Hit streaks make 2007 special, historical

Hitting a baseball is perhaps the most difficult thing to do in all of professional sports. It takes talent, patience, hand-eye coordination, mental toughness, adjustments, a willingness to learn and luck.

A great hitter succeeds 30 percent of the time. There is probably no other profession in the world where that rate of success would be considered acceptable, much less Hall of Fame material. Imagine a boss or a teacher handing a report back that said, "30 percent! Great job!" For most of the world, 30 percent means failure.

It's probably why baseball fans are so infatuated with hitting. A great feat with the bat is so rare that when it does occur, it captivates the American public. Numbers like .400, 56 and 755 signify awe and greatness -- the unthinkable transpiring before our eyes.

As the great Ted Williams said, "Hitting is the most important part of the game. It is where the big money is, where much of the status is and the fan interest."

While great hitting feats occur once a season, or even once in a lifetime, 2007 has been a remarkable year for batting achievements in Minor League Baseball. Four players -- Brandon Watson of the Columbus Clippers, Mitch Hilligoss of the Charlestown RiverDogs, Chris Davis of the Bakersfield Blaze and Mat Gamel of the Brevard County Manatees -- have had hitting streaks of 33 games or more.

It's the first time in professional baseball history, Major or Minor Leagues, that more than two players have had hitting streaks of that length in the same year.

The last time more than one player had a hitting streak of more than 33 games was 74 years ago in 1933, when Joe DiMaggio and Jim Oglesby accomplished the feat in the Pacific Coast League. It hasn't happened in the Major Leagues since 1922.

2002 marked the last time someone in the Minor Leagues had a hitting streak of 33 games. Joey Cora, playing for Las Vegas in 1989, was the last Minor League player to have a 35-game hitting streak. The last time a Minor Leaguer had a streak of 40 games with a hit was 25 years ago.

To have four players go on hitting streaks of 33 games or more in the same season is pretty extraordinary.

"It's an unbelievable feeling," said Watson over the phone about a month after the end of his 43-game hitting streak. "I didn't really know what was going on until it was over. After [the streak ended], I just took a deep breath, got to look at it, and say wow, 'that was a great accomplishment.'"

Streaking in the Minors
The Minors' longest hitting streaks of the past 20 years:
# 43 38 37 35 35 35 33 33 32 32 32 32 31 31 31 30 30 30	Player Brandon Watson Mitch Hilligoss Joey Cora Chris Davis Brent Gates Scott Seabol Mat Gamel Corey Myers Chris Valaika Dave Doster Lance Downing Robert Fick Casey Blake Jeremy Carr Kevin Hooper Doug Brady Ricardo Nanita Jose Tolentino	Team (League) Columbus (IL) Charleston (SAL) Las Vegas (PCL) Bakersfield (CAL) Modesto (CAL) Greensboro (SAL) Brevard County (FSL) Lancaster (CAL) Billings (PIO) Fresno (PCL) Diamondbacks (AZL) West Michigan (MWL) Dunedin (FSL) Wichita (TEX) Calgary (PCL) Nashville (AA) Great Falls (PIO) Tucson (PCL)	Year 2007 2007 1989 2007 1992 1999 2007 2002 2006 2004 1997 1997 1998 1997 2002 1995 2003 1990

Hilligoss, a prospect in the Yankees' organization, began the 2007 trend when he went on a 38-game hitting streak that ended on June 2.

Sixteen days later, Watson broke the International League record with his 43-game hitting streak. Gamel had his 33-game run snapped on July 7, while Davis tied the California League Record with hits in 35 straight contests on Tuesday (his streak was finally snapped Wednesday).

So what makes this year special? Why has 2007 been the year of the hitting streak in Minor League Baseball?

The players don't exactly have an explanation. They are in as much shock as the mathematicians scrambling to find the odds of this happening all in one year.

"I can honestly say, it's something that just happened," said Watson.

"Luck is the major part of anything like that," added Hilligoss.

However, while long hitting streaks are often inexplicable and require luck, each player had their own theory on the necessary components.

"I put the ball in play for the most part," said Watson. "You have to be a contact guy, and it helps that you can use your legs so you can beat out some ground balls. You can hit the ball hard all you want, but sometimes it goes right to people."

Hilligoss said that it was as much a team accomplishment as a personal feat. The third baseman recalled a game near the end of his streak in which the RiverDogs were leading, 6-1, in the top of the ninth. Hilligoss had yet to get a hit, and it was unlikely his streak would continue as he was the sixth man due up that inning.

Yet, Hilligoss' teammates bailed him out by battling and finding ways to get on base, so the 22-year-old could get one last shot at extending his streak. Hilligoss capitalized on the opportunity and blooped a double down the left field line.

Gamel talked about how important confidence was during his streak.

"I was really confident," said Gamel. "Every time I stepped in the box, I felt I was going to hit a ball hard."

Nonetheless, the players did agree on one thing: the longer the streak goes, the tougher it gets. Once the hitting streak approaches the 30-game benchmark, people take notice, from the fans to teammates to the media.

"Towards the end, the fans got into it and the guys in the locker room started talking about it a little bit more," said Hilligoss. "After 30 games, there seemed like a lot more media talk."

"It's hard not to think about it," added Watson. "But you try to think about as little as possible."

What makes these four streaks even more remarkable, is the era in which they were accomplished. Up until the 1970s, starters were expected to go most if not the entire game. Hitters would see one pitcher three or four times a contest and make the necessary adjustments.

Now, however, batters must face an average of three or four pitchers a game who throw numerous pitches at different speeds with varying mechanics, making it tougher for a batter to get comfortable and make in-game changes.

Heading into 2007, 19 of the 24 hitting streaks of more than 33 games in Minor League history had occurred before 1970, when seeing more than one or two pitchers in a game was rare.

"The streak was really tough with as many tough pitchers as [the league] has out there, with relievers and closers and starters," said Watson.

But even more than the era or the media attention, the four notable streaks have truly made the 2007 Minor League Baseball season special. All you have to do is ask the players.

"It was unbelievable," Hilligoss said.

Gamel echoed the similar sentiments. "I was excited about it. That's just the best I've ever felt at the plate for that long."

Perhaps Watson, whose 43-game hitting streak was the longest in Minor League Baseball in 47 years, put it best.

"I never imagined going 43 games with a hit. Looking back, it will probably never happen again for me. It was a blessing, and I'm really appreciative of it. It was something that I can't even explain in words."

Touché Mr. Watson.