Danny Hultzen, the second-overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners, has made two starts for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. In his professional debut against the Surprise Saguaros, a team loaded with prospects like Tim Beckham, Wil Myers, and Matt Dominguez, the left-hander allowed one run on three hits while issuing a walk and fanning two over two innings.

Hultzen’s second start against the Mesa Solar Sox was a bit rockier, as he allowed one run on six hits and one walk over three innings.  Although he didn’t record a strikeout, Hultzen escaped serious damage thanks to seven groundball outs.

Through two, brief starts, his line reads: 5 IP, 3.50 ERA, 9 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 4.50 GO/AO

Courtesy of MLB Prospect Portal, here is a clip of Hultzen warming up before his start against the Solar Sox:

Top 2: Nick Punto struck out swinging against Chris Narveson

Top 3: hit a sacrifice fly to right field against Narveson

Top 5: struck out swinging against Kameron Loe

Top 7: called out on strikes against Takashi Saito

Top 9: called out on strikes against John Axford

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K, RBI

Notes: Punto’s golden sombrero against the Brewers on Sunday night was his first of the season, as well as the first by a National League player this postseason.  In a game where the Cardinals pushed across 12 runs on 14 hits, Punto was the only starter that failed to record a hit.

His four-strikeout performance was the third of his 11-year career, with the other two occurring as a member of the Twins in 2006 and 2008.  After striking out in 12.7% of his at-bats during the regular season—his career mark is 16.3%—Punto has struck out in 11 of his 21 at-bats this postseason.

Most importantly, Punto’s postseason sombrero gives me a chance to drop this graphic once again:

Total 2011 Sombreros: 125

Total 2011 Postseason Sombreros: 2

And be sure to check out The Flagrant Fan for a great article on Ankiel’s legendary arm, complete with videos of his most famous throws.

Ah yes, the scorpion slide; an act so hideous and pathetic that it has come to epitomize the Kangaroo Court. And what better player to show off his stinger during Game 3 of the NLCS than everyone’s favorite role-player on the Brewers (no, surprisingly it’s not Craig Counsell), Mark Kotsay.

With runners on first and second and one out in the top of the first, Prince Fielder laced a slicing line-drive into the left-center gap that was hauled in by Jon Jay, who fired to second base to double-off the overly aggressive Kotsay. Now, I know that these days Kotsay is far removed from everyday-player status, so it’s probably been some time since he last busted out a headfirst slide. Combine that with the steady rainfall throughout the game, and it’s no surprise that Kotsay scorpion-ed on Wednesday night.

Since I’m unfamiliar with the presence of Kangaroo Court during the postseason, I thought that it’d only be appropriate to take the matter into my own hands. So, I gave Mark Kotsay’s scorpion the GIF treatment:

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