My return to MLB's Beat the Streak wasn't quite the glorious parade I wanted it to be. I actually regressed in the latest Beat the Streak in a Day Contest selecting only 35 of 57 batters correctly to get a hit. I had 39 correct picks in my only other entry on August 22nd (SIP #5). My double down for today is a tribute to the city of Philadelphia, a place I no longer hate. Maybe it was because we stayed in a nicer part of the city, or the fact that the game itself was quite fun, Philly as a destination has done a complete 180 in my mind. Philadelphia, take this Ben Revere and Marlon Byrd double down as my token of thanks for being gracious hosts. It doesn't hurt either that both Revere (2-for-2) and Byrd (4-for-11) have had decent enough success against San Diego starter Eric Stults. I should say that it doesn't hurt me. It is certainly going to hurt Stults as he watches himself tie for the league lead with 17 losses. Who would he be tied with? I am going to leave that part out, me and the City of Brotherly Love just got back on speaking terms. People who I am not on speaking terms with, well here's the list:
- Jordy Mercer, Pirates (DNP)
- Yangervis Solarte, Padres
- Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
- Jose Abreu, White Sox
- Justin Upton, Braves
- Charlie Blackmon, Rockies
- Derek Jeter, Yankees
- Jimmy Rollins, Phillies (DNP)
- David Ortiz, Red Sox (DNP)
- Jayson Werth, Nationals
- Jason Heyward, Braves
- Billy Butler, Royals (DNP)
- DJ LeMahieu, Rockies
- Elvis Andrus, Rangers
- Todd Frazier, Reds
- Lorenzo Cain, Royals
- Freddie Freeman, Braves
- Anthony Rendon, Nationals
- Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
- Billy Hamilton, Reds
- Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals
- AND OF COURSE Ben Revere, Phillies (I'm a glutton for punishment, don't let me down again Ben!)
I built up St. Louis so much yesterday. In typical Trevor pick fashion though, they found a way to ram a wrecking ball through that building. Riding that ball Miley Cyrus-style was Cardinals' closer Trevor Rosenthal. The fireballing ninth inning man didn't give a fuck about my W5 as he blew the save in the ninth inning of their game with the Brewers. It isn't entirely his fault the Cardinals lost in 12 innings but his blame wedge takes up the majority of the blame pie chart. I am hoping Brandon McCarthy and the Yankees can wash the stink of that loss off my record. McCarthy's ERA with the Yankees is half of what it was in Arizona and is coming off a seven inning, no run, no decision against the division leading Orioles. The opposing pitcher, Tampa's Alex Cobb, is no slouch in his own right. He hasn't let up more than two runs in a start since Independence Day. The thing going against the Rays' right hander is the lack of pop in the lineup when he's on the mound. He hasn't won in nearly a month mostly due to the anemic Rays offense wasting his pitching mastery. If the Yanks can run up Cobb's pitch count early, a problem he's had often, McCarthy and company should get me back in the good graces of Green Nation at a W1. HAPPY STREAKING EVERYBODY!!
Image Credits: Revere/Byrd (mlb.com), Streak pick (espn.com)