Beat the Streak Report: Labor Day Weekend
Monday evening update: Ryan Braun came through again for Steve Summer, pushing his streak to a Metta World Peace-crazy 48 games. A correct selection on Tuesday would tie Steve for the longest streak in 11 years of Beat the Streak play. If that happens, we can officially kick off the 57 Watch.
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Monday afternoon update: Steve Summer‘s brain told him to go with Ryan Braun on Labor Day. The Brewers outfielder is entrusted with advancing a season-best 47-game streak and moving Steve within 9 days of the $5.6 million BTS grand prize.
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Sunday evening update: Another day and yet another hit for Steve Summer. Ichiro‘s 2-for-5 effort against the A’s carried our BTS season leader to 47 games, leaving him just two correct selections from matching the all-time BTS record. Oh, and 10 shy of breaking Joe DiMaggio‘s Major League mark and claiming the $5.6 million grand prize.
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Sunday afternoon update: Steve Summer went back to basics today, risking his 46-game streak on ol’ reliable Ichiro Suzuki. The Mariners right fielder has at least one hit in 16 of his last 17 games and is batting .333 in that span. A hit off Trevor Cahill or the A’s bullpen would vault Steve into sole possession of third place on the all-time BTS leaderboard.
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Saturday evening update: And the beat goes on… Adrian Gonzalez singled off Colby Lewis in the third inning to advance Steve Summer’s season-best streak to 46 games.
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Saturday afternoon update: Steve Summer selected Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez against Colby Lewis and the Rangers on Saturday. Reaching 46 games would tie Steve for the third-longest BTS streak of all time, and the longest since Bob Paradise strung together 48 games in 2008.
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Friday afternoon update: Well, that didn’t take long … Starlin Castro‘s third-inning single off Brian Burres pushed Steve’s streak to 45 games on Friday.
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This Streaking game takes plenty of time and skill to master — just ask the Excel wizards in the comments (JK, ❤ you guys!). But the road to 57 games is paved with a little bit of luck as well.
Ryan Braun was sitting at 0-for-4 and due up fourth in the ninth inning yesterday afternoon. Steve Summer‘s 43-game streak was more jeopardized than Ken Jennings. But Corey Hart came through with a single to bring Braun to the plate, and the Brewers left fielder did the rest.
Steve-O is now riding high at 44 games, the longest streak since June 2009 and tied for sixth-best in 11 seasons of BTS play. A chance to match the BTS all-time record of 49 could come as soon as Tuesday, with a shot at breaking Joe D’s record and taking home $5.7 million looming eight days later.
Make it through the long weekend, Steve, and we’ll talk turkey.
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Friday’s picks:
(Make a BTS pick)
Oh, hello there…
Melky Cabrera: .588 (10-for-17) since ’06 vs. Indians starter Justin Masterson
Neil Walker: .583 (7-for-12) since ’06 vs. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster
Alex Gordon: .421 (8-for-19) since ’06 vs. Indians starter Justin Masterson
Feeling kinda spicy?
Aubrey Huff: .458 (11-for-24) since ’06 vs. D-backs starter Joe Saunders
Orlando Cabrera: .545 (12-for-22) since ’06 vs. D-backs starter Joe Saunders
You’ll thank me later
Dan Uggla: .071 (1-for-14) since ’06 vs. Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley
Brandon Phillips: .146 (7-for-48) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter
Paul Konerko: .152 (7-for-46) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander
Home Run Beat the Streak pick:
Prince Fielder: (29 home runs this season) vs. Astros starter Lucas Harrell
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Saturday’s picks:
(Make a BTS pick)
Oh, hello there…
Joe Mauer: .647 (11-for-17) since ’06 vs. Angels starter Joel Pineiro
Brett Gardner: .500 (7-for-14) since ’06 vs. Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero
Billy Butler: .444 (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. Indians starter David Huff
Feeling kinda spicy?
Alex Rios: .611 (11-for-18) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Brad Penny
Jack Hannahan: .625 (5-for-8) since ’06 vs. Royals starter Luke Hochevar
You’ll thank me later
Alexei Ramirez: .100 (1-for-10) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Brad Penny
Shane Victorino: .154 (4-for-26) since ’06 vs. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco
Derek Jeter: .130 (3-for-23) since ’06 vs. Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero
Home Run Beat the Streak pick:
Jose Bautista: (39 home runs this season) vs. Yankees starter Bartolo Colon
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Sunday’s picks:
(Make a BTS pick)
Oh, hello there…
Andrew McCutchen: .500 (8-for-16) since ’06 vs. Cubs starter Randy Wells
David Ortiz: .500 (5-for-10) since ’06 vs. Rangers starter Matt Harrison
Austin Jackson: .438 (7-for-16) since ’06 vs. White Sox starter Mark Buehrle
Feeling kinda spicy?
Jon Jay: .467 (7-for-15) since ’06 vs. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo
Orlando Hudson: .425 (17-for-40) since ’06 vs. Rockies starter Aaron Cook
You’ll thank me later
Martin Prado: .091 (1-for-11) since ’06 vs. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw
Troy Tulowitzki: .100 (1-for-10) since ’06 vs. Padres starter Mat Latos
Alexei Ramirez: .067 (1-for-15) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Max Scherzer
Home Run Beat the Streak pick:
Josh Hamilton: (19 home runs this season) vs. Red Sox starter John Lackey
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Monday’s picks:
(Make a BTS pick)
Oh, hello there…
Brian McCann: .417 (5-for-12) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Cliff Lee
Ryan Braun: .600 (6-for-10) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook
Prince Fielder: .417 (5-for-12) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook
Feeling kinda spicy?
Omar Infante: .438 (7-for-16) since ’06 vs. Mets starter Chris Capuano
Mark Kotsay: .500 (7-for-14) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook
You’ll thank me later
Matt Kemp: .100 (1-for-10) since ’06 vs. Nationals starter John Lannan
Jose Reyes: .176 (3-for-17) since ’06 vs. Marlins starter Javier Vazquez
Lance Berkman: .154 (3-for-21) since ’06 vs. Brewers starter Randy Wolf
Home Run Beat the Streak pick:
Ryan Braun: (25 home runs this season) vs. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook
Beat the Streak Report 
I went with David Ortiz tonight against Derek Holland.
Ortiz hits .343 against lefties and it seems unlikely that the potent Red Sox offense is held down to just 6 hits again.
leader went with Starlin Castro.
LaVolpe is sure to be mad as it is another hitter who has never seen the opposing pitcher before and one who is making his 1st start of the season.
By the way, anyone going to be on here at all this weekend?
Starlin Castro: 0 for 1, flyout to left
#174 for Castro and #45 for BTS leader.
Well I guess my pick for today wasn’t very smart. I do have time to get one more streak going and if I get reset, I’ll probably be done and just move to SFTC. I’m currently playing them both. It’ll be much easier to focus on just one.
As a Cubs fan, I say that the leader needs to stop picking Cubs once he reaches the 50’s. Eamus Catuli, Bartman, and the Goat
I’m not familiar with Eamus Catuli. The other two I know. I’ma go Google it. Brb.
Ok, got it. Yeah, he better stop picking Cubs. He’s been lucky so far. Might not continue.
What is SFTC?
Espn game. They put out a bunch of props and/or games up and you pick the winner. Get the highest streak of the month and you win 50k. Get highest streak at 27 or more and you win the stash as well which is 50k this month.
streak.espn.go.com/en
Search group BTS bloggers group, there’s 15 of us in the group at the moment.
did you see what wild baylor and TCU game, it knocked out ALOT of people on STFC tonite
Wow, Hazel Mae is at 23. We have the same pick today, so I hope she keeps going.
And A-gone just singled.
At my uncle’s house today, so just checking in, but Konerko went 2 for 3 so far, to get my streak going again at 1.
Sad to see that Gonzalez pushed the streak to 46 though.
Will there even be a contest next year if he hits 57?
There should be, but the highest is 49 and no one has been higher. He should be done soon. Hopefully.
He is getting one hit a day over the last couple of days so I think he will be done by Monday.
I went with Jose Reyes today against Livan Hernandez.
Cannot believe they are benching Livan after this start!
First AB strike out for Ichiro.
Leader to 47 with 5th innning RBI single. 😦
Jon Jay gets me to 9 🙂
I went with Derek Jeter this afternoon against Brian Matusz.
The leader went with Ryan Braun against Edwin Jackson.
i also have Braun, but i will be more than happy to give up my 6 game streak for braun not to get a hit
I hope tonight is the night the leader falls. I had Jeter and he came through so I’m up to 11.
Braun got his hit. On to 48 he goes. This is getting hairy.
this is going to be fun to watch. the question on here is who wants him to win it all, and who wants him to fall short between now and next tuesday which will be day 56
I’m OK with someone winning as long as the game continues next year, but I suspect the jackpot would be reduced.
BTW, I just learned there is a minor league version: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/fantasy/bts/index.jsp
Yeah, they have had the minor league version for at least 5 years, but I never found it worth putting time into competing for an MiLB Season Pass prize using players I never heard of.
I played it once for about a week and then got bored.
I suspect pulls mid-game are much more common down there too.
@backrubs: I think if he gets through Thursday, he will win.
Or if he wisely takes a rest pick and skips the day altogether.
Oh and I want him to fall, because I know the prize money will stop getting increased then for good, as we have seen with the home run game.
I don’t want him to win either, but if I were in his place I’d be hoping to win while everyone else would be doing what we’re doing.
part of me wants him to do it and the other part says no.
i wonder if he gets to 55 will MLB fly him to the watch the player he is going for 56 and 57