Favorite Targets

The Giants haven't plunked Biggio since 1999, and in the 7 seasons since then, they've only plunked Astros batters 12 times, but even though the Astros rank 11th in HBPs against the Giants since 2000, they're still the Giants top target for the span of Biggio's career (1988 on).

Here's the list of plunks thrown by the Giants at each team (1988 to yesterday):
Astros - 76
Padres - 75
Rockies - 70
Dodgers - 68
Braves - 53
Expos - 51
Reds - 49
Cardinals - 49
Phillies - 47
Pirates - 46
Cubs - 45
Mets - 45
D-backs - 42
Marlins - 34
Brewers - 31
A's - 12
Orioles - 6
Mariners - 6
Rangers - 6
Angels - 4
Royals - 2
Devil Rays - 1
Yankees - 1
Tigers - 1
Red Sox - 0
Indians - 0
Blue Jays - 0
White Sox - 0
Twins - 0

The Giants are one of 3 teams who have chosen the Astros as their favorite targets for plunks during the Biggio era. The Reds and the Pirates have also plunked the Astros more than they've drilled any other team's batters. The only team which has become the favorite targets of more other teams during the 1988-2006 period is the Pirates who have been the most plunked team for the Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs and Astros. The Giants and Phillies have been the most plunked team of 3 other teams as well. The Giants have been the favorite targets of Rockies, Dodgers and Padres, although the Rockies hit the Dodgers as many times as they've plunked the Giants. The Phillies have been the most frequent victims of plunks thrown by the Braves, Mets and Marlins during the 1988-2006 seasons. But the Giants, having plunked the Astros more than they've plunked anyone else, are the only team to have a favorite target who is not currently in their own division. The Astros will have to pick up their get-hitting in the rest of the season series to keep that distinction though.

Here are the favorite targets of every team in the league from 1988 through 2006:
National League:

Team	Favorite Target	HBPs
Cardinals	Pirates	116
Pirates	Astros	110
Expos/Nats	Mets	107
Reds	Astros	105
Astros	Pirates	103
Cubs	Pirates	97
Phillies	Mets	94
Rockies	Dodgers/Giants	89
Marlins	Phillies	88
Mets	Phillies	83
Brewers	Pirates	82
Padres	Giants	80
Giants	Astros	76
Dodgers	Giants	74
D-backs	Dodgers	62
Braves	Phillies	57

American League:

Team	Favorite Target	HBPs
Red Sox	Blue Jays	137
Yankees	Blue Jays	112
Tigers	Indians	105
Indians	Twins	103
Rangers	Mariners	103
Blue Jays	Red Sox	102
Mariners	A's	100
Orioles	Yankees	97
Angels	A's	91
Royals	Tigers	90
White Sox	Twins	88
Devil Rays	Red Sox	84
A's	Rangers	79
Twins	Indians	77

(as you can see, the much hyped Red Sox/Yankees rivalry is really all about which team can plunk more Blue Jays)