Most exciting hot streak players

[TheDude]

Just a meatball topic during what is sure to be the high point of miserable season for all of us. I used to think Alfonso Soriano was the most exciting 'active' hot streak player to watch in baseball. Like so many others, I want to bang my head into a wall and slam my hand in the blender every time he swings at pitch that bounces 6 inches in front of home plate. For 140 games a season, I loathe Soriano and his miserable plate discipline. But for that 10 game stretch twice each year where he suddenly develops patience and clubs a 2+ OPS with home runs every fifth at bat, there is no question it's awesome to watch.

 

But Castro has eclipsed him for me personally. 13 hits the last 5 games. I don't even care that 11 of them are singles, it's 13 bloody hits in 23 at bats from 21 year old kid. Are you kidding me? He had a similar stretch early in the year when he was hitting around .400 and tearing Colorado apart. He has to be the purest natural hitter the Cubs have had since Grace. I desperately want this kid to get 200+ hits and lead the NL, even if it is a little bit empty on Slugging. Sure Juan Pierre did it, as a Cub even, but for some reason it feels like night and day.

 

It's going to take a lot for any player to displace 'Annual August Sammy' in my heart for all-time hot streak hitters, but I'm all in when it comes to emotional investment into Castro.

 

Anybody else have a favorite hot streak player, current or otherwise (Cub or otherwise)?

[TruffleShuffle]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=suzukic01&year=2004&t=b

 

check out his july and august numbers. hell, for the second half of the season he hit .429. he goes through (or maybe i should say went through, since he seems to be old and not that good any more) these phases where he seemed to hit everything on the nose and got on base all the time.

 

tulowitzki is also pretty streaky, hit a ton of home runs last year in september and has really raked after the ASB the last two years.

 

ryan howard is another guy who can look completely lost at some times and then just start hitting home runs like crazy.

 

i don't know that they're hugely exciting, but alex rios and dan uggla are two guys who are notorious for running hot and cold. kelly johnson is another one. aubrey huff seems to do it as well, but sometimes year to year.

[Derwood]

Sammy Sosa

[CyHawk_Cub]

Yeah, Sammy... I recall one un-effing-believable June when he hit something like 21 dingers. Crazy...

 

ETA: fuzzy on the month & total, too damn lazy to look it up

[NCCubFan]

He hit 20 home runs in June 1998, the major league record for most HRs in a month. The previous record (and still the AL record) was 18 by Rudy York of the Tigers in 1937

[Hairyducked Idiot]

He hit 20 home runs in June 1998, the major league record for most HRs in a month. The previous record (and still the AL record) was 18 by Rudy York of the Tigers in 1937

 

My favorite stat from that streak is that from May 25 to June 25, he hit 23 HRs in 26 games (and slugged .972).

[Little Slide Rooter]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=fukudko01&year=Career&t=b#month::none

[pitchcs]

Kosuke should be playing ball in the Yukon Territory

[Backtobanks]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=suzukic01&year=2004&t=b

 

check out his july and august numbers. hell, for the second half of the season he hit .429. he goes through (or maybe i should say went through, since he seems to be old and not that good any more) these phases where he seemed to hit everything on the nose and got on base all the time.

 

tulowitzki is also pretty streaky, hit a ton of home runs last year in september and has really raked after the ASB the last two years.

 

ryan howard is another guy who can look completely lost at some times and then just start hitting home runs like crazy.

 

i don't know that they're hugely exciting, but alex rios and dan uggla are two guys who are notorious for running hot and cold. kelly johnson is another one. aubrey huff seems to do it as well, but sometimes year to year.

 

Rios' cold streak is approaching the Cubs' missing the World Series streak.

[bcl412]

He hit 20 home runs in June 1998, the major league record for most HRs in a month. The previous record (and still the AL record) was 18 by Rudy York of the Tigers in 1937

 

My favorite stat from that streak is that from May 25 to June 25, he hit 23 HRs in 26 games (and slugged .972).

 

I miss the steroid era.

[Guest]

Sure Juan Pierre did it, as a Cub even, but for some reason it feels like night and day.

 

That's probably because Castro doesn't weakly ground out to second base (or shortstop, since he's a righty) every other at-bat like 4-3 did.

[davearm2]

Sure Juan Pierre did it, as a Cub even, but for some reason it feels like night and day.

 

That's probably because Castro doesn't weakly ground out to second base (or shortstop, since he's a righty) every other at-bat like 4-3 did.

A few folks seemed to get perverse pleasure from pointing out that Pierre led the NL in outs made when he was with the Cubs in '06.

 

Guess who's leading this year.

[TruffleShuffle]

let's try to stay on topic, this thread is about most exciting hot streak players.

 

respond to the post above mine, and the terrorists win.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

How about pitchers? Randy Johnson when he was dealing was fun to watch.

 

And of course, Kerry Wood in his pre-TJS slurve days.

[Guest]

A few folks seemed to get perverse pleasure from pointing out that Pierre led the NL in outs made when he was with the Cubs in '06.

 

Guess who's leading this year.

 

Dan Uggla.

[17 Seconds]

hahaha

[Derwood]

A few folks seemed to get perverse pleasure from pointing out that Pierre led the NL in outs made when he was with the Cubs in '06.

 

Guess who's leading this year.

 

Dan Uggla.

 

bzzzzzzzzt

[TruffleShuffle]

terrorists 1, nsbb 0

[ChiCubsFan]

Who is Drew Stubbs?

[imb]

Sure Juan Pierre did it, as a Cub even, but for some reason it feels like night and day.

 

That's probably because Castro doesn't weakly ground out to second base (or shortstop, since he's a righty) every other at-bat like 4-3 did.

A few folks seemed to get perverse pleasure from pointing out that Pierre led the NL in outs made when he was with the Cubs in '06.

 

Guess who's leading this year.

 

ichiro, mutha [expletive]

[davearm2]

Sure Juan Pierre did it, as a Cub even, but for some reason it feels like night and day.

 

That's probably because Castro doesn't weakly ground out to second base (or shortstop, since he's a righty) every other at-bat like 4-3 did.

A few folks seemed to get perverse pleasure from pointing out that Pierre led the NL in outs made when he was with the Cubs in '06.

 

Guess who's leading this year.

 

ichiro, mutha [expletive]

Ichiro isn't in the NL, partner.

[erik316wttn]

Sammy Sosa

 

This.

 

I'm probably biased, but when Sammy was hot, there was nobody more fun to watch.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's Castro.

 

As the answer to both the question of the thread and davearm2.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I had no idea he was third in the NL in plate appearances. That's good for his development.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, he's pretty damn great.