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Golden Sombrero: Austin Jackson

Bottom 1: Austin Jackson called out on strikes against Joe Saunders

Bottom 3: Jackson walked against Saunders

Bottom 5: Jackson struck out swinging against Saunders

Bottom 8: Jackson struck out swinging against Aaron Heilman

Bottom 8: Jackson struck out swinging against Bryan Shaw

Final Line: 0-for-4, BB, 4 K

Notes: Even though the Diamondbacks out-hit the Tigers 12-to-10 on Sunday, Detroit still won decisively.  Once again, a leadoff hitter wore the sombrero, which has become a disturbing trend this season.  Jackson’s sombrero was highlighted by a pair of strikeouts in the eighth inning, an inning in which the Tigers scored seven runs and sent 12 batters to the plate.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 52

MLB Look-alikes: Frank McCourt and James Cameron

The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: Frank McCourt and James Cameron

Thanks to our friend Cool Breeze for pointing this one out! Dead on.

One of these guys has more money than the other…

Golden Sombrero: Adam Dunn (No. 3)

Bottom 1: Adam Dunn called out on strikes against Livan Hernandez

Bottom 3: Dunn struck out swinging against Hernandez

Bottom 5: Dunn struck out swinging against Hernandez

Bottom 8: Dunn struck out swinging against Sean Burnett

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: Dunn’s golden sombrero last Sunday was his third of the season, and accurately portrays his god-awful 2011 campaign.  Headed into Thursday’s game, Dunn’s slash line was .173/.308/.316.  In 279 plate appearances, he has fanned an MLB leading 100 times.  The last time we reported Dunn’s sombrero, he was hitless against left-handers.  Currently he’s 1-for-53 with 25 strikeouts.

Total 2011 Sombreros: 51

As the final All-Star votes are tallied, let the complaining begin

Picture via @Stuwass55, Twitter.

As the above photo indicates, Tigers take their baseball civics seriously.

But it’s easy to see why they might be miffed if Alex Avila, who trails the Yankees’ Russell Martin by about 500,000 votes, doesn’t land a starting catcher role in the All-Star Game.

Avila leads all catchers with a .304 batting average – 74 points above Martin. He has also thrown out 38 percent of prospective base-stealers, which sits 9 percent above Martin’s league average rate. Additionally, Avila touts a league best RBI total of 45, and his home run total of 10 is third in the league and bested only by those hitting at least 60 points below him.

Yes, as a huge Tiger fan (At age 7, I names my trio of pet snails Sparky, Mickey and Cecil), I’m hardly objective here. But I’m always frustrated when All-Star voting is driven by city size rather than performance.

Is there anyone out there who actually votes on merit? I try to. But I must admit that I tend not to vote for players, who, for mostly silly reasons, I’ve decided are jerk wads.

Golden Sombrero: Mike Stanton

Bottom 2: Mike Stanton struck out swinging against Felix Hernandez

Bottom 4: Stanton struck out swinging against Hernandez

Bottom 6: Stanton struck out swinging against Hernandez

Bottom 9: Stanton struck out swinging against Brandon League

Final Line: 0-for-4, 4 K

Notes: This is just what tends to happen when you swing as hard as Mike Stanton and have to face Felix Hernandez.

Total 2011 Sombrero: 50 (wow)