I hoped this day would never come.

After 36 consecutive days of stellar selections, our pal and Canadian mentor, John “cruj” Gartshore, saw his streak snap thanks to Albert Pujols’ 0-for-4 performance.

My days of Bret Hart, poutine and Tim Horton’s references have officially come to an end.

John, it’s been a pleasure. Your 36-game streak will be tough to beat. Time to take a bow, eh?

On to the weekend picks.

 

Oh, hello there …

Friday

? Todd Helton: .465 AVG (33-for-71) lifetime vs. Nationals starter Livan Hernandez

? Alex Rios: .583 AVG (14-for-24) lifetime vs. Royals starter Gil Meche

? Manny Ramirez: .519 AVG (14-for-27) lifetime vs. Padres starter Jon Garland

Saturday

? Andre Ethier: .533 AVG (8-for-15) lifetime vs. Padres starter Kevin Correia

? Adam Lind: .500 AVG (5-for-10) lifetime vs. Rangers starter Scott Feldman

? Delmon Young: .643 AVG (9-for-14) lifetime vs. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte

Sunday

? Mark Teixeira: 1.000 AVG (6-for-6) lifetime vs. Twins starter Nick Blackburn

? Johnny Damon: .414 AVG (12-for-29) since ’05 vs. Angels starter John Lackey

? Brandon Phillips: .389 AVG (7-for-18) lifetime vs. Cardinals starter Brad Penny

 

Feeling kinda spicy?

Friday

? Reed Johnson: .700 AVG (7-for-10) lifetime vs. Padres starter Jon Garland. You realize Garland has a 1.71 ERA, right?

Saturday

? Brendan Harris: .471 AVG (8-for-17) lifetime vs. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte. You realize Harris is batting .203, right?

Sunday

? Omar Infante: .444 AVG (4-for-9) lifetime vs. D-backs starter Dan Haren. This one I actually like. Infante has six hits over his last four games and Haren has been very hittable as of late.

 

You’ll thank me later …

Friday

? Jayson Werth: .111 AVG (1-for-9) lifetime vs. Brewers starter Randy Wolf

? Matt Holliday: .056 AVG (1-for-18) lifetime vs. Reds starter Aaron Harang

Saturday

? Alex Rios: .083 AVG (1-for-12) lifetime vs. Royals starter Luke Hochevar

? Alex Rodriguez: .000 AVG (0-for-7) lifetime vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Sunday

? Robinson Cano: .000 AVG (0-for-8) lifetime vs. Twins starter Nick Blackburn

? Chase Utley: .153 AVG (2-for-13) lifetime vs. Brewers starter Doug Davis

 

Leaderboard time!

With “cruj” swimming with the fishes, “kevinw23” is now ruler of the universe with a 26-game hitting streak and is officially 45.6 percent on his way to joining the LeBron sweepstakes.

Top MLB streakers

? Elvis Andrus: 13 games

? Miguel Cabrera: 12 games

? Jeff Mathis: 10 games (DL)

? Troy Glaus: 8 games

? J.J. Hardy : 8 games (DL)

? Cristian Guzman: 8 games

? Adam Kennedy: 8 games

? Russell Martin: 8 games

 

 

Another sunny day in Streakland, as the day’s Top 6 picks (Ichiro Suzuki, Andre Ethier, Michael Cuddyer, Albert Pujols, Joey Votto and Adrian Beltre ) each got on base by virtue of a hit, extending the streaks of about 42 percent of our streakers just by themselves.

It might have been the greatest day in the history of ever for our main man and Quebec native John Gartshore, as “cruj” reached a 36-game hitting streak (thanks to Ichiro) on the same day that the Montreal Canadiens defeated Sidney Crosby & Co. in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

I’m sorry, am I really talking about hockey? Anyway, with a 36-game streak, Gartshore is now 63.2 percent on his way to buying as many pizzas at McDonald’s that he ever could dream of.

That’s right, they serve pizza at some McDonald’s in Canada.

Time for Thursday’s picks.

 

Oh, hello there …

? Nick Markakis: .500 AVG (13-for-26) lifetime vs. Mariners starter Felix Hernandez

? Derek Jeter: .400 AVG (6-for-15) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

? Ichiro Suzuki: .406 AVG (28-for-69) since ’05 vs. Orioles starter Kevin Millwood

? Asdrubal Cabrera: .450 AVG (9-for-20) lifetime vs. Royals starter Zack Greinke

? Miguel Cabrera: .625 AVG (5-for-8) lifetime vs. Yankees starter CC Sabathia

? Brad Hawpe: .444 AVG (4-for-9) lifetime vs. Nationals starter John Lannan

 

Feeling kinda spicy?

? Gerald Laird: .417 AVG (5-for-12) lifetime vs. Yankees starter CC Sabathia. Zero chance I’d touch this one.

? Fernando Tatis: .667 AVG (8-for-12) lifetime vs. Marlins starter Josh Johnson. Or this one.

You’ll thank me later …

? Hanley Ramirez: .167 AVG (3-for-18) lifetime vs. Mets starter Johan Santana

? Mark Teixeira: .083 AVG (1-for-12) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

? Matt Holliday: .111 AVG (1-for-9) lifetime vs. Astros starter Bud Norris

 

Leaderboard time! 

“Bosox19” (Matt Holliday) and “kevinw223” (Ichiro) each saw their respective streaks extend to 25 games yesterday and are currently pondering whether to go in together on a “cruj” voodoo doll.

 

Top MLB streakers

? Elvis Andrus: 12 games

? Miguel Cabrera: 11 games

? Jeff Mathis: 10 games (DL)

? Troy Glaus: 8 games

? J.J. Hardy : 8 games (DL)

? Russell Martin: 8 games

Derek Jeter (obviously) and Joey Votto (whoops, sorry bout that) each went hitless to combine to eliminate 10.6 percent of our streakers on an otherwise smooth Monday.

The big news came courtesy of Carl Crawford, who went 1-for-6 to extend the streak of our brave hero and leader “cruj” to a Beat the Streak season high 34 games.

“cruj” is now 59.6 percent on his way to the summit of the BTS mountain top and I’m thinking that means he’ll be stocking up on Shreddies, Jaroslav Halak jerseys and Bret “The Hitman” Hart action figures.

That’s because our fearless leader has decided to pull a final scene from “Scobby-Doo!” and unmask himself to the public. And lo and behold, he’s Canadian.

John Gartshore is a manager of the Blackhorse Pub in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Like all Canadian legends, he crew up in a small town, this one called “Asbestos” (that’s right).

To Gartshore’s credit, he successfully escaped the Beat the Streak jinx by continuously writing in his e-mail to me how he was convinced Crawford would go hitless and thus ruin his 15 minutes of fame. Smooth.

Anyway, Gartshore grew up an Expos fan which leaves him without his childhood squad, although he has taken a liking to Evan Longoria and the Rays.

As far as strategy goes, Gartshore tends to look at opposing pitchers with high ERAs and high hits=per-nine-innings ratios when selecting his player for the day.

And obviously, no, he does not read the Beat the Streak Report.

Glad I could help, John. If you weren’t so likeable and, well, Canadian, I’d have the tech department turn your 34-game streak into poutine.

Anyway, best of luck to you John, there couldn’t be a nicer, more mentsch-like guy to have atop our leaderboard.

Time for Tuesday’s picks.

Oh, hello there …

 

? Ryan Howard: .353 AVG (6-for-17) lifetime vs. Rockies starter Aaron Cook

? Jose Reyes: .385 AVG (15-for-39) lifetime vs. Nationals starter Scott Olsen

? Joe Mauer: .350 AVG (7-for-20) since ’05 vs. White Sox starter Freddy Garcia

? Miguel Cabrera: .421 AVG (8-for-19) since ’05 vs. Yankees starter Javier Vazquez

? Manny Ramirez: .536 AVG (15-for-28) lifetime vs. D-backs starter Dan Haren

? Ryan Ludwick: .545 AVG (6-for-11) lifetime vs. Astros starter Brett Myers

 

Feeling kinda spicy?

? Geoff Blum: .625 AVG (5-for-8) since ’05 vs. Cardinals starter Brad Penny. I just don’t see this turning out well.

? Garrett Jones: .500 AVG (5-for-10) lifetime vs. Reds starter Johnny Cueto. Is there a more volatile plyer than Garrett Jones?

 

You’ll thank me later …

? Shin-Soo Choo: .100 AVG (1-for-10) lifetime vs. Royals starter Brian Bannister

? Paul Konerko: .143 AVG (2-for-14) lifetime vs. Twins starter Kevin Slowey

? Russell Martin: .115 AVG (3-for-26) lifetime vs. D-backs starter Dan Haren

Leaderboard time!

“jonnygoska” extended his streak to 25 games and lived to see another day thanks to Evan Longoria, who went 2-for-6 vs. the Angels.

Top MLB streakers

? Alex Rios: 11 games

? Jeff Mathis: 10 games (DL)

? Elvis Andrus: 10 games

? Miguel Cabrera: 9 games

? Alfonso Soriano: 9 games

? Kevin Youkilis: 9 games

 

 

It was a nightmare on Elm Street this weekend atop our BTS leaderboard, as our two top streakers, “olifante” and “bowl218” saw their streaks snap Friday night thanks to Hanley Ramirez’s hitless performance.

Was Hanley my top pick for Friday? Yes, yes, he was.

Sorry kids, you get what you pay for.

Our lone ranger atop the leaderboard now is “cruj”, who is currently rocking a 33-game streak thanks to Jayson Werth’s 1-for-3 day at the yard yesterday.

With “cruj” at 33 games, he is officially 57.9 percent on his way to buying one of the over-sized gigantic walking pianos like from the movie “Big”.

Just because he can.

Time for Monday’s picks.

 

Oh, hello there …

? Stephen Drew: .410 AVG (16-for-39) lifetime vs. Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley

? Joey Votto: .800 AVG (4-for-5) lifetime vs. Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf

? Brian McCann: .364 AVG (4-for-11) lifetime vs. Brewers starter Doug Davis

? Russell Martin: .500 AVG (4-for-8) lifetime vs. D-backs starter Rodrigo Lopez

 

Feeling kinda spicy?

? Ronny Paulino: .538 AVG (7-for-13) lifetime vs. Cubs starter Ted Lilly. Backup catcher much?

 

You’ll thank me later …

? Hanley Ramirez: .100 AVG (1-for-10) lifetime vs. Cubs starter Ted Lilly

? Aaron Hill: .083 AVG (1-for-12) lifetime vs. Red Sox starter John Lackey

? Cristian Guzman: .000 AVG (0-for-13) lifetime vs. Mets starter John Maine

 

Leaderboard time!

A full nine games behind “cruj” is “jonnygoska”, who currently sits with a 24-game streak. Good luck with that.

 

Top MLB streakers

? Brett Gardner: 11 games

? Alex Rios: 11 games

? Jeff Mathis: 10 games (DL)

? Elvis Andrus: 10 games

? Austin Jackson: 10 games

 

 

 

 

Today’s recommended picks

Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins
5-for-7 (.714 AVG) lifetime vs. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners
17-for-45 (.378 AVG) lifetime vs. D-backs starter Jon Garland

David Wright, 3B, Mets
24-for-59 (.407 AVG) in June

Saturday’s recommended picks

Joe Mauer, C, Twins
19-for-43 (.442 AVG) during 10-G hitting streak

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners
Leads AL with .349 AVG

Pablo Sandoval, C/CI Giants
22-for-55 (.400 AVG) in June

Sunday’s recommended picks

Freddy Sanchez, 2B, Pirates
22-for-55 (.400 AVG) lifetime at Coors Field

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Mariners
21-for-63 (.333 AVG) in June

David Wright, 3B, Mets
24-for-59 (.407 AVG) in June

BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

Yesterday’s results

With his selection of Rangers third baseman Michael Young on Thursday, BTS leader Tanner Nielson extended his streak to a season-high 41 games, putting him just 16 picks away from the $1 million-plus grand prize.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 10.4%, 1-for-5
2. David Wright (NYM): 5.5%, 0-for-4
3. Lance Berkman (HOU): 5.1%, 0-for-4
4. Michael Young (TEX): 4.8%, 2-for5
5. Kevin Youkilis (BOS): 4.7%, 1-for-2