ALCS Golden Sombrero: Austin Jackson

Bottom 3: struck out swinging against Wilson

Bottom 5: struck out swinging against Wilson

Bottom 7: struck out swinging against Koji Uehara

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Jackson’s golden sombrero during Game 5 of the ALCS was his second of the 2011 season, and the first by any player this postseason.

He has been an interesting case this postseason, as Jim Leyland continues to use him as the leadoff hitter despite his propensity to strikeout. Thus far, he has recorded a multi-strikeout game in six of the Tigers’ 10 postseason games, and has fanned in 18 of his 46 plate appearances – a 39.1% rate. But despite his lack of overall contact, Jackson has still posted a .311 OBP this October thanks to a walk rate of 15.2%, which is well above his career rate of 7.7%.

After playing in 304 regular season games for Tigers over his first two seasons, Jackson has fanned at least twice in 102 games, or 33.6% of the games he’s played in. Normally such a whiff rate would discourage a manager from hitting such a player at the top of the order, but because he is the owner of a career .331 OBP and .369 BABIP, and also possesses 20+ stolen base potential, he has remained a fixture in the leadoff spot. However, due to his declining wRC+ (104 in 2010; 90 in 2011) and wOBA (.333 in 2010; .309 in 2011), perhaps Jackson would benefit from a drop in the batting order next season – or as I like to call it, the B.J. Upton treatment.

Total 2011 Golden Sombreros: 124

Total 2011 Postseason Golden Sombreros: 1