Picks of the day 

Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves

• 7-for-16 (.438) vs. WSH LHP Odalis Perez
• ML-leading .359 AVG in ’08

J.J. Hardy, SS, Brewers

• 8-for-19 vs. PIT LHP Tom Gorzelanny
• .404 AVG during 12-game hit streak

Yesterday’s picks, results

• Dustin Pedroia (BOS), 1-for-4
• Jimmy Rollins (PHI), 1-for-4

Top 5 current leaders

1. damayr (Joe Mauer)
2. cubdane (Dustin Pedroia)
2. joeythecrow2004 (Lance Berkman)
4. huhino (Ryan Theriot)
4. jamesakahouse (Justin Morneau)

BTS season leader:  Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Yesterday’s results

Hours after being featured as Fan of the Day, BTS leader damayr took another step toward Joe DiMaggio yesterday when Joe Mauer singled in his first at-bat. The 1-for-3 night extended damayr’s streak to 35 games.

Several other BTS users survived with one-hit performances as well. Thanks to Lance Berkman, who went 1-for-4 against Cincinnati, both second-place competitors cubdane and joeythecrow2004 were able to push their streaks to 29 games. And with Ryan Theriot (1-for-4) and Justin Morneau (1-for-3) hitting the mark, fourth-place competitors huhino and jamesakahouse stayed alive at 27.

Not as fortunate was longlostlocke, whose run ended at 28 games after Jason Bay came up empty in his fourth at-bat at Yankee Stadium.

With several fans falling out of the running, the number of users capable of reaching 57 games shrunk to 11.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:
 
1. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 11.9%, 1-for-4
2. Lance Berkman (HOU): 7.9%, 1-for-4
3. Hanley Ramirez (FLA): 7.6%, 0-for-3
4. Manny Ramirez (LAD): 4.8%, 1-for-4
5. Johnny Damon (NYY): 3.9%, 0-for-3

Picks of the day 

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox

• 8-for-16 (.500) vs. NYY RHP Mike Mussina
• .333 AVG in August

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies

• 4-for-9 vs. CHC RHP Ryan Dempster
• 9-for-12 (.750) in last 3 G

Yesterday’s picks, results

• Lance Berkman (HOU), 3-for-3
• Alfonso Soriano (CHC), 2-for-4

Top 5 current leaders

1. damayr (Milton Bradley), 34 games
2. cubdane (Lance Berkman), 28 games
2. joeythecrow2004 (Lance Berkman), 28 games
2. longlostlocke (Albert Pujols), 28 games
5. drs0380 (Carlos Quentin), 26 games
5. huhino (Ryan Theriot), 26 games
5. jamesakahouse (Mark Teixeira), 26 games

 
BTS season leader:  Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Fan of the day

Jeffrey Mayer — known to BTS competitors as damayr — has surged to the top of the BTS leaderboard with a 34-game streak.

No, folks, this is not Jeffrey Maier — the 12-year-old who reeled in Derek Jeter’s home run at Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS. This Jeffrey Mayer hails from Buffalo, N.Y., where he lives and works as a state corrections officer. Mayer pulls for the Phillies, especially their double-play combo of Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley — his two favorite BTS picks.

It’s thanks to this hard-hitting Philadelphia duo and three other reliable bats — Jose Reyes, Ichiro Suzuki and Dustin Pedroia — that Mayer finds himself in the midst of a career streak that shattered his previous high of 11 games.

And unlike the 12-year-old who became a media darling back in ’96, Mayer has kept his 34-game feat under wraps to avoid jinxing his chances. Of course, if this streak continues, this Jeffrey Mayer could also soon be well-known amongst sports fans.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:
 
1. Lance Berkman (HOU): 8.5%, 3-for-3
2. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 8.2%, 3-for-5
3. Alfonso Soriano (CHC): 6.2%, 2-for-4
4. Albert Pujols (STL): 5.4%, 2-for-4
5. Derek Jeter (NYY): 3.6%, 1-for-4

Picks of the day 

Lance Berkman, 1B, Astros

• 13-for-25 (.520) vs. CIN RHP Josh Fogg
• .345 AVG vs. RHP in ’08

Alfonso Soriano, OF, Cubs

• 12-for-21 vs. PIT LHP Zach Duke
• .392 AVG vs. LHP in ’08

Yesterday’s picks, results

Albert Pujols (STL), 0-for-3
Chipper Jones (ATL), 1-for-5

Top 5 current leaders

1. damayr (Chase Utley)
2. jeffrey_german_vila (Matt Holliday)
3. cubdane (Chipper Jones)
3. joeythecrow2004 (Chipper Jones)
3. longlostlocke (Alfonso Soriano)

 
BTS season leader:  Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Yesterday’s results

Another BTS leader bit the dust last night, as halfogre’s hitting streak ended at 33 games after Matt Kemp came up empty in five at-bats.

Three other Top 5 competitors saw their luck run out as well. An 0-for-5 performance from Alex Rodriguez knocked purchasing and humber_95 out of the running and a 0-for-3 showing from Albert Pujols eliminated four percent of all users.

With halfogre eliminated from action, damayr became the new BTS leader at 33 games, thanks to Chase Utley, who went 1-for-4 against the Mets. Moving into second place was jeffrey_german_vila, when Matt Holliday singled in five at-bats against the Giants.

With several competitors falling out of the running, the number of users capable of reaching 57 games dropped to 16.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:
 
1. Matt Holliday (COL): 6.2%, 1-for-5
2. Alfonso Soriano (CHC): 5.2%, 3-for-6
3. Chipper Jones (ATL): 4.5%, 1-for-5
4. Albert Pujols (STL): 4.0%, 0-for-3
5. Lance Berkman (HOU): 3.9%, 1-for-4

Picks of the day 

Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves

• 11-for-18 (.611) vs. FLA LHP Scott Olsen
• ML-leading .359 AVG

Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals

• 17-for-49 (.347) vs. MIL RHP Ben Sheets since ’03
• .562 AVG during 8-game hit streak

Yesterday’s picks, results

Joe Mauer (MIN), 0-for-4
David Wright (NYM), 1-for-2

Top 5 current leaders

1. halfogre (Ryan Theriot)
2. damayr (Placido Polanco)
3. purchasing (Aramis Ramirez)
4. humber_95 (Michael Young)
4. jeffrey_german_vila (Jose Reyes)
4. t.fuehring (Placido Polanco)

 
BTS season leader:  Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Yesterday’s results

A hitless night from Brian Roberts spelled the end for two Top 5 BTS competitors, including No. 1 ranked pupway10, whose streak ended at 33 games, and fourth-place jonnystu4, who finished at 28 games.

With pupway10 out of the running, halfogre — fresh off yesterday’s Fan of the Day profile — emerged as the new BTS leader at 33 games thanks to a 1-for-3 performance from Ryan Theriot. Taking over second place at 32 games was damayr, who got by with a 1-for-5 showing from Placido Polanco. Polanco also extended t.fuehring’s streak to 27, putting him in a three-way tie for fourth place with humber_95 (Michael Young, 3-for-5), and jeffrey_german_vila (Jose Reyes, 3-for-4). Competitor purchasing moved into the third spot at 28 games after Aramis Ramirez blasted a three-run homer against the Pirates.

With several competitors falling out of the running, the number of fans capable of reaching 57 games shrunk to 39.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:
 
1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 6.2%, 1-for-5
2. Joe Mauer (MIN): 5.6%, 0-for-4
3. Alfonso Soriano (CHC): 4.4%, 3-for-5
4. Lance Berkman (HOU): 3.8%, 1-for-3
5. Manny Ramirez (LAD): 3.4%, 0-for-4
5. Michael Young (TEX): 3.4%, 3-for-5

Picks of the day 

Joe Mauer, C, Twins

• .349 AVG during ML-leading 15-game hit streak
• 1-for-3 vs. SEA RHP Miguel Batista

David Wright, 3B, Mets

• .321 AVG since All-Star break
• 4-for-11 (.364) vs. HOU RHP Brian Moehler

Yesterday’s pick

Manny Ramirez (LAD), 1-for-4

Top 5 current leaders

1. pupway10 (Nick Markakis), 33 games
2. halfogre (Albert Pujols), 32 games
3. damayr (Alex Rodriguez), 31 games
4. jonnystu4 (Nick Markakis), 28 games
5. purchasing (Mark Teixeira), 27 games

BTS season leader:  Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Fan of the day

Derick Drees, better known to BTS competitors as halfogre, has leaped into second place on the BTS leaderboard with a 32-game streak.

And much like Manny’s quick adaptation the City of Angels, it took Drees little time to learn the BTS ropes, as he started making picks just eight weeks ago. Some BTS veterans may be quick to cry beginner’s luck, but Drees looks poised to show he’s more than another flash in the pan. His methods are simple: Never choose hitters with a sub-.300 batting average, and prey on suspect pitchers with a high opponents’ average.

That system could very well carry this truck driver to $1 million-glory.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:

1. Albert Pujols (STL): 8.0%, 2-for-2
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 6.9%, 1-for-3
3. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 5.8%, 2-for-3
4. Manny Ramirez (LAD): 5.4%, 1-for-4
5. Nick Markakis (BAL): 4.6%, 1-for-5

Pick of the day 

Manny Ramirez, OF, Dodgers

• 14-for-23 (.609 AVG) career vs. PHI RHP Joe Blanton
• .375 AVG in August

Yesterday’s pick, results

Carlos Beltran (NYM), 0-for-3

Top 5 current leaders

1. pupway10 (Jose Reyes)
2. halfogre (Milton Bradley)
3. damayr (Jose Reyes)
4. spalaniappan0209 (Chipper Jones)
5. bosbball (Albert Pujols)

BTS season leader:  Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Yesterday’s results

An outstanding 39-game hit streak by eduneversaydie came to a close yesterday when Dustin Pedroia went 0-for-3 against Toronto. Though eduneversaydie fell short of the 40-game mark, his run tied competitor 3059s36 for the season’s second-highest mark. The hitless performance also ended Pedroia’s personal streak at nine.

Two other Top 5 competitors were also eliminated from play, including second-place bruinscup72 and fifth-place kbarnett10, both of whom chose Ichiro Suzuki (0-for-4).

With eduneversaydie and bruinscup72 out of the running, pupway 10 became the new BTS leader at 32 games thanks to Jose Reyes, who went 2-for-4 vs. Houston. Reyes also pushed damayr into third place at 30 games. Seizing hold of the second spot at 31 games was halfogre, who benefited from a 1-for-3 showing from Milton Bradley.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:

1. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 6.8%, 0-for-3
2. Carlos Beltran (NYM) 6.0%, 0-for-3
3. Josh Hamilton (TEX): 5.7%, 0-for-4
4. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 4.7%, 0-for-4
5. Jose Reyes (NYM): 3.9%, 2-for-4

Pick of the day

Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets: 8-for-17 (.471 AVG) career vs. HOU RHP Roy Oswalt

Top 5 current leaders

1. eduneversaydie, 39 games
2. bruinscup72, 32 games
3. jfb17, 31 games   
3. pupway10, 31 games   
5. halfogre, 30     games
5. kbarnett10, 30 games

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 eduneversaydie upped his run to 39 games Friday thanks to Colorado’s Willy Taveras, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles against the Reds at Coors Field. It was the first time during his streak that eduneversaydie chose the Rockies speedster, who’s hit safely in each of his last eight starts.

Second-place competitor bruinscup72 extended his streak to 32 games (Ichiro Suzuki, 1-for-4), while jfb17 (J.J. Hardy, 2-for-5, 2B, HR) and pupway10 (Brian Roberts, 1-for-4) remained tied for third place at 31 games apiece.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

Picks of the day 

Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles

• 20-for-42 (.476) vs. NYY RHP Mike Mussina
• .380 AVG in August

Curtis Granderson, OF, Tigers

• 6-for-12 (.500) vs. KC RHP Brian Bannister
• 10-for-22 (.455) during six-game hit streak

Yesterday’s picks, results

Matt Holliday (COL), 1-for-3
Brad Hawpe (COL), 0-for-4

Top 5 current leaders

1. eduneversaydie (Matt Holliday)
2. bruinscup72 (Ichiro Suzuki)
3. jfb17 (Matt Holliday)
3. pupway10 (Jose Reyes)
5. halfogre (Jose Reyes)
5. kbarnett10 (Ryan Theriot)

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 eduneversaydie inched closer to the record books yesterday after Matt Holliday doubled in three at-bats against the Reds. With his streak up to 38 games, eduneversaydie is one shy of tying the second-highest mark of the season.

Yesterday wasn’t as kind to several other competitors, including knightbomb and smithdog52, whose streaks ended at 33 games with Derrek Lee unable to build on past success against Reds right-hander Josh Fogg. Also falling out of the running was hinnami, as Chipper Jones came up empty in four plate appearances.

Taking over sole control of second place was bruinscup72, who leaned on the reliable Ichiro Suzuki to push his streak to 31 games. Competitors jfb17, pupway10, halfogre, kbarnett10 also benefited from the widespread elimination, thanks to the hitting of Holliday, Jose Reyes (1-for-5) and Ryan Theriot (2-for-4).

With several competitors falling out of the running, the number of fans capable of reaching 57 games dwindled to 148.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:

1. Derrek Lee (CHC): 8.4%, 0-for-3
2. Jose Reyes (NYM): 8.1%, 1-for-5
3. Manny Ramirez (LAD): 6.3%, 1-for-2
4. Hanley Ramirez (FLA): 5.7%, 0-for-0
5. Chase Utley (PHI): 5.5%, 2-for-3

Picks of the day 

Matt Holliday, OF, Rockies

• 17-for-30 (.567) vs. LAD RHP Derek Lowe
• .364 AVG since All-Star break

Brad Hawpe, OF, Rockies

• 11-for-28 vs. LAD RHP Derek Lowe
• .377 AVG in August

Yesterday’s picks, results

Jeff Kent (LAD), 2-for-4
Jhonny Peralta (CLE), 1-for-3

Top 5 current leaders

1. eduneversaydie (Placido Polanco)
2. knightbomb (Magglio Ordonez)
2. smithdog52 (Magglio Ordonez)
4. bruinscup72 (Dustin Pedroia)
4. hinnami (Manny Ramirez)

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 eduneversaydie stayed put at 37 games with Placido Polanco sitting out yesterday’s game due to a knee injury.

Second-place competitors knightbomb and smithdog52 inched closer to the top spot after a 1-for-3 night from Magglo Ordonez extended their streaks to 33 games. Things weren’t as fortunate for scasmflop, whose streak came to a close at 29 games. His departure turned fourth place into a two-way tie between bruinscup72 and hinnami, who were rewarded by one-hit performances from Dustin Pedroia (1-for-5) and Manny Ramirez (1-for-4). Moving into a tie with pupway10 for sixth place were jfb17 and vsh_vs, whose streaks improved to 29 thanks to Brian Roberts (2-for-4) and Ichiro Suzuki (3-for-3).

With several competitors falling out of the running, the number of fans still able to reach 57 games fell to 188.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:

1. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 4.0%, 1-for-5
2. Manny Ramirez (LAD): 3.9%, 1-for-4
3. Magglio Ordonez (DET): 3.8%, 1-for-3
4. Placido Polanco (DET): 3.4%, 0-for-0
5. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 3.1%, 3-for-3

Picks of the day 

Jeff Kent, 2B, Dodgers

• 10-for-24 (.417) vs. COL SP Jeff Francis
• .424 AVG in August

Jhonny Peralta, SS, Indians

• 11-for-23 (.478) vs. KC SP Gil Meche
• .324 AVG in August

Yesterday’s picks, results
Albert Pujols (STL), 1-for-4
Ty Wigginton (HOU), 0-for-4

Top 5 current leaders

1. eduneversaydie (Ichiro Suzuki)
2. knightbomb (Albert Pujols)
2. smithdog52 (Albert Pujols)
4. scasmflop (Ichiro Suzuki)
5. bruinscup72 (Ichiro Suzuki)
5. hinnami (Alfonso Soriano)
5. pupway10 (Albert Pujols)

BTS season leader:  Robert Paradise, 48
BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Yesterday’s results

It was a nerve-wracking night for many of the top competitors yesterday. BTS leader eduneversaydie survived when Ichiro Suzuki singled in his final at-bat, extending his streak to 37 games.

Ichiro’s ninth-inning hit also nudged scasmflop and bruinscup72 into fourth and fifth place, respectively. Yesterday’s second-place competitor jpsteeleaz69 wasn’t so lucky, however, as an 0-for-2 showing from Jose Reyes snapped his streak at 33.

There was plenty of luck to go around, as almost every Top 10 competitor benefited from one-hit performances. A 1-for-4 game from Albert Pujols moved knightbomb and smithdog52 into a tie for second place at 32 games and extended pupway10’s streak to 29 games. Other 1-for-4 performances from Alfonso Soriano and Dustin Pedroia pushed fifth-place competitor hinnami to 29 games and eigth-place competitors jfb17 and vsh_vs to 28 games.

With several users falling out of the running, the number of fans still able to reach 57 games fell to 239.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players:

1. Albert Pujols (STL): 9.9%, 1-for-4
2. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 7.7%, 1-for-4
3. Derrek Lee (CHC): 5.5%, 2-for-4
4. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 4.1%, 1-for-5
5. Jose Reyes (NYM): 3.4%, 0-for-2
5. Hanley Ramirez (FLA): 3.4%, 1-for-5