Bottom 2: Paul Goldschmidt struck out swinging against Mike Pelfrey

Bottom 4: Goldschmidt struck out swinging against Pelfrey

Bottom 6: Goldschmidt struck out swinging against Pedro Beato

Bottom 8: Goldschmidt called out on strikes against Bobby Parnell

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: For a power hitter like Goldschmidt, especially a rookie power hitter, golden sombreros will happen.  In 41 at-bats since being called up, he has struck out 18 times.  However, Goldschmidt is also capable of this, which, for the record, was way farther than 450 feet.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 88

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Bottom 1: Josh Hamilton struck out swinging against Jon Niese

Bottom 4: Hamilton struck out swinging against Niese

Bottom 5: Hamilton struck out swinging against Niese

Bottom 7: Hamilton struck out on a foul tip against Bobby Parnell

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: I can’t help but consider that Hamilton mixed in this sombrero last Saturday solely to support his claim that people with blue eyes don’t see as well during the day. Well played, Mauer.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 57

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Top 2: Hideki Matusi walked by R.A. Dickey

Top 4: Matsui called out on strikes against Dickey

Top 7: Matsui struck out swinging against Dickey

Top 9: Matsui called out on strikes against Francisco Rodriguez

Top 11: Matsui walked by Tim Byrdak

Top 13: Matsui struck out swinging against Bobby Parnell

Final Line: 0-for-4, 2 BB, 4 K

Notes: Needing just one more long ball to become the first player to hit 500 combined home runs between Japan and the MLB, Matsui came up painfully empty in the A’s 3-2 loss to the Mets on Wednesday night.  Although I haven’t seen any highlights of his at-bats, I can easily picture Godzilla flailing at Dickey’s fluttering knuckleballs.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 46

Did Aroldis Chapman really hit 105 mph on the radar gun last Friday? Does it matter?  In his major league debut on Tuesday night, Chapman challenged all of his skeptics with a perfect, 1-2-3, 8th inning against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The first hitter that the 22 year-old Chapman faced was Jonathon LuCroy, whom he retired on 3 straight pitches: 98mph fastball, a filthy 86mph slider, 102 mph fastball, and then another untouchable 87 mph slider.

He then retired the next two hitters, Craig Counsell and Carlos Gomez, on weak groundouts that more than likely have their hands hurting today.

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