MLB Survivor Game Strategies

Is Jacoby Ellsbury Jewish?

2010-04-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

No, he is not Jewish. He was raised a Mormon, by his mother, who was taught by Mormon missionaries on her reservation.

Yes, he has a girlfriend. Kelsey Hawkins.

He chanced his number from 46 to 2 when a bench coach who had the #2 previously left the team. Ellsbury's number in highschool was 2 and he always wanted to have that. (If his batting and stealing numbers aren't very good, he may well go back to 46! Who knows?)

Jacoby is half Navajo, half caucasian. His mother is a school teacher, his father is a forestry agent. He has two brothers.

And that's all you need to know.

Now that I've sucked yoiu in to visiting my blog (I notice that a lot of people do a search on "Is Jacoby Ellsbury Jewish" followed by "Is Jacoby Ellsbury married"
and "Is Jacoby Ellsbury engaged" - stick around, Ladies ; ) and play MLB Survivor and Beat the Streak.

At least, you sign up for free at MLB.com, then come here for advice on what players to play and what teams to choose.

My Darn Browser! or The Games ARE on!

2010-04-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

BEAT THE STREAK
It appears that the Beat the Streak game actually is available now. I had looked at it earlier today and it wasn't active...but I have just checked it on my laptop and it is.

What that means is I've got an old version of IE on my desktop computer, and they think they can force me to upgrade by disabling the features that used to work on this computer.

Well, I shall show them! I shall simply play the game on my laptop, and leave this browser the way it is.

So, I've missed two days to date for the MLB Beat the Streak.

This early in the season, it's really hard to pick the players... who's going to be on fire, who will be nervous and slump immediately, etc.

So, I"m going to go with Ichiro to start out with, and see how many hits he can get for me.

MLB SURVIVOR
This game I will start tomorrow as well. (If you don't know where these fantasy games are, go to MLB.com, then click on the Fantasy tab. They have several games there, in which winners can win a fair amount of money.)

Yanks vs Red Sox tomorrow are too close to call, so I'm going to go with the Mariners over Athletics.

On April 7, the Phillies will beat the Nationals.

And in the Support this blog department:

MLB Survivor Game 2010 Season

2010-04-05T07:29:00.001-07:00

Well, today's opening day for a lot of teams, and the MLB survivor game hasn't been started up yet. Doesn't matter to me, as I would have picked Jacoby Ellsbury for last night, and he went 0-fer.

I'll keep an eye on the game, and when it's open for business I'll let y'all know.

Meantime, as I type, Dan Dailey is starring as Dizzy Dean in The Pride of St. Louis, which was made in 1952.

Next on TCM is It Happens Every Spring, starring Ray Milland, perhaps the first movie in which a baseball player cheats and people are supposed to root for him. (It's a comedy, he's a professor who has a secret formula that repels wood, which he rubs on the baseballs.)

Ryan Ludwick for Saturday

2009-04-18T07:36:00.000-07:00

I've decided to go wth Ludwick. St. Louis is playing a later game than I like - 2 pm, but no one in the earlier games looks promising.

Derek Jeter and the Yankees are playing at about the same time as St. Louis, and Jeter has the same success against the pitcher he's facing as Ludwick has against his...but Ludwick is soooo hot right now.

On the other hand, those "fans" that commentate on the players at CBSsportsline was saying that LaRussa will probably sit Ludwick for the weekend. I don't believe that can be possible, Ludwick hits too well against this pitcher...but again I'm nervous.

But he's having games with multiple hits, and Derek Jeter is having games with single hits, so I'm thinking Ludwick.

Meantime, Bonifacio fans have reason to be extremely annoyed today. He'd been given yesterday off, which means that the hundreds of peope who had probably selected him, because he's also been hot this early, were breathing sighs of relief, because as long as he's not playing, they don't lose their streak. But then, he was put in as a pinch-hitter late in the game, and struck out. And since he appeared once, had one measly at-bat, their streak has ended.

That's kind of what I'm afraid of with Ludwick. He's sooo hot, what if a pitcher whom he does well against decides to walk him four times in a row, or gives him 1 at bat and walks him the next 3 times.

Meantime, Jeter wouldn't command that kind of fear...he's just a singles hitter now, for all that he hit a homerun last night...

Well, let's h ave positive vibes that Ludwick will indeed start, and that he'll get a hit in his first at bat.

Thanks Mr. Ludwick!

2009-04-17T12:25:00.001-07:00

He got his hit (and mine) in fine style today, belting a homerun with 2 on to put the St. Louis Cardinals in the lead over the Cubs.

To Karma or Not to Karma

2009-04-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

I've decided to stick with Ryan Ludwick today, although I have a bad feeling about it. For one thing, he hits cleanup, so he'll get probably only 4 rather 5 chances to get a hit. (But then, Kemp bat 8th...)

More agitating is that he's a "Silver Slugger" award winner last year, and yet LaRussa is platooning him this year. And once even took him out to have a pinch hitter hit, despite the fact that the guy is batting well over .300!

So, he is 3/4 against Zambrano, so one assumed LaRussa will have him starting, but his head may be so messed up that he doesn't give his all, or may try too hard, just to show LaRussa what an idiot he is.

So since I have this bad feeling, I probably shouldn't go with him at all, despite his excellent hitting to date.

Problem is, the Yankees are the early game, and in a sense I'd rather go with Jeter, who's bat seems to be picking up. But he's never faced the pitcher Reyes at all. And although Reyes would seem to have an ERA of 6.00, people's batting average against him is only .145 or something, a statistic I don't understand at all. In the message boards discussing him, some say he's really good, others say he's nothing more than a journeyman. (He's little more than a rookie.)

So, with the choice of early games being St. Louis or New York... I guess I'm going to go with St. Louis. But if LaRussa screws me over here, I'll be very annoyed!

Kemp came through!

2009-04-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

and he did it on his first at bat! Yay.

So, tomorrow my streak will be at 10. Almost 1/5th of the way to my goal.

I must say I was nervous. Kemp bats 8th, which means he would be lucky to get 3 bats a game! Normally it's best to use a lead off player as your choice.

How can you abandon a 10-game hitting streak?

2009-04-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

As soon as the games start for the day, and everyone's choices are locked, you can go in and see who each person picked for that particular day. And I think it's kind of fun to go in and see who everyone else has chosen.

So, today, I'm looking to see how many people chose Matt Kemp, and not as many as I would have expected did. This is probably because his game doesn't get started til 10 pm, and who wants to wait that long?

However, as I'm paging through the pages (there's 397 people with active streaks of 10 games right now, and over 700 with active streaks of 9 games), I've come across at least 10 players so far who had 10-game streaks who just didn't make a choice for today. Now, a 10-game streak is nothing to sneeze at! Why let it go???

On a side note, I had given serious thought to choosing Bonifacio of the Marlins today. He's been red hot, and the game started at noon.... but fortunately I did not change my mind, because he's had his last at bat and he's 0-5.

But, because of that, although I had initially chosen him for tomorrow's game, now I'm going to go with Ryan Ludwick of St. Louis instead. He's 3-4 against Zambrano in his career, and he's batting over .400 at the moment.

Apparenlty there's some controversy, manager LaRussa has sat him in 3 games out of the 10 this season, even though he's hitting so well, so that does have me a bit nervous...but for now, he's my choice.

Thank you Placido!

2009-04-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

Placido came through for me in his 2nd at bat, hitting a 2-run double.

Tomorrow, Thursday April 16, is a difficult decision. Derek Jeter is going up against a pitcher that he is .400 against, but overall on the season he isn't batting .300 yet... so I'm nervous.

On the other hand, in a 10 pm game, Matt Kemp, who is hitting .520 against Barry Zito and .357 on the year, is going up Zito who really got roughed up in his last outing and is not the pitcher he was.

So it would seem to be a slam dunk, so much so that the BTS "pundits" have also chosen him (there's a little Burger King face next to his name.)

So, although I hate being in suspense that long, from all I can see he's defintely the best bet.

The only danger of course is that since he does hit Zito so well, Zito will end up walking him 4 times out of 5, giving him only one chance to hit!

Still, I'll think positive.

I'm going to play it safe tomorrow,a nd stay with Matt Kemp.

Bobby Abreu makes it 8

2009-04-14T17:04:00.001-07:00

In his 2nd at bat against Carlos Silva and the Mariners, Abreu hit a double.

Thanks!

Tomorrow, April 15, I've chosen Placido Polanco of the Detroit Tigers.

Anyone who chose a player of the Detroit Tigers or White Sox for this afternoon game will note that it was rained out. In such cases, your streak isn't broken, so make sure you choose a player for tomorrow - Polanco will do!

Just hope that game isn't rained out as well!

Whew! Placido Polanco comes through!

2009-04-13T13:10:00.001-07:00

In his last at bat of the game, Placido Polanco came through for me, hitting a triple. Off a reliever.

Cabrera had gotten a hit in this third at bat, and so I'd been a bit annoyed that I hadn't chosen him, but thankfully Placido ended up getting his hit, which gives me my 7 game streak!

Only 51 more games to go, and I'll have that million dollars!

Yeah baby!

Okay..who is my choice for Tuesday, April 14?

Well, I've chosen Bobby Abreu, who is a monster against Carlos Silva of the Mariners.

I'm torn, of course, as I like the Mariners and hope they play well, but I don't think Silva can win against the Angels, and Abreu is, as I said, a monster...

The only problem is that the game takes place on the East coast so it will be a 10 pm game... don't know if I want to wait that long...

We'll see...

Placido Polanco today, Monday the 13th...

2009-04-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

I've given it much thought, and I've elected to go with Polanco. He hits that pitcher the best on his team, and he is "hot", having got 3 hits yesterday.... and I think it's best to have someone within the top two lineup spots. Lead-off hitter is best, 2-hole is second best...and so on.

So, Placido, make me placid today, please!

Thank you Chipper Jones!

2009-04-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

To play: http://www.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/bts/y2009/

Third at bat, and Chipper Jones got a hit, which extends my streak to 6.

As a matter of fact, it extends several people's streaks. He was the "featured pick" of the day. He's hitting well now, and he was going up against a pitcher whom he'd hit well. First ab was a walk, second was a strike out, but he came through with the third try.

When you're playing Beat the Streak, your choices are locked an hour before the first game of the day starts. Up until then, you can change your choices as much as you want - and you can't see what anyone else is doing.

There's a button where you can check the standings. Severasl hundred people have 6 hits already - now 7 thanks to Chipper, I'll be at 6 tomorrow, since I got started a day late.

It's kind of fun to go into the standings - you can see who people chose for that day, and who they chose for the previous day. To my surprise, at least one percent of people lose their streak because they forget to choose a player for the following day! Silly! It's $100,000 and you're being careless?

So...who shall I choose for Monday, April 13?

My original pick (when I chose my original 10 a few days ago...) was Akinori Iwamura against the Yankees.

However, I confess it, part of my choice is that I don't like waiting hours and hours to find out if I'm going to get a hit. So I try to choose a game that's being played as early as possible. This is actually foolish, I know... the real way to play is to follow one team, and keep track of all its hitters, and choose one of them each day. That way, you know who's healthy, who's not, etc.

Just by going by the numbers presented by the Beat the Streak info machine, you can make mistakes. For example, a couple of days ago I'd originally chosen Marlon Byrd as my hitter of the day, because he had a great average against the pitcher Byrd's team was facing. But when I came to do my research - Byrd wasn't even scheduled to play that day! So if I'd chosen him...I wouldn't have lost my streak, since if a player doens't play there's no penalty, but I wouldn't have have added to it either, and that would have been annouing.

Anyway...let us check CBS Sportsline for tomorrow to see whe the earliest games are being played...

Detroit goes against Chicago at 1.05 pm, or Houston goes against Pittsburgh at 1.35 pm. I know nothing about the Pirates or the Astros...but I'll take a look at the players records at the Beat the Streak site...

Adam LaRouche and Nate McLouth look like they bat exceptionally well against the Astros pitcher Brian Moehler, but on the year they each have averages below the Mendoza line! Therefore, I do not think so!

Alternatively, for the Astros, Hunter Pence is hitting at a torrid pace so far this young season, but he's 2 for 6 againsst Zack Duke of the Pirates for a .333 average..but not good enough. Carlos Lee hits Duke well at .318 (7 for 22), but he's only .263 on the season. Geoff Blum is hitting exceptionally well for the Astros, and he's 0-1 against Duke.

So, I just don't know enough about these players to really choose this early in the year.

Let's check out Detroit vs the White Sox instead. I like leadoff man Granderson of Detroit.... I trust him!

And according to the stats, Granderson does hit well against White Sox pitcher Gavid Floyd. 8-25, or .320. On the young year though he's only at .280 right now. Miguel Cabrera is batting .500 right now, 11 for 22, and against Floyd he's 5 for 17, or a .294 average. I'm leaning towards Cabrera, just because he's so hot...

BUt...where does he bat in the batting order? To be safe, it's the lead-off man that should be chosen, because he typically gets more at bats than any other player... back to CBS Sportsline...

And there I see that Cabrera is the cleanup hitter, batting 4th. (And today, he's already 2 for 2!) Well, that seals the deal. He's so torrid right now, I'm going with him.

On the other hand...Placido Polanco also hits Floyd well....381, and although before today his season average was only .273, he has 3 hits today which has brought his average up to .346!!!! And since Polanco bats 2nd... chances are he'll get more at bats than Cabrera...

I've chosen Cabrera for now, but I'll revisit the choice throughout the day...

Yes, Ellsbury!!!

2009-04-09T10:49:00.000-07:00

First time at bat, lays down a bunt and beats it out to first. That's what speed can do for you.

So, my streak is now 3 for 3. Thank you, Jacoby.

Now go ahead and steal a base!

Go Red Sox!

Let's go Jacoby Ellsbury!

2009-04-09T10:34:00.000-07:00

I elected to stay with my pick of Jacoby Ellsbury against Matt Garza today...

If it was later on in the season and I had a sizable streak going, I probably wouldn't take the chance, but it's the third game of the season (as far as *my* streak is concerned) so why not take a chance.

Last year Jacoby had a pretty good average against Garza...I'm hoping he'll get on track with the bat with this game.

MLB Survivor and MLB Home Run Beat the Streak

2009-04-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

As some of my readers may have noticed, when you try to play MLB Survivor or MLB Home Run Beat the Streak, nothing happens.

Well - it's your computer. On my desktop computer, when I try to pull up those two games, all I get are blank panels where the choices should be.

But when pull them up on my laptop (Sony Vaio), they work just fine.

I assume it's some kind of Flash player that hasn't been updated...fortunately for myself, I'll just play using my laptop. For others - if you can't download the latest flash player, your local library should have the latest flash player on their computers, I"m sure.

Now, as for MLB Beat the Streak, it's too late for those who haven't chosen for today - but think Good Karma that Dustin Pedroia gets a hit.

Tomorrow, I've chosen Jacoby Ellsbury, because of his previous success against Matt Garza. According to the game's info, he has hit 6 times out of 13 facing Garza. ON the other hand, if he has an 0-fer today, as he had yesterday, I might change my pick...

Time to Beat the Streak in 2009

2009-04-07T13:42:00.001-07:00

http://www.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/bts/y2009/

I missed out on yesterday's game, but got started with today's game. I've already made my first 10 choices (the most you're allowed to make at one time is ten games). Of course, some of those I'll modify on the day of the game, but it's important that you never miss a game, because if you forget to choose a player, that ends your streak, assuming you've got one!

So, I chose Dustin Pedroia for today, and he rewarded me by hitting a homerun in his first at-bat.

These early games are really a "crap-shoot," as it's too early in the season to know if a player is on a streak or in a slump. But if Pedroia's homer is any guide, looks like he's starting out as hot now as he was when the season ended last year.

My next 10 picks (which may be modified - I'll update you each day with any changes) are

April 7 - Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox - homerun
April 8 - Dustin Pedroia again. He hits Scott Kazmir well
April 9 - Jacoby Ellsbury has a good average against Garza. I'll see how he does in these first two games, then may or may not keep him.
April 10 - Derek Jeter. He hits well against Sidney Ponson.
April 11 - Mark Loretta (Dodgers) against Brandon Webb.
April 12 - Ryan Howard (Phillies) vs Aaron Cook
April 13 - Jed Lowrie of the Red Sox
April 14 - Derek Jeter
April 15 - Derek Jeter
April 16 - Manny Ramirez

f

2009-03-06T22:43:00.001-08:00

The best baseball pitch in the world.

2008-12-30T14:18:00.001-08:00

Watch closely as he warms up..wonder if it would work in the states...

Thursday's choice (April 10, 2008)

2008-04-09T15:30:00.000-07:00

I've been lax about posting here for the last 9 days... sorry about that.

MLB Survivor
This game has yet to start.

Home Run King
You need to choose a player a day for 11 days who will hit a home run. I can't help you with this one!

Beat the Streak
I currently have a 4 - day hitting streak, thanks to Ichiro. I hadn't gotten a hit for the first 3 days of the new season, but he finally came through for me.

I've got him again tonight, vs Andy Sonnastine of the Devil Rays. (Yes, you heard me. He plays for the Devil Rays.) Ichiro is 2 for 2 against Sonnastine. Yes, that's not a large sample size, but I decided to go with him anyway.

Tomorrow, I'll be going with a different player. I'm hoping Ichiro will have a 5 game hitting streak, I'm not sure if I should put the burden on him to have a 6-day hitting streak, especially since Ichiro hasn't faced that pitcher at all (Jackson) and he appears to have good stuff...

Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves is facing Jeff Francis of the Colorado Rockies... he's 3-9 lifetime against Francis, has a .382 average this young season, and Francis has given up 12 hits in 6 innings.

I'm doing this even though the temp is supposed to be in the low 40s, and is supposed to be rainy... (the MLB website gives that info.)

I'm also doing this even though Chipper bats third. Typically, when you're playing Beat the Streak, you want to choose the lead off batter, because he's the player who gets the most bats in every game.

MLB Beat the Streak begins today...for me anyway

2008-03-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

I'm busy getting my Fantasy games up to speed...I have to attend a virtual draft at 1 pm...

Beat the Streak has already started.... Home Run Derby and MLB Survivor have not yet started, for some reason...

Opening day over, spring traning resumes

2008-03-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Boston Red Sox OPENED the 2008-2009 MLB season in Japan, splitting two games against the Oakland As.

When they return to the States, they will be RESUMING Spring Trainig!

Figure that one out!

Anyway, no MLB Survivor or Beat the Streak games yet. When the actual season starts, so will those games.

Sheesh!

26 days to go...

2008-02-27T12:08:00.000-08:00

Spring training games have started.

I've bought my MLB.TV (on the web) subscription already, for $90. I get to see all spring training games (on demand), and then the whole season. Any game, no matter how long past in the season, you can see whenever you want to.

The tips I'll be giving here are for:

1. MLB Survivor Game - choosing a team that will win each day. Longest streak wins prizes from MLB.

2. Beat the Streak - choose a player who will get a hit each day. Beat the 57-game streak and win big prizes. Anyone over 39 hits gets other prizes, from MLB.

This blog has moved

2007-05-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

I'm putting this info into my new blog

The Mudville Megaphone

http://www.themudvillemegaphone.blogspot.com/

Which is now part of my new website, also called The Mudville Megaphone, dedicated to sports around the world.

Check it out at www.themudvillemegaphone.com

Darn that Posada!

2007-04-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

Doesn't do any good to choose a batter who has a hot record against a certain pitcher...if he only faces that pitcher twice.

Posada walked his first at bat, grounded out his second, and because he bats 7th he never got another chance, as the pitcher was replaced early.

Never again will I choose a player who doesn't bat in at least the top third of the batting order.

Rodriguez is my choice for each of the next three days.

8-25 and counting

2007-04-28T17:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow my hit streak will be recorded as 9, but since I won't know about the front-runner's win streak until tomorrow, I'm going to deal with today.

I'm at 8, the leader has a 25 game win streak. I don't despair, however. There are a lot of games left to be played and the front runner can stumble...meantime I need to keep chugging away.

Anyway, for today I chose Joe Mauer of the Twins against Justin Verlander because he'd hit him well in the past. Ironically, Mauer was 0-3 against Verlander, but got a single and a home run off of various relievers.

So my winning streak is now at 9.

For Sunday, my choice is Jorge Posada, who is hitting well for the Yankees and who has also hit Julian Tavarez lights out. Meanwhile, A-Rod seems to be cooling off. He went 0-fer today, so I'm not going to bet on him tomorrow.

STILL 7 for 7

2007-04-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Twins are playing today. But Torii Hunter was replaced - before having an at-bat, thankfully. So my streak is still alive.

But this is getting really, really annoyed.

I wonder if they have a contest to choose a regularly-scheduled player each day who *doesn't* play - because right now my streak is at 3!

Tomorrow, I'll plop for Rodriguez!

Stuck on 7

2007-04-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

Alex Rodriguez was my "Beat The Streak" hitter for tonight, but just like yesterday when my hitter was Ichiro, the Yankees game against the BlueJays was postponed.

So, I chose Rodriguez for tomorrow instead. Got to ride him while he's hot...

STOP RAINING!!!!!

2007-04-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, the MLB streak leader has 22, I currently have 7, and I'll have 7 tomorrow, because the Mariners game has just been rained out and Ichiro was my choice to get me a hit today.

So, I'm going with A-Rod tomorrow.

It's Never Over Til It's Over

2007-04-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

I thought Alex Rodriguez had let me down today, not only in getting my hit but in getting my homerun.

At the end of the 8th inning he completed an 0-fer, and the Yankees were down by 4. So I figured that was it, game over.

Just a few seconds ago I checked the CBSSportsline page and couldn't believe my eyes - the Yankees had won...and Alex Rodriguez had a home run!

Now why can't the Mariners ever do that...

Anyway, thanks, ARod!

Alex Rodriguez

2007-04-19T09:17:00.001-07:00

He's my man today to get both a hit and a homerun.

This guy is on fire!

Well, hallelujah!

2007-04-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

Beat the HomeRun Streak
After about 10 tries, I had Alex Rodriguez chosen for the homerun hitter for today, and he got me a homerun. Yay. I don't have much hope for this game, though. If it takes me 11 tries before I get 1 homerun, how am I going to get 11 in a row? Well, I've got Rogriguez chosen for tomorrow as well. Here's hoping he stays on his hot streak.

Beat the Streak
Nothing hurts worse than choosing a player, thinking about it, choosing a different player, and then see the first player go 4-4 while your player gets an o-fer.

Happened to me yesterday - JD Drew let me down, darn him!

Started a new streak today, as Derek Jeter got a hit.

As I've said before, as long as there are still 57 games left in a season there's no reason not to "start again" even though it is a bit heart breaking at times. My competition still has a 16-game streak going, but there's still a long way to go.

No word yet on when MLB Survivor is going to start. I wish it would start soon, as that's a much easier game...

Ya just gotta laugh...or Lessons learned

2007-04-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

I debated earlier today between Jhonny Piralta or Grady Sizemore, and finally opted, fortunately, for Sizemore. I wanted someone on the Indians because the White Sox pitcher had stunk up the joint on his first outing, and I expected him to do the same.

But... he didn't. Fortunately, Grady Sizemore got a hit on his first at bat, otherwise the rest of my afternoon wouldn't have been as pleasant as it was - because Cabreras blanked everyone else. Yeah the Indians scored 2 runs - on errors.

So, lesson learned. Just because a pitcher has one bad outing doesn't mean he's going to stink up the joint every time he pitches. Better to stick to hot batters than to cold pitchers...

Yeah baby!

2007-04-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sizemore doubles in his first at bat!

I love it when my player gets a hit right off the bat so I don't have to be tensed up for the whole game.

Looks like Contreras, who had a rotten outing in his first start, will be going that way again, as I had hoped when I chose Sizemore. However, now that Sizemore has a hit I have no objection to Contreras being able to pull his socks up and get everyone else out...

Grady Sizemore!

2007-04-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sorry guys, once again I'm not posting my pick until the minute before the game is about to start. I've been busy doing some work projects and just lost track of time.

But I've got to make my picks the day after the night before, if ya get my drift, in order to assess every batter's performance...although admittedly I had chosen Grady by about 10 am this morning...I just then got onto other things instead of coming here immediately.

Anyway, won't happen again.

Go, Grady, Go!

Thank you Derrek Lee!

2007-04-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

I was worried there - he was 0-2 for a walk, and down to his last at bat (7th inning, Cubs with 4 run lead at the time) but they brought in a relief pitcher and he responded with a double.

So my streak is now at 6! Whew!

Funnily enough, before I'd chosen Lee I had chosen Ronnie Belliard of the Nationals, because he'd had good success with the pitcher he was facing today - and he is also 0-3 right now... so I'm glad I changed my mind and took Lee.

Still a long way to go yet, but you've just got to take it one day at a time.

Derreck Lee

2007-04-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

Too late to do you guys any good today, but the guy I've chosen is Derreck Lee of the Cubs...who seems to be on a hot streak even though the Cubs aren't doing well.

He's 0-1 so far, but keep your fingers crossed...

Sorry for the late notice...I got caught up in other things. Won't happen again!

Should I feel stupid?

2007-04-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

Jeff Conine was my pick for today - because he's got a good batting average this year - and hit great against Zambrano last year.

But... he's not playing in the game!

So this is where a flaw in my strategy comes in. I only really pay attention to two teams - Twins and Mariners, and so don't know about the other teams - if a player is hurt and isn't going to play, if they platoon him depending on the pitcher...etc.

Well, all I can hope is that they don't bring in Conine as a pinch hitter - because if he bats even just once and doens't get a hit, bang goes my streak. As long as he doesn't have an AB at all, I'm safe.

Jeff Conine v Zambrano

2007-04-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Jeff Conine has been hot for Cincinatti in the early season, and if MLBs stats are to be believed he hit relatively well against him last year.

So Conine is my choice for the 2.20 game today!

Thank you Vlad Guerrero!

2007-04-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

Much appreciated!

My hit streak is now at 5. The leader has 11, but it's a looong season and anything can happen. As long as there's at least 57 games left in the season there's no reason to not try to restart a new streak as soon as the old one ends.

But, I'm at 5 and intend to keep on going!

I see the Mariners were postponed again. This is getting really ridiculous!

Anyway, I'll wait until tomorrow about 10 am before deciding who my next choice will be....

Whew!

2007-04-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

Pujols came through for me with an infield single in the 9th inning. Thanks, Albert. Nevertheless from now on I won't be choosing anyone just because he's "due" - if he's not on a hot streak I won't choose him to begin with!

Darn you Pujols!

2007-04-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

Okay, it was my own fault. Never count on a guy to break out of a slump when you're trying to get a hit for Beat the Streak.

I'm thinking that what I'm going to have to do is forget about choosing a player from any old team based on how hot he is, and concentrate on two teams - in my case the Mariners and the Twins, and choose one of their hitters each time. Because I *know* those teams and their hitters, as opposed to reading up on the other hitters on various websites.

Anyway, Pujols has one more bat left - should come up in the ninth inning, but I am not sanguine.

Albert Pujols for today

2007-04-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Note: The MLB fantasy page promises an MLB Survivor Game this season, but it still hasn't started. Hopefully it will start before the All Star Break!

Beat the Streak
Albert Pujols is off to a slow start for the Cardinals, but I predict a breakout game for him today. He's going against a pitcher he has hit well, and who did not fare well in his previous outing.

Homerun Beat the Streak
Well, if I'd chosen A-Rod last night I'd've gotten my first homerun in this game. I can't let sentiment interfere with business, so I've chosen A-Rod tonight. Indeed, anytime a team is going up against my Twins or Mariners, I should pick their homerun hitter to get one, as they invariably will...

Let's settle things like men!

2007-04-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

How do men settle things?

Here's Guillen's opinion (Seattle Mariner outfielder):

I don't need to talk to him," said Guillen. "He doesn't need to talk to me either. We are grown-up people here. If he wants to settle something, he can send a bat boy over here to get me and we can settle it like men. That's all I have to say."

So Guillen considers himself grown up, and to settle something "like a man" he apparently feels it necessary to go toe to toe and beat each other up. Last man standing is the better "man." What a joke.

But all to many men - in particular young teens with guns or knives - feel exactly that way.

Anyway, my pick for tomorrow. I'm going to go out on a limb and choose Cardinal Chris Duncan vs the Pirates. He's hitting well, the Pirates pitcher had a lousy last outing...so I'm hoping he'll have another lousy outing. I briefly thought about choosing Pujols but he's having a slow start to the season.

Aramis Ramirez for today

2007-04-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

The Cubs are going against the Astros today, and I have chosen Aramis Ramirez. He's hot, batting at a .429 clip. According to the MLB page he faced Sampson three times last year without getting a hit. I'm thinking since he's seen him before, he'll get his hit in this game.

The Mariners are apparently going to be in action tonight, but they've been off for five days so there's no point in choosing any of them! I could go with A-Rod again...he's riding a hot streak as well...but the Yanks are going up against my MN Twins tonight and I don't want to jinx the Twins...

Mariners Snowed Out Again

2007-04-09T12:25:00.000-07:00

Well, my one-game hitting streak still lasts, even though the Mariners aren't playing today. Their whole series with Cleveland was snowed out. Time to push the start of baseball back to April instead of March, or something!

Anyway, will do some research later on tonight and share with you whom I'll be choosing as my hitter tomorrow.

I'm not having any luck at all with Homerun Streak... but I'll keep trying. I'll give Justin Morneau a try tomorrow..

Thank you A-Rod

2007-04-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Beat the Streak
My new streak started today, with Alex Rodriguez getting a hit via a home run for me.

For Monday, I'm going to go with Ichiro Suzuki, because the Mariners are playing a double header. I'm going to assume that Ichiro will be in both games - perhaps as an outfielder in one and as DH in another, although since it's early in the season there's no reason why he can't play in the outfield both times...

I'm doing this because according to the rules - at least for last year - a hit in either game of a double header counts as a hit for the day, so I think that doubles my chances of getting a hit....

Homerun Beat the Streak
In this game, you have to choose 11 straight players who get home runs... wish I'd chosen A-Rod today but I chose Bonds... I'll go with A-Rod tomorrow. I don't think this game is winnable, but it's free so why not try?

MLB Survivor
The MLB fantasy page still says this is coming... I don't know what's taking so long - it worked fine last year, why mess with success? I still don't like the new format of the Beat the Streak page, wish they'd go back to last years screen...

Darn you Derek Jeter!

2007-04-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Should have known better than to choose him after he'd been hurt the night before. Even a bruised foot can throw off one's rhythm...

WEll, fortunately we're only 5 games into the season... time to start a new streak! Will skip Jeter for a few days.

Now if only I can find some warm weather team that won't be postponed by cold or snow tomorrow...

Derek Jeter

2007-04-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Well, despite his bruised toe I'm going to go with Derek Jeter today against Steve Trachsel... Jeter's been hot up til now and with a 1 pm game time I wont' have to wait so long to know if I get my hit.

The MLB page is behind a day on updating our standings, but I know I have a 4-hit streak going. There were a couple of games postponed yesterday, so it'll be interesting to see how the "leaders" are doing (at least 20 people had picked correctly on opening day and so were 1 ahead of me, and then I lost a day (but not my streak) when the Detroit game was postponed...

It doesn't much matter in these early rounds ... the tough thing is going to be when we get up into the 40s and 50s... that's when the tension will start to mount!

Beat the Streak PIck: JD Drew

2007-04-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Why have I chosen JD Drew of the Boston Red Sox? Well, right now he's batting .400.

True, he's never faced the Rangers' pitcher Tejada before, but...well...it is the Texas Rangers.

But the main reason is... and I may or may not modify this behavior before the seasn gets too far along.... I'm just too impatient to wait until 7 pm at night to find out if my player gets a hit or not! The Boston game starts at 2 pm Eastern time, so I'll know within about 4 hours!

However, I'll be keeping an eye on my main guy, Ichiro Suzuki, and if he gets on a hot streak I'll be picking him even though it usually means I'll have to wait until 10 pm eastern time!

Shout out to the Tennessee Lady Vols!

2007-04-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

On April 3, the Tennessee Lady Vols, led by college basketball's winningest head coach, Pat Summitt, earned their 7th NCAA Division I championship - and the first in 9 years. My Lady Vols website has gone through the roof - interested people can check out:

Pat Summitt biography

Okay... the MLB season started 4 days ago. I didnt' bother to try anything with the first game of the season - seeing it was the only game on the night. I probably should have, as I am now *two* behind the leaders. (My pick today didn't play, as the Detroit Tigers didn't play because it was too cold. However, I don't lose my streak.)

Anyway, I chose Ichiro for the first three days, and he came through for me, for all that the Mariners lost badly on day 3.

For those of you new to this blog, I share with you my picks for MLB Survivor and Beat the Streak.

The MLB Survivor game hasn't started yet. Apparently they're revamping it.

They've revamped the web page for the Beat the Streak game, and I don't like it at all! But, ya gotta play with what they give ya...

Anyway, for Friday, April 6, my Beat the Streak pick will be .....

Can't finish this! Just realized the Boston Red Sox with Dice-K are on TV.

More later!

NC vs Maryland

2007-01-29T21:34:00.000-08:00

Oh, my goodness I really dislike Ivory Latta. She's the guard for North Carolina who, while very good, is the number 1 showboat player in the country. It's all about "Look at me." Playing on Maryland's home floor, sold out crowd, she made a 3-point shot and then held her finger to her lips as she looked at the crowd. I was so hoping a Terrapin would run over her or put an elbow to her chin - she would have deserved it...and I'm disappointed that her coach Sylvia Hatchell lets her get away with that kind of crap.

Unfortunately, Duke and NC look like the best teams in the nation. They can score from every position - and Tennessee simply can't.

Meantime, coming closer and closer to the Superbowl. I'd like to see the Colts win...but I hope it's a good game and that both quarterbacks do well. I hate to see people embarrassed - let alone on national tv.

Tennessee Squeaks By

2007-01-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

just barely.

The game was in doubt until the last 3 minutes, when TN took a lead of 2 points. Then for some reason Vandy started fouling - I guess they were doing a hack-a-Shaq method hoping the foul shootong would stink as bad as it had three days ago against Duke...

So they ended up winning by 10.

And did the jerks at the LV board give the Vandy team any props? Of course not. They're still 'losers' and the referees are the ones who made it close.

I'm going to stop reading the LV boards. I used to find their childishness and poor sportsmanship and hypocrisy amusing, but I've reached the point now where it really angers me. So since I dont' want to be wishing bad things on Pat Summitt and her team just because about 6 people on a message board are creeps, best thing to do is not read the message board.

But, although this was a win, it was not a convincing win. Tennessee had just lost a game to the number 1 seed, they should have been angry, they should have come out and poured it on...instead they were in a seesaw battle - they can't defend worth nuthin, I'm afraid. For every one good defensive play there's 3 plays where they leave a good shooter wide open. Happened in the Duke game and it happened here.

So...I hope they can win the SEC division championship...but as for the NCAA...well, I'll hope, but I'm less confident.

I Hope the Vols Lose Tonight

2007-01-24T22:40:00.000-08:00

I hate to say it, but that's the way I feel. It's not because of the handful of people who have posted ugly thins about Vandy (calling them losers, etc.) its because of two people who in my opinion are supposed to be taking the higher ground and fail miserably. One is the crazy lady who may or may not have had anything to do with banning me. She's supposed to fulfill the role of a moderator, in that she tells people not to paste entire threads from other boards, but when it comes to pointing out the poor sportsmanship exhibited by the LV fans...oh, no.

Fans of other teams who come to the LV boards are instructed to post on the 'Opponents' board, where they can say all the nasty stuff they like, apparently. And she's soooo tired of seeing these fans come and post their 'trash' on the LV board. Never mind the fact that the inhabitants of the LV board post nothing but trash about other teams all the time - unprovoked.

There's no thread on the Vandy board trashing the Lady Vols, for example. Indeed, there's only one thread there about the game priod. There were no threads on the UNC board dissing Pat Summitt's choice of clothing, as there inevitably is about Sylvia Hatchell. I could go on, but the point is this b*tch sees only with organge colored glasses, and her reading comprenension is supect.

Then there's the other guy, who has just caused me to throw up my hands in despair. He actually does have the title of moderator...but all he moderates is if someone's saying something thathe doesn't like about the Vols. Someone on the UConn board exressed their opinion that Candace Parker was a prima donna. On the LV board, this guy complains. "If they ever came over here and said that I'd ban them!" he states. Wow. Calling one player a prima donna is a reason for outrage. Calling an entire team losers with panties in a wad...oh, that's okay because it's not about the Vols.

There's no hope for it, I'm going to have to stop reading the board. The hypocrisy, poor sportsmanship and ugliness just get me too angry, and the fact that they can't *see* it is frightening.

So, sorry Pat, sorry team. But I hope you lose. Because I want to be able to go to that thread started by the creep who called Vandy losers in such an ugly way, and I want to say, "Karmic revenge is a bitch, isn't it." Serve them right.

1 More Day to Vandy

2007-01-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

Last year after the Lady Vols were blown out at Duke, they were unable to recover emotionally and lost a couple of days later to unranked Kentucky. They ended the season with 4 losses - 2 to unranked teams - and that pretty much put paid to their post-season, as they were seeded such that they faced North Carolina in an early round and lost.

Tomorrow, they face Vanderbilt...a team with 3 losses but that is apparently playing well right now. They are also playing at Vanderbilt. 90% of me wants the Vols to win. The other 10% of me, affected by the trash talking on the LV board, wants them to lose...just to shut those idiots up.

Yes, I know that what goes on on the LV Board is the same that goes on at any other sports board you care to name, they are no worse - but certainly no better - than any other board.

Which doesn't change the fact that I read some of the stuff posted there and just have to shake my head. Apparently they don't like Vanderbilt, because they're 'elitist' whatever the heck that means...I don't know the history behind the programs.

But a guy (or gal, hard to tell with the screenname) posted a most raucous post there, calling the Vanderbilt people losers, et al...and exhibiting pretty poor sportsmanship...par for the course for this poster. Of course no moderator raises a peep - musn't spoil people's fun, they're just having fun and these are their boards, etc. etc., and indeed it wouldn't surprise me if a certain moderator - the one who I think banned me - didn't join in herself and do some Vandy bashing.

Meantime they're all upset because a Vandy fan posting on his own board had tickets to sell, but made one of the criteria that he wouldn't sell the tickets to anyone wearing Tennessee orange. And there are a couple of people on the LV Board who are actually in a snit about this! As if they wouldn't have done the same thing had the situation been reversed.

That's what I find so pathetically funny about these boards. They complain about things that they do themselves. Only when it's them doing it, it's okay.

Humanity in a microcosm.

Two weeks to wait until the Super Bowl. That's a ridiculously long time. I suppose on one hand it gives people with minor injuries time to heal, but it also gives the entire team time to get cold.

The Aftermath

2007-01-23T08:25:00.000-08:00

Well, the UConn message board is certainly enjoying the discomfiture of the LV message board after the loss... and in particular the manner of the loss. The Vols jumped out to a 17-0 run against UConn who also closed the gap and tied....and they started out with a 25-0 run against Ole Miss and let that team come back with a 17-0 run also, before finally salting the game away.

And of course the UConners (I won't give the specific names of these message boards, but I do know them, obviously!) are commenting that it was only the officiating that let the Vols back into the game. Not that the refs called fouls on DUke that they didn't call on TN, but they didnt' call fouls at all when they should have done so. I prefer to let 'em play..

However, it does seem clear that the VOls have a team with 3 good players, and 2 players who can sometimes have good nights if they're not well-guarded. And that is not going to be enough to win it all...

They also lack mental toughness. Pat Summitt probably had that team better prepared than its ever been before...and they still got their hats handed to them to start the game...Duke came out with a trapping defense just like NC and Tennessee couldn't handle it. Indeed, more than anything else it's when Duke stopped trapping that Tennessee was able to get back in the game. Did the coach take pity on them and tell her team to stop trapping, or what?

Meanwhile, Bill Parcells retired yesterday. Interesting timing for it, although I suppose the sooner he retires the sooner they can find another coach and start the drafting process...

Lady Vols Lost By 4

2007-01-22T19:07:00.000-08:00

and its kind of amusing reading the UConn message board - of course it was the referees who let the Vols back in the game, the refs always favor the Vols, etc. etc. Too funny. Meantime the stats say Duke was called for 16 fouls, Tennessee for 14, and most of that happened in the second half. Which admittedly is when Tennessee got back into it...

I can't say anything about the refs and what they did or didn't call, since as soon as Tennessee went down by 20 I stopped watching the game.

But, this is the second time Tennessee has gone up against a team ranked higher than they were - NC being the other one, and getting outplayed early. NC was on enemy court, so there could be an excuse, but on their own court? With a jam-packed crowd? Those first few minutes were embarrassing and even though they did come back...there's a little lustre lost. The Vols just don't seem mentally tough. Yes, they came back...they even tied the game...but then immediately went down by 9 again.

Well, I'm hoping that it is now out of their system, and when they play these guys again in March (fingers crossed) they'll be better prepared for the intense defensive pressure that Duke brought during the first 10 minutes.

Stunned silence

2007-01-22T16:27:00.000-08:00

The Lady Vols are being embarrassed on national television. They are down by 20 with about 10 minutes to go in the first half and I can't watch it.

The Vols may be good...but they are not going to go all the way. I think Duke may well be.

Too sad to speak anymore.

9 more hours to go

2007-01-22T07:55:00.000-08:00

9 more hours until the Duke versus Tennessee game...a game I am eagerly awaiting as is of course obvious.

I'm awaiting it on two levels. On one level, of course, I want the Vols to win. On another level, I want to see how many times Doris Burke references UConn. Since Tennessee played UConn just a couple of weeks ago, I'm expecting her to mention them once, as she references past wins. All announcers do that. But, the homers (god, I dislike slang, but I gotta admit that "homers" is a better, and perhaps more accurate word than creeps, jerks or idiots...) on the LV Board persist in claiming that she mentions UConn *all the time.* Of course when Tennessee played North Carolina several weeks ago, the game was on TV, Burke was announcing, she didn't mention UConn once, and so I pointed out, for all the good it did...but that's because these people who criticize Burke don't actually listen to the games - they listen to the radio feed from Mickey Dearstone, so they actually don't know *what* Burke is saying. But that doesn't stop them from saying what they *know* she's saying.

Wow that Colts game was a barn burner. I truly believed that at the beginning of the 2nd half the Colts didn't have a chance...and then the way their special teams kept letting that guy rip off an 80-yard and a 40-yard return on 'em...I was just speechless.

But, they managed to pull it out.

So, Bears vs Colts in the Super Bowl. Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy are very good friends...and the first two black coaches to have made it to the Big Dance. Hopefully all the hoopla will be about them as men and great coaches, and not on their race...but ya know that Jesse Jackson will probably get himself into the act somewhere...

So, of the Bears and the Colts who do I want to win? I'd have to say Tony. He's been trying longer...I was so hoping he'd be able to win the Super Bowl last year because of his personal tragedy...but sentiment aside, I do think the Colts offense will be able to do enough against the Bears defense...once again it will be Grossman who is the X factor. He made some pretty good, gutsy throws in his game that sealed the win in the beginning, when it was still close...can he do it again on an even bigger stage?

Who wins this Sunday?

2007-01-21T10:57:00.000-08:00

My prediction....

the Superbowl is going to consist of the Saints versus the Colts, and the Saints will take it all.

Meanwhile...I see that Kevin Garnett has been suspended for one game for throwing a punch at a player. I think this is probably the first time Garnett has ever been suspended in his career.

Seems like there was some rough play by Antonio McDyess of the Detroit Pistons towards Wolves fan favorite Mark Madsen, and KG took exception.

So the Wolves face the red-hot Suns without their best player.

Pro Football and College Basketball

2007-01-20T15:13:00.000-08:00

Professional Football

I'd like to see Peyton Manning lead his Colts to a Super Bowl this year. I don't think he'll be able to do it - the Colts defense is still suspect, as far as I'm concerned, and for all Peyton's vaunted play-calling abilities and the Colts' no-huddle system, he still wasn't able to get a touchdown in their last win!

Womens' College Basketball

There's not a lot of WCBB on the TV, so it's hard for a large audience to get "in" to it. Much like the WNBA. It's a catch 22 - there's not enough popularity so they are not on TV, but they're not on TV so they can't get the exposure needed to increase the popularity.

On Monday, the Lady Vols will be on TV against Duke. This game is important on sooo many levels.

I've been keeping track of Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Lady Vols for a while. Pat Summitt is the winningest coach in NCAA Division I basketball - she's got 930 wins to date [while Bobby Knight has 880 wins on the men's side, having recently surpassed Dean Smith.]

One of the differences between Summitt and a great many other coaches in the WCBB is that she always has scheduled 'tough.' Most top-25 teams this year, for example, have a schedule in which they face no more than 5 or 6 top-25 teams. Whereas Pat Summitt's Vols will have faced a total of 13 such teams by the end of this year.

Some people have wondered, indeed, if Pat's habit of giving her team such tough opponents each season isn't one of the reasons why she hasn't won an NCAA championship in 10 years. Her teams are exhausted by the end of the year, they claim, prone to injury, and thus falter at the most important time, whereas the more rested teams can pile it on.

Well, we'll see.

I'm sooo anxious for the Monday game. If the Vols can win that game, I'll believe they can go all the way. If they lose...I don't think they'll be able to win the championship. The reason is simple. On Monday, they're playing at home, and the stadium will, quite probably, be full to the brim with orange-clad people yelling encouragement. If they can't win in that atmosphere, they won't be able to win on a neutral court.

North Carolina and Duke are the two teams remaining unbeaten in WCBB. To date, both those teams together have played about as many ranked teams as the Lady Vols have. However, North Carolina did beat the Vols...albeit at home.

Meanwhile, it's somewhat amusing to read the Lady Vols message board. The LVBoard, is a very active board - in fact I think it's the most active WCBB board that exists. And its full of posturing, poor sportsmanship, reading comprehension-challenged people. Well, not *all* of them, but the most vocal of them seem to be that way.

I admit I'm a bit bitter...in an amused, 'what the hell was that?' kind of way. I've just been banned from the boards, for no reason that anyone bothered to tell me. I'm a Lady Vols fan and I was banned from the Lady Vols boards...figure that one out. Oh, there's a story behind it...if someone makes inaccurate statements I have a habit of correcting them, which doesn't go down too well with people who think that the truth shouldn't be brought in to spoil people's fun.

To cite just one example, there's a subset of people on those boards who thinks that announcer Doris Burke favors UConn and slips their name in at least 10-15 times a game --in games in which UConn does not appear, please note.

So, the Vols were on TV versus NC earlier this season, and I paid close attention to the game because I wanted to see for myself if she really did this. And Doris Burke did not mention UConn once. Not once. And I went to the boards and pointed this out.

And yet, today, there's a thread there complaining again about Burke. *Every time* Doris Burke announces a game, someone starts a thread to whine about this. [I'd say, 'complain', but since they are complaining about something that doesn't actually happen, I think it's more appropriate to call it whining].)

Well, I shall watch the game on Monday, and pay careful attention, and will see how many times she does it. And if she *doesn't* do it, I will go to the Vols boards under the new screen name I created, and point that out. Just that. And we'll see how quickly that screen name is banned, because they'll know it's me.

And I will also report the stat here! Unlike some people, I believe in being fair. IF Burke does mention UConn, for any reason, I will report it here.

Stay tuned.

The blog resumes...

2007-01-19T13:19:00.000-08:00

I wasn't going to do any work on MLB Survivor Game Strategies until the season resumed in a few months. No point, really, since the whole point of this blog was to share my choices in playing the Survivor Game.

However, I was just asked to join MLB Blogger, a compendium of MLB bloggers, and I figured, well, why not.

So, I'll be starting up the blog again right now.

I've nothing to post today except this opening announcement, but starting tomorrow I'll post some quality stuff here.

I'm a Seattle Mariners fan, so there'll be updates on Ichiro Suzuki.
I'm a Minnesota Twins fan, so there'll be updates on them. [Liriano to miss all of 2007-2008. Bummer deal!]
There's a Triple-A club here in Norfolk, called the Norfolk Tides. I might do some stuff about them. For example, I've just visited their site and they've got a new hat design, for their *road* games, for the 2007-2008 season, and you can buy the hats for $23 at their shop right now. And of course you can buy hats with the design for their home games, as well. Oh, well, they've got payroll to make. Can't blame 'em!

Sept 10 - on hiatus til next year

2006-09-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

I gave up on Beat the Streak a few months ago, after I had chosen 2 teams to win, but opted to go with other teams due to sentiment, only to see my original teams win and my sentimental teams stink up their respective jernts.

I'll start up again with the beginning of next season.

Thanks all of those who stopped by.

See you next year.

5/30 Well it was fun while it lasted...

2006-05-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

But after having been bounced out of Game 8 in a very irritating way....I had examined the teams, decided on two that I thought would win, *but* then chose the Mariners, just cuz, only to see my original two choices win handily and the Mariners stink it up....

I did have 3 entries in Game 9, I admit, won one, the other 2 lost, and I've got the Dodgers today...Aron Sele who was no good last year for the Mariners...I hope will retain his good streak..I thought about going against the Cubbies, Maddux has not fared well recently...but I think I'll stay with the Dodgers.

5/23: Whew

2006-05-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

Game 7
I was not a happy camper for most of tonight...as Detroit fell behind early. But, they managed to pull it out, so I'm now 9-9.

As for Game 8, well, jeez. Rangers lost, after they fell behind, and went ahead, and then fell behind again. Astros lost.

The Diamondbacks are currently leading the Pirates, so I hope they hold on.

And of course I just had to choose the Mariners, and Piniero sucks.

But, I chose Ichiro as my Beat the Streak player and he got a hit...so I'm happy.

I sure do hope quite a few people drop out of Game 7, so that I can win it with another win tomorrow! Can't use the Tigers again...so I don't know who I"m gonna choose yet!

It ain't over til its over (a basketball comment)

2006-05-23T07:16:00.000-07:00

I watched the Dallas Mavericks lose a 20-point lead last night, and the game came down to the wire. Then the Spurs went up by 3 with 20 seconds left, and I'm thinking to myself, well, this game is over, the Mavs are going to go down, Stackhouse will try a 3, it will bounce off, game over.

So I turned the game off!

Checked back later and turns out Nowitzki had made a 2 point shot, been fouled, and tied the game with a free throw.

On the one hand I'm glad the Mavs won...on the other hand I really dislike refs bailing out a team. (Although they can sure hinder a team as well - as Dampier was called for a couple of ticky tacky fouls.)

But that's how the Lakers of old with Shaq, or the Bulls with Jordan, used to win their games. Keep the game close til the 4th quarters, then give Jordan the ball, he drives to the basket - and on *every* occasion a foul would be called so he could go to the basket. But earlier on in the game...those types of fouls were never called Interesting...

5/23: Who did they choose?

2006-05-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

Game 7
I've been keeping a secret from you guys...I"m actually still playing in Game 7. Yesterday I chose the Detroit Tigers and they came through for me, and I'm going with them again. So that's a 9 game streak. Unfortunately, only about 40 people playing Game 7 lost in the round, so I've still got 618 competitors. So 40 people last night chose a team with a losing record to win over a team with a winning record, because every team that should have won, won.

Game 8
This game started with 11,709 players, and after round 1 there are 9,008 players left. So here 2000 people made the wrong choice, and again it puzzles me...because the choices were so clear cut...and every team with a winning record (if only a couple of games over .500) won over a team with a losing record (if only a couple of games below .500.).

Anyway, I do wish the site would tell us, percentage wise at least, who picked what team to win on any individual day. It'd be interesteing to know.

Pick for Game 7 today - Detroit Tigers. Time to be using the big horse.

Picks for Game 8 Round 2.

Seattle over Orioles - sorry Os
Astros over Royals
Diamondbacks over Pirates
Rangers

---all the same teams I had last night. Hopefully they can all pull it off again, and down with the human element!

5/20: Indians Over Pittsburgh

2006-05-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

The choices are mighty tough today. Not much to choose between any team. So I'm going to go with the Indians over the Pirates.

On a side note - the Mariners won last night and what helped them was a doubleplay by Ichiro - catch and throw out at the plate. Turns out Ichiro has the 2nd most outfield putouts in his career, 50-something, trailing Vladimir Guerrero by only a couple.

I hope the Mariners can build off the momentum of their win and get something going...they might be at least a .500 team if their bullpen hadn't let them down repeatedly....

5/19: Still Rockies...

2006-05-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

I'm still going with the Rockies tonight...

Derek Jeter went 0-fer yesterday to end my Beat the Streak bid, and I don't really feel like trying to start that up again...too frustrating. They're so hot when I *don't* pick 'em, but on the day that I do... 0-fers! And the next day, 4-4!

5/18: Choice for 5/19- Rockies

2006-05-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

The Rockies are going up against the Toronto Blue Jays. They're going up against Josh Towers, who has had a lousy year...so I say Rockies are going to win!

5/18: Cleveland wins

2006-05-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Game 7: 2,606 players left.
Round 4:
Cleveland snuck by Royals 6-5, giving me my 4th win in a row. Yay.

5/17: Jeter yes, Dodgers yes, Reds no

2006-05-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

So much for Bronson Arroyo and the bats of the Cincinatti Reds...

Oh well, Dodgers kept me alive in the game, Jeter kept me alive in Beat the Streak...

5/17: Game 7 numbers

2006-05-17T07:36:00.000-07:00

The game started out with only 12,034 players. Round 1 eliminated about 3,000 - there were 8,825 left.
Round 2 started out with 8,825, and there are now 4,288, of whom I am two (I'm also doing the picks for a friend.)

Round 2 was a squeaker...the human element sure plays havoc with your picks.

Welll...for Beat the Streak - I'm now at 13, I'm going with Derek Jeter...he seems to be seeing the ball very well now.

For Survivor: There's little to choose from...the teams that were stinking it up at the beginning of the season are starting to play better...except the Mariners but Moyer's pitching today so I don't want to jink him.

Got to go with Bronson Arroyo and the Reds over Pittsburgh, and live dangerously with Dodgers over the Rockies...

5/16: Whew. Red Sox squeak by.

2006-05-16T20:01:00.001-07:00

The Red Sox jumped out to a 4 run lead tonight, so I was pretty confident they were going to win...then the Orioles scored 5 (I have to admit I'm glad Tejada got a hit, as he was my beat the streak player)...but fortunately the Orioles bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

Sorry, Orioles. I wish you luck in the future, but I'm glad you lost tonight.

As for the rest, I expected Cleveland to beat the Royals and they did, barely, thanks to another bullpen meltdown.

I thought the White Sox would beat Tampa Bay, but they lost, and I thought the Reds would take care of Pittsburgh easily, but Aaron Harang stinks!

Anyway...won't make any decisions about tomorrow until I can read the previews tomorrow...

5/15: 3 for 3, 1 ppd

2006-05-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought Braves, Dodgers, Indians and Diamondbacks would win.

Indians got rained out...but the other 3 teams did win, although just barely!

I'm going to Cape Hatteras all day tomorrow so won't have time to do a lot of research tomorrow - so I'm just gonna go with Red Sox over Orioles. Red Sox bats are hot, Oriole pitcher Chen hasn't won a game yet...

5/15: Game 7 Begins

2006-05-15T07:51:00.000-07:00

These 4 are guaranteed to win...probably.

Braves
Indians
Dodgers
Diamondbacks

5/14 Jeter came through for me...

2006-05-14T19:29:00.001-07:00

So my Beat the Streak streak is now at 11.

Still 12 to go to catch up with the front runners...28 is the *highest* someone got to, 23 is the longest current streak....

And tomorrow is Monday and time for a new game.

5/14 Jeter came through for me...

2006-05-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

5/12: My Beat the Streak streak is now at 9

2006-05-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

thanks to Brian Giles of the Padres.

I'd chosen him because he had a .400 average over Greg Maddux. So of course he goes 0-fer against Maddux and gets a hit in his final at-bat against Dempster. Heck, I'll take it.

Not bothering to choose winners of games until next Monday when Game 7 starts.

5/10: Dang Billy Jenks

2006-05-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

...or, the world's turned upside down.

Royals win. Streaking Phillies lose.

Well, have to try when a new game starts again next week.

5:/10: White Sox over Angels

2006-05-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

Well, I was feeling pretty confident about this pick last night, when Contreras was pitching - today he's been placed on the DL and a rookie knuckleballer is taking his place. But I'm going to go with the Chi Sox anyway.

The game was pretty easy over the last couple of weeks because there were so many teams on hot streaks and so many teams playing poorly...now the hot streaks are cooling and most of the poor teams are starting to play better.

Which is darn irritating from my point of view.

The difficulty of this brand new Game 7 is reflected in the players. There were 13,000 at the start, and only 3,000 left after the first round. Now there are 1,628 left. Well, I sure wouldn't mind seeing half my competitors drop by the wayside in each round. They key of course is that the person who wins has to choose the winner in 10 straight games - anything to make it more difficult, eh?

Anyway, if anyone doesn't like Chi Sox vs Angels...Mets have got Glavine on te mound today. He's been pitching well...meanwhile Maddux for the Cubs has dropped two in a row...

5/9: Midgame thoughts

2006-05-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

1st inning and Twins have exploded for 5 runs over Texas. Wow. I'm so glad I changed by vote to Indians over Marlins.

However...Marlins have a 1-run lead in the 3rd and the Indian bats have been cold recently...but they can do it.

C'mon Marlins.

And frankly...go Twins!

5/9: Rangers over Twins/Braves over Marlins

2006-05-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I've changed my mind - I'm taking Braves over Marlins.

5/8: Not beaten yet!

2006-05-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

While the Indians lost to those pesky Royals, I am not out of Game 6 yet. I've got a friend who is playing and is letting me make the choices. I had chosen Rangers over Twins for him, and the Rangers indeed came through.

And I'm going to go with the Rangers again tomorrow. Just as the Royals seem to be rising, the Twins are descending into the cellar. Carlos Silva had a good last outing...but the Rangers are hitting well, and, unfortunately, since the Twins ain't playing against Seattle, they're probably going to lose!

5/8: Indians over Royals

2006-05-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Royals have been playing a little bit better of late...but I'm still going to take the Indians over the Royals.

I'm busy working on other projects so won't share the four other choices...which in subsequent rounds I'll do so that others can have their choice of choices!

5/7: Monday's game starts tomorrow...which is Monday

2006-05-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

And I will post my choice around noon tomorrow. I see the Blue Jays beat the Angels tonight. Darn Blue Jays. Where were you when I needed you?

But, there's plenty more opportunities to win...although Detroit lost to the Twins today. The Twins! And they lost to the Royals a couple of days ago! So they may be cooling off....

Anyway, please come back tomorrow, check out my choices, and play the game with me...and hopefully we'll all last until the ending rounds when...yes...you'll be on your own.

5/6: Game over, man!

2006-05-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Da-amn!

Toronto bats stunk it up, and all my hard work goes for naught. If Bronson Arroyo wins tonight I'll be sooo annoyed.

But..it's a lesson. I was too impatient to wait until tonight to get a very good chance at a win, so I went with just a 'good' chance and lost. So now I have to wait anyway, until next Monday, for game 6.

So in future I'm not going to let my impatience defeat me.

Darn Blue Jays!

5/6: Mid-game thoughts

2006-05-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well, Angels have a 1-0 lead over the Blue Jays and the Blue Jays aren't getting hits off of Escobar, let alone runs.

Well, hopefully Escobar will have to come out soon and the Jays can tee off on the relief pitching.

I'd hate to lose this game, but especially by a 1-0 score.

Come on, Jay! Get those bats going. Bunt single to get on first, sacrifice to get him over to second, steal third, and then sac fly to score and tie the game. Come on!

5/6: Toronto Over Angels

2006-05-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Well, there were 150 players left yesterday, and today it's down to 65, so 85 people picked wrong.

Touch decision today. The most probable win is going to be Bronson Arroyo of Cincinatti, but, well, what can I say? That game doesn't start until 9 pm my time and I don't want to be kept in suspense that long. Ditto choosing Cleveland over Seattle.

I personally like Wakefield for Boston, but his team hasn't been able to do much for him...although now that he's got his old catcher back things might improve. Nevertheless, I don't want to risk it.

The White Sox are going up against KC's one good pitcher today. I'd favor SF over the Phillies except the Phillies are on a tear right now.

So...I'm going to go with Toronto. Their bats are hot. Carrasco is apparently pitching for the As (except the preview covered Escobar). In any event I think he';s got a dead arm due to the World Baseball Classic, and will look for the Jays to eat him up.

5/5: Has KC rid me of a few competitors?

2006-05-05T20:13:00.000-07:00

Garland pitched well, but the Chi Sox bullpen has let them down and the Royals are now in the lead 5-2, in the top of the 9th.

If they can hold on in the bottom of the 9th...and win...I hope that a few of my competitors will lose. Too much to hope that 149 of 'em will be gone?

5/5: Boston gives me win 11

2006-05-05T18:58:00.000-07:00

I was a bit nervous with Curt Schilling, he gave up a run in the first inning and had a few other problems, but once Rodrigo Lopez left the game David Ortiz hit a 3-run double to put the game out of reach.

Yay!

Unfortunately, all the other teams that are supposed to be winning tonight, are winning, so I doubt if I'll lose any competitors tonight, more's the pity.

Phillies beat SF handily - they are really on a tear. White Sox and Royals are scoreless in the 6th inning. Hate to do it but hope the Royals win!

5/5: From 166 to 150!

2006-05-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Darn! I was kind of dreaming that 165 of my competitors yesterday had chosen Detroit over Angels, and so I'd check the stands to see that I was the last player standing...but such was not to be. Only 10 people picked losing teams yesterday.

Well, I'm going with Red Sox over Orioles. Tejada of the Orioles was injured a couple of days ago and has not hit well siunce...I hope his struggles continue again today. (But, as a fan of the O's, I do hope they can pull it together...starting tomorrow!)

Philadelphia is red hot, but pitcher Floyd has a hugher ERA than his opponent on the SF side....can't pick Detroit....Royals are going up against White Sox but Garland for the Sox has an atrocious ERA....

Texas has a better record than the Yankees. Mussina is going to the mound for the Yanks....but tthe Rangers are "surging."

I've got a few more hours to think about it. I'm either going with the Red Sox or the Yankees.

5/4: Evening games....dang!

2006-05-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

Josh Towers of the Toronto Blue Jays was on the losing end of the Yankees game on April 30 which brought me my 6th win.

Why couldn't he have been pitching tomorrow??????????? Unfortunately, he's pitching tonight, and he's given up 5 runs in the 1st inning to Boston. Rotten timing!

Tomorrow, Curt Schilling will be on the mound for Boston, against Lopez for Baltimore. I'm thinking of choosing the Red Sox...I'll wait for the preview tomorrow to make a definate decision. Of course the Orioles are another team I like, just because of the nostalgia for Cal Ripken...but, ya gotta do what ya gotta do and I'm going to have to root against 'em.

There's no other team that I really like. Kazmir pitches well for Tampa Bay but the Oakland bats came alive tonight and might still be live tomorrow...Garland for the White Sox has a rotten ERA, but they are playing against Kansas City...

Ah, decisions, decisions.

5/4: 10-10!

2006-05-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

Chicago White Sox came through for me over Seattle.

In a suprise, the Angels won over Detroit. I'm hoping that will knock out a couple hundred players!

Milwaukee beat SF, who had no Barry Bonds.

But tomorrow is going to be verrrry difficult. I've used up Detroit, I've used up the Cardinals.

There's no sure-fire winner to pick. All the teams with good records are sending up pitchers with poor ones.

I could use Cleveland over the Mariners, but I hate to do it, as Moyer is pitching, I like him, and I don't want to have to root against him. But the Mariners' bats sure are dead.

Meanwhile in a role reversal Oakland's beating up on Cleveland today...

Once again I'll have to wait til tomorrow when the Previews for each game are posted and see if anything jumps out at me.

But for now, 10-10.

5/4: And so it begins

2006-05-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

I didn't have to wait in suspense too long to find out how the Mariners-White Sox game would go. 1st inning, Hernandez of the Mariners has just given up a 3-run home run to Jim Thome. 3-0 Sox.

Yes, it's only the 1st inning...but the Mariners bats simply don't do anything against good pitching.

So, at the risk of jinxing the win...all of a sudden I feel pretty good about my chances.

Now if only Tampa Bay can beat the Yankees and Toronto can beat Boston (I'm assuming other players have chosen Yanks and Red Sox) today will get rid of a few more of my competitors.

Thanks, White Sox batters...please keep it up. Mariners...I hope you start playing better....tomorrow!

5/4: 166 players left!

2006-05-04T04:07:00.000-07:00

Darn. That means only 20 or so players lost yesterday...everyone must have chosen the Yankees or Detroit to win!

If other games are anything to go by, this game could last several more days...and I've already used up the Detroit Tigers! No other team appears invulnerable...if the starting pitching is lights out there's always the bugaboo of the bullpen to worry about...or the batting doesn't support the pitching...or vice versa....

I'm thinking Cleveland over Oakland is a good bet...unless the Indian's batters are too tired from yesterday's slug fest..., Kansas v Twins is a wash - Silvera for the Twins stinks only slightly more than Affeldt for KC, Phillies are coming on like a house afire...Carpenter for St. Louis has a better ERA than Pettite of Houston...but I've already won twice with the Cardinals!

So...I'm going to go with the White Sox over the Mariners. Hate to have to root against the Mariners, but Contreras is pitching very well and the Mariner's "phenom" Hernandez is not doing so well....so, we'll see if picking against a team that I normally root for will bite me in the butt....Hope not...but that pesky human element has a way of rearing its head when you least want it to.

5/3: Thank you Carlos Delgado!!!!!!!!!!!!

2006-05-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

In the bottom of the 12th inning, Carlos Delgado came up, first man to bat, and hit the third pitch out of the ballpark.

Thank you Carlos!

Have to admit I was not a very happy camper for the last hour or so. Mets had a 3-1 lead going into the 9th and their closer, called "The Sandman," went to sleep, and gave up 2 runs. Thank goodness he finally got the side out, and the rest of the Mets bullpen was able to keep the game scoreless until Carlos could save the day.

Meanwhile....Greg Maddux has given up 4 runs so far and its only the 4th inning. Well, hopefully the Cubs can pull it out but their hitting sucks as badly as the Mets hitting.

Minnesota beat Kansas City easily!, Mariners had the lead in the 9th but their bullpen gave it up and they're now in the 10th, my alternate choice for tonight the Astros still have a 5-3 lead in the top of the 9th - I really wish I'd chosen them just so that my little heart woudn't have been under so much pressure!

Florida has just taken the lead over Washington in the top of the 9th, and Colorado is leading the Big Red Machine.

So tomorrow's choice is going to be reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalll difficult.

But, for now, I'm 9-9.

5/3: Mid-game thoughts

2006-05-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

Rookie pitcher Snell and Pedro Martinez are locked in a pitching duel at 1-1. The Mets have had their chances but can't score.

Meanwhile, the other team I thought about, Astros, have jumped out to a 3-0 lead in their half of the 1st inning.

So I'm not really happy right now.

The more so because it's my fault once again. I despite Pedro Martinez, I never should have chosen him regardless of how good his record was.

5/3: Biting the bullet

2006-05-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Game 4
There were 348 players left yesterday. It's now down to 186, of whom I am one.

Not very many good choices today. I thought about Nationals over Marlins - but both teams suck and I daren't risk it. Mariners will probably lose to the White Sox, but again, I'm not gonna risk it, nor any side of KC vs the Twins.

Maddux is going on the mound for the Cubs, but the Cubs bats were sooo bad last night and I don't recall that Maddux was that dominating for all that he has a low ERA, he had to work out of trouble a couple of times in his last win (which he won for me, thanks Maddux), and I don't really trust the Cubs bullpen.

Astros with Roy Oswalt over St. Louis seems good, but I don't want to be kept in suspense until 9 pm.!

So, I'm going with the Mets over Pittsburgh. I really despise Pedro Martinez and hate to have to hope for him to win, but when you're in a fight for $100 worth of MLB stuff you gotta do what you gotta do.

Game 5
There were a little over 10,000 players yesterday, tody there are 5,226, of whom I am not one. Darn you Jarrod Washburn!

If I were still playing the game, again I'd try to choose a winner between two less dominant teams...I probably would go with Nats over Marlins.

5/2: Official. Game 4 - Win. Game 5 - Lost!

2006-05-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

Game 4
Detroit beat KC. I'm 8 for 8.

For tomorrow, I'm contemplating Reds over Rockies. Can't believe the Mariners will do any good at Chicago, but the White Sox didn't look so good today... also Pedro Martinez 5-0 over Pittsburgh...but I really, really dislike Martinez and his head-hunting antics and would hate to have to root for him.

Will read the previews tomorrow - assuming they show up in a timely manner, and make a final decision then.

Game 5
No one to blame but myself for this loss. Never should have picked Mariners or Twins. But Washburn was the Mariners' one good starter....oh well, on to game 6.

Game 6 (one week away)
I'm going to go back to my orginal strategy for Game 6 (only picking winning teams to win), and avail myself of some more tools. I'll print out the remaining schedules for every team and put together a list of winners over losers for a twenty day time span. Once again I'll save the dominant teams - the Tigers, the Reds, etc, for as long as I can, and go with those teams with lesser - but still winning - records over those teams that simply suck.

On that note, after a poor beginning the Phillies are certainly coming on strong - although it's no great shakes to beat the Marlins. Indeed, for the first 2 rounds of Game 6 I don't doubt that I'll go with anyone facing the Marlins...