Articles from May 2011

Top 1: Drew Stubbs struck out swinging against Tommy Hanson

Top 3: Stubbs struck out swinging against Hanson

Top 5: Stubbs grounded out to shortstop against Hanson

Top 6: Stubbs flied out to right field against Scott Linebrink

Top 8: Stubbs called out on strikes against Scott Proctor

Top 9: Stubbs called out on strikes against Craig Kimbrel

Final Line: 0-for-6, 4 K

Notes: Stubbs’ 0-for-6 performance in the Reds’ 5-1 win over the Braves, might be the ugliest sombrero this season.  After fanning in his first two at-bats against Tommy Hanson, it looked like Stubbs might avoid a sombrero.  However, a two-run, ninth inning against Braves’ closer Craig Kimbrel gave Stubbs one final at-bat with two outs.  And as if it was meant to be, Stubbs struck out looking to put a sour note on a nice win by the Redlegs.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 32

Bottom 2: B.J. Upton called out on strikes against Josh Tomlin

Bottom 3: Upton called out on strikes against Tomlin

Bottom 6: Upton called out on strikes against Tomlin

Bottom 7: Upton struck out swinging against Chad Durbin

Final Line: 0-4, 4 K

Notes: Just as he did in his first golden sombrero on May 4, Upton went down looking in three of his four punch-outs.  Apparently he was the only one to struggle against Indians’ starter, Josh Tomlin, who struck out four on the day.  Similarly, the Rays only struck out six times as a team, with Upton leading the charge.  But hey, at least BUpton didn’t bump an umpire while contesting strike three.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 31

Top 2: Matt LaPorta called out on strikes against David Price

Top 4: LaPorta struck out swinging against Price

Top 6: LaPorta struck out swinging against Price

Top 9: LaPorta struck out swinging against Adam Russell

Final Line: 0-4, 4 K

Notes: One of three golden sombreros on Friday, LaPorta struggled mightily against the Rays’ David Price.  He wasn’t the only one to struggle against the left-hander, though, as the Tribe fanned 12 times against him.  And to think that the former Florida Gator was traded for C.C. Sabathia…

Total 2011 Sombreros: 30

Top 1: Adam Dunn called out on strikes against Brandon Morrow

Top 4: Dunn struck out swinging against Morrow

Top 6: Dunn struck out swinging Morrow

Top 8: Dunn struck out swinging against Mark Rzepczynski

Final Line: 0-4, 4K

Notes: Dunn’s golden sombrero on Thursday was his second of the season (and second in the past week), and lowered his slash lines to a rotten .186/.314/.346.  Mired in a season-long slump, Dunn currently leads the MLB with 65 strikeouts in 45 games, and actually has more whiffs than total bases (54).  Who would have guessed that a quarter of the way through the 2011 season, Dunn’s performance would make Mark Reynolds’ .200/.305/.381 seem desirable?  In honor of last sombrero, I noted how the big man had not collected a hit off a left-hander in 31 at-bats.  Well, it’s now up to 33 at-bats, 15 of which have ended in a strikeout.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 29

Top 1: Alex Gordon struck out on a foul tip against Jake Arrieta

Top 3: Gordon hit a ground-rule double to left-center off Arrieta

Top 5: Gordon struck out swinging against Arrieta

Top 7: Gordon struck out on a foul tip against Jim Johnson

Top 9: Gordon struck out swinging against Mike Gonzalez

Final Line: 1-5, 2B, 4 K

Notes: Although Gordon did a lot of whiffing in his sombrero on Wednesday, he did salvage some respect by doubling in the fifth.  The hit saved the rejuvenated slugger from falling victim to the platinum sombrero—or as a reader suggested it be called, “The Mongolian War Helmet,”—a feat yet to occur this season.  One thing is certain: Gordon was involved in one hell of a game of just a tip on Wednesday.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 28