Picks of the day

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox

• 5-for-10 vs. TB RHP J. Shields
• 19-for-32 (.594) during 7-game hit streak

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers

• .429 AVG during 12-game hit streak
• 5 multi-hit efforts in last 5 G

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 44 games
2. dalmeetz048, 26 games
2. pacioccoj, 26 games
4. mday1018, 25 games
4. tooley.3, 25 games

Season leader: spooky93, 44 games

Yesterday’s results

The spooky93 run to immortality continues.

The BTS leader tabbed Michael Young, who was coming off a pair of multi-hit games and facing Philadelphia soft-tosser Jamie Moyer. Young didn’t exactly stuff the stat sheet in a 1-for-5 day, but his third-inning double was enough to boost spooky93’s streak to 44 games.

Meanwhile, the rest of the participants in the BTS world sought to extend their own marches toward 57. The two second-place fans went with New York shortstops Derek Jeter and Jose Reyes, receiving 2-for-4 performances that pushed their streaks to 26 games.

Two more fans are up to 25 games thanks to successful days from Hanley Ramirez (2-for-4) and Johnny Damon (1-for-4). However, it was the end of the line for one member of the BTS Top 5, who saw his 24-game snapped with a 0-for-4 day from Alex Rodriguez.

Yesterday’s Top 6 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 7.0%, 2-for-4
2. Derrek Lee (CHC): 4.5%, 0-for-3
3. Chipper Jones (ATL): 3.7%, 0-for-0
4. Magglio Ordonez (DET): 3.5%, 0-for-0
5. Jose Reyes (NYM): 3.1%, 2-for-4
5. Placido Polanco (DET): 3.1%, 0-for-0

Pick of the day

Sunday
Michael Young, SS, Rangers
20-for-54 (.370 AVG) career vs. PHI LHP Jamie Moyer

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 43 games
2. dalmeetz048, 25 games
2. pacioccoj, 25 games
4. bfitzg01, 24 games
4. eugenethom, 24 games

Season leader: spooky93, 43 games

Yesterday’s results

Spooky93 inched closer to $1 million, thanks to a 1-for-6 day by Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford. Spooky93 is now 14 days away from becoming a millionaire.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 5.1%, 0-for-4
2. Derek Jeter (NYY): 4.0%, 0-for-4
3. Derrek Lee (CHC): 3.5%, 5-for-5
4. Adrian Gonzalez (SD): 3.4%, 0-for-4
5. Aramis Ramirez (CHC): 3.0%, 0-for-5

Picks of the weekend

Saturday

Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
8-for-21 (.381 AVG) career vs. NYM LHP Johan Santana

Sunday
Michael Young, SS, Rangers
20-for-54 (.370 AVG) career vs. PHI LHP Jamie Moyer

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 42 games
2. tnelson003, 29 games
2. dalmeetz048, 24 games
4. junk4cows, 24 games
5. pacioccoj, 24 games
5. rookiewade3, 24 games

Season leader: spooky93, 42 games

Yesterday’s results

Spooky93
continued his pursuit of $1 million, benefiting from a 2-for-5 performance from
the O’s Brian Roberts to up his mark to 42 games.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Aramis Ramirez (CHC): 5.3%, 0-for-4
2. Matt Holliday (COL): 5.2%, 1-for-3
3. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 5.0%, 3-for-5
4. Chipper Jones (ATL): 4.0%, 0-for-0
5. Manny Ramirez (BOS): 3.9%, 0-for-4

Friday

James Loney, 1B, Dodgers
5-for-11 vs. LAA LHP J. Saunders
.383 June AVG, .331 home AVG in ’08
    
Curtis Granderson, OF, Tigers
.411 AVG during 14-game hit streak
4 multi-hit efforts in last 6 G

Saturday

Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
8-for-21 (.381 AVG) career vs. NYM LHP Johan Santana

Sunday
Michael Young, SS, Rangers
20-for-54 (.370 AVG) career vs. PHI LHP Jamie Moyer

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 41 games
2. tnelson003, 28 games
2. dalmeetz048, 23 games
4. junk4cows, 23 games
5. pacioccoj, 23 games
5. rookiewade3, 23 games

Season leader: spooky93, 41 games

Yesterday’s results

Spooky93 continued his charge toward BTS immortality, riding a 3-for-3 day from the sizzling Lance Berkman to push his streak to 41 games.

Berkman also came though for several other fans with an eye on the top prize, as he was the most popular pick of the day at 8.4 percent.

Unfortunately, many other top picks were not able to reward the faith shown in them by fans. Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter wound up with no official at-bats in a postponed game, which did not affect any streaks, but Derrek Lee, Carl Crawford and Aramis Ramirez all went hitless to dash the hopes of many a BTS participant.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Lance Berkman (HOU): 8.4%, 3-for-3
2. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 7.1%, 0-for-0
3. Derrek Lee (CHC): 6.2%, 0-for-3
4. Carl Crawford (TB): 5.6%, 0-for-5
5. Derek Jeter (NYY): 4.7%, 0-for-0

Picks of the day

Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees

• .353 AVG during 13-game hit streak
• .293 AVG on the road in ’08

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers

• 5-for-6 vs. HOU LHP Wandy Rodriguez
• Hit safely in 34 of last 37 G

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 40 games    
2. ljhomesinc, 28 games
3. tnelson003, 27 games    
4. golfinz44, 23 games    
4. junk4cows, 23 games
4. nizbiz13, 23 games    
4. pacioccoj, 23 games    
4. rookiewade3, 23 games
    
Season leader: spooky93, 40 games

Yesterday’s results

Ladies and gentleman, we have our first 40-game streak of the season!

Spooky93 reached that elusive plateau thanks to a 2-for-4 performance from Houston’s Lance Berkman. Last year, just 14 fans compiled a streak of at least 40 games.

Spooky93 also distanced himself from the competition, as the two fans on his tail saw their respective streaks of 35 and 30 games snapped due to hitless days from Adrian Gonzalez and Chipper Jones.

That left room for a new fan to jump into the second-place spot, his streak at 28 games following a 2-for-4 night from hard-hitting second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 5.1%, 1-for-3
2. Lance Berkman (HOU): 4.7%, 2-for-4
3. Chipper Jones (ATL): 4.6%, 0-for-1
4. Grady Sizemore (CLE): 4.4%, 0-for-4
5. Derrek Lee (CHC): 3.6%, 1-for-4

Picks of the day

James Loney, 1B, Dodgers

• .452 AVG during 11-game hit streak
• 1-for-2 vs. CWS RHP Gavin Floyd

Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Angels

• .431 AVG during 15-game hit streak
• 1-for-2 vs. WSH RHP Tim Redding

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 39 games    
2. jmc51966, 35 games    
3. coreycoxon55, 30 games
4. ljhomesinc, 27 games    
5. tnelson003, 26 games
    
Season leader: jerrymohr, spooky93, 39 games

Yesterday’s results

Spooky93’s success in Beat the Streak is becoming … well, spooky.

The BTS leader extended his run to 39 games thanks to a 1-for-2 day from Vladimir Guerrero, tying him for the longest streak posted by a fan this season. Last year, 14 participants reached the 40-game plateau, with the winner topping out at 49 in a row.

The second-place fan extended his own lengthy streak to 35 games with a 1-for-5 day from Ian Kinsler, while the 30-game club got a new member thanks to a two-hit performance from Lance Berkman.

There was one notable fall from the top ranks as Jeff Landgraf, Monday’s fan of the day, saw his 32-game streak come to an end.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 6.7%, 0-for-5
2. Hideki Matsui (NYY): 5.0%, 0-for-0
3. Chipper Jones (ATL): 3.9%, 1-for-1
4. Derek Jeter (NYY): 3.8%, 1-for-4
5. Lance Berkman (HOU): 3.8%, 2-for-3
 

Picks of the day

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees

• .417 AVG during 10-game hit streak
• .408 AVG in June

Jeremy Hermida, OF, Marlins

• .357 AVG during 10-game hit streak
• 3-for-6 vs. TB RHP Andy Sonnanstine

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 38 games
2. jmc51966, 34    games
3. jml985, 32 games    
4. abozzella, 29 games
4. coreycoxon55, 29 games

Season leader: jerrymohr, 39 games

Yesterday’s results

It was a good day for those at the top of the BTS mountain.

Both the leader and the second-place holder went with Vladimir Guerrero, the day’s most popular pick at 9.7 percent. Vlad pushed his personal hitting streak to 14 games with a 1-for-4 effort, extending the respective streaks of the Top 2 fans to 38 and 34 games.

Meanwhile, Jeff Landgraf, yesterday’s fan of the day, went with one of his patented Mets picks in Carlos Beltran to boost his own impressive run to 32 games.

Two fans fell out of the Top 10 with their respective streaks of 27 and 24 games coming to an end.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA): 9.7%, 1-for-4
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 8.9%, 1-for-5
3. Manny Ramirez (BOS): 8.2%, 0-for-3
4. Chipper Jones (ATL): 7.3%, 0-for-0
5. Ryan Braun (MIL): 6.6%, 2-for-4

Picks of the day

Matt Holliday, OF, Rockies
.412 AVG during 9-game hit streak

Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Angels
.442 AVG during 13-game hitting streak
5 multi-hit efforts in last 7 G

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 37 games
2. jmc51966, 33 games
3. jml985, 31 games
4. abozzella, 28 games
4. coreycoxon55, 28 games

Season leader: jerrymohr, 39 games

Yesterday’s results

It was a good day for most of the BTS Top 10.

Spooky93 boosted his streak to an impressive 37 games with a 1-for-3 performance from Rays speedster Carl Crawford, leaving him two shy of the top mark posted by a participant this season.

The No. 2 and 3 ranked fans also extended their streaks of 30-plus games thanks to the respective 1-for-4 efforts from the Big Apple’s Alex Rodriguez and Jose Reyes.

Two members of the Top 10 saw their luck run dry. The fourth-place holder had his 29-game streak snapped with Ichiro Suzuki’s 0-for-5 day, while Hanley Ramirez also went 0-for-5 to end a 24-game run and knock the fan from a tie for eighth place.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

Chipper Jones (ATL): 10.4%, 0-for-0
Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 5.1%, 1-for-4
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 3.7%, 0-for-5
Derrek Lee (CHC): 3.6%, 2-for-4
Chase Utley (PHI): 3.6%, 1-for-4

Fan of the day

Jeff Landgraf, a physicist who resides in Long Island, N.Y., has surged up to third place in the BTS rankings with a 31-game streak.

A huge Mets fan, Jeff usually picks Jose Reyes, his favorite player. Every once in a while, he mixes things up and goes with David Wright or Carlos Beltran, “just so that Jose doesn’t feel any pressure to get a hit.”

Jeff won’t pick any member of the Yankees to help along his streak, and it’s not just because he roots for the crosstown Mets; as a child in Minneapolis, Minn., he watched in agony as the powerful Yanks beat up on his hometown Twins too often. Of course, Jeff concedes that he broke that own rule a few times early this season, when he had trouble stringing together a streak of significant length.

Other than that, Jeff’s only other rule is to not change his mind once he submits his pick for the day. As he explains, “This is just a little superstition that’s grown up during the current streak. I’m not superstitious, but somehow you can’t follow baseball without allowing a little bit of magic in.”

Friday

Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers
.523 AVG during 10-game hit streak
8 multi-hit efforts during streak
    
James Loney, 1B, Dodgers
7-game hit streak
.421 AVG in June

Saturday

Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers
8-for-19 (.421 AVG) career vs. SD RHP Greg Maddux

Sunday

Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs
16-for-44 (.364 AVG) career vs. CWS RHP Javier Vazquez

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 34 games
2. jmc51966, 30 games
3. jml985, 28 games
4. richbarone, 27 games
5. sk48366, 27 games

Season leader: jerrymohr, 39 games

Yesterday’s results

It was a banner day for the BTS leaders, as the Top 8 placeholders all managed to extend their streaks of at least 24 games.

The top two players both went with Lance Berkman, and Houston’s switch-hitting thumper rewarded their faith with a three-hit effort. That extended the leader’s run to an impressive 34 games, and bumped the second-place fan up to the 30-game plateau.

Ryan Garko’s hitless day led to the demise of a 23-game streak, knocking the fan from a tie for ninth place.

It also turned out to be a bad day to go with Chipper Jones. The Atlanta third baseman is still batting an amazing .394, but his 0-for-4 game had 10.2 percent of the BTS participants feeling not so Chipper.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Chipper Jones (ATL): 10.2%, 0-for-4
2. Lance Berkman (HOU): 9.7%, 3-for-5
3. Matt Holliday (COL): 7.3%, 2-for-3
4. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 5.0%, 1-for-4
5. Josh Hamilton (TEX): 3.3%, 2-for-4

Picks of the day

A.J. Pierzynski, C, White Sox

• ML-leading 12-game hit streak
• .393 AVG, 7 multi-hit efforts during streak

Cristian Guzman, SS, Nationals

• 11-game hit streak
• Tied for ML lead with 98 H

Top 5 current leaders

1. spooky93, 33 games
2. jmc51966, 29 games
3. jml985, 27 games
4. richbarone, 26 games
4. sk48366, 26 games

Season leader: jerrymohr, 39 games

Yesterday’s results

There was little change at the top of the BTS leaderboard, as the Top 5 fans all held onto their spots.

The top two placeholders got just enough from Ichiro Suzuki (1-for-5), pushing their respective streaks to 33 and 29 games.

One significant streak of 24 games came to an end after Minnesota’s Alexi Casilla went 0-for-3, dropping the fan from a tie for sixth place.

No members of the Top 10 went with Chipper Jones or Placido Polanco, though the Braves’ thumping third baseman (2-for-5) and the Tigers’ sizzling second baseman (4-for-4) both delivered more than enough to justify their rankings as the two most popular picks of the day.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Chipper Jones (ATL): 9.5%, 2-for-5
2. Placido Polanco (DET): 9.0%, 4-for-4
3. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 4.9%, 1-for-5
4. Chase Utley (PHI): 2.7%, 0-for-4
5. Lance Berkman (HOU): 2.5%, 2-for-3