This is something that's been sticking in my craw for a while.  I made reference to it in another diary regarding Alex Gonzalez, but I really think it needs its own diary.  All around baseball, people have gotten ridiculously lazy in coming up with/using good nicknames.  I've been guilty of it a time or two, as have most of the people on this board.  I'm just sick and tired of every player getting either the initials or the "first-initial-first-syllable-of-last-name" treatment, and pretending that it's a nickname.  We're better than this, people.  Of course, this started with Alex Rodriguez, so I guess he's grandfathered in, and when there's some comedic value to that type of name (Felix Hernandez and Scott Hatteberg come to mind), it can be utilized.  However, Brandon Phillips should not be BP at the expense of a much better nickname.  Alex Gonzalez should not be AGon when he also has a better nickname.  Here's a guide to get the discussion started.  Note that I'm leaving off those already on the wiki, as they have been previously Red Reporter-approved.

Brandon Phillips - The Franchise
Alex Gonzalez - Sea Bass
Scott Hatteberg - SHat (as noted above, I'll allow this)
Adam Dunn - He's The Big Donkey, but I just as often refer to him as "Dunner."  We need to come to a consensus here.  Is Dunner OK, or is that just being lazy, too?
Edwin Encarnacion - EE is all we have, but I definitely think that's being lazy.  We need to come up with something here.
Aaron Harang - Harangutan works.
Bronson Arroyo - Brandon.  I hate Tim McCarver.
Eric Milton - Uncle Miltie or Ton.  I think both have merit.
Josh Hamilton - Any reference to The Natural is OK by me.