Top 2: Michael McKenry struck out swinging against Cliff Lee

Top 4: McKenry struck out swinging against Lee

Top 7: McKenry called out on strikes against Lee

Top 9: McKenry struck out swinging against Ryan Madson

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Thanks to a decent month of July, McKenry has hit his way into the Pirates’ starting catcher role, and since then has hit just enough to not lose it.  He seems to be good for a bomb or double here and there, kind of like most of the Pittsburgh offense – see: Alvarez, Jones, Overbay, Pearce and Wood. And much like the aforementioned players, McKenry also strikes out a ton; he’s fanned 28 times in 117 at-bats and worked only five walks.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 82

Bottom 2: J.P. Arencibia struck out swinging against Cliff Lee

Bottom 5: Arencibia struck out swinging Cliff Lee

Bottom 6: Arencibia called out on strikes against Cliff Lee

Bottom 8: Arencibia struck out swinging against Michael Stutes

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: This biggest question surrounding Arencibia headed into 2011 was whether he could cut down on his strikeouts.  Well, he hasn’t.  Although his power is still there — 24 of his 50 hits have gone for extra bases — the Blue Jay backstop has struck out 66 times in 232 at-bats and currently sports a slash line of .216/.271/.435.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 60

*We are now finally up-to-date with all of the golden sombreros over the last two weeks.

With a third 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 take an expanded look at 9-1, which includes: Brandon Belt, Jarrod Parker, Jesus Montero, Eric Hosmer, Domonic Brown, Jeremy Hellickson, Dustin Ackley, Mike Trout and, of course, Bryce Harper.

9. Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants

Triple-A: .337/.470/.525, 7 2B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 27 BB, 31 K

MLB: .211/.328/.281, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 2 SB, 9 BB, 15 K

8. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Double-A: 5-5, 4.95 ERA, 56.1 IP, 27 BB, 52 K, 1.385 WHIP, 0.2 HR/9

7. Jesus Montero, C, New York Yankees

Triple-A: .292/.338/.421, 10 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 13 BB, 50 K

6. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Kansas City Royals

Triple-A: .439/.525/.582, 5 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 3 SB, 19 BB, 16 K

MLB: .288/.341/.442, 7 2B, 3B, 5 HR, 22 RBI, 2 SB, 12 BB, 29 K

5. Domonic Brown, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

High-A: .368/.429/.737, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K

Triple-A: .341/.431/.537, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 7 BB, 9 K

MLB: .228/.311/.443, 5 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB, 10 BB, 11 K

4. Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

MLB: 7-5, 3.09 ERA, 84.1 IP, 33 BB, 54 K, 1.138 WHIP

3. Dustin Ackley, 2B, Seattle Mariners

Triple-A: .303/.421/.487, 17 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 7 SB, 55 BB, 38 K

*Set to make MLB debut on Friday night against the Phillies

2. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

Double-A: .329/.431/.559, 9 2B, 8 3B, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 23 SB, 33 BB, 44 K

1. Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals

Class-A: .326/.421/.585, 14 2B, 3B, 14 HR, 45 RBI, 12 SB, 35 BB, 55 K

As I sat in the left field corner of Nationals Park last Friday evening, enjoying baseball, banter and beer with friend and colleague Jimmy Chiang, I was reminded once again that watching a baseball game live at the ballpark is one of life’s greatest pleasures.  The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and even the occasional cry of “Get your ice cold [nine-dollar] beer here!” all make the ballpark a special place, even for those with only a passing interest in the game.

In my 24 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the home venues of ten of MLB’s thirty teams.  While each may provide a different type of baseball atmosphere, some ballparks are certainly better than others, so as I wait to add to the list, I decided to rank the ballparks I have already visited.  Rankings are based not only on the quality of the parks’ bricks and mortar, but also on the experience each provides on any given night at the ballpark.  I am hopeful to one day compile a comprehensive list of all thirty ballparks, but now that I am a third of the way there, here is how each of the first ten stacks up:

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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 39-35, which includes: Casey Kelly, Jennry Meija, Jonathan Singleton, Derek Norris and Jake Odorizzi.

39. Casey Kelly, RHP, San Diego Padres

Double-A: 3-1, 3.38 ERA, 45.1 IP, 14 BB, 33 K, 1.301 WHIP

38. Jennry Mejia, RHP, New York Mets

Triple-A: 1-2, 2.86 ERA, 28.1 IP, 14 BB, 21 K, 1.059 WHIP

37. Jonathan Singleton, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies

High-A: .276/.394/.333, 2 2B, HR, 10 RBI, 16 BB, 31 K

36. Derek Norris, C, Washington Nationals

Double-A: .194/.354/.323, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 14 BB, 24 K, 4-for-5 SB

35. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals

High-A: 3-0, 1.97 ERA, 32 IP, 8 BB, 51 K, 0.938 WHIP