No More Streaking for Jimmy Rollins

The streak is over and I’m sad to see it end. I was rooting not only for the streak but for Jimmy Rollins who has quietly become on the best shortstops in the game. I can root for a guy who plays hard and want to be the best without coming off as arrogant.

Jimmy went 0-4 in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals to end his streak at 38 games. It would have been fun to have him gain momentum in the streak and get people asking everyday “Did that Jimmy dude get a hit?”. I still think Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak is one we might not see broken in our lifetime. I’ve never played organized baseball but I try to think of myself in a batter’s shoe.

It’s hard enough to get a hit in the majors. If you bat .300 over a season that’s great. If you get a hit for every four at bats throughout your lifetime, you’ll still get paid more than most people make in a year.

Once you start that streak going, the media pressure starts to build up. It comes on heavy like thick maple syrup. Everyone starts to ask you about it. You’ll probably imagine people asking you about it. Getting a hit has to be one your mind every single time you go to bat. It’s gotta be like going all in no-limit hold’em poker. You’re going all in and your heart is beating heavily inside while you try to remain calm on the outside. Everyday that streak continues, a batter goes all in knowing that if he doesn’t come out with a hit he’s lost all those games he’s accumulated in his streak. The longer the streak goes, the more he has at stake the next game.

Jimmy’s still a heck of a player and he could start a new streak. So here’s to hoping Jimmy Rollins or anyone else defies everything I just said and gets on a long ass hitting streak.