hit counter moves to 2,996

Craig Biggio's HBP count remains stuck at 283, but he did go 3-5 in yesterday's game, and drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning of last night's 12-9 win. Biggio's 10th inning RBI double moved him to 658 - which, if you hadn't heard, is more doubles than any right handed hitter has ever hit. The Astros did not win the coveted Silver Boot, losing the season series with the Rangers 4-2, but Biggio retained his 1-hit lead over Michael Young in the all time Lone Star Series batting chart. They both had 4 hits over the weekend, so Biggio has 54 hits against he Rangers and Young has 53 against the Astros. Craig Biggio is batting .327 over his last 11 games.

The Astros move on to Milwaukee tonight, for three games against the Brewers, beginning with a matchup against Ben Sheets tonight. Sheets plunked Biggio on June 29, 2001 and August 17, 2006. And, with Biggio perched on the brink of 3000 hits, and on the road, this is the perfect opportunity for him to put the elbow pad and work his way back into the get-hitting form he needs to find to break the all time plunk record. The Astros would obviously prefer the he get his 3000th hit in a home game, and if he doesn't spend a few plate appearances looking to get hit rather than looking to hit, he might get that 3000th hit in Milwaukee. I'm sure the fans at Miller Park would hate to see that, like how they refused to watch an all-star game that ended in someone actually winning, and demanded it end in a tie. They make take steps... or measures... to prevent such a thing.

Miguel Batista plunked Biggio on June 25, 2001.

And, Rod Beck plunked Biggio on September 7, 1997. Beck reportedly died Saturday, which sadly means that 3 of the 212 pitchers who hit Craig Biggio with a pitch are no longer with us. That, of course, is entirely too many.