After each Ranger game this October, the sports fans of my dental school class usually have something to say to me about the previous night/day’s game.  From bullpen usage to pinch hitters, they typically want to hear what I have to say about the decisions being made on and off the field that affect the Rangers and their bid to follow the Mavs as world champs.  I don’t know what or who the Mavs are, but apparently they won something called the NBA Finals last summer just as baseball season was about to break for All-Star festivities.   If you’ve been reading my stuff on this site for long, you know that October is the worst month at the Baylor College of Dentistry each month.  It is referred to as Black October because it is full of midterm exams, progress exams, presentations, etc.  Nevertheless, for me at least, whatever is happening at school must take a backseat to whatever is happening in baseball.  Two nights ago I had to move my bedroom TV into the living room so I could watch both LCS games and simultaneously study for my pediatrics exam, which I had at 7:40 the following morning.  I surely did quite poorly on the exam, but I also was able to watch two pretty fantastic games.  Perspectives, right?

The baseball fans of my class as well as several faculty members and their baseball-related questions make my experience at dental school much more enjoyable, and, despite the fact that BCD tries so hard to make October suck, this month is still the best month of the year.  2011 is uniquely terrific because such a high percentage of the game’s truly elite hitters and pitchers were/are on playoff teams.  Evan Longoria, David Price, CC, Doc, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Robinson Cano, Tex, Grandelay, Justin Upton, James Shields, and those are just some of the guys who have already been eliminated.  The remaining players and teams are so evenly matched and the games have been so competitive that the baseball world has been collectively drooling since the last week of September.

As we watch the NFL and NBA unions collectively fail their fans and their sports altogether, we baseball fans are reminded this time of year how lucky we are that we have the game that we do.  Honestly, how is the NFL players’ union going to allow for HGH testing?  That league is in very serious danger.  What NFL player isn’t on H?  The kickers?  Maybe.  And the NBA has already cancelled games because of labor disputes.  This might be baseball’s chance to take back what it is rightly due, the hearts of sports fans nationwide.

What we baseball nuts can do for the sport during this month is realize that no matter what is going on in our lives, we must continue to make time for the game.  The people we surround ourselves with on a daily basis must constantly be reminded how awesome the game is and how lucky we are to have a month long holiday where we are encouraged to celebrate it.  So as the World Series approaches and with both LCS’s very evenly matched and close, remember how lucky we are to have a game to follow that provides us thousands of games a year at the highest level to follow and love.  This is the culmination of another terrific year.  Thanks for reading The Sombrero and sticking with us as Arlo worked through whatever malware bullshit was going on here a couple of weeks ago.  Happy October baseball fans!

Ah yes, the scorpion slide; an act so hideous and pathetic that it has come to epitomize the Kangaroo Court. And what better player to show off his stinger during Game 3 of the NLCS than everyone’s favorite role-player on the Brewers (no, surprisingly it’s not Craig Counsell), Mark Kotsay.

With runners on first and second and one out in the top of the first, Prince Fielder laced a slicing line-drive into the left-center gap that was hauled in by Jon Jay, who fired to second base to double-off the overly aggressive Kotsay. Now, I know that these days Kotsay is far removed from everyday-player status, so it’s probably been some time since he last busted out a headfirst slide. Combine that with the steady rainfall throughout the game, and it’s no surprise that Kotsay scorpion-ed on Wednesday night.

Since I’m unfamiliar with the presence of Kangaroo Court during the postseason, I thought that it’d only be appropriate to take the matter into my own hands. So, I gave Mark Kotsay’s scorpion the GIF treatment:

Bottom 3: struck out swinging against Wilson

Bottom 5: struck out swinging against Wilson

Bottom 7: struck out swinging against Koji Uehara

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Jackson’s golden sombrero during Game 5 of the ALCS was his second of the 2011 season, and the first by any player this postseason.

He has been an interesting case this postseason, as Jim Leyland continues to use him as the leadoff hitter despite his propensity to strikeout. Thus far, he has recorded a multi-strikeout game in six of the Tigers’ 10 postseason games, and has fanned in 18 of his 46 plate appearances – a 39.1% rate. But despite his lack of overall contact, Jackson has still posted a .311 OBP this October thanks to a walk rate of 15.2%, which is well above his career rate of 7.7%.

After playing in 304 regular season games for Tigers over his first two seasons, Jackson has fanned at least twice in 102 games, or 33.6% of the games he’s played in. Normally such a whiff rate would discourage a manager from hitting such a player at the top of the order, but because he is the owner of a career .331 OBP and .369 BABIP, and also possesses 20+ stolen base potential, he has remained a fixture in the leadoff spot. However, due to his declining wRC+ (104 in 2010; 90 in 2011) and wOBA (.333 in 2010; .309 in 2011), perhaps Jackson would benefit from a drop in the batting order next season – or as I like to call it, the B.J. Upton treatment.

Total 2011 Golden Sombreros: 124

Total 2011 Postseason Golden Sombreros: 1

The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: Russell Martin and Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams

How the staff voted for the AL Goose Gossage Award:
Mike: 1) Robertson 2) Papelbon 3) Rivera 4) Holland 5) Santos
Griff: 1) Robertson 2) Papelbon 3) Rivera 4) Holland 5) Santos
Dee: 1) Papelbon 2) Rivera 3) Robertson 4) Bard 5) Holland
Ryan: 1) Valverde 2) Rivera 3) Perez 4) League 5) Papelbon
Jim: 1) Robertson 2) Rivera 3) Valverde 4) Papelbon 5) Holland
Towel: 1) Valverde 2) Rivera 3) Perez 4) Feliz 5) Papelbon

Final Vote:
1) David Robertson, New York Yankees
2) Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees
3) Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
4) Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers
5) Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals

How the staff voted for the NL Goose Gossage Award:
Mike: 1) Kimbrel 2) Axford 3) Putz 4) Marshall 5) Jansen
Griff: 1) Kimbrel 2) Axford 3) Putz 4) Hanrahan 5) Marshall
Dee: 1) Kimbrel 2) Axford 3) Hanrahan 4) Marshall 5) Putz
Ryan: 1) Kimbrel 2) Axford 3)Putz 4) Storen 5) Hanrahan
Jim: 1) Kimbrel 2) O’Flaherty 3) Putz 4) Clippard 5) Hanrahan
Towel: 1) Kimbrel 2) Storen 3) Axford 4) Bell 5) Putz

Final Vote:
1) Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
2) John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers
3) J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks
4) Joel Hanrahan, Pittsburgh Pirates
5) Sean Marshall, Chicago Cubs