back at home, time for 3 hits.

The 3000 hits countdown starts for real today, now that the Astros are back at home. If there's a step above "having the green light" for a batter, that's where Craig Biggio is today. Three hits away, back at home, facing a team he has a .347 career average against, and a pitcher he's hit .333 against.

Biggio's only plate appearance in Milwaukee yesterday was a popped up bunt attempt, in the 11th inning of the Astros 6-3 loss.

Tonight, the Colorado Rockies are in town, and giving the ball to Aaron Cook. Biggio is 3 for 9 against Cook, and got plunked by him on April 2, 2003. He had two hits in that game, but it's not inconceivable that he could reach 3000 hits and get hit by a pitch tonight. Biggio has been hit by a pitch and still had time for 3 or more hits in 16 games in his career. In total, he's had three or more hits in a game 222 different times. He has 11 3+ hit games against the Rockies, and 3 or more hits AND a plunk twice against the Rockies.

Today is also a good day for important milestones in Biggio history - two years ago today, he tied Don Baylor on the all-time HBP list on a plunk thrown by Jason Jennings, then of the Rockies. Mark Clark also plunked Biggio on June 28, 1996. That one might not have been quite as historic, but they can't all be milestones. What could be better than tying Roberto Clemente on the hits list on the anniversary of tying Don Baylor on the HBP list?

The waiting has gone on long enough - it's time to count 2,998, 2,999 and 3,000 (transylvanian muppet voices optional). Then, it's time to put the arm-guard back on and get back to counting 284, 285, 286, 287 and 288.