Nationals strike back

This is the obvious problem with averages. The Astros are averaging 5.5 runs per game in the last 2. If they had scored over 5 in both games, they'd be 2-0. But they didn't. They scored 10 runs on Monday and 1 last night. Craig Biggio averages .297 hits per at -bat, but he had 4 in 5 at-bats Monday and none in 4 at-bats last night. And, while Biggio has averaged about 1 HBP for every 9.4 games he's played in his career, he has now gone 22 games since his last plunking. All that adds up to the Astros losing 4-1 last night.

While Biggio was once again left unplunked last night, he'll be back out there again today facing the Nationals rookie starter Mike O'Conner. O'Conner has hit 3 batters in just 5 career starts, but has not yet hit Craig Biggio with a pitch. Biggio has only been hit once before on May 24th - in 2000 by Chris Brock.

In the news today, the Houston Chronicle's John P. Lopez seems to agree with those of who figure any time David Wells says anything about Craig Biggio, it's pretty safe to conclude it just means that Wells is an idiot.

Also, the Washington Post's Peter Carlson celebrates Biggio's many plunks, focusing on Biggio's good natured attitude toward them all, and mentioning something about me being a loony. But hey, to extend the plunk metaphor at the end of the story, being called loony is a part of life and I'll just dust myself off head to first base - the metaphorical first base where everyone has learned all about Craig Biggio's plunks and how they fit in with baseball history - and any other crazy thing I choose to link them too. Anyway, thanks to Peter for taking the time to talk to me about it.

(I'm assuming he's counting the Doug Eddings lost plunk in that 277 total)