MODESTO, Calif. -- Nuts! That's what some fans are saying about the new name of Modesto's minor league baseball team. It also happens to be the team's new name -- the Modesto Nuts.

The Modesto ball club, which had the Oakland A's as its parent team until recently, decided to let fans pick the new name when the Colorado Rockies took over as the new parent club.

"When we first started this, I don't think anyone thought we would be the Nuts," said Nuts general manager Michael Gorassi.

There were other names offered.

"It ranged from Cruisers, Stompers, Nuts, Crushers, you name it," Gorassi said.

Modesto is known as an agricultural community, with walnuts and almonds being among its top crops.

"Peanuts the elephant" will stay the mascot, but other mascots will be added, according to Gorassi.

"We will be introducing a third character, a pistachio," Gorassi said.