Bottom 2: J.D. Drew grounded out to second base against Trevor Cahill

Bottom 5: Drew singled to right against Cahill

Bottom 7: Drew struck out swinging against Cahill

Bottom 9: Drew struck out swinging against Brian Fuentes

Bottom 11: Drew struck out swinging against Andrew Bailey

Bottom 13: Drew called out on strikes against Michael Wuertz

Bottom 14: Drew singled to center and drove in game-winning run against Guillermo Moscoso

Final Line: 2-for-7, 2 RBI, 4 K

Notes: I somehow overlooked this one even though it happened in the same game as Landon Powell’s, which I recapped earlier in the week.  Anyway, after putting the bat on the ball in his first two at-bats, Drew notched a sombrero in his next four at-bats.  However, the former 30/30 collegiate standout was just saving his old-man-strength for the 14^th inning, when he came through with a walk-off single.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 38

Top 2: Landon Powell struck out swinging on a foul tip against Josh Beckett

Top 5: Powell lined out to center against Beckett

Top 7: Powell singled to right field against Matt Albers

Top 9: Powell struck out swinging against Jonathan Papelbon

Top 10: Powell called out on strikes against Bobby Jenks

Top 12: Powell called out on strikes against Alfredo Aceves

Top 14: Powell grounded out to second against Aceves

Final Line: 1-for-7, 4 K, 6 LOB

Notes: My apologies on the brief hiatus from sombrero tracking. I was in Springfield for the Missouri high school baseball finals and following the draft like a mad man upon returning.  Anyway, back to Powell’s sombrero.  It was unfortunate that the game lasted 14 innings on Saturday night, because three of his four strikeouts came in the ninth inning or later.  To his credit, he did manage to mix in a knock and ground out a few times to avoid one of the platinum variety.  But then again, he was the only batter retired by a fiery Johnathan Papelbon, who was ultimately tossed for acting like an idiot.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 36

Each season I always manage to make at least one deal where I move a large amount of players, vastly altering the look of my team.  As I have mentioned before, trading players, and acting like a GM, is one of my favorite parts of fantasy baseball.  Thus, it is logical to see that I derive immense amounts of pleasure from trading big name stars.  To get a deal of this magnitude done, it requires extensive negotiations, a willing partner, and usually some adult suds to push the deal through.  (Sounds vaguely familiar to late-night exploits during my freshman year at U of A.)  Fellow writer and Denslow Cup league member, Dee, and I finally swung a deal through last night and if weight is the term I am using to describe it, this deal is heavy.  Let’s take a look and break down the trade.

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Conger off to solid start for Angels

With the first month of the MLB season in the books, and some of the baseball’s best prospects now suiting up for their respective big league squads, it’s time to reflect on the performances of our Top 50 Prospects.  Today we look at 45-50, which include: Chris Dwyer, J.P. Arencibia, Aaron Hicks, Jose Iglesias, Nick Castellanos and Hank Conger.

50. Chris Dwyer, LHP, Kansas City Royals

Double-A: 1-3, 6.35 ERA, 6 GS, CG, 28.1 IP, 27 H, 17 BB, 21 K, 1.553 WHIP, 1.24 K/BB

49. J.P. Arencibia, C, Toronto Blue Jays

MLB: .247(21-for-85)/.304/.482, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 7 BB, 20 K

48. Aaron Hicks, OF, Minnesota Twins

High-A: .206(20-for-97)/.322/.309, 3 2B, 2 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 2-for-5 SB, 18 BB, 23 K

47. Jose Iglesias, SS, Boston Red Sox

Triple-A: .253(22-for-87)/.278/.253, 0 XBH, 4 RBI, 2-for-4 SB, 2 BB, 17 K

46. Nick Castellanos, 3B, Detroit Tigers

Single-A: .208(20-96)/.260/.281, 4 2B, HR, 13 RBI, 7 BB, 28 K

45. Hank Conger, C, Los Angeles Angels

MLB: .300(18-for-60)/.354/.500, 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 BB, 11 K