Okay I admit it – I am a bit uncomfortable trying to correctly pronounce the first and last name of recently signed Dodgers shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena. In fact, it is difficult for me to pronounce his name correctly two times in a row without stopping what I am doing, staring at the name closely and trying to pronounce it phonetically. The good news, for me at least, is that as a blog writer I can simply ‘cut and paste’ his name to assure myself that I at least spell it correctly, especially since the second ‘u’ crisis has been resolved (there isn’t one).

Recently signed Dodgers shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena (center) with fellow Cubans Alex Guerrero (left) and Yasiel Puig. Photobomb courtesy of Scott “Slykie” Van Slyke.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

The folks who I really feel sorry for are the great Vin Scully, Charlie Steiner, Orel Hershiser, Rick Monday, Alanna Rizzo, John Hartung, Jerry Hairston Jr., Kevin Kennedy, David Vassegh and the other television and radio personalities who will eventually have to repeatedly say his name live on the air. (Remember when there were only two or three Dodgers broadcasters?). And of course I can hardly wait to hear longtime Dodgers P.A. announcer Eric Smith roll the name Erisbel Arruebarrena off his tongue every couple of innings. Rumor has it that Smith is already practicing the correct pronunciation since he first learned that the Dodgers were courting the 23-year-old Cuban defector – a rumor that the good-natured Smith started himself via Twitter.

Suggestions for a nickname for Arruebarrena began the instant the Dodgers confirmed his signing on February 22 and included ‘EA – It’s in the Game’ (cute), ‘Arr-Barr’ (my personal favorite), ‘A-Barr’ (not as popular because of a certain Yankees player) and even the nickname that he carried while playing in Cuba – ‘Cricket’ (don’t ask me where that one came from). But as everyone knows, you do not get to choose your own nickname – they usually come from those closest to you and are usually the result of some less-than-ideal incident or circumstance. (Hey, if we can’t kid each other, who can we kid, right?).

Well the Arruebarrena nickname crisis may have been resolved during Saturday evening’s televised spring training game when broadcaster Charlie Steiner told SportsNetLA viewers that he himself had asked Arruebarrena (man, I love ‘cut and paste’) what nickname he wanted to go by. “Arrie” is what the young shortstop told Steiner.

Dodgers broadcaster Charlie Steiner (left) may have solved the Arruebarrena nickname crisis when he confirmed directly from the young Cuban shortstop that he prefers the nickname “Arrie.” Steiner is seen here with fellow broadcaster and Dodgers great Orel Hershiser.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

But here again, while ‘Arrie’ makes perfect sense and is way easier to say than ‘Arruebarrena’, the ultimate decision will be up to Erisbel’s teammates. But knowing how Dodgers manager Don Mattingly likes simple nicknames such as ‘Slykie’ (for Scott Van Slyke) and ‘Leaguer’ (for Brandon League), there is a very good chance that ‘Arrie’ will stick for Arruebarrena.

Isn’t it amazing what baseball players and fans alike find important in our 130+ year old national pastime?

Man, I love this game!

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Nickname Trivia:

Did you know that Dodgers Hall of Fame shortstop Pee Wee Reese did not get his nickname from his relatively short (5′ 10″) stature but rather from his childhood expertise at shooting marbles – particularly the smaller-sized marbles called Pee Wees?