Top 2: Matt Tolbert struck out swinging against Gavin Floyd

Top 4: Tolbert singled to center against Floyd

Top 5: Tolbert struck out swinging against Will Ohman

Top 7: Tolbert called out on strikes against Brian Bruney

Top 9: Tolbert struck out swinging against Jesse Crain

Final Line: 1-for-5, 4 K, 5 LOB

Notes: Tolbert’s sombrero on Friday against the White Sox was his first of the season, although his fourth inning single did snap a 1-for-20 skid.  Dating back to June 15^th, Tolbert is now two for his last 23 and is currently hitting .181.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 67

Top 1: Alex Gordon struck out swinging against Jake Peavy

Top 3: Gordon struck out swinging against Peavy

Top 5: Gordon flew out to left against Peavy

Top 7: Gordon struck out swinging against Will Ohman

Top 9: Gordon struck out swinging against Chris Sale

Final Line: 0-for-5, 4 K

Notes: Gordon’s golden sombrero against the White Sox on Tuesday night was his second of the season.  As one of five players on the Final Vote ballot for the American League, Gordon certainly didn’t help his chances of getting voted through, especially considering Paul Konerko was 3-for-5 with a bomb and two RBI.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 62

• John Parker of MiLB.com recently did a Q & A with the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, Jameson Taillon.  Ranked by MLB.com as the #18 prospect in baseball – and yet to appear on the Sombrero’s list – the 6-foot-6, 225-pound right-hander provides a colorful interview in which he discusses his baseball upbringing, rise to prominence, and lifestyle.  Taillon also mentions that Shelby Miller is a “really good” golfer.

• Although Bruce Bochy has stated that 1B Brandon Belt has a shot to make the club out of Spring Training, Crazy Crabbers still believes that it is highly unlikely.  By delaying Belt’s arrival until late April or early May – provided that he’s still mashing – the Giants retain control of his contract through the 2018 season, as opposed to 2017 if he were to make the team out of Spring Training.  Considering that the two rookies, Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner, were arguably the main reason that the team made the playoffs and went on to win the World Series, perhaps this could be the year that Brain Sabean mixes things up.

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On Wednesday night, co-host Clint Evans from Diamond Hoggers and I were back at it with 2011’s first episode of The Baseball Show.

Topics include:

• Our thoughts on Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven’s selection to the Hall of Fame.

• We weigh in on some of the other notable players – Barry Larkin, Fred McGriff, Jeff Bagwell, and Edgar Martinez – who either came up just short in the voting or failed to receive adequate support.

• We talk about the man (kind of), the myth, the legend…Bryce Harper.  Could we see Harper in D.C. in 2011? Probably not, but we entertain the idea and suggest several hypothetical scenarios.

• Who was the winner in the Matt Garza trade? We explore his concerning 2010 performance as well as assess the slew of prospects that were shipped off by the Cubs.

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The Chicago White Sox continued to add to their bullpen on Saturday, signing left-hander Will Ohman to a two-year, $4 million contract. At 33-years old, Ohman is coming off one of the best seasons in his 11-year career. While splitting time between the Baltimore Orioles and Florida Marlins, Ohman was 0-2 with a 3.21 ERA. He also notched 43 strikeouts and issued 23 walks in 42 innings.

Over the years, Ohman has evolved into strictly a lefty specialist, primarily due to his ineffectiveness against right-handed hitters (.264/.360/.400 career). However, his ability to retire left-handed hitters is true, as evidenced by his career line of .208/.298/.348.

The White Sox have now signed two relief pitchers – Jesse Crain being the other – to multi-year deals headed in 2011. If it were any other organization, this wouldn’t concern me nearly as much (although I’ll always have a problem supporting a decision to over-invest in relief pitching). But with a track record that includes Scott Linebrink’s undeserving and generally nauseating 4-year/$19 million contract in 2007, I have no choice but to reserve all expectations.

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