Pirates try to plunder Houston

It's Tuesday and the Pittsburgh Pirates are in town for the first of three games against Craig Biggio and the Astros. The Pirates are tied for 2nd in the league in getting hit by pitches this season, behind the team from the other end of Pennsylvania, but after there roster was plundered at the trading deadline, they lost their career plunk leader Craig Wilson and his 86 HBPs for the Bucs. Now the most HBPs any active Pirate has had since joining the team is Jason Bay's 23. Jeromy Burnitz has 77 HBPs but only 4 have been as a Pirate.
But on the plus side, the Pirates did pick up Shawn Chacon who has plunked 53 batters, 50 of whom weren't Craig Biggio. But, Shawn Chacon is not today's starter. Today's starter is Paul Maholm who has hit 11 batters in his two seasons of major league service. He has never hit Craig Biggio with a pitch, and the the Astros last saw him when he pitched the first 5 innings of that 18 inning loss in May.

Craig Biggio has been hit by a pitch just once on August 8th - in 2004 by Sunny Kim.

Also of note, 5 out of 6 infielders on the Pirates active roster have names starting with J. 3 are named Jose.