Top 1: Jeff Francoeur struck out swinging against Gio Gonzalez

Top 3: Francoeur struck out swinging against Gonzalez

Top 5: Francoeur doubled to left against Gonzalez

Top 7: Francoeur struck out swinging against Joey Devine

Top 9: Francoeur struck out swinging against Grant Balfour

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

Notes: Oh Frenchy, why am I not surprised.  His four strikeouts accounted for a quarter of his team’s total punch-outs on Thursday, as the Royals were carved up by Gio Gonzalez and three other Oakland relievers.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 44

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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

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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

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Bottom 1: Josh Willingham struck out swinging against Mark Buehrle

Bottom 2: Willingham struck out looking against Buehrle

Bottom 6: Willingham struck out looking against Buehrle

Bottom 7: Willingham struck out swinging against Jesse Crain

Bottom 9: Grounded into fielders choice against Sergio Santos

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

Notes: After fanning in each of his first four at-bats on Sunday, Willingham had the opportunity to be the hero when he stepped up the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning.  With the A’s down one run with runners on first and third and two outs in the inning, Willingham swung at the first offering he saw from Santos, chopping it to White Sox third baseman, Omar Vizquel.  His current average and OPS are classic-Willingham: .228 BA, .717 OPS.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 24

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 44-40, which include: Nolan Arenado, Brett Jackson, Matt Dominguez, Zach Lee and Grant Green.

44. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

High-A: .248/.280/.316, 8 2B, 12 RBI, 5 BB, 16 K, 2 SB

43. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs

Double-A: .295/.420/.518, 7 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 24 BB, 30 K, 13-for-15 SB

42. Matt Dominguez, 3B, Florida Marlins

N/A; Injured

41. Zach Lee, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Class-A: 3-0, 1.17 ERA, 30.2 IP, 11 BB, 28 K, 1.272 WHIP,

40. Grant Green, SS, Oakland Athletics

Double-A: .293/.364/.421, 9 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 14 BB, 30 K, SB