Picks of the day

Carlos Guillen, 3B, Tigers

• 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

Weekend Picks

Friday

Jermaine Dye, OF, White Sox

• 13-for-35 (.371) vs. DET LHP Nate Robertson
• .519 AVG (14-for-27) over last 7 G

Carlos Lee, OF, Astros

• 4-for-7 (.571) vs. MIL LHP Manny Parra
• .417 AVG during 9-game hit streak

Saturday

Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers

• 5-for-11 (.455) vs. HOU RHP Brandon Backe
• .469 AVG (15-for-32) since ASB

Sunday

Aaron Rowand, OF, Giants

• 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
 

Picks of the day

Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals

• 17-for-47 (.362) vs. MIL RHP Ben Sheets
• 9-for-24 (.375) since ASB

David Wright, 3B, Mets

• 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

Picks of the day

Carlos Delgado, 1B, Mets

• 7-for-16 (.438) vs. PHI RHP Brett Myers
• .403 July AVG

Carlos Lee, OF, Astros

• 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

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

Nick Markakis, OF, Orioles

• 7-for-15 (.467) vs. TOR RHP Shaun Marcum
• .323 July AVG

Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals

• 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

Picks of the day

Carlos Lee, OF, Astros

• 11-for-24 (.458) during 6-game hit streak
• .433 AVG in July

Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox

• 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

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

Chipper Jones, OF, Braves

• 5-for-7 (.714) vs. WSH RHP Tim Redding
• .376 AVG leads Majors

Carlos Lee, OF, Astros

• .449 July AVG leads Majors
• Hit safely in 20 of last 22 G

Saturday

Manny Ramirez, OF, Red Sox

• 7-for-15 (.467) vs. LAA RHP Jon Garland
• .342 AVG in July

Sunday

Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins

• 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 

Picks of the day

Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pirates

• 2-for-3 (.666) vs. COL RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
• .450 AVG during last 12 G

Garrett Atkins, 3B, Rockies

• 5-for-6 (.833) vs. PIT LHP Paul Maholm
• .461 AVG vs. LHP in ’08

Top 5 current leaders

1. eazyeric, 35 games
2. stormrider1, 33 games
3. anthony.tynan, 29 games
3. yelmurb24, 29 games
5. garykittilsen, 28 games

Fan of the day

Eric Reeder, better known to BTS competitors as eazyeric, has surged into first place on the BTS leaderboard with a 35-game streak.

A resident of Essexville, Mich., Reeder has been relying on timely hits from his hometown Tigers to build his impressive streak.  Reeder likes going with his favorite player, Placido Polanco, as well as other Detroit stalwarts like Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez, although he says he won’t hesitate to use a guy like Ichiro Suzuki when the situation calls for it.

As Reeder has learned, however, favoring the home team in fantasy games has its price. Like the Tigers, Reeder has had his fair share of ups and downs this season, especially in the early going. Reeder went as far as to describe his experience with the game as “very stressful,” a sentiment that legions of other BTS competitors can surely understand.

“I must have started over at least 20 times,” Reeder says, “especially with the way the Tigers started the season.”

But like his beloved Tigers, Reeder seems to finally have found his groove. His 35-game streak is tied for the sixth-longest of the season. And if Detroit’s hitters stay hot and Reeder’s picks keep producing, the newest BTS leader just may give Joe DiMaggio a run for his money.

Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)

1. eazyeric, 35 games (Placido Polanco)
2. stormrider1, 33 (David DeJesus)
3. anthony.tynan, 29 (Alex Rios)
3. yelmurb24, 29 (Ian Kinsler)
5. garykittilsen, 28 (Ichiro Suzuki)

Season leader: spooky93, 48 games

Weekend results

Beat the Streak’s season-long roller-coaster ride showed no signs of slowing down this weekend as four of Friday’s Top 5 competitors were unable to last until Monday. New leader eazyeric, the only member of Friday’s Top 5 to survive the tumultuous weekend, surged into the All-Star break with a 35-game streak when Placido Polanco laced a fifth-inning single off Minnesota righty Nick Blackburn on Sunday.

Second-place contestant stormrider1 celebrated his ascent into the Top 5 by picking Kansas City center fielder David DeJesus on Sunday. DeJesus stretched stormrider1’s streak to 33 games by singling in the bottom of the third against Seattle righty Carlos Silva.

The rest of the Top 5 used a trio of American Leaguers to keep their streaks intact. Third-place competitor anthony.tynan took a rain check when his pick, Alex Rios, did not play in Sunday’s game against the Yankees. Fourth-place competitor yelmurb24 capitalized on the relentless Ian Kinsler, who went 3-for-5 against the White Sox to stretch his own hit streak to 25 games. garykittilsen rounded out the Top 5 by going with BTS stalwart Ichiro Suzuki, who scratched out a 1-for-4 effort with a leadoff single in Seattle’s tilt with the Royals.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Jose Reyes (NYM): 9.2%, 1-for-3
2. Albert Pujols (STL): 8.6%, 0-for-4
3. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 5.2%, 1-for-4
3. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 5.2%, 2-for-4
5. Chipper Jones (ATL): 4.4%, 0-for-2

Weekend picks

Friday

Garrett Atkins, 3B, Rockies

• 5-for-8 (.675) vs. NYM LHP Oliver Perez
• .479 AVG vs. LHP in ’08

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox

• 5-for-14 (.357) vs. BAL LHP Brian Burres
• .349 AVG vs. LHP in ’08

Saturday

Matt Holliday, OF, Rockies

• .415 AVG during 14-game hit streak
• 4th in Majors with .343 AVG

Sunday

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox

• 6-for-13 (.462) vs. BAL RHP Daniel Cabrera
• .474 AVG during 17-game hit streak

Top 5 current leaders
(yesterday’s pick)

1. mday1018, 35 games (Derek Jeter)
2. slumley, 34 games (Ian Kinsler)
3. eazyeric, 32 games (Placido Polanco)
3. hdchannell, 32 games (Nick Markakis)
5. hej2duk331, 31 games (Hanley Ramirez)

Season leader: spooky93, 48 games

Yesterday’s results

Beat the Streak leader mday1018 continued his pursuit of Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game record by riding the bat of another Bronx legend, Derek Jeter. The Yankees captain singled to lead off New York’s tilt with the Pirates, stretching mday1018’s streak to 35 games.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Top 5 stayed intact for the third straight day. Second-place competitor slumley kept pace thanks to Ian Kinsler, who scratched out a 1-for-5 effort with a second-inning single off Angels starter John Lackey.

Fifth-place contestant hej2duk331 was given a stress-free night compliments of Hanley Ramirez, who went 5-for-6 against Chan Ho Park and the Dodgers. Rounding out the Top 5, eazyeric and hdchannell received just enough from Placido Polanco (1-for-6) and Nick Markakis (1-for-4) to stay alive.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Mark DeRosa (CHC): 8.4%, 1-for-3
2. Ryan Braun (MIL): 7.6%, 2-for-5
3. David Wright (NYM): 5.7%, 2-for-3
4. Chase Utley (PHI): 4.5%, 1-for-4
5. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 4.0%, 0-for-0