I have to say, I love seeing Neshek pitch. The guy is amazing. I think it's time for a new nickname.

Somehow you've managed to create the world's first Lego sidearmer. They should give out an Espy for that.

LEGO!
I saw him on the TV for the first time today, and I must say I laughed out loud "no one should have the right to pitch like that" I would say out loud laughing. I love this guy! He needs a name like.... I don't know... Spas, no, I don't know.

i'm very sad to say that i haven't had the priveledge of seeing the man pitch.
he was called up after i moved out of the range of FSNN and into the land of no-major-league-baseball-whatsoever (i.e. north carolina)
as far as a nickname? how about Spazmo the supermime....im just kidding of course. who needs a nickname when your name is Neshek?

"Good-bye ball! I'll miss you! Adieu! Adieu!"

hahahahahaha...

You beat me to the nickname thing, that's what I get for multi tasking.

The most significant and insightful thing about this reenactment is that the confused batter is lefthanded. There was a time when Neshek was confined to Rochester because he couldn't get lefties out. Too bad you didn't bring your truth to light sooner.

He seems ready for a nickname. Two possibilities occur to me. "Shrek" is merely a sounds-like adaptation. "Shadrach" has biblical significance. If he has seen and survived a fiery furnace and stared down Nebuchadnezzar, probably facing Pronk Hafner with the game on the line isn't all that scary.

spas, I hate spell check.

Neshek, Shadrach, and Abed-Nego!

im likin his blog, he seems pretty normal

http://www.aarongleeman.com/2006_05_21_baseballblog_archive.html#114844728659453799

You can see neshek's delivery here Iheartmntwins.

I already [heart] Neshek. The great blog, the bizarre delivery... let's just hope the hitters don't figure him out!

I'm glad I picked him up for my fantasy team; he's tearing up the Batling Fantasy League!

And he is a switch hitter, Not that that matters much.

Herky-jerky delivery. I love it.

Watching him pitch is something I've been looking forward to. Sometimes I wish it would go on forever, just to see the batters cry as they leave the plate. Poor kids.

There was a relief pitcher back in the 60's named Ted Abernathy, a two-time Fireman of the Year with 148 career saves. They called him The Submariner. Neshek's delivery is so much like his it's uncanny. And Abernathy was almost unhittable in his prime.

beside the funky delivery, he pitches like his mom just called him in for dinner.

His delivery is absolutely ridiculous, in a good way. He is going to have hitters befuddled for a long time if he keeps pitching like that.

Great series this weekend by the Twins. We finally won a road series against a decent team in the Central. Bring on the bitch sox.

BTW, Neshek's blog is absolutely amazing. He really does come off as a regular guy who happens to throw 94 with great location.

Watching him evokes the conundrum of both a tear to the eye and a giggle to the gut. He actually ends up at the bottom of the mound most times, skidding to a stop. No way to know where he'd land if he didn't apply the breaks.

I vote for "Lil' Sidearm" - in both the pitching and weapon sense.

I ammend my suggestion to "Skippy Sidearm" - no reason to leave the legs out of this.

OMG, BG!!!

Pat linked to you from his site!!!!!

I say call him "Whiplash"

thanks, paul. that clip made my day :P

Wow, Jacobs Field is excellent. We'll be lucky if we get a stadium like that. Batgirl, I brought an extra CC Sabathia puppet back for you. They were giving them away on Saturday.

OH, but you neglected to include a Lego reinactment of the little jumping-up-and-down dance he does after his delivery.

He did a great job yesterday, but I'm afraid I just can't watch it. He's a good guy (props to him for linking to BG!) but his spazzy delivery... just gives me the yips.

As far as nicknames are concerned, I wouldn't use any variation on "spaz," which is right next to "tard" in terms of lexical sophistication. How about "The Karate Kid"?

Nothing could be finer than when Tyner hits a liner up the mi-i-i-ddle ...

Nothing could be sweeter than a shot a hundred meters up the mi-i-i-ddle ..

If I had a line-up card for only a day
I'd make a wish and here's what I'd say

Nothing could be finer than when Tyner hits a liner up the mi-i-i-ddle

Iheartmntwins, I also am a Minnesotan transplanted in North Cackalacky. While there is little MLB in the immediate area, we have a ton of minor leagues, many with outstanding parks, starting with the Durham Bulls.

Also, Baltimore, DC and Atlanta are short day trips away.

Welcome to North Carolina!

I started reading Pat's blog about a month ago and ever since then, I've been so excited for him to get his chance with the club. When we brought Tiffee up instead of Neshek I was really bummed out. But he's been doing amazing and he seems totally likeable-almost kind of dorky, but I attribute that to nerves. Besides! Tall socks! I love tall socks!

I am totally for the nickname "'Lil Sidearm"- it SO fits him!!

Thank-you for the Legovision BG (a truly difficult task indeed to act that pitch out when you can't bend elbows or anything)- it helped me loosen up for my driver's test I have to take today.

eh.... you guys just come up with whatever nickname you want - I'm just going to call him HOT and settle in for many years of boyfriend closerdom.

Ah.... relief pitchers with amazing location. They are a good good thing.

I vote for "Fast Track" since he has risen through the ranks in such a hurry.

Whenever I see him take the mound, I always have to break into a chorus of "Patrick Neshek and Abednego!"

I'm thinking "Crazy Ivan", only he knows where it's going.

"The man from down under", with that submarine style.

The Shek Shuffle

Please please PLEASE nothing involving Shadrach, et al. I really enjoy watching this kid pitch. The last thing I need to get that song stuck in my head every time he comes out.

Pretty Pretty Please?

Dear Jeb-

Were you in my high school choir (Cloquet, in the Northern Territory of MN)? I have not thought about the "Shadrack, Neshek, Abednego" refrain for 20 months of Sundays.

No, I don't think it's nick name worthy but funny, yes!

Go Twins,

kal

I think it's awesome that in his blog he linked to this site today.

Perhaps a nickname contest is in order? There is an off-day coming up....

A player blogging about a blog that linked to his blog. How has the baseball universe not collapsed upon itself yet?

Mr. Baseball votes for calling him Twitch 'n' Pitch. Pretty much says it all.

How about "Transformer"? I keep thinking Neshek is about to come apart and come back together as a robot car.

Twitch & Pitch would be a good nickname for Nathan, Mr. B. I don't think "twitch" is sufficient enough a verb to describe Neshek's tai chi pitching style.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060723&content_id=1572090&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Who are they talking about when they say "nelson liriano?"

It looks like he drinks about 3 gallons of coffee and 12 snickers bars before he pitches. I think a nickname contest is diffidently in order. I love his blog, so cool to get a look at what it rally is like to be a new call up, and now a big leaguer.

If you want to see his delivery you can also see it on his sight. And he does the salute.
http://eteamz.active.com/PatNeshek/albums/index.cfm?id=354276
And I meant he eats the bars, unless he has a blender, but that's disgusting.

Hah, looks like Grandpa Sid has already caused some trouble for poor Pat!

Jamie,

Nelson Liriano was a second baseman who played briefly for the Twins in 1990, one stop in a largely undistinguished career. Click on my name to read more about him and other Lirianos.

Best, Mr. B

Huh... Now that I see the pics and vids, I think it might have been Neshek who started my love of tall!socks.

Neshek sounds to me like a form of the Hebrew word meaning "kiss."

Wonder if that helps the nickname hunt.

YankeeFan

[singing]
When me and my friends go out to the Dome
There's quite a few sights we can't see at home
Moose antler dingers, Gardy gettin' in a scuffle
But we wait all night for the Neshek shuffle

(Hey Joe! Hey Joe!) Hey Joe! Hey Joe!
(Well, sit down bitch, YEAH!) Well, sit down bitch, YEAH!
(L N P, L N P) L N P, L N P
(Lew Lew Lew Lew!) Lew Lew Lew Lew!
Well, we never miss a chance we get up and dance when it's the Neshek shuffle
[/singing]

Well done, HG.

Watching Neshek pitch is so much fun - I know why he got taken out yesterday, but that doesn't mean I wasn't sad to see him run off the field to make way for Boo. I particularly like how he points at the plate every so often after a pitch. I think it's that "force of will" thing again. Pat's good stuff.

Neshek, Patty-whack, give a dog a bone......

I was thinking "Knees" would be a good nickname since:

1) The baseball tradition of using a guy's name somehow

2) That's where he is throwing the ball from

3) And that's where the ball is going for a strike.

Dear heraldguy:

That was beautiful!

k-bro

Dear Readers,

We shall have a Neshek Nickname contest on Thursday. Clearly there is a need for one!

Love,
Batgirl

Thank you Bat-girl

Hooray for nickname contests! I love it when you call out everyone's creativity.

Did you see this hot/not gem from the Chicago Trib's preview of the upcoming Twins/Sox series?:

"Who's not: Twins outfielders Torii Hunter and Shannon Stewart are on the disabled list. "

Now, when was the last time that journalists had to raid the DL to find someone to list as NOT HOT?

That is soooo hot.

This is off the Neshek topic a little bit, but anyone else feel like the playoffs start today? I know there's plenty of time to still make the playoffs even if we lose this series, but it still feels so damn HUGE. I'm stressin big time, and I'm not one to stress easily. I've been antsy at my desk, and my stomach's even a little queesy. God I hate this wonderful game.

NESHEK IS A GOD...ABOUT TIME THE TWINS SEE THIS..HE GOT PASSED OVER TO OFTEN. GO PAT

Hey, kal, I wasn't in your choir but we must've sang that same spiritual.
Very funny, hg.
Ultimate meeting of good versus evil tonight!!

I like skippy sidearm.

Being a Monty Python fan from way back, I think we just call him "Ni" (pronounced Nee, of course).

As in, one of the "Knights who say Ni!"

Just think of all the shrubberies that he'll have collected by the time the new ballpark is ready.

(For non-Monty Python fans... nevermind... ya had to be there)

JC

Is anybody doing a chatroom during games these days?

Dear Mr. Elvis,

Please go to the link at the bottom of my links section for The Batcave. They do game threads.

Sincerely,
Batgirl

JC,

i like Ni. or maybe i just like Monty Python

just so long as he doesnt become Ecky Ecky Ecky Ecky Pakang Zoom-Ping

going on the little league all-star idea, does anyone else love the fact that he pretty much sprints off the field? also, how sweet is it that his little bro works on the grounds crew at the dome, if i was papa neshek id be one proud father.

Oh he's lovely.

Oh he's lovely.

I, too, heart Pat Neshek. It's a very manly and platonic heart-ing, but it is heart-ing nonetheless. He brings quirkiness, excitement, passion, and grit every time he comes to the park, and as we all know, those are very Twinnish features.

Now for something completely different... I would like to talk about these Carlos Lee rumors. "He's a big right-handed bat that could hit cleanup," they say. True, true. "He's an outfielder!" Also true. What they fail to mention is that he's a colossal crabbypants. Upon striking out (several times) against the Twins, he repeatedly glared at, argued with, whined to, and insulted the umpires. Now, if you disagree with a call, you should register that disagreement, but there's no need to be ungentlemanly about it.** When Jim Thome strikes out, he walks back to the dugout, usually without a word to the umpire. Why? Because he's a professional. Carlos Lee is a big baby, I remain unimpressed with his fielding, and the arrival of his negativity would threaten what is an amazingly nice and happy clubhouse, and I will not stand for it. To make matters worse, he would be expensive, both in terms of money (assuming the Brewers don't pick up most of his salary) and talent (they apparently want a major-league ready player in return).

We must all resist the temptation to overpay for a player who is not worth it and who does not possess Twinnish qualities. We're better off trading Lohse for prospects to a NL contender, promoting Garza (I don't care if he's not ready! It's not like the back end of our rotation is ready, either!), and making a run at this thing with the team we've got.

Paid for by Minnesotans Against The Potential Carlos Lee Trade.

**Unless, of course, your name is Ron Gardenhire, in which case you should feel free to tell those bluebellies what's what.

"Pat Plourde" made a comment above about Pat Neshek being "A GOD." The real Pat Plourde is Neshek's grandmother. Are you really Pat Plourde?

Anyway, I vote for "Freakshek" for his nickname, an obvious nod to his crazy delivery.

Carlos "Colossal Crabbypants" Lee?

I guess it has a certain ring to it.

I've seen both sides of him, and I'd be totally cool with it if he came over here.

JimCrikket, I 2nd that. And think of all the batters that will be cut down wwiiith a haring.

Dear Twin-X,

I think you mean a "herring." LOL!

BG -- for your consideration in Thursday's nickname contest: Thunder, short for Thunder From Down Under.

Too bad Twitchy McXanax is already taken.

Pat Neshek you are my hero. Although I must admit that I would be able to hit you nasty fastball but unfortunately I have been knocked down by a brain tumor. So I am somewhat retarded.

Just kidding

HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
Jurassic 5 is tight. Make sure to pick up their new CD FEEDBACK in stores now

kyle lohse is a bad pitcher we should trade him
you should have gotten the call last night in the ninth..... but no we call in kyle lohse and he gives up a 2 run dinger

my name is joepsh Stefani i am a faggot and i like to make my neighbors miserable

The NESHEK SALUTE?

That's classic!

Awesome job Batgirl.

Nice stuff all around. Thx, Batgirl.

I met his brother, and he is one of the coolest people I've met in a while.. Paul's friends call him 'neesh'

Go Twins!

Pat Neshek is twitchier than Nomar's glove-tightening thing. I love it. Plus, he's gorgeous.

I'm ready to vote for Skippy Sidearm. The world needs more Skippies.

YankeeFan above suggested that Neshek sounds like the Hebrew word for kiss ('nisheeka').

Interesting, because 'neshek' IS the hebrew word for...weapon.

You hear it all the time in Israel when you enter a building and the security guard asks if you're packing heat.

Appropos for sidearms...