day off yesterday, playing tonight?

Craig Biggio was given the night off in Milwaukee last night, but the Astros didn't fare very well without him. The team lost 6-1, moving their record to 2 wins and 5 losses in games in which Craig Biggio doesn't play. Throwing in games when he's come off the bench to play this season, the Astros are 4-10 when Craig Biggio is out of the starting lineup. But they're 1-0 when he gets hit by a pitch.

Claudio Vargas will pitch for the Brewers tonight, and Craig Biggio is expected to be in the starting lineup. Vargas has hit 29 batters in his career but he hasn't plunked anyone this season, and he's never plunked Biggio. I'm sure he'll do the right thing and plunk Biggio in any subsequent plate appearances if Biggio starts out the game 3-3 and gets up to 2,999 hits. He'll be booed like he's never been booed before on his next trip to Houston if he gives up 4 hits to Biggio in Milwaukee tonight, denying him the chance to reach 3000 at home. (While I hope Biggio records plunk 288 at home, I'd also prefer to see it not quite so orchestrated.)

Tim Worrell plunked Biggio on June 26, 1996 and Mark Petkovsek did the same on June 26, 1995. The Astros are 2-0 when Craig Biggio gets hit by a pitch on June 26th.

Claudio Vargas hit Placido Polanco on June 26, 2005.