Why is he being called Patches ?
That's a Howie Carr-ism. "Patches" is the title of a 1970's AM radio R&B song by Clarence Carter, in which a dying father expressed his hopes for his son to carry on the family name and tradition.
Someone will correct me if this is wrong, but it seems like I recall seeing him just about always wearing those sport jackets with the "patched" elbows. At least I used to...don't know about lately.