Thoughts on a hiting streak

Well, since there is a weather delay in Coral Gables, I have decided to tackle the sticky subject of "The Streak".  Now unless you have been of on some deserted island like the folks on Lost, you are aware that Garrett Wittels is in the midst of a 56 game hitting streak.  It is the third longest in NCAA baseball history,  and the second longest in NCAA D1 history, behind Robin Ventura and his 58 game hitting streak for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys in 1987.

And as you also should be aware, Florida International University, the team Wittels plays for, ended their season yesterday in the Coral Gables Regional.  This is where the debate begins.

The season is over, the streak is not.  Do you put an asterisk by the streak if it continues in 2011, or do you just let it go unnoticed?

I think you have to look at it from two perspectives:  longest consecutive single season hitting streak, and longest consecutive game hitting streak.

First , from the single season consecutive game standpoint, the 2010 season is over, and that streak ends at 56 games, which  is nothing to sneeze at.  Ventura continued his streak into the College World Series, which was a continuation of that season.  So in my mind, feeble as it may be, I think the single season hit streak still belongs to Ventura,  Sorry Garrett.

Now lets look at it from the consecutive game hitting standpoint.  Since Ventura's streak only lasted one season, the record is only for that season.  Should Wittels continue his streak in the 2011 season, I see no reason to highlight it, note it or asterisk it.  It is a CONSECUTIVE GAME hitting streak, NOT a SINGLE SEASON consecutive game hitting streak.  Both players, Ventura and Wittels, would still be recognized as record holders; one for single season consecutive games with a hit, an one for most overall consecutive games with a hit.

So both men are winners.  Except in the Robin Ventura - Nolan Ryan bout ...which is a topic for another blog