While Nats fans are focusing on Ryan Zimmerman's exploits -- his hitting streak hit 29 games last night! -- everyone's missing the other streaking batter, who's headed for his own sort of record.
Enter Alex Cintron.
The 30-year old quasi-shortstop is a robust 0-19 on the season. That's a beautiful .000/.095/.000 (batting/on-base/slugging) slash line that even Danny Cabrera (.000/ .231/ .000) is outdoing.
He's batted in 14 different games this season, all without a single hit. That's the 13th longest hitless streak to start a season since 1954. One more hitless game (and you know it's coming) pushes him into the top 5.
What's made it worse for Nats fans is Manny Acta's constant use of Cintron in key pinch-hitting situations, even when it's clear he doesn't have the ability to drive the ball through a wet paper bag.
Cintron is a switch-hitter, and despite a career .266/.303/.388 line against righties, Manny has sent him up there even when Austin Kearns or Josh Willingham were available on the bench.
It was like the episode of the Simpsons where Mr. Burns pinch-hits Homer for Darryl Strawberry solely because of the platoon advantage.
It's likely that Cintron's days with the Nats are numbered. His horrific bat can't save him for long, and the Nats might need an extra arm with a double-header coming up.
If he manages to stay hitless, he'll have a chance to move up some other leader boards, too. His 19 ABs would currently be the ninth longest season-long hitless streak since 1901.
One more AB moves him into 4th place. And four more move him into second all-time. First place would take 16 more hitless ABs. Possible, yes. But Nats fans would probably turn murderous first.
What could be more exciting than two hitting streaks at once, even if one's more dubious than the other?
Chris Needham used to write Capitol Punishment. He kind of hopes this streak goes on for a few more games.
