Name Game Bracket 2009 -- Maverick's Done; One Big Sham

[Mass Haas]

Fans to vote for Minors' best name in 64-player 'tournament'

 

Bracket to Vote

[Mass Haas]

Zelous Wheeler and Maverick Lasker have moved on to the round of 32, as have former Brewer farmhand Callix Crabbe and former Brewer draft pick (not signed) Ron Prettyman.

 

I like the chances for both kids as underdogs here (with your help).

 

Lasker, a # 7 seed, faces sometime big-leaguer Rocky Cherry, a # 2 seed.

 

Wheeler, a # 8 seed, faces top-seed Cirilo Cumberbatch.

 

Crabbe, a # 3 seed, has a tough battle against # 6 seed Chris Farley.

 

Prettyman, a # 13 seed who moved up, faces # 5 seed Dusty Napoleon.

 

I still say "Smelin Perez" is the one to beat, and he's a # 4 seed.

 

Link to vote

Results will be posted some time Monday the 23rd, so hurry.

[Mass Haas]

Zelous Wheeler and Maverick Lasker advance to the Sweet 16, thanks to your help!

 

Zelous should smoke Dusty Napoleon next round, despite being a lower seed, but let's not take that for granted.

 

And sorry Callix Crabbe, but we have to vote for the current Brewer in that matchup, so let's go Maverick! (Isn't it too bad Maverick never got to pitch in High Desert? Think about it...)

 

Don't let our kids down, they could meet in the final.

 

Vote here!

[sbrylski]

I am still absolutely baffled how Will Startup won last year. I have to be missing something major. I mean, I seriously considered him one of the worst, most boring entries in the entire bracket. Yet he won. How can my opinion be 180 degrees different than seemingly everyone else?

[Mass Haas]

Initially I thought no nicknames should be included.

 

I was under the impression that "Rocky" Roquet's first name is probably Richard or something, but no, it's really Rocky. That's pretty impressive.

 

Will Startup is a pretty darn good baseball name -- if he was Bill Startup or Billy Startup, no, but Will -- I didn't have a problem with that.

[sbrylski]

Will Startup is a pretty darn good baseball name...

 

But why?

 

Is it like, "He will start up..." Start up what? My car? I just don't get it. Maybe I'm an idiot though.

[berniebrewer4life]

i like Given Kutz myself.

[Mass Haas]

Dusty Napoleon managed to squeak by Zelous Wheeler, 51.4 - 48.6%. Boo!

However, Maverick Lasker crushed old friend Callix Crabbe, 61 - 39%, and moves on the Elite Eight, where he will take on # 1 seed Shooter Hunt, who has cruised thus far.

But cry foul!

Born Steven Daniel Hunt on Aug. 16, 1986 in Westwood, N.J...son of Mickey and Dolores Hunt...has two brothers; T.J. and K.C...nicknamed after Dennis Hopper's character "Shooter" in the movie Hoosiers.

Sorry, but nicknames, no matter how cool, should be disqualified.

So it's Maverick vs. Steven, we can make this happen!

Vote here

The final four will be announced next Saturday AM, the 4th.

[valpocrewsader]

Thank You for Voting!

Results of this survey will be posted soon

 

Icicle Reeder Bracket

5. Dusty Napoleon

 

Natty Nattress Bracket

4. Beamer Weems

 

Farmer Works Bracket

6. German Sacks

 

Razor Shines Bracket

7. Maverick Lasker

[SeriesFinale]

That was my vote, too, valpo

[Mass Haas]

Well, this contest has officially become a joke (not that it was ever very serious anyway).

Gee, in the Elite Eight, four guys with "nicknames" defeated four guys with "real names", so I'm done following this sham. Maverick Lasker (still waiting to throw his first official pro pitch, by the way), was defeated by Shooter Hunt, I mean Steven Hunt, 52.9 to 47.1 %, despite our best efforts.

Here's MiLB.com:

Given Names vs. Nicknames

It goes without saying that Given Kutz's given name is indeed "Given." German Sacks, Maverick Lasker and, remarkably, Rocky Roquet, also go by their given birth names.

In the interests of full disclosure, we feel compelled to point out that the remaining four contestants owe much of their Minors Moniker Madness success to the fact that they officially go by a name other than what's on their birth certificate. What follows is a look at the player's "real" name, as opposed to what he answers to in day to day life.

• Dusty Napoleon: Michael Dusty Napoleon
• Beamer Weems: William T. Weems
• Rowdy Hardy: Lenny Franklin Hardy
• Shooter Hunt: Steven Daniel Hunt

Should you even care about the final four at this point, voting is here. Vote for Dusty, at least that's his middle name (he defeated Zelous Wheeler earlier).