That's a season
The lesson, as always, is this: Sure, it's a lot of fun to wait until you have to win 12 consecutive games to make the playoffs, and then win 9 in a row... but it's not really the best way to make the playoffs. Similarly, it may be fun to wait until the last week of the season to get those last 7 HBPs you need to break the all time record, but as it turns out, it will probably leave you with some work to do next season.
Craig Biggio got hit by a total of 9 pitches in 2006, the lowest total he's had since 1994, the year before he first led the league. He was hit by 9 different pitchers on 7 different teams in 7 different ballparks. He was left unplunked by the Colorado Rockies for the first time since 1999, but he continued his streak of being hit by the Reds for the 15th straight season.
Everyone expects the Astros to sign Biggio for one more year, and that it will be his last. The goals for 2007 are clear: 6 more HBPs for 288. 70 more hits for 3000. Another 19 home runs for 300 is a distinct possibility as well, and there will be a concerted campaign to get Craig Biggio a spot on the NL all-star team one last time.
And, maybe next year the Astros can arrange a 9 game winning streak sometime a little earlier in the season. Maybe more than one?
Have a good offseason everybody. I'll be back for spring training sometime in late February.
