Bottom 2: Miguel Olivo struck out swinging against Ivan Nova

Bottom 4: struck out swinging against Nova

Bottom 7: struck out swinging against Jamey Wright

Bottom 9: flew out to center against Rafael Soriano

Bottom 11: struck out swinging against Corey Wade

Final Line: 0-for-5, 4 K

Notes: Olivo recorded his third golden sombrero of the season in Wednesday night’s extra-inning game against the Yankees.  In his first sombrero, Olivo accomplished the feat while hitting cleanup for the Mariners.  This time around, the aging backstop did it out of the six-hole.  His second sombrero also came against the Yankees in late July, and he’s now tied with Adam Dunn, Kelly Johnson, Jayson Werth and Grady Sizemore for the league lead. And I wouldn’t rule out it happening again this season considering that his strikeout rate sits at 28%, which is above his career strikeout rate of 26.4%, and he’s already made the most plate appearances of his career.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 115

Top 1: Mark Reynolds struck out swinging against A.J. Burnett

Top 3: called out on strikes against Burnett

Top 5: reached on error by Eduardo Nunez against Burnett

Top 7: struck out swinging against Luis Ayala

Top 9: called out on strikes against Rafael Soriano

Top 11: singled home the go-ahead run against Hector Noesi

Final Line: 1-for-6, RBI, 4 K

Notes: It’s about damn time. On Wednesday afternoon, Reynolds collected his first golden sombrero of the 2011 season in Baltimore’s 11-inning victory over the New York Yankees.  With the feat already in the books and the game on the line, Reynolds came through in the clutch with an RBI-single in the 11^th inning that gave the Orioles a 5-4 lead.  I’m actually pretty irritated that it took 139 games; his 31.4% strikeout rate, 27.41% Z-Swing% (percentage of pitches swung at outside the strike zone), and 48.4% O-Contact% (percentage of times a batter makes contact with the ball when swinging at pitches thrown outside the strike zone) suggest it should have happened a long, long time ago.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 110

Today on The Baseball Show, co-host Clint Evans from Diamond Hoggers and I welcome Jason Rosenberg from It’s About The Money, Stupid. IIATMS is the New York Yankees SweetSpot network blog on ESPN. A huge thanks for Jason to being on the show–and as he mentions about former guest Matt Sosnick–we would also say that Jason is one of the best guys in baseball writing.

Topics discussed included:

• How he got started blogging about baseball
• He talks about our friend Matt Sosnick, MLB Agent
• His induction into the SweetSpot network & relationship with Rob Neyer
• Speculation about the next head editor of SweetSpot at ESPN
• We are joined by a renegade intruder, only for a moment though!
• Jason says The Extra 2% is a must-read book.
• Hardcore New York Yankees talk
• The Tampa Bay Rays possibilities of winning in the AL Central
• What does the future hold for the catching position (Francisco Cervelli, Russell Martin, Gary Sanchez, Jesus Montero, and Austin Romine), as well as Joba Chamberlain
• Have Yankee fans and Alex Rodriguez mended their relationship?
• Curtis Granderson talk, and how will Andruw Jones fare as the fourth outfielder?
• Thoughts on Derek Jeter’s contract extension
• Much more!

A huge thanks to Jason for being part of the show. Check out IIATMS anytime you want  to read about the Yankees. Find him on Facebook or follow him on twitter. And as all baseball fans know, the Yankees are always relevant.

• This week Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez stated that youngsters Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel could split the closing duties in 2011, just as Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez did in 2009.  Last season, Kimbrel burst on the scene and to say the least, was absolutely filthy.  In just 20 2/3 innings, Kimbrel recorded 40 strikeouts, which for those of you keeping score at home is a ridiculous 17.4 K/9.  He also racked up four wins and a save along the way, and allowed just a single earned run.  If he can repeat his success, Kimbrel could very well become a household name in 2011.

• The Cleveland Indians cleared catcher Carlos Santana to resume all baseball activities, and he will be ready for the start of Spring Training next week.  In 2010, Santana’s eye-opening rookie campaign came to an abrupt halt after he suffered a hideous knee injury on August 2.  Considering that the switch-hitting catcher posted slashes of .260/.401/.467 last year in 192 plate appearances, the fact that he’s been cleared significantly increase his fantasy value.  I’m really excited to see what this guy can do over the course of a full, healthy season.

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There will be a minor increase in the price of White Sox tickets in 2011…..prices and promotions will still be aimed to draw families to the ball park…..chief marketing officer Brooks Boyer says that there will be even more “Value Mondays.” [ESPN Chicago]

Ken Davidoff believes the White Sox are still the leading candidate to sign closer Rafael Soriano……all of their attention is on landing Adam Dunn…..looking like Matsui is still the backup plan if Dunn doesn’t work out…..Matsui wants to play for a team whose home games are on grass. [Newsday]

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