batting average question

[micsmith]

Chone Figgins is hitting .344 in 480 plate appearances over 109 games.

Bill Hall is hitting .256 in 486 plate appearances over 130 games.

Why is Hall listed at mlb.com as eligible for the batting title, but Figgins is not? Did Figgins just miss the cutoff in terms of plate appearances? It seems like Figgins should be listed as third in the AL batting race right now, but he's not listed at all.

[ipitch]

Right now, he just misses qualifying (156 team games * 3.1 PAs = 483.6 PAs needed).

[Erik Bedard]

He should make it, provided he gets 23 PAs over the remainder of the season (actually, he may make it regardless -- just assume that those 23 PAs were outs)

[geezer]

Right now, Figgins is now batting title eligible since he already had the necessary At Bats to qualify.