July 2008
Beat the Streak Report: Thursday, July 31
Picks of the day
Orlando Hudson, 2B, Diamondbacks
- 11-for-31 (.355) vs. LAD RHP Derek Lowe
- .381 AVG since All-Star break
- 8-for-12 (.667) vs. LAA RHP Jon Garland
- .396 AVG since All-Star break
Yesterday’s picks, results
Ken Griffey Jr. (CIN): 1-for-5
Grady Sizemore (CLE): 2-for-7
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. soxwhite24, 30 games (Matt Holliday)
2. bgibbs14, 27 (Matt Holliday)
2. j.ves, 27 (Matt Kemp)
4. redfuture, 26 (Jhonny Peralta)
5. jsbc27, 25 (Geoff Jenkins)
5. kbharvey, 25 (Conor Jackson)
BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56
Yesterday’s results
BTS leader soxwhite24 broke into 30-game territory last night thanks to Matt Holliday, who collected a pair of singles in Colorado’s win over the Pirates. soxwhite24 is the first competitor to reach the 30-game plateau since freebirdsince88 saw his 33-game streak end on Wednesday, July 23.
The rest of the Top 5 all extended their own streaks to keep pace with the leader last night. Second-place contestants bgibbs14 and j.ves stretched their streaks to 27 games each thanks to Holliday and Matt Kemp. Fourth-place competitor redfuture, who changed his name from trevislunford yesterday, stayed one game out of second place after Jhonny Peralta scratched out a 1-for-6 effort against Detroit. Contestants jsbc27 and kbharvey maintained their spot at the rear of the Top 5 thanks to Geoff Jenkins (2-for-3) and Conor Jackson (1-for-5).
Each of yesterday’s Top 5 most-picked players delivered a hit. Holliday was the only player in that group who was also picked by a member of the Top 5.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 7.9%, 3-for-4
2. Matt Holliday (COL): 5.5%, 2-for-3
3. Chase Utley (PHI): 4.9%, 2-for-4
4. Ian Kinsler (TEX): 4.6%, 1-for-4
5. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 4.3%, 1-for-5
Beat the Streak Report: Wednesday, July 30
Picks of the day
- 9-for-12 (.750) vs. HOU LHP Wandy Rodriguez
- .333 AVG during 11-game hit streak
- 11-for-27 (.407) vs. DET LHP Nate Robertson
- Hit safely in 15 of last 16 G
Yesterday’s picks, results
Manny Ramirez (BOS): 0-for-3, BB
Nick Markakis (BAL): 2-for-4, BB
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. soxwhite24, 29 games (Nick Markakis)
2. bgibbs14, 26 (Nick Markakis)
2. j.ves, 26 (Ichiro Suzuki)
4. trevislunsford, 25 (Jose Reyes)
5. jsbc27, 24 (Ichiro Suzuki)
5. kbharvey, 24 (Conor Jackson)
BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56
Yesterday’s results
BTS leader soxwhite24 extended his streak to 29 games on the strength of Nick Markakis’ 2-for-4 night against Darrell Rasner and the Yankees. With a hit today, soxwhite24 will be the first competitor this week to reach the 30-game plateau.
Yesterday’s third-place competitor btoh2003 fell off the leaderboard courtesy of Garrett Atkins’ 0-for-3 night against Pittsburgh. His departure left the door open for contestants jsbc27 and kbharvey, who jumped into a fifth-place tie with streaks of 24 games. kbharvey rode the red-hot bat of Conor Jackson (1-for-4), while jsbc27 went with BTS stalwart Ichiro Suzuki (2-for-5).
Yesterday’s most-picked player, Alex Rodriguez, rewarded fans for their faith by going 2-for-3 against the Orioles. Fans of Matt Holliday, the day’s second-most-picked player, weren’t so lucky. The Rocky Mountain mauler went 0-for-4 against the Pirates, snapping his eight-game hitting streak in the process.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 7.1%, 2-for-3
2. Matt Holliday (COL): 6.4%, 0-for-4
3. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 5.9%, 2-for-5
4. Jose Reyes (NYM): 3.3%, 3-for-5
5. Lance Berkman (HOU): 3.0%, 1-for-3
Beat the Streak Report: Tuesday, July 29
Picks of the day
- 12-for-23 (.522) vs. DET RHP Jon Lackey
- Hit safely in 13 of last 14 G
- 9-for-11 (.818) vs. NYY RHP Darrell Rasner
- .322 AVG since June 1
Yesterday’s picks, results
Carlos Guillen (DET): 0-for-3, BB
Conor Jackson (ARI): 1-for-5
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. soxwhite24, 28 games (David Wright)
2. bgibbs14, 25 games (David Wright)
2. btoh2003, 25 games (Ryan Braun)
2. j.ves, 25 games (Carlos Beltran)
5. trevislunsford, 24 games (Conor Jackson)
BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48 games
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49 games
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games
Yesterday’s results
Co-leaders lupah99 and sherbrookaz saw their 28-game streaks come to a halt last night courtesy of hitless efforts by James Loney (0-for-4) and Carlos Guillen (0-for-3). Guillen entered the game with a lifetime .410 AVG (16-for-39) against Cleveland righty Paul Byrd but was unable to collect a hit off the hurler, much to the chagrin of the 5.6% of fans that made him the day’s most-picked player.
New leader soxwhite24 moved up from third place to the top spot, but not without some drama. The new leader’s pick, David Wright, entered the top of the 8th inning at 0-for-3, but delivered a single off reliever Doug Waechter to complete a 1-for-4 night.
Fifth-place competitor trevislunsford surged onto the leaderboard thanks to Conor Jackson, who went 1-for-5 in Arizona’s tilt with San Diego last night. trevislunford is the lone passenger on the Top 5 caboose just one day after five competitors were tied for fifth place with streaks of 24-games.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Carlos Guillen (DET): 5.6%, 0-for-3
1. Albert Pujols (STL): 5.6%, 1-for-2
3. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 5.1%, 1-for-4
4. Matt Holliday (COL): 4.2%, 1-for-4
5. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 4.0%, 0-for-5
Beat the Streak Report: Monday, July 28
Picks of the day
- 13-for-28 (.464) vs. CLE RHP Paul Byrd
- 6-for-20 (.300) since All-Star break
Conor Jackson, 1B, Diamondbacks
- 7-for-16 (.438) vs. SD RHP Greg Maddux
- 13-for-20 (.650) during 5-game hit streak
Weekend picks, results
Friday: Jermaine Dye (CHW): 1-for-5; Carlos Lee (HOU): 2-for-4
Saturday: Ryan Braun (MIL): 1-for-2
Sunday: Aaron Rowand (SFO): 0-for-4
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. lupah99, 28 games (Joe Mauer)
1. sherbrookaz, 28 (Placido Polanco)
3. soxwhite24, 27 (Evan Longoria)
4. terpfan1, 26 (Mark Teixeira)
5. bgibbs14, 24 (Lance Berkman)
5. btoh2003, 24 (Matt Holliday)
5. j.ves, 24 (Matt Holliday)
5. mickey_2290, 24 (Hanley Ramirez)
5. wax4ever, 24 (Lance Berkman)
BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56
Yesterday’s results
New weekend, same story.
For the third straight weekend, a BTS leader lost control of the top spot as Friday’s co-leaders bailtard and oldeguy were unable to extend their streaks through Monday. Replacing the fallen co-leaders are a pair of new ones, lupah99 and sherbrookaz, who carry 28-game streaks. And though lupah99 held a one-game lead over sherbrookaz going into the weekend, sherbrookaz moved into a first-place tie after lupah99’s pick, Joe Mauer, did not play in last night’s affair with the Indians.
Meanwhile, Top 5 newcomers soxwhite24 and terpfan1 used the weekend to surge into the third and fourth spots on the leaderboard. Yesterday, they saw their streaks continue thanks to Evan Longoria (2-for-4) and Mark Teixeira (2-for-2), respectively.
Five other competitors scratched their way into a fifth-place tie over the weekend. The knot, featuring contestants with 24-game streaks, represents the second Top 5 logjam of the past five days. Last Thursday, four fans were also tied for fifth place with 24-game streaks.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Joe Mauer (MIN): 4.3%, 0-for-0
2. Lance Berkman (HOU): 4.1%, 2-for-4
3. Matt Holliday (COL): 4.0%, 2-for-6
3. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 4.0%, 2-for-4
5. Placido Polanco (DET): 3.1%, 1-for-3
Beat the Streak Report: Friday, July 25
Weekend Picks
Friday
- 13-for-35 (.371) vs. DET LHP Nate Robertson
- .519 AVG (14-for-27) over last 7 G
- 4-for-7 (.571) vs. MIL LHP Manny Parra
- .417 AVG during 9-game hit streak
Saturday
- 5-for-11 (.455) vs. HOU RHP Brandon Backe
- .469 AVG (15-for-32) since ASB
Sunday
- 8-for-19 (.421) vs. ARI LHP Randy Johnson
- .358 AVG vs. LHP in ’08
Yesterday’s picks
Albert Pujols (STL): 0-for-2, BB, sac fly
David Wright (NYM): 1-for-3, BB
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. bailtard, 29 games (David Wright)
1. oldeguy, 29 games (David Wright)
3. lupah99, 26 games (David Wright)
4. northholly, 25 games (Alex Rios)
4. sherbrookaz, 25 games (Mike Aviles)
- BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48 games
- BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49 games
- MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games
Yesterday’s results
For the first time this week, a BTS leader managed to hold onto the top spot for more than one day. Co-leaders bailtard and oldeguy extended their streaks to 29 games on the strength of David Wright, who delivered an RBI single in the third inning of New York’s victory over Philadelphia.
The co-leaders were among 7.7% of BTS competitors, including third-place fan lupah99, who chose Wright, making him the day’s second most-picked player. But not all fans were so lucky. Albert Pujols, the day’s most popular pick, went 0-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly in the Cardinals’ loss to the Brewers. His hitless performance halted the streaks of 8.2% of BTS competitors, including yesterday’s third-place fan justablooper.
Four competitors entered yesterday’s action tied for fifth place with 24-game streaks. The knot was quickly unraveled, though, when tom_cicini (Jermaine Dye) and blazin19 (Chase Utley) were the victims of hitless performances from their picks.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Albert Pujols (STL): 8.2%, 0-for-2
2. David Wright (NYM): 7.7%, 1-for-3
3. Jose Reyes (NYM): 6.5%, 0-for-2
4. Chase Utley (PHI): 5.1%, 0-for-4
5. Ryan Braun (MIL): 5.0%, 4-for-4
Beat the Streak Report: Thursday, July 24
Picks of the day
- 17-for-47 (.362) vs. MIL RHP Ben Sheets
- 9-for-24 (.375) since ASB
- 12-for-27 (.444) vs. PHI LHP Jamie Moyer
- .393 AVG vs. LHP in ’08
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. bailtard, 28 games (J. Morneau)
1. oldeguy, 28 games (J. Reyes)
3. justablooper, 26 games (L. Berkman)
4. lupah99, 25 games (C. Lee)
5. blazin19, 24 games (D. Jeter)
5. northholly, 24 games (O. Cabrera)
5. sherbrookaz, 24 games (P. Polanco)
5. tom_cicini, 24 games (J. Dye)
- BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48 games
- BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49 games
- MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games
Yesterday’s results
For the third consecutive night, a BTS leader was stripped of his crown. This time, it was freebirdsince88, whose streak was snapped when Chipper Jones left Atlanta’s tilt with Florida early with a left thigh injury. Jones finished the day 0-for-2 with a walk.
With freebirdsince88 off the leaderboard, new leader bailtard took over first place, but not without a bit of drama. His pick, Justin Morneau, went 0-for-3 before delivering a one-out single in the ninth inning off Yankees reliever Latroy Hawkins to wrap up a 1-for-4 day and push bailtard’s streak to 28 games.
Four new contestants with 24-game streaks clawed their way into a fifth-place tie following the departure of freebirdsince88. The four-way, fifth-place logjam represents the largest tie on the leaderboard since five competitors were tied for fourth place with 23-game streaks on Thursday, June 26.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 6.2%, 1-for-6
2. Chipper Jones (ATL): 5.5%, 0-for-2
3. Jose Reyes (NYM): 4.9%, 1-for-4
4. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 4.4%, 1-for-4
5. J.D. Drew (BOS): 2.9%, 0-for-3
Beat the Streak Report: Wednesday, July 23
Picks of the day
- 7-for-16 (.438) vs. PHI RHP Brett Myers
- .403 July AVG
- 5-for-13 (.385) vs. PIT RHP Ian Snell
- .452 AVG during 8-game hit streak
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. freebirdsince88, 33 games (R. Braun)
2. bailtard, 27 games (A. Pujols)
2. oldeguy, 27 games (D. Pedroia)
4. justablooper, 25 games (C. Jones)
5. lupah99, 24 games (A. Pujols)
- BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48 games
- BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49 games
- MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games
Yesterday’s results
Any big league manager will tell you that a walk is as good as a hit. BTS competitors know better.
Last night’s co-leader, garykittilsen, was the latest BTS contestant to fall prey to the free pass after Twins masher Justin Morneau went 0-for-1 with three walks in Minnesota’s tilt with the Yankees. If the story sounds familiar, it is. On Tuesday, July 8, exactly two weeks before last night, then leader mday1018 watched his 33-game streak crumble as Lance Berkman drew four walks in an 0-for-1 performance against Pittsburgh.
With garykittilsen having been given his walking papers, freebirdsince88 grabbed sole ownership of first place when slugger Ryan Braun scratched out an infield single to complete a 1-for-4 night.
Meanwhile, Top 5 newcomer lupah99 muscled his way onto the leaderboard after Albert Pujols churned out a 2-for-4 effort against Milwuakee.
Pujols, also chosen by second-place contestant Bailtard, was the day’s most-picked player. Overall, fans completed a rare feat by going a perfect 5-for-5 as each of the five most selected players delivered at least one hit in yesterday’s action.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Albert Pujols (STL): 6.3%, 2-for-4
2. Chipper Jones (ATL): 3.9%, 1-for-3
2. Hanley Ramirez (FLA): 3.9%, 1-for-4
4. Ian Kinsler (TEX): 3.5%, 1-for-4
5. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 3.2%, 1-for-4
Beat the Streak Report: Tuesday, July 22
Check out the Beat the Streak all-time leaderboard to see how your streak stacks up against the best in BTS history.
Picks of the day
- 7-for-15 (.467) vs. TOR RHP Shaun Marcum
- .323 July AVG
- 7-for-20 (.350) vs. MIL RHP Jeff Suppan
- .357 AVG over last 19 G
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. freebirdsince88, 32 games (V. Guerrero)
1. garykittilsen, 32 games (D. Pedroia)
3. bailtard, 26 games (A. Rodriguez)
3. oldeguy, 26 games (D. DeJesus)
5. justablooper, 24 games (P. Polanco)
- BTS season leader: Robert Paradise, 48 games
- BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49 games
- MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56 games
Yesterday’s results
For the second time in three weeks, a BTS leader was stripped of his crown after picking Lance Berkman against Pittsburgh. Last night, natale94 was felled when the slugger went hitless in four trips
to the dish against John Van Benschoten and the Pittsburgh ‘pen. On July 9, dalmeetz048 saw his 34-game streak snapped when Berkman turned in an 0-for-1 effort with four walks against the Bucs.
natale94 wasn’t the only member of the Top 5 to see his streak return to zero after choosing Berkman. A staggering 13.5% of BTS competitors, including yesterday’s fourth- and fifth-place competitors, ttamel and littled75, saw their streaks end with Berkman’s hitless performance.
As a result of the Top 5 upheaval, three new competitors — bailtard, oldeguy, and justablooper — made their way onto the leaderboard. Meanwhile, garykittilsen jumped back into a first-place tie with freebirdsince88, who rode the bat of outfielder Vladimir Guerrero (1-for-4) to extend his streak to 32 games. garykittilsen was in first until his streak stalled on Sunday night after his pick, Placido Polanco, did not play.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Lance Berkman (HOU): 13.5%, 0-for-3
2. Chipper Jones (ATL): 4.1%, 1-for-4
3. Kevin Youkilis (BOS): 3.8%, 1-for-3
4. Derek Jeter (NYY): 3.7%, 2-for-5
5. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 3.6%, 1-for-5
Beat the Streak Report: Monday, July 21
Picks of the day
- 11-for-24 (.458) during 6-game hit streak
- .433 AVG in July
- 5-for-10 vs. SEA LHP J. Washburn
- .321 AVG in July
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. natale94, 32 games (Chipper Jones)
2. freebirdsince88, 31 (Grady Sizemore)
2. garykittilsen, 31 (Placido Polanco)
4. ttamel, 30 (Grady Sizemore)
5. littled75, 26 (Josh Hamilton)
Season leader: spooky93, 48 games
Yesterday’s results
BTS competitors are quickly learning that, contrary to popular belief, weekends are not meant for sitting back and relaxing.
For the second straight weekend, four of Friday’s Top 5 competitors fell off the leaderboard before Monday, with second-place contestant garykittilsen proving to be the lone survivor. garykittilsen entered Sunday tied for first place but lost his share of the lead when his pick, Placido Polanco, did not play in Detroit’s win over Baltimore. New leader natale94 seized the opportunity by taking sole possession of first after Chipper Jones hit an RBI double in the fourth inning of Atlanta’s loss to the Nationals.
Fans on Sunday went crazy for Grady Sizemore, who entered the day’s action with a .488 lifetime average (21-for-43) against Seattle righty Carlos Silva. Sizemore couldn’t manage a hit in two trips to the dish against Silva, but he collected a pair of hits against the Mariners bullpen to validate his selection as the day’s most-picked player.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Grady Sizemore (CLE): 7.2%, 2-for-4
2. Chase Utley (PHI): 6.6%, 1-for-3
3. Chipper Jones (ATL): 5.8%, 1-for-3
4. Albert Pujols (STL): 5.3%, 0-for-0
5. Aramis Ramirez (CHC): 4.2%, 0-for-5
Beat the Streak Report: Friday, July 18
For the first time ever, compete against your friends and co-workers in group play as you pursue the $1 million grand prize.
Weekend Picks
Friday
- 5-for-7 (.714) vs. WSH RHP Tim Redding
- .376 AVG leads Majors
- .449 July AVG leads Majors
- Hit safely in 20 of last 22 G
Saturday
- 7-for-15 (.467) vs. LAA RHP Jon Garland
- .342 AVG in July
Sunday
- 8-for-20 (.400) vs. PHI LHP Cole Hamels
- .404 AVG in July
Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)
1. eazyeric, 36 games (Placido Polanco)
2. stormrider1, 34 (Brian Roberts)
3. anthony.tynan, 30 (Placido Polanco)
3. yelmurb24, 30 (Albert Pujols)
5. garykittilsen, 29 (Garrett Atkins)
Season leader: spooky93, 48 games
Yesterday’s results
The All-Star break did little more than delay eazyeric’s march toward the record books, as the BTS leader extended his streak to 36 games last night thanks to Placido Polanco. The Tigers second baseman kept the BTS world on edge by going hitless in his first four at-bats before scratching out a single in the top of the ninth inning of Detroit’s win over Baltimore.
Meanwhile, third-place competitors anthony.tynan and yelmurb24 kept their streaks alive to break into 30-game territory. Like the leader, anthony.tynan grinded it out with Polanco while yelmurb24 rode the bat of All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols (1-for-4).
yelmurb24 wasn’t alone in trusting Prince Albert yesterday, as 14 percent of BTS contestants also chose the Cardinals slugger, making him the day’s most popular pick. The 12.3 percent of fans who made Jose Reyes the second-most-picked player weren’t so lucky, though, as Reyes was unable to manage a hit in five trips to the dish against Cincinnati last night.
Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players
1. Albert Pujols (STL): 14.0%, 1-for-4
2. Jose Reyes (NYM): 12.3%, 0-for-5
3. Garrett Atkins (COL): 11.9%, 2-for-4
4. Matt Holliday (COL): 8.4%, 0-for-4
5. Placido Polanco (DET): 8.2%, 1-for-5
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