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  6. article_body => "<p>Zimm, Brown Eye and T3 will all take the field against the Cubs in the annual Players' Weekend series August 23-25.<\/p>\n<p>Some Nationals players got creative when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/best-and-worst-players-weekend-nicknames-nationals-and-around-mlb\">choosing nicknames<\/a>, and others (yes you, Javy Guerra aka Javy) could use some inspiration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Other nicknames just made sense.<\/p>\n<p>Fernando Rodney's nickname, \"La Flecha\", translates from Spanish to \"the arrow\". If you had the opportunity to watch the Fernando Rodney experience, you know that he celebrates a save by shooting an imaginary bow and arrow to the sky.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He described the routine just like pitching: \"you know where it is going exactly, you got a good shot.\"<\/p>\n<p>When asked if he had any other nickname ideas he joked that he thought about using \"Pl\u00e1tano Power\". A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/extra-mustard\/2017\/03\/09\/dont-ask-why-fernando-rodney-pulled-plantain-out-his-pants\">joke<\/a>&nbsp;dating back to 2017.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Patrick Corbin is using his Players' Weekend jersey to honor his late friend and Angels pitcher, Tyler Skaggs. His nickname will say \"Forty Five\", Skaggs' number which Corbin wore days after his death.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PatrickCorbin46?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@PatrickCorbin46<\/a> honors Tyler Skaggs with his <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PlayersWeekend?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PlayersWeekend<\/a> jersey. \u2764\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/RqSXA1ReUF\">pic.twitter.com\/RqSXA1ReUF<\/a><\/p>&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLB\/status\/1164927135565438976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 23, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>Other nicknames were no brainers, almost decided for the players.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Wander Suero will go by \"The Animal\", the&nbsp;nickname given to him in the minor leagues that stuck with him. One of his coaches, Donald Ray \"Spin\" Williams, would tell him all the time, \"you're an&nbsp;animal\" because of the way he hustled. It caught on with his teammates and Spin still calls him that.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sean Doolittle's nickname was teased for a long time, Obi Sean. His <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/how-nationals-bobbleheads-go-concept-collectible\">Star Wars-themed bobblehead<\/a>&nbsp;was a giveaway earlier in the season, featured the relief pitcher as Obi-Wan&nbsp;Kenobi from the popular franchise. The nickname is also his Twitter name though no one&nbsp;calls him that.<\/p>\n<p>Doolittle has changed his nickname for the past three years. \"It gives you an opportunity to show a little personality and have some fun with it.\" He said he can show that he is \"a Star Wars nerd.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These nicknames are chosen in Spring Training, and Doolittle remembers this happening early in the morning. \"It's 6 or 7 am and they are walking around the clubhouse with a clipboard asking what you want your players weekend nickname to be at the end of August.\" He joked, \"it's not the most creative time, you're not really awake yet.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tanner Rainey was one of those players who may not have been awake yet. When asked if he would answer a few questions about his nickname he laughed and said, \"I don't even know my nickname.\" (For those wondering, it's Rainman).<\/p>\n<p>He said he never really had a nickname but a few guys started calling him Rainman.<\/p>\n<p>\"If there's not one I would have went with Rainey on the back of the jersey,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>This choice is not because he doesn't like the idea. Rather, he is just focused on baseball during Spring Training.<\/p>\n<p>\"Alright that's in late August, this is February,\" said Rainey. \"Let's worry about tomorrow first.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Doolittle had the perfect way to describe making such an important decision. &nbsp;\"You know-how like the month leading up to Halloween you are like 'I have no idea what I want to dress up as.'&nbsp;You scramble for a costume and you're like 'yeah this works,&nbsp;whatever, at least I dressed up'. That day and the week after it feels like you have all these great ideas and you are like 'aw I should write these down'.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"So maybe I will do that this year,\" Doolittle joked. \"Maybe I need to start a notes app on my phone.\"<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE NATIONALS NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Never a Doubt:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/MORE NATIONALS NEWS: Never a Doubt:\u00a0Martinez opens up about early struggles\">Martinez opens up about early struggles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>He's Back:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/max-scherzer-back-and-could-tilt-postseason-race\">How Scherzer could affect wild card race<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Roundup:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/washington-nationals-roundup-max-scherzer-impresses-7-1-victory-over-pirates\">Scherzer impresses in 7-1 victory<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Nationals

Nationals

Zimm, Brown Eye and T3 will all take the field against the Cubs in the annual Players' Weekend series August 23-25.

Some Nationals players got creative when choosing nicknames, and others (yes you, Javy Guerra aka Javy) could use some inspiration. 

Other nicknames just made sense.

Fernando Rodney's nickname, "La Flecha", translates from Spanish to "the arrow". If you had the opportunity to watch the Fernando Rodney experience, you know that he celebrates a save by shooting an imaginary bow and arrow to the sky. 

He described the routine just like pitching: "you know where it is going exactly, you got a good shot."

When asked if he had any other nickname ideas he joked that he thought about using "Plátano Power". A joke dating back to 2017. 

Patrick Corbin is using his Players' Weekend jersey to honor his late friend and Angels pitcher, Tyler Skaggs. His nickname will say "Forty Five", Skaggs' number which Corbin wore days after his death. 

Other nicknames were no brainers, almost decided for the players. 

 

Wander Suero will go by "The Animal", the nickname given to him in the minor leagues that stuck with him. One of his coaches, Donald Ray "Spin" Williams, would tell him all the time, "you're an animal" because of the way he hustled. It caught on with his teammates and Spin still calls him that. 

Sean Doolittle's nickname was teased for a long time, Obi Sean. His Star Wars-themed bobblehead was a giveaway earlier in the season, featured the relief pitcher as Obi-Wan Kenobi from the popular franchise. The nickname is also his Twitter name though no one calls him that.

Doolittle has changed his nickname for the past three years. "It gives you an opportunity to show a little personality and have some fun with it." He said he can show that he is "a Star Wars nerd." 

These nicknames are chosen in Spring Training, and Doolittle remembers this happening early in the morning. "It's 6 or 7 am and they are walking around the clubhouse with a clipboard asking what you want your players weekend nickname to be at the end of August." He joked, "it's not the most creative time, you're not really awake yet." 

Tanner Rainey was one of those players who may not have been awake yet. When asked if he would answer a few questions about his nickname he laughed and said, "I don't even know my nickname." (For those wondering, it's Rainman).

He said he never really had a nickname but a few guys started calling him Rainman.

"If there's not one I would have went with Rainey on the back of the jersey," he said.

This choice is not because he doesn't like the idea. Rather, he is just focused on baseball during Spring Training.

"Alright that's in late August, this is February," said Rainey. "Let's worry about tomorrow first." 

Doolittle had the perfect way to describe making such an important decision.  "You know-how like the month leading up to Halloween you are like 'I have no idea what I want to dress up as.' You scramble for a costume and you're like 'yeah this works, whatever, at least I dressed up'. That day and the week after it feels like you have all these great ideas and you are like 'aw I should write these down'." 

"So maybe I will do that this year," Doolittle joked. "Maybe I need to start a notes app on my phone."

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