NL Batting Title: Ryan Braun, Jose Reyes Battle For Top 2011 National League Batting Average

As the 2011 Major League Baseball regular season enters its final few weeks, scoreboard watching is a much a part of a trip to the ballpark as peanuts and Cracker Jacks. In fact, we're willing to wager that scoreboard watching has surpassed Crackers Jacks.

Not only are entire teams -- and fan bases -- watching the game scores to check on the rivals with whom they're jockeying for playoff position, but players are also eyeing their colleagues' performances as they battle for individual honors. Among the awards and distinctions up for grabs over the last two weeks of the season, few are being as hotly contested as the National League batting title.

New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes sped in front of the crowd during a first half when he hit .354 with 124 hits, but Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun raked at a scorching .369 clip in August to briefly take the lead.

Check back each day for the remainder of the season as we track the chase for the 2011 National League batting title. We'll update the slideshow every day with the latest results for both Reyes, Braun and any late-arriving interlopers -- Joey Votto or Matt Kemp, perhaps -- looking to wear the batting crown.


(jsonline.com)