drumroll …) “CEASE.”

What’s up with that?

“Basically, I didn’t turn one in,” Cease said. “When I first got called up, they mentioned something about it, but it was the last thing on my mind.”

Better to focus on pitching. Next year, Cease, a serious yoga guy, said he’ll probably go with “Yogi.”

Sox nicknames:

Tim Anderson: “TA7”

Aaron Bummer: “BUM”

Welington Castillo: “GUELO”

Dylan Cease: “CEASE”

Jose Abreu: “MAL TIEMPO”

Alex Colome: “THE HORSE”

Jimmy Cordero: “GERARD”

Ross Detwiler: “DET”

Adam Engel: “MAN OF STEAL”

Jace Fry: “FRENCHY”

Leury Garcia: “LEO”

Lucas Giolito: “THANK YOU TY”

Ryan Goins: “GO GO”

Jon Jay: “305 J”

Eloy Jimenez: “THE BIG BABY”

Reynaldo Lopez: “REY”

Evan Marshall:

“FORGETTING SARAH”

James McCann: “McCANNON”

Yoan Moncada: “YoYo”

Ivan Nova: “SUPER NOVA”

Josh Osich: “O”

Rick Renteria: “RICKY”

Yolmer Sanchez: “NOAH ALAN”

HIDDEN FIGURES

1

Number of innings Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada had been in the lineup over a 57-day stretch because of injuries before Moncada returned from the injured list Thursday.

24

Swinging strikes by the Twins against Lucas Giolito in the right-hander’s three-hit, no-walk, 12-strikeout shutout Wednesday in Minnesota.

28-25

The Sox’ record in the AL Central. The Sox haven’t finished with a winning mark in the division since 2012, when they were 37-35.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Through Wednesday, closer Alex Colome had one blown save in his first 25 opportunities. In that one, after giving up the lead in the eighth inning June 27 in Boston, Colome got the win and preserved it after Jose Abreu put the Sox in front with a two-run homer in the ninth. Colome had only three save chances since July 20, however.

• The Sox are a safe bet to avoid fourth place after five consecutive years in fourth (they were fifth and last in 2013) in the AL Central. They have double-digit differences in games ahead of the fourth-place Royals and behind the second-place Indians. The teams behind the Sox in the Central — the Royals and Tigers — are two of the worst three in baseball.

THAT’S WHAT HE SAID

“It’s important to continue the grind and the culture building. Learning how to win together. What happens here in the next six weeks will carry over into spring training, which carries over into next year.”

James McCann, disputing the notion the Sox have nothing to play for in the last six weeks of the season

“Is he related to Jerry?”

One-time Sox broadcaster and Grateful Dead freak Bill Walton, with a question to Jason Benetti about Sox leadoff man Leury Garcia