Biggio v. 3000 hit club in the season they got the hit

It's...3000th hit.

 

The "getting more AB's" argument is dumb... if he was so far away from 3000 that he needed the most AB's possible to get there by the end of this season, I'd be less reluctant, but he's not.

He'd get to 3000 as a pinch hitter ONLY at this point. Granted, he's still got some abilities (especially hitting lefties), so he should still play.

As far as "respect"... its getting harder to have that for this year when you look at his continuing dwindling numbers against right-handed pitchers. Once again, I'm not saying bench him forever... but he doesn't need to bat leadoff against those good righty pitchers.

 

Craig Biggio reached 300 hits early in the 1991 season.

He had 293 hits at the end of the 1990 season, which was his 2nd full season in the majors.

 

I believe this is why he is doing this. He wants a capable 6th hitter as the last line of defense. Has anyone thought about moving Everett to leadoff or second batter in the lineup? I know it might sound laughable but he has been swinging it well these past couple of weeks.

 

Wow! I think I could hit .25%. 1 hit for every 400 AB. That's 1-2 hits a season as a full time player.

 

It isn't dumb. They are trying to get him there ASAP. Why do think he's been playing so much? I'd expect him to get more days off once he has reached 3000, although I think he should get more days off now because I think the rest would help him.

 

Well said! This is a BIG milestone. I mean, look at the list. There aren't that many players on it. Fewer players than team. Only 3 other players joined the club this decade, and Biggio will probably be the last. He'll be one of 4 players from 2000 - 2009 to reach this milestone.

It'll will be a great day for him and the organization. Arguably, even despite the season in which it came, one of the top 2 accomplishments all time for the franchise, with the other, of course, being winning the NL and going to the WS.

 

Yes... playing him is neccessary to get to 3000 faster. Batting him leadoff with unfavorable pitching matchups is NOT neccessary, as the difference in AB's at that point is negligible (especially since he's still getting plenty of off days).

If he bats leadoff, he gets 4-5 AB's a game regardless. If he bats in the #6 hole, he gets 3-4 AB's a game, but gets more if the offense is clicking (which is more likely if he's not batting leadoff against a tough pitcher).

I'm not against playing him, I'm against him batting leadoff when he is playing against tough right-handers (namely Zambrano).

 

I'd rather have ducks on the pond more often with Pence-Berkman-Lee at the plate, than what we're currently getting when Biggio bats leadoff.

Also, I see him getting more "hittable" pitches in RBI situations (which he can see more of at the #6 spot) than he sees when nobody is on base following the Everett-Ausmus-Pitcher part of the lineup. (hittable being in quotes, since Craig will still think that slider away is hittable till the day he dies).

 

He has played in 58 of a possible 63 games. He is 2nd on the team in ABs. He isn't getting very much time off and he is obviously getting more ABs. I'm not saying he wouldn't get there just as fast further down the lineup, but I am explaining the thought process behind him being the leadoff hitter. You are voicing your opinion on what the team should do. I am voicing my opinion of why they are not doing that.

Biggio's batting average was .250 in April, .231 in May, and .094 so far this month. I have to think fatigue is playing a factor. I'd like to see him take 3 or 4 days off to get rested, but that won't happen because he wants to play in every home game and we've got 6 in a row.

 

If he hits .094 for the rest of the year will he get 3,000 before the season ends?

Any math whizes here?

 

Yes, it would take 213ABs which is about 53 more games.

 

You honestly think him batting 6th (vs. batting leadoff) is giving him that many fewer AB's in getting to 3000?

There's a way to do both... and maximize the team's success in the process. The team is not doing that. THAT is my concern.

 

I think Biggio should hit from the left side and go for bunt hits.

By hitting from the left side he will be closer to first base and thus will increase his odds of beating the throw.

Other's have praised his hustle in running out grounders. That may be his biggest strength right now, and he should capitalize on it.

 

i think they should move bagwell to 3B

and play francis at the 2.

 

Out of the 3 ideas, I think the Francis one is the worst and least workable.

 

And Everett has 47 hits, while Biggio has only 50.

I'm not looking at the entire season... I'm looking at simply the amount of time it takes Biggio to get to 3000. In that size of a sample, it wouldn't have mattered much if Biggio didn't bat leadoff.

Do you think Biggio should or will be as featured after he gets to 3000? Not likely.

 

Well, they were probably banking on another good start to the season from Biggio (which has been his MO over the last 3 years), and would adjust the lineup accordingly once his predictable mid-season decline started.

The only problem is that the "mid-season" decline started just two months into the season... before the milestone.

Now, being so close away (20 hits), the club is facing a bit of a crossroads. If it were up to me, I'd start by giving him days off against tough righties, and bat him leadoff against lefties. He'll get more time off, and the club will get more high-yield use out of him.

Biggio is the franchise icon... nobody should ever say that he shouldn't be out there going for 3000 hits. But, for the sake of him (and the team) saving a bit of face... he should NOT be batting leadoff against quality right-handed pitchers anymore.