Major League Baseball

Oakland's Lawrie perfectly awful at the plate (12 pitches, 4 K's)

Published Apr. 8, 2015 2:13 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

This past November, the Oakland Athletics traded third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays, barely four months after he played in his first All-Star Game.

In return, the A’s received four players, including Brett Lawrie, who has since replaced Donaldson as the starting third baseman in Oakland.

We’re only two games in, but after Tuesday night’s historically horrible performance by Lawrie, it’s safe to say the trade isn’t exactly working out for Billy Beane so far.

Seriously, it is awfully difficult to be as bad as -- or to describe just how terrible -- Lawrie was.

The Golden Sombrero is a wonderful baseball term used to describe a player who strikes out four times in four at-bats during a game. Wearing the sombrero for a spell is a sure embarrassment to a player, but Brett Lawrie somehow found a way to achieve the most embarrassing Golden Sombrero possible.

Against the Texas Rangers at Oakland's O.co Coliseum, not only did Lawrie go golden by striking out four times in four at-bats, but he did so on an economical 12 pitches. The guy didn’t even force any pitcher to throw one ball.

● In his first at-bat, he took the first two strikes looking and then struck out swinging in the second.

● In his second at-bat, he took a strike, fouled one off, and then struck out swinging again in the fifth.

● In his third at-bat, in the seventh, he again took the first pitch for a strike and then whiffed on the next two pitches.

● Then, in an impossibly perfect ending, Lawrie struck out for Oakland's 27th out of the game by taking two pitches and swinging and missing at the third to seal the Rangers' 3-1 victory and give Neftali Feliz his first save of the season.

If this tweet from Peter Ellwood is accurate, then I think it means the Rangers have found Lawrie’s weakness: the breaking ball.

"Brett Lawrie tonight (12 pitches, 4 strikeouts) Fastball Slider Slider -- Slider Slider Slider -- Curve Curve Curve -- Slider Slider Slider," Ellwood says were the pitches in Lawrie's at-bats.

The only saving grace for Lawrie is at least he didn't go Platinum Sombrero like this poor sap.

More from Larry Brown Sports:

● Anthony Davis offended Warriors thought it was a ‘scrimmage’ (Video)

● Jean Segura hit in head, stays in game (Video)

● Expert Masters picks for 2015

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball