If you had to pick one current player to beat DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak, who would it be and why?

Question

I'd have to go with a guy like Chase Utley or Matt Holliday. Who would you pick and try best to explain why. Or do you think the streak will last forever and never be broken?

Ya, forever wasn't the best word to use. What I mean is:
Or do you think the streak will not be beaten by any current player?

Answer 1

I'm surprised no one has said Carl Crawford yet, guy is like ichiro in that he has great speed and makes a lot of contact. It would likely be an Ichiro or crawford type, lot of speed, but also hitting high in the order to get those crucial extra at bats every few games that they might need...

Answer 2

My top 3 players who could break DiMaggio's record would have to be the following, from least likely to most likely:

3.) Grady Sizemore: He is a very young player with amazing ability to hit for average, contact, and power. He has had a rough go to start the year, but is still doing very well overall.

2.) Kevin Youkilis: He is more patient at the plate then any hitter I have ever seen. 99% of the time, he won't swing at the first pitch, eventhough it's considered to be the best you'll see in an at bat. His OBP is well over .400. He also holds the Minor League record for most consecutive games reaching base(walks, HBP, hits) with 76 straight games.

1.) The most common answer, Ichiro. He has speed to get down the line, and is already 2 steps out of the box by the time the bat hits the ball. He has had over 200 hits in every season since coming over from Japan, and let's not forget 2004 when he broke George Sisler's record for the most hits in a season when he hit 262.

Answer 3

I don't know if there's a current player who could do it- and I would like to see if broken. Ichiro may have had a chance, but he's starting to tail off a little bit. Holliday is a good pick, as is Utley- they play in hitters parks and have good averages.

Answer 4

This is outside the box, but I believe Freddy Sanchez could...his approach to the plate and mentality make this possible...his hand-eye coordination is outstanding, and he goes up there hitting tons of singles and doubles, not HR's, and his average is amazing, so this guy would have a legitamate shot...the thing I have against Ichiro is that he couldn't break the record the year he broke the hits record, so if he couldn't do it then, I don't see how he could do it now

Answer 5

Ichiro Suzuki.
The guy just hits and hits and hits. He is as good at making contact as anyone today. He's also incredibly fast and doesn't get hurt.
That said, I don't think the record will ever be broken. Too many relief pitchers mean you're always looking at a fresh arm, and--even worse--a guy you don't know anything about.

Answer 6

Derek Jeter for three reasons
1) The record should be kept in the family
2)Jeter is a good enough hitter to do it
3) The most important one: Unlike everyone else mentioned ,Jeter has proven time and again that he performs well in high pressure situations

Answer 7

i think the best person to beat the streak, or the person with the best chance is still Ichiro Suzuki or jeter or jose reyes cause theyre all great at placing the ball in the park. and they are all fast.

Answer 8

Ichiro, because if anyone can do it, he could. I don't think he will, however.

"Forever" is a rash prediction, but I cannot imagine seeing the game hit streak fall in my lifetime (which, I hope, is several decades yet to come).

Answer 9

Hanley Ramirez. The Marlins shortstop is only 23 so he has plenty of time and he often bats leadoff enabling him to have more at bats.

Answer 10

Ken Griffey Jr.
He's probobly the best pure baseball player