Posts belonging to Category Major League Baseball

Bottom 1: Kelly Johnson struck out swinging against Tim Wakefield

Bottom 3: struck out swinging against Wakefield

Bottom 6: struck out swinging against Franklin Morales

Bottom 7: grounded out to first against Daniel Bard

Bottom 8: struck out swinging against Matt Albers

Final Line: 0-for-5, 4 K

Notes: With players like Adam Dunn, Ryan Howard and Mark Reynolds playing nearly everyday—well, I guess not so much Dunn these days—it’s hard to believe that Kelly Johnson is now tied for the league lead in golden sombreros.  Tied with Adam Dunn and Grady Sizemore with three, Johnson’s latest achievement came against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.  The second baseman’s strikeout rate sits at a career-high 27.6% and his OPS is down over 150-points.  And after this season, it’ll be interesting to see if Johnson will be factored into their long-term plan. (The same can be said regarding the Diamondbacks and Aaron Hill.)

Total 2011 Sombreros: 109

–  Nyjer Morgan is exciting.  His defensive prowess in the outfield is absolutely fun to watch.  He brings a competitive nature to the game that should be lost on no man.  However, with that said, I wish Albert Pujols would have continued past the mound and cold-clocked Morgan right in his jaw last night.  C’mon Nyjer, there was no reason to get all butt-hurt over that AB last night.

–  It would appear that that Ian Kinsler just can’t help but lay lumber right now. (7 HR’s in his last 7 games.) I am proud to call him a fellow Central Arizona College Alum…ride Vaqueros, ride!

–  Is there anyone out there that can overtake Ben Revere’s over-the-shoulder masterpiece for play of the year?  Of course not.  So I ask you, which catch is better?  That one- or this one?

–  What is up with fans reaching over into the field of play on homeruns? I get it on foul balls, but really people? Don’t screw up a ball in fair territory folks.  It just makes you look bad.

–  Speaking of balls leaving the yard…heads up, pal!

–  A.J. Burnett sure is working hard to make his case for sticking in the Yanks starting rotation with amazing efforts like this.

–  If the criteria for voting on the MVP are so vague, why not just give the award to the player who accumulates the highest WAR at season’s end?  Are wins not the most valued outcome in all of baseball?

–  Did you know that Jeff “Frenchy” Francoeur is tied (with Ben “The Zorilla” Zobrist) for the most doubles in the AL?  Me neither.  To put the cherry on top of an excellently resurgent season, Frenchy turned back the clock to the first year of playing baseball on 90’ bases with this play.

Bottom 1: Michael Morse struck out swinging against Ted Lilly

Bottom 2: struck out swinging against Lilly

Bottom 5: flied out to right against Lilly

Bottom 7: struck out swinging Kenley Jansen

Bottom 9: called out on strikes against Javy Guerra

Final Line: 0-for-5, 4 K, 7 LOB

Notes:  Morse, who coincidentally made an appearance in our MLB Look-alikes series yesterday, recorded his first golden sombrero of the season against the Dodgers on Tuesday.  Currently having a well-deserved breakout season, the big man has shown the skeptics that his bat is for real.  With a 6-foot-5 frame and robust power to match it (.242 ISO, .342 BABIP, and 58 XBHs), it’s crazy to think that he was drafted as a shortstop.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 108

Bottom 2: Dewayne Wise struck out swinging against Josh Beckett

Bottom 5: struck out swinging against Alfredo Aceves

Bottom 8: struck out on a foul tip against Aceves

Bottom 10: struck out attempting to bunt against Jonathan Papelbon

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Thanks to Colby Rasmus’ trip to the disabled list, Wise has found himself starting regularly in the Blue Jays’ outfield.  Forever beloved for his famous catch that preserved Mark Buehrle’s perfecto, Wise is in the midst of his second stint with the Blue Jays this season.  It also probably doesn’t help that he’s striking out 36.5% of the time.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 107

The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: Mike Morse and Shawn Andrews (Dazed and Confused)

Unlike Morse, Andrews was not drafted as a shortstop.