Top 2: Jeff Francouer struck out swinging against Tim Stauffer

Top 4: Francoeur struck out swinging against Stauffer

Top 6: Francouer called out on strikes against Stauffer

Top 8: Francoeur struck out swinging against Chad Qualls

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Frenchy’s sombrero on Wednesday was his second of the season, as he accounted for four of the Royals six strikeouts in the game.  He is also the fifth player to notch multiple sombreros this season.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 55

Two golden sombreros in three days for Howard

Top 2: Ryan Howard struck out looking against Tim Stauffer

Top 4: Howard struck out swinging against Stauffer

Top 6: Howard struck out looking against Stauffer (Really?)

Top 9: Howard struck out swinging against Heath Bell

Top 11: Howard rips go-ahead two-run double off of Chad Qualls.

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

NOTES: The golden sombrero on Saturday was Howard’s second in his last three games and second of the season overall.  After starting the season red hot, Howard has cooled off significantly.  As we all have witnessed during previous seasons, the strike outs start adding up when Howard is slumping.  In his 88 plate-appearances this season, the big man has already fanned 23 times (not including Sunday’s results).  Since Mark Reynolds is yet to record a sombrero — although he is 2 for his last 29 with 10 strikeouts — I’ve gone and added a Ryan Howard Sombrero Counter, which can now be found on our left side bar.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 11

Maybe a Ryan Howard Sombrero Tracker would be more appropriate…

Top 1: Ryan Howard struck out swinging against Mat Latos

Top 3: Howard struck out swinging against Latos

Top 4: Howard called out on strikes against Latos

Top 7: Howard struck out swinging against Corey Luebke

Top 9: Howard grounds out to second baseman against Chad Qualls

Final Line: 0-5, 4 strikeouts, 6 LOB

NOTES: Howard’s golden sombrero disrupts the trend of sombreros by leadoff hitters, as he becomes the biggest name to record one this season.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 10

*Be sure to check out the additional sombrero coverage over at OffBasePercentage.com for a more detailed and less graphic-based assessment of baseball’s most impressive feat.

The 2010 Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone and once again ended with GMs shouting out deals back and forth as frenetically as Wall Street floor traders. The two biggest names dealt before today’s deadline were pitchers Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt. Lee has turned into quite the vagabond as of late, heading from Cleveland to Philly to Seattle and finally to the Texas Rangers all within the last two seasons. Seattle got switch hitting first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor league prospects out of the deal.

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Chad Qualls

It’s really a shame that the Diamondbacks’ season has gone the way that it has thus far because I actually enjoy watching them on tv and listening to Mark Grace’s drunken tangents.  Luckily I haven’t caught too many games over the past week, but based upon both the highlights I’ve seen and articles I’ve read, I’m sure that Gracie has been getting a little extra sauced.  I don’t blame him.  I know that I would be too if I were watching a bunch of asshole, “relief pitchers,” continue to blow leads.  Headed by the once-reliable-turned-atrocious Chad Qualls(4 BS, 8.46 ERA), the D’backs bullpen is currently leading the National League in appearances…appearances by assholes.  Entering Thursday, the bullpen had recorded only 13 saves while blowing 12– that’s right, they almost have as many blown saves as they do saves.  What assholes.

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