Name can be claim to fame

Bubbie Buzachero has had a forgettable season with the 51s but will always have a memorable name.

For that, the former Las Vegas pitcher, born Edward Buzachero, can thank his older sister.

''When we were little, she couldn't say brother. She'd say, 'He's my little bubba,' and that turned into Bubbie,'' said Buzachero, a right-handed reliever who was demoted Thursday to Double-A New Hampshire. ''It's funny -- everybody asks me that all the time, but that's the only name I've ever went by.

''Even on my checks these days, I have Bubbie Buzachero. I hardly use Edward for anything anymore.''

Buzachero struggled mightily on the mound this season for the 51s, allowing 15 runs on 20 hits in eight innings, but can take solace in the fact he's winning his matchup with Buddy Boshers in Milb.com's fourth annual Minors Moniker Madness contest.

''Hopefully I'll go all the way with it," the easygoing Buzachero, a No. 8 seed, said before it was revealed Thursday he was garnering 69 percent of the vote in his showdown against Boshers.

Set up the same way as the NCAA basketball tournament, Moniker Madness seeds 64 players who go head to head to decide who has the best name in minor league baseball.

The winner walks off with the Wonderful Terrific Monds III Award, named in honor of a man who was truly Wonderful -- but as a player wasn't too terrific.

In seven seasons in the minor leagues, from 1993 to 1999, Monds never ascended higher than Double A.

Houston Summers breezed to the inaugural Moniker Madness title in 2007. Will Startup seized the award in 2008, taking down Jorge Poo Tang and Henry Henry before unseating defending champion Dusty Napoleon.

Las Vegas left fielder Callix Sadeaq Crabbe, who was called up from New Hampshire on July 16, advanced to the round of 16 in last year's contest, clipping Chris Farley in the third round before losing to Maverick Lasker.

Crabbe (pronounced like the crustacean) is seeded fourth this year, against No. 13 seed Jordan Flasher.

Raised on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Crabbe said his last name is Carribean. His brother came up with his first name, which was supposed to be spelled Calyx, which is defined as the sepals of a flower.

Crabbe said his father simply spelled it wrong.

''(My mother) thought it was a pretty name, and it turned out to be a cool name for me growing up: Callix and then Crabbe,'' he said. ''It's funny, I met a guy from Memphis, a white guy, that had the same exact spelling and same last name. He said that it's a long line of Crabbes.''

Crabbe could meet Buzachero in the third round and likes his chances of winning that matchup.

''I'll choose myself. I know I shouldn't do that, but I'll do it,'' Crabbe said, laughing. ''It would be nice to win it, but there's a lot of cool names. Bubbie, that's a crazy name, too.''

In addition to Farley, last year's contest featured Burt Reynolds, John Madden, Stephen King, Ray Liotta, Ernie Banks and Darlin Duran, along with Jose Jose, Smelin Perez, Rebel Riddling and finalists Beamer Weems, Given Kutz and Rocky Roquet.

Former 51s shortstop Gookie Dawkins (2003), a No. 16 seed, has a narrow lead over No. 1 seed Forrest Snow in this year's contest, and No. 15 Seth Schwindenhammer has opened a sizable lead over No. 2 seed Skyler Stromsmoe. The other top seeds are Al Albuquerque, Sequoyah Stonecipher and ZeErika McQueen.

Other matchups are Jetsy Extrano vs. Brett Butts, Shooter Hunt vs. Stephen Batts and Rowdy Hardy vs. Dale Cornstubble.

Fans can vote for their favorite names at Milb.com until Aug. 16, when the contest concludes. First-round voting continues until 9 p.m. Monday.

n NOTE -- 51s shortstop Mike McCoy was promoted to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.