Beat the Streak Report: Weekend, August 20-22
Since I’m not eligible to win the $3 million Beat the Streak grand prize, I might as well try to help you out. Every weekday, make sure to check out the Beat the Streak Report to improve your odds with all the stats goodness you could ever dream of. You know, assuming you could use an extra three mill.
August 20-22
The referee is stepping in!
He’s stopping the fight — there’s the bell. This one’s over, folks!
James Loney went 0-for-4 last night against Jorge De La Rosa and Matt Reynolds, ending Geoff Croke’s bid for $3,000,000 and Beat the Streak immortality at 43 games.
“Gfc2112” will have to settle for a tie with Dick George atop the season leaderboard.
Who told him to take Loney, anyway?
What? The Dodgers first baseman headlined yesterday’s Beat the Streak Report? Oh, um…awkward.
Let’s just move on.
Thursday was a rough slate for gamers overall, as the three most popular options — Victor Martinez, Josh Hamilton and Delmon Young — went a combined 0-for-11 and ended 20.4 percent of all streaks.
Let’s give Geoff one more round of applause for his impressive ride. Hopefully he won’t spend too much time dwelling on what could have been, had he just picked Miguel Cabrera.
Or Vlad Guerrero.
Or Robinson Cano.
Oh, hello there …
Friday
? Chase Utley: .478 AVG (11-for-23) lifetime vs. Nationals starter Jason Marquis
? Ichiro Suzuki: .400 AVG (6-for-15) lifetime vs. Yankees starter A.J. Burnett
? Joe Mauer: .375 AVG (6-for-16) lifetime vs. Angels pitcher Dan Haren
Saturday
? Joey Votto: .462 AVG (6-for-13) lifetime vs. Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley
? Hanley Ramirez: .455 AVG (5-for-11) since lifetime vs. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez
? Billy Butler: .556 AVG (5-for-9) lifetime vs. White Sox starter Freddy Garcia
Sunday
? Vladimir Guerrero: .486 AVG (17-for-35) since ’05 vs. Orioles starter Kevin Millwood
? Jayson Werth: .500 AVG (10-for-20) lifetime vs. Nationals starter Scott Olsen
? Adrian Gonzalez: .625 AVG (5-for-8) lifetime vs. Brewers starter Manny Parra
Feeling kinda spicy?
Friday
? Curtis Granderson: .344 AVG (11-for-32) lifetime vs. Mariners starter Felix Hernandez
Saturday
? Willie Bloomquist: .389 AVG (7-for-18) lifetime vs. White Sox starter Freddy Garcia
Sunday
? Adam Lind: .429 AVG (9-for-21) lifetime vs. Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz
You’ll thank me later …
Friday
? Delmon Young: .167 AVG (2-for-12) lifetime vs. Angels starter Dan Haren
? Nick Swisher: .226 AVG (7-for-31) lifetime vs. Mariners starter Felix Hernandez
Saturday
? Justin Upton: .000 AVG (0-for-15) lifetime vs. Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez
? Brian McCann: .000 AVG (0-for-10) lifetime vs. Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny
Sunday
? Paul Konerko: .145 AVG (8-for-55) lifetime vs. Royals starter Zack Greinke
? Carl Crawford: .167 AVG (3-for-18) lifetime vs. Athletics starter Dallas Braden
Leaderboard time!
With both Croke and “rtaylor2001” both going down, “warriorcub” is all alone atop the standings at 27 games.
“Soxwhite24” and “sunhudson” are tied for second at 26.
Keep cranking out those picks, guys. You’ll be at the halfway point soon enough.
Top MLB streakers
? Alexei Ramirez: 13 games
? Dan Uggla: 11 games
? Jose Lopez: 10 games
? David Ortiz: 10 games
? B.J. Upton: 10 games
? David Ortiz: 9 games
? Elvis Andrus: 9 games
? Asdrubal Cabrera: 9 games
Beat the Streak Report 
Entering Friday: 45 game days remaining. Minimum current streak required to win the prizes outright (assuming season ends Oct 3rd)…
(*) Playing for a tie? add 1 to DL and minus 1 from CS & TS
Abbreviations: DL=Active Streak Deadline, CS=Current Streak Needed, TS=Target
BTS Countdown
Top Prize ($3M): CS:12, TS:57, DL:Aug 8th
*Consolation ($10K): CS:0, TS:44, DL:Aug 21st (pending)
— Saturday: CS:1, Sunday: CS:2
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/bts/y2010/index.jsp?content=prizes
Survivor Countdown {tickets are for 2011 All-Star Game & Homerun Derby}
Top Prize (2 tickets+travel+hotel+$10K): CS:0, TS:37, DL:Aug 28th
*Consolation (2 tickets only): CS:0, TS:30, DL:Sept 4th (pending)
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/survivor/y2010/index.jsp?content=prizes
Weekend Notes
1. STL-FLA Aug 8th ppd game possible make-up: Sept 2nd, 20th, Oct 4th ?
2. No more resets starting with Saturday’s games if trying to get to 44
3. Resets Sunday & later = BTS elimination unless Oct 4th+ games occur
4. Still a week left to hone your Survivor strategies for $10K
I guess I’m feeling kind of spicy as I did choose Granderson. He hits King Felix well and has 2 hits against him this year already so hoping it continues tonight and King Felix isn’t as dominant as he once was.
BTS- Granderson
HR BTS- Miggy
Survivor-Phillies
Good luck to all today.
Playing better by observations:
Remember Sunday for the “Sunshine Boys” – Alex Rios and Troy Tuolwitizi. Also, LAD are a great pick in Survivor when ex-Cub Ted Lilly pitches (probably on Tuesday.) Lilly has brought his “A GAME” to LAD.
Posting tips can help us all – please post yours as our blogger friend did two weeks ago about Troy Tulo getting a hit in every day game he played in this year.
Little things matter.
Baseball players tend to get tired & lose concentration towards end of season. Must happen to us BTS players too. Halfway to Dick/Geoff, “sal.nascimento” @ 22 on BTS, failed to make a selection. Halfway to brentandcam, and is currently the leader, “yankeehater500” @ 15 on Survivor, failed to make a selection. A bit odd?
Dave – Break the tie for us- Which of the 2 guys tied at 43 is actually in first place based on the tie breaker? “The player who amassed the most hits during his streak.”
Wanted to take Derrek Lee in HR BTS but could not as he is not listed as a member of Atlanta Braves yet – he was traded to the Braves on Wed. I see when players go on the DL their names are quickly taken off the BTS team roster — let’s do the same for adding traded players.
Friday August 20
BTS – Alexi “The Cuban Missle” Ramirez
HR – not Derek Lee so it’s Konerko
Survivor – Phils over Nats and Jason Marquis.
Hope Marquis does not get hurt by a line drive. He is a mere shell of the man who once was great as a Cardinal.
Now his Northern League stuff is pretty bad. Hope he one hits the Phils but loses 1-0 on an Utley HR.:)
Good Luck to all today.
Prize money for 2011??
Time to lobby the MLB Gods for appropriate prizes for next season:
1. BTS – $3M is great. Remember last year it was $1M and we chatted up the fact that this was too low and it got raised. Power to the bloggers! Suggestion: $25K for a streak 40 or better if you are the winner. 2nd prize 40 or better $10K. 3rd Prize 40 or better $5K.
2. HR BTS ? Chance of winning (11 game streak) is about the same as climbing Mt. Everest in a blizzard in T-Shirt & Bermuda shorts on your hands and knees with a blind Sherpa Guide. Come on MLB! This year there is no prize beyond 1st place ? ouch! $100K for winning with 11 or better – $25K if you win with 7 or better. 2nd prize $10K (over 7 games) 3rd prize $5K with over 7 games. Current alternate prize for 1st place is 2 tickets to All-Star Game with no accommodations or airfare (What is the value of this? $300?)
3. Survivor ? Nice prize for 1st place and over 37 games in place now let?s but let?s add $10K to Tickets and accommodations for All-Star Game. But no prize beyond 1st place ? Come on! Suggestion: Above 25 games streak for the season: 1st place $5K – $1,000 shopping spree at MLB.com for 2nd place and $500 spree for 3rd place.
Please comment guys!
Since you asked for comments and not necessarily agreement.
BTS:
a. Up the consolation prize in BTS to $25K. Agreed
b. No additional prizes other than MLB.com gift store certificates
Survivor:
a. Up the top streak money portion of the prize in Survivor to consolation prize in BTS (similar to now).
b. Consolation prize is weak… Here’s 2 tickets you have to pay taxes on & also you pay travel/lodging out of your own pocket. At very least mail tickets and let winner sell them if they choose
b. Additional prizes? Raise MLB.com gift store certificates
HR BTS. Don’t really care ’cause I don’t think it is attainable
a. Top streak prize: A trip on an upcoming Shuttle mission to the Space Station. Probably never have to worry about paying out. Otherwise, agree increasing prize amount.
b. Consolation prizes. Sure increase amount at MLB.com gift store. Money? Nope.
As for spreading prize money out to 3rd, 4th, 5th place or more? Why? This is a lottery of sorts. Winner should take all or nearly all. Sharing the wealth is something the government is good at, not what a contest should do. That’s my opinion.
“Winner should take all or nearly all”
Check that. Winner should take all, period.
Pony – Great comments and the Space Shuttle suggestion is super lol! 🙂
Trying to create dialog here to make prizes better and in keeping with the difficulty of the task.
MLB gift certificates would be easy to do.
Why would a recommended pick for today be Billy Butler when he’s playing in a double header?? Nice try.. And why doesn’t the BTS Players list include KC players for the second game?
neil_p – Picks of the Day are usually locked in 3 or so days before game day. ChiSox v. KC was a single game then.
2nd game of DH? – There should be one list of KC players to pick from – whoever you take in game 1 is your automatic pick in game 2 – can’t split your picks between different playes in a DH . Stay away – Absolute rookie mistake to play a double header.
Saturday 8/21
BTS – Infante is hot Cubs are in the North Pole (Thanks narberg for this one)
HR – Will Lincecum groove a fastball to Sir Albert – I hope so.
Survivor – Twins at home and hot Slowey look good.
Good Luck to all today.
DH rule is unfair but this is the way it is.
Remember: Never play a doubleheader in BTS, HR BTS or Survivor.
Small clarification: Your player must get a hit in both games of DH if he plays in both games. If he plays in one game and gets a hit and does not play in the other game, your streak continues. Don’t take the chance here. Move to another player or game.
NYY v. Seattle looks to be a wild one today. As was posted before, ball carries well at Yankee Stadium in the daytime (Ichiro leads off the game with a HR.)
The dumbest thing is that if you take a player in a doubleheader and he gets a hit in each game your streak will only increase by 1. In a doubleheader pick it’s double the chance to be reset, it should be double the reward if that player gets a hit in each game.
Please help on a rules question. The official rules on a player and a double header are confusing. The rule states a player must get at least one hit in both games. My thinking is that he (Butler) should get a hit in either game for the streak to continue. Please advise
To answer that question…
Pertaining to a doubleheader, the player, in this Butler, would need a hit in BOTH games in order for your streak to continue.
I am glad I checked, seems like a dumb rule. I guess I go with Votto. Thanks
Why is no one posting their picks?
Today is the last day you can beat the leaders outright with no tiebreakers!!!
I have:
BTS: Casey McGehee (4)
HR BTS: Albert Pujols (0)
Survivor: Mariners (3)
Picks?… Chose LAA over MIN seeing if the “don’t pick team against pitcher never seen before” rule applies. MIN hasn’t seen LAA pitcher.
Polanco reset me last night, so it’s do or die starting tonight (or tie potential starting tomorrow). Well, all my strategies netted me 1 20-gamer and lots of 6/7-gamers. Realistically, my odds of getting 45 this year is close to nil, I think I’ll try a strategy I haven’t employed yet: picking only players batting over 400 against the pitcher. Why not, what do I have to lose really? So… Beltre today.
But just one rainout or benched player will end the year for anyone of us — added picking pressure? Good luck all.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I have found that the “sweet spot” for your strategy is actually between .200-.500 with 10+ AB’s.
“Indeed, Saturday’s win improved the Yankees’ record to a remarkable 11-0 in games in which Rodriguez does not appear.”
I read this quote today and found it to be quite remarkable.
“I have found that the “sweet spot” for your strategy is actually between .200-.500 with 10+ AB’s.”
Makes fantastic sense though I’d prefer the low-end to be around 250-280. But any strategy over a 2 month long contest wll also rely on quite a bit of luck to get a 40+ streak.
BTS has too many variables for a formula to work to get you to a 57 game streak. The research etc. will help but the factor of good fortune/luck is huge. I’m trying to go with Cubs/WhiteSox players or their opponents of that day v. the knowledge of Cubs/Sox pitchers. Got nothing to lose at this point. Also, using Ichiro as a backup pick.
Observations: Juan Pierre, Alexi Ramirez, Starlon Castro have all come through for me recently. You won’t see them on the top 15 list. Also watching for good posts – e.g. Troy Tulowitzki has a hit in every day game he played in this season.
Saturday looks to be a good BTS day, not so good for Survivor with TEX & ATL losing and appears COL may lose too. Another Survivor leaderboard shakeup today.
Sunday: If you were reset Friday or Saturday and still are eager to finish the season without any resets, keep in touch with Mother Nature. A lot of rain in the forecast tomorrow and you don’t want a rainout taking you out of the race.
Looking at NYY to win & Vlad or Werth (undecided) to get a hit.
Entering Sunday: 43 game days remaining. Minimum current streak required to win the prizes outright (assuming season ends Oct 3rd)…
(*) Playing for a tie? add 1 to DL and minus 1 from CS & TS
Abbreviations: DL=Active Streak Deadline, CS=Current Streak Needed, TS=Target
BTS Countdown
Top Prize ($3M): CS:14, TS:57, DL:Aug 8th
*Consolation ($10K): CS:2, TS:44, DL:Aug 21st (pending)
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/bts/y2010/index.jsp?content=prizes
Survivor Countdown {tickets are for 2011 All-Star Game & Homerun Derby}
Top Prize (2 tickets+travel+hotel+$10K): CS:0, TS:37, DL:Aug 28th
*Consolation (2 tickets only): CS:0, TS:30, DL:Sept 4th (pending)
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/survivor/y2010/index.jsp?content=prizes
Weekend Notes
1. STL-FLA Aug 8th ppd game rescheduled: Sept 20th
2. Resets today & later = BTS elimination unless Oct 4th+ games occur
^^ oops, active streak required to get to 44 is 1 not 2
*Consolation ($10K): CS:1, TS:44, DL:Aug 21st (pending)
It isn’t raining in the Tri State area anymore. It was but it stopped and game is about to start in the Bronx.
Can’t afford a rainout taking me out of the race. So opted against NYY, PHI and went with TEX & Vlad. Rain expected there towards end of the game.
Well today is going to be a good day I hope. Here are my picks. I opted against Tulowitzki even though he has a hit in every day game as Rocks are facing D Backs and Hudson and they haven’t seen Hudson yet and every time they face the pitcher for the first time the team gets shut down.
BTS- Uggla, He just ended a hitting streak yesterday but I think he will get a hit today. He is still hot and he looks promising.
HR BTS-Ike Davis, Pittsburgh is a good leftie ball park and wind is blowing out to right field so I love the odds of him getting a hit.
Survivor-Yanks, CC is undefeated at home this year so no brainer.
Good luck to all today.
Well I am going with Hamilton today, but rain is in the forecast all day really and the game is delayed right now. I am at 17 (season high) so I can afford a couple rainouts (did not play) but not to many. I really wanted to pick a Ranger as everyone hits Millwood well. Hopefully the game will still get played today. GL everyone!!
Go figure. Rain delay for TEX/BAL. At least weather.com indicates nothing that is going to last too long nor too heavy. Appears elimination won’t occur due to rainout for me, Vlad going 0-fer or sitting is another story. Ugh!
@baseballgirlie13: Congrats on beating your season high with Josh’s homer.
@pony-thanks!! It is nice to get that hit in the first at bat and not have to worry about it the rest of the day. Tomorrow is going to be a little harder making a pick I think. GL to everyone else still and hopefully the whole TEX/BAL game will get played.
Beat the Streak: Vladimir Guerrero (Currently 0 for 2)
Home Run: Josh Hamilton (Safe)
Survivor: Yankees (up 5-0)
Guerrero homers up to 8 if the 5th inning is completed.
Reyes: 2 for 4!
Up to 6!!!
Well as my pick didn’t do anything again I’m officially done with BTS for this year. My luck sucks and this has been the worst year ever for me in BTS. Can’t get anything going and I’m not blogging anymore either. Will quietly play to see what happens. I can’t win anything which sucks and the people who play for the first year and get 30 game and 20 game streaks can go F themselves. I haven’t gotten to 20 in 10 years of playing.
from vinny1979: “…the people who play for the first year and get 30 game and 20 game streaks can go F themselves”
Those that did get 30 & 20 gamers didn’t win either. Blowing off steam are we?
From reading Vinny1979’s posts, I can tell you one part of the logic that I don’t agree with. His picks are mostly based on so-and-so has been hot for past how many days, etc. But he always pick them as soon as they’re about to end the hot streak or have ended already.
Th hardest part of BTS is catching hot hitter at the beginning of his streak. Its easy to see who has been hot. You just have to bring up the 7 or one month data. Obvisouly, the hitter is not gonna hit .400 forever. I mean the perfect example is Infante now. He is just hot but you know he has to cool off soon but when?
I am still hanging on by the threads here. I am at the highest point for the year with Hamilton today. I was very worried that either they were gonna walk him and that it was a day game-away but I figured Millwood would suck so badly to make up for it.
And talk about luck. The rain delay kicks Sabathia to early shower and Ichiro sqeuaks a el cheapo off over the hill and broken Wood. That is luck for you. You will need at least 7 to 8 of those to go your way plus make decent picks. Then you can possibly string together a bunck of 7 to 10 streaks to add up to 57.
baseballgirlie13. I have been watching your picks. You make pretty good picks. I don’t think I know any girl who is knowledgeable and interested in baseball as you’re. I was talking to one my ex-s last week and she goes “did the baseball season start already?”.
from vinny1979: “I can’t win anything …”
Maybe not in BTS, but Survivor is still wide open. $10K for top prize too. Lower streak needed to win than in BTS. Though in many ways a hard game to win. 100% of us are all on the edge of being eliminated in BTS – just 1 reset away!
@btsplayer: “I am at the highest point for the year with Hamilton today”
What’s your streak and handle? What page are you on?
It was less than a great day for the “Sunshine Boys” Alex “El Gatto Sol” Rios and Troy “The Sun God” Tulowitzki but they both got hits Sunday in their day games.
Again, encoruaging all to make posts that help us all play better. Neither of these guys were in top 15 picks.
Tip for Monday: Cubs Starlin Castro was 4-5 on Sunday. Cubs play at Wash on Monday. The kid is 20 yrs old and looks like an All-Star. Does not walk much and bats second.
I’m thinking there is a hit or two in his bat v. Livan Hernandez.
Jayson Werth walked in 7th. Taking down quite a few with his team winning big & @ home. It was his last AB barring batting around. 2nd place leader dropped today via Pagan
@00liber: No more Top 2500 listings? Just curious. Assuming you’re still reading the blogs as you are still in the BTS $10K race with Tulo getting a hit today.
“The last 3 years have all had 1-game tiebreakers at the end of the season.”
A 1-game Oct 4th tiebreaker is not out of the question. Look at STL for example. After Sept 2nd, no days off til end of season. If they get a rainout that needs to be played and can’t be made up in that series as a doubleheader, Oct 4th is the day. I wouldn’t try to hold on to any hopes of winning if getting reset tomorrow or later though — doubt seriously any chance at all of having games Oct 5th.
“Well as my pick didn’t do anything again I’m officially done with BTS for this year. My luck sucks and this has been the worst year ever for me in BTS. Can’t get anything going and I’m not blogging anymore either. Will quietly play to see what happens. I can’t win anything which sucks and the people who play for the first year and get 30 game and 20 game streaks can go F themselves. I haven’t gotten to 20 in 10 years of playing.”
Keep trying!!!
The last 3 years have all had 1-game tiebreakers at the end of the season.
No reason to throw away a chance to win.
Keep blogging!!!
We don’t want this place to turn into a ghost town!
I hate when the rookies and casual players get to 20+ too!
“Those that did get 30 & 20 gamers didn’t win either. Blowing off steam are we?”
Well, those that got to 30, won a ******** 1-month FREE subscription to MLB.TV!
“Those that did get 30 & 20 gamers didn’t win either. Blowing off steam are we?”
Well, those that got to 30, won a ******** 1-month FREE subscription to MLB.TV!
wow, is ****—-ping really blocked?
wtf?
@pony. Ya I’m still around but I’m out camping this weekend. I’ll be back tommorrow and will still continue to post top2500. Only got the iPhone out here so I can’t run my program. Ya Tulo kept me alive today, now at 2.
And I’ll still continue to blog and post if I get eliminated.
M
@btsplayer-thank you. I really love baseball and have been trying my best all year. This is my highest so far and hopefully it will continue tomorrow. I am going to go with Hamilton again I think. My strategy is pretty simple. I look at how someone hits the opposing pitcher. Then I look at the batters splits. If it is a lefty and they hit righties really well with a righty pitcher for the day then that is a plus. Then I look at day/night splits and home/away splits. If they are all fantastic (ex. Hamilton tomorrow) then that is great. He hits really well at home and at night. Then I look at the pitcher. I check the same splits and see that Blackburn allows lefties to hit .310 against him, he sucks on the road, he can’t pitch at night and he has been terrible his last four starts. Mix that in with the fact I think Hamilton is starting a major hot streak I think I’m set up for a good chance at getting a hit tomorrow. It’s true Blackburn could pitch a gem or Hamilton could have a bad day but these are good odds and it seems to be working for me. I hope this helps some other players as well.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Looking at the splits from the pitcher’s perspective might be where I have failed so far, but I thought that might get into too much detail, so I avoided it.
But I still have 1 last chance to catch the leader for the year, so it might be something to keep in mind for the stretch run.