Rocky road paying off for Cherry

Brothers Patrick and William Cherry of Dallas made an agreement in the 1970s that whoever had the first son, the boy would be given a tough-sounding first name. "My uncle (William) came up with Rocky," said Pawtucket Red Sox reliever Rocky Cherry, who was born on August 19, 1979. "I don't know if it had much to do with the movie (the first "Rocky" movie was released in 1976). It was kind of like 'A Boy Named Sue' but in another way. "My dad boxed when he was younger and was a fan of Rocky Marciano. I guess the name was the right fit." Indeed, because "tough" has been Rocky Cherry's middle name. Eight pitches into his third start of the 2005 season for West Tennessee (which was the Cubs' Double-A affiliate), he injured his right arm and underwent Tommy John surgery. One year later, in his second start for Triple-A Iowa, he threw a fastball and left the mound in "excruciating pain" after fracturi...