snakes on a weekend

Astros' manager Phil Garner shuffled the lineup last night, in an obvious attempt to get Craig Biggio's HBP production jump-started, but it didn't go well on the first attempt. The Astros lost big by a score of 13-3 and Biggio is still looking for that elusive 284th plunk.

Tonight the Astros will get thrown at by Brandon Webb. He's hit Biggio with a pitch once before - on July 26, 2004 - but he's only hit 2 batters so far this season. If he plunks Biggio tonight he'd join Frank Castillo as the only 2 pitchers who have done so on May 26th. Castillo plunked Biggio on May 26, 1996. Webb would also become the first pitcher to plunk Biggio on the same day of two different months.

On Sunday, Livan Hernadez pitches for the Diamondbacks. He plunked Biggio on April 8th last season. But, Sunday will likely be a day off from the starting lineup, if they don't decide to rest him Saturday.

Darren Dreifort plunked Biggio on May 27, 2001.