Home Run Derby

We here at Home Run Derby love the big hit – especially the Home Run. That should be obvious by now.

However, we love to see another distinction that happens less often in baseball … The Golden Sombrero. When a batter doesn’t strike out once, or twice, or even three times in a game, but has the worst of nights – striking out four times. It’s like a hat trick in hockey … but it’s four times, so you need a bigger hat.

Atlanta Braves CF Andruw Jones went and did that one better (or worse) Sunday vs the Red Sox, going 0-5 with five strikeouts. That’s also known as the Platinum Sombrero or the Olympic Rings – five big donuts.

The Platinum Sombrero only happens about once or twice a season. Andruw Jones’ is the first since Alex Rios did it last July 29.

In case you’re wondering, striking out six times in a game is called either a Horn or a Titanium Sombrero.  It’s only been accomplished eight times in MLB and has never been done in a nine inning game.  Geoff Jenkins of the Brewers was the last player to hit a Horn back in a 17-inning game in June, 2004.

No one has ever been struck out seven times in a game.  Unless you count the last time I played college softball.

Back in February, we mentioned that Nick Swisher had gained a bunch of muscle in the offseason … and at the same time had gained a bunch of hair …

Well yesterday – Swish got clipped. The Hair was cut before Saturday’s game against the Giants. Swisher was growing the hair in order to honor his late grandmother, who passed away from cancer in August 2005. He donated 11 inches of hair to the Women’s Cancer Research Fund – an organization which makes real hair wigs for women with cancer.

But those sideburns and goatee are hideous. I’m surprised UmpBump hasn’t added Swisher to their ever growing list of Unfortunate Facial Hair.

Because this has a Samson and Delilah theme all over it … we’re going to track Swisher’s stats before and after the haircut …

• Pre Haircut: Batting .290 and slugging .500 with 6 HR.
• Post Haircut: One Game – 0 for 3 with 2 Walks. Hmmm. Not a good start.

Playing the role of Delilah for this post is Swisher’s girlfriend, former Raiderette and FHM and Playboy Model Danielle Gamba. I wonder if she likes Swisher’s new look?