That's why when Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale's consecutive shutout inning record (58 2/3 innings), it seemed like a big deal that he break before the season ended. Hersisher would have just missed it had his last start not gone into extra innings and he pitched in the tenth to barely break the record.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09280SDN1988.htm

Streaks are kind of dumb stats/records anyways, because they're largely random and often not perfectly related to success. Ted Williams supposedly had a higher batting average during Dimaggio's streak than Dimaggio did (I can't confirm this, but it sounds reasonable)... Williams probably contributed more wins to his team over that stretch, and in a sense did his job better. But he lost the MVP, because Dimaggio was - essentially - consistently worse than Williams.

It's hard to know when to draw the line of what constitutes a streak and what doesn't. Sure, the end of a seson seems like a good point in which to cut it off. But what about a day or two between games? Or the All Star break? Essentially, Rollins is trying to accomplish the same feat as Dimaggio - get a hit in 56 consecutive major league ballgames. We know exactly what counts and what doesn't... and while the additive pressure of a 36 and a 15 game hitting streak is probably not anywhere near as much as one single 56 game streak, the accomplishment is otherwise just as difficult and luck-based.

On the flipside, Rollins could lose the streak the first day of this season because he lost the focus he had during the streak.

I think what Rollins is trying to accomplish is actually harder. Every day, DiMaggio probably tried to just to out and do the same thing, day after day, with momentum on his side.

Rollins on the other hand has to keep this going over seven months or so.

It's almost like comparing two different things.

I find it comforting that JR is taking this seriously. As a player (even in junior leagues) you want to get a hit every day. If you don't, then maybe you shouldn't be a pro athlete. Yes, it has a lot to do with luck, but what I think is being overlooked here is the tremendous amount of focus needed to accomplish this feat. Baseball is such a mental sport and it's good to see a young player making the attempt/commitment to give his all every day. I'm pulling for him to open the season with a 7-10 gamer so he can get some good publicity for being a premier NL SS.

While there's a big part of me that agrees JR's run at the streak should be bounded within the confines of a single season, I also think it's a pretty impressive feat to get a hit in 36 consecutive at-bats let alone 56 no matter when those at-bats occur. I agree with the comment that what he's attempting might even be more difficult because he has no momentum or rhythm for the game after sitting out several months and whoever he faces on Opening Day is going to be gunning for him. Then again, the baseball sentimentalist in me wants to see him earn it one season. After alk, Joltin' Joe's record is for a single season...

Of course, by at-bats I really meant games.

If he manages to pull it off, we will have the Baseball equivalent of the "Tiger Slam". What should we call it, the Rollins Streak just doesn't sound right :)