Shin-Soo Choo's Golden Sombrero

A golden sombrero is awarded to a player who manages to strike out four times in a single game (real golden sombrero not included). It's quite the feat unless you're Ryan Howard or Mark Reynolds. Unfortunately, no-hitters and Brian Wilson's beard are all the rage nowadays. Not for me, though. I will pour over the box scores to bring you the finest at swinging and missing.

I can't believe I had to wait until the third day [Ed. - My bad, I missed Ryan Langerhans' GS last night *makes drinking motion*] of the season for the first Golden Sombrero. Oh, we've been close and it looks like I'll have another busy year tracking all of them down. Luckily for me and you, I have a partner in crime this season. My good friend Mike at (what else?) The Golden Sombrero shares my passion for swinging and missing. Good times ahead.

Shin-Soo Choo gets the dubious honor of the first Golden Sombrero of the young 2011 season. He had one on 9/29 last season but didn't get the full Off Base treatment so I feel like we should do something special for him today. Let's break out an old classic, pinata bloopers...



I could watch that all day. But we have some business to attend.

Bottom 2nd: Choo struck out swinging against Edwin Jackson. Choo drew a walk in the first but quickly decided that was boring.

Bottom 5th: Choo struck out swinging against Jackson again. But he did it in an impressive fashion. Three pitches: one looking, one fouled off and then one swinging. Nice.

Bottom 7th: Choo struck out swinging against Chris Sale. Again, it only took three pitches.

Bottom 9th: Choo struck out looking against Sergio Santos. Just three pitches. Choo, master of efficiency.

Greatest Yankees 3B Ever To Play In 1998 World Series To Coach USA Baseball

I like to take every opportunity to mention Scott Brosius, not because I'm Vinny in Jersey and I think he should've been the Yankees' third baseman instead of Alex Rodriguez, or that he helped evoke some kind of fat-drunkman-ghost's-magical-powers in the 2001 WS, but because I appreciate his effort during the 1998 WS and I think he's a good guy.

Well, the good guy just got a big break. The former WS MVP was named the new head coach of the USA Baseball 18-under National Team, which will compete in the COPABE Pan American Baseball Championships in September. Brosius, who is in his fourth season coaching his alma mater Linfield College (Oregon), and is 100-38 with two conference and regional titles, will coach a team picked from the Tournament of the Stars competition at the USA Baseball national training complex, June 22-26.

One of Brosius' assistant coaches will be Brian McRae, son of former Royals manager, Hal. That gives us a great opportunity to show this video from Hal's managerial days.



This post may have just been an excuse to show that video.

Epic Moments In Announcing: Bert Blyleven

Hey kids, Christmas may be in our rearview but I'm still on vacation this week. I'll be around if anything big happens like the Angels signing another 35-year-old reliever or the Yankees buying Cuba. Otherwise, my posts over the next week will be lazy, filled with videos or hastily written in response to a drunken argument I just had at a bar.

Last week I posted a video showing off Bert Blyleven's acting chops and I'll continue my Blyleven video Hall of Fame campaign with this classic clip of him doing color commentary. That color was blue and the language is NSFW. So enjoy this epic moment in announcing while you try to figure out why his 90.1 WAR DOESN'T deserve to be in the Hall of Fame...



1. Pulls of the name "Bert" - check
2. Rocks an awesome beard - check
3. Over 90 career WAR - check
4. Nickname "The Frying Dutchman" is also a Simpsons restaurant - check
5. Threw a no-hitter - check
6. Doesn't mind dropping the f bomb on air - check
7. Circle me, Bert - check
8. Played for the Angels - check

Yep, the only way I could like Blyleven anymore was if he drank during telecasts and sexually harassed production assistants Mad Men style.

If one video wasn't enough for you, some wise person turned to xtranormal to recreate that magical moment in Twins broadcast history...



If I've somehow missed your favorite Bert Blyleven video, please make me even lazier and send me a link to it. Extra credit if there's profanity included.

Cody Ross' Golden Sombrero

A golden sombrero is awarded to a player who manages to strike out four times in a single game (real golden sombrero not included). It's quite the feat unless you're Ryan Howard or Mark Reynolds. Unfortunately, cycles and no-hitters are all the rage nowadays. Not for me, though. I will pour over the box scores to bring you the finest at swinging and missing.

Well look at that, another Golden Sombrero. This is starting to get out of hand. I'm running out of material for these. I'm out of pinata blooper videos and I can't keep drinking this much cheap tequila. But alas, I can't leave you guys hanging. I do suggest you start filming your own pinata blooper videos and email them to me. There's a nice hat tip in it for you! Alright, on to tonight's free swinging victim.

Cody Ross could have been a nice trade chip for the Marlins but they weren't blown away and held onto that .271/.323/.410 slash line. Good luck with that cornerstone of a franchise. Ross went 1-5 with 4 strikeouts. Let's take a look at his at bats and hand out a giant Mexican hat...

Bottom 3rd: Ross struck out swinging against Roy Oswalt.

Bottom 6th: Ross struck out swinging against Oswalt again. Oswalt showed some flashes of his former self. It's amazing what going to an actual contender can do for a player.

Bottom 7th: Ross struck out looking against Oswalt to barely avoid the MTD Hat Trick. I should probably look into making a glossary for some of our trademarked terminology. I'm pretty sure that's where the proverbial fat cash will come from.

Bottom 9th: Ross struck out swinging against Ryan Madson. Even though the game went extra innings, Ross didn't get another at bat which is a shame because he was well on his way to a Platinum Sombrero. I could use one of those for a change.

Tune in tomorrow, I'm sure there will be another Sombrero.