Welcome Back, Catcher
A little more than a week after the Red Sox secured shortstop shoulder-jarring Ken Huckaby to a minor league deal, the club also announced the signing of veteran catcher John Flaherty to a 1-year contract. Flaherty, Huckaby (who was invited to spring training), and Kelly Shoppach will challenge each other to be backup backstop. Or perhaps the co-GMs are considering packaging Shoppach in a deal to fill the vacancies at short or center.
Flaherty was originally drafted by the Red Sox in 1988 in the 25th round. For some reason he is possessed of the nickname “Flash” according to the Baseball Reference website. The fascinating thing about the word “nickname” is that the Middle English phrase used to be “an eke name.” There are many words in the English language that were formed by the process of junctural metanalysis, including “umpire,” from the Old French “nonper” (without peer) which evolved into the Middle English “noumpere.” Had the original phrase maintained its integrity, we’d be calling for the numpire’s head should he make a bad call.
Comments
Let's hope with defense (Wakefield's catcher) comes a little offense.
Peter N. ∙ 23 December 2005 ∙ 2:21 PM
Flaherty signed my brother's glove when he was little (my brother, not Flaherty) so he's cool in my book.
Piney ∙ 23 December 2005 ∙ 4:04 PM
Did your brother think he was Woody from Toy Story? Flaherty, I mean, "Flash's" face reminds me of that character for some reason.
Joanna ∙ 23 December 2005 ∙ 10:57 PM
Haha not sure really..this was a while ago and I think before Toy Story came out...maybe some Irish reverse vampire....
Piney ∙ 24 December 2005 ∙ 12:12 AM