Will Biggio get the all-time record for HBP?

[micsmith]

I know this is a little tough to predict, but right now, Craig Biggio has been hit 285 times in his career, just two short of Hughie Jennings' all-time record of 287. Do you think Biggio will tie him or pass him? Biggio has only been hit 3 times this season.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I know this is a little tough to predict, but right now, Craig Biggio has been hit 285 times in his career, just two short of Hughie Jennings' all-time record of 287. Do you think Biggio will tie him or pass him? Biggio has only been hit 3 times this season.

He might. It depends on how much he plays.

[bluezebra]

I know this is a little tough to predict, but right now, Craig Biggio has been hit 285 times in his career, just two short of Hughie Jennings' all-time record of 287. Do you think Biggio will tie him or pass him? Biggio has only been hit 3 times this season.

I would be extremely surprised if he retired without the record.

Bob

[digglahhh]

From The Onion:

Craig Biggio Blames Media Pressure For Stalling At 285 Hit-By-Pitches (http://www.theonion.com/content/news/craig_biggio_blames_media_pressure)

[downstairs]

I would be extremely surprised if he retired without the record.

Bob

He already announced his retirement, so there is little he can do other than step into pitches.

Oh, wait, he already does that.

[chrispw1]

I wonder if any of his surviving family will be following the Astros around to be in attendance if he breaks the record, lol..

[cardsfanatic]

It's sad when you hang around 5 years after you're a useful player to a team and the record you're trying to break is hit by pitches. Just figured I'd toss that out there. Biggio shouldn't have even been playing the last three years and certainly shouldn't have been starting the last five. Then again, it hurt a division rival so I can't complain too much...

[Erik Bedard]

I thought he was aiming for 3,000 hits. Which he got. So now he's retiring, with or without the HBP record.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Even if he does, it will forever be tainted. Jennings didn't have body armor like the Armadillo does.

[holyroman]

who let all the 12 year olds on the internet to play.

real positive direction this thread has taken. Yall should be proud of yourselves. I don't think Biggio has any desire to break the record. He never has indicated this desire to my knowledge. In case you hadn't noticed he does not wear the elbow pad any longer since he rarely gets hit these days linked mostly to the fact that he dropped the high leg kick from his batting motion. and if you think he has not been productive the last five years cardinal fan i say it must be sour grapes. he has not been in his prime but he has been far from dead weight.

[cardsfanatic]

and if you think he has not been productive the last five years cardinal fan i say it must be sour grapes. he has not been in his prime but he has been far from dead weight.

Sour grapes? Over what, I wonder? Because it's news to me. Pete Rose gets hammered by people for playing "well beyond his years" to break the all-time hits record. Which, he did. Yet Biggio seems to be some sacred cow (especially amongst Houston fans) even though the guy should have retired long ago. But like I said... if Houston wants a player with an OPS below .700 in their lineup and is marginally better than replacement then far be it from me to stop them.

[538280]

It's sad when you hang around 5 years after you're a useful player to a team and the record you're trying to break is hit by pitches. Just figured I'd toss that out there. Biggio shouldn't have even been playing the last three years and certainly shouldn't have been starting the last five. Then again, it hurt a division rival so I can't complain too much...

I don't agree. Biggio has been essentially average for the past three years. He slipped last year with a 83 OPS+, but the two years before he put up 106 and 107 OPS+s. Especially from a 2Bman, that is hardly grounds to retire. Average players have real value to a team, because they are NOT easy to find. If a team doesn't have an average player at a position, they will have to probably rely on someone far below average. This is because the "league average" isn't the average by any means of all major league players. There are far more players who come in below average than come in above average, because the ones who come in above average play far more than those below. I'd bet that there are at least twice as many players 10% below average as there are 10% above average. Having a 2Bman that is essentially average is not hurting the team by any means. The past two years he has fell off to be a little below average, but is it really uncommon historically for a formerly great player to be playing for two years after he's no longer that useful?

[Matt1901]

I wonder if any of his surviving family will be following the Astros around to be in attendance if he breaks the record, lol..Or if Commissioner Selig will be there. I hope he applauds if Biggio breaks the record.

[Old Sweater]

In case you hadn't noticed he does not wear the elbow pad any longer since he rarely gets hit these days linked mostly to the fact that he dropped the high leg kick from his batting motion.



In case you haven't noticed, he doesn't get HBP as much, linked mostly to not wearing the elbow armor.


Biggio is going to have a bronzed elbow pad on display at the HOF. For real.

[hudsonharden]

I would be surprised if he does. He needs three to break it, and he's had 3 so far this year. I don't see him playing enough to get it.

[rdonahue]

I don't think he'll get it. He just isn't getting hit enough and his playing time isn't what it was earlier in the year and he says this is his last year. As a Tigers fan, I hope he doesn't get it (Jennings never really played for the Tigers but he managed them well for a long time....Ee-Yah!)