As all of my friends SHOULD know, Biggio got his 2998, 2999, 3000, 3001 and 3002nd hits of his career the other day. Now I’ve been one of his non-supporters this year. I’ve always thought that he should be benched on the road, moved down in the lineup, and be put on the bench after he gets his 3000th finally. Now not to say that I completely disagree with what I used to think, but after watching what happened that night, I’ve found my respect for him as a player again.
It has been very painful to watch Biggio bat all season, swinging at bad pitches, striking out more often than not…things were just ugly. It doesn’t help that the team is on the verge of the worst record they have had in…a lot of years. Many people, including myself, blamed part of our struggles on Biggio leading off, which I guess could be part of the problem. Honestly though, if you look at the team as a whole….they just basically all have sucked. When we are pitching well, we aren’t hitting. When we are hitting well, we aren’t pitching worth a crap. I’ve felt that this whole year, the only reason that Biggio has been in the lineup is for this quest for 3000….which I was a little bitter about because I would rather win than see him hit 3000…but whatever.
After watching his hit, well I watched the replay because we were playing softball at the time, I’m taking back everything bad I said about Biggio. I know that you heard this said a million times that night…but everytime Biggio plays, he plays hard and he plays the way the game should be played. When you watch him play now, he is but a mere shadow of the player he once was, but he still runs out every single lazy ground ball to the shortstop...you don't see Lee or Berkman doing that ever. Brad had me turn the radio on the other morning and a guy was talking about Biggio getting into the Hall of Fame. He was saying that at no point did he ever think that Biggio was "great". Sure he was good for a long time, but at no point did anyone ever say, that guy is the best…and to him that is how you should judge a player getting into the Hall. What the guy fails to realize is that Biggio IS one of the greatest 2nd basemen to ever play the game. I mean the 3000 hits should automatically put him in the hall, only 26 other players have ever done it. He doesn’t stop there, he is climbing the ladder on so many top lists that its hard to keep up sometimes. With every one of his hits, you always hear the announcers saying some other person he has passed in doubles, extra base hits…its amazing. Anyone that EVER says Biggio shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame is in idiot…hands down.
I’m not gonna lie, I got a little choked up when they showed Bagwell out on the field with him after he got the hit. I mean Bagwell and Biggio brought the Astros from a medicore team to one of the better francises of our time. At that point is when I realized why Biggio needed to hit that mark. He didn’t do it just for himself, he did it for the city and all his fans. We now can say we have one of the greatest players to ever play the game. I don’t care what anyone says, throw Biggio out there everyday…let him lead off, do whatever he wants. Him and Bagwell carried the team on their shoulders through the 90s and he deserves all the playing time he can get. He has been one of the most unselfish players of our time, and to think that he is playing for any other reason other than winning for the fans, you are crazy.
I’m not exactly sure where I was going with this post. It was kind of a tribute/rant kind of thing. Anyway, the point is. No more complaining from me when Biggio swings and misses on the slider down and away. His presence in the dugout and his legacy are enough for me to keep him around. Lets just hope that this win will spark the Astros to go on a run……wishful thinking though I’m sure……
It has been very painful to watch Biggio bat all season, swinging at bad pitches, striking out more often than not…things were just ugly. It doesn’t help that the team is on the verge of the worst record they have had in…a lot of years. Many people, including myself, blamed part of our struggles on Biggio leading off, which I guess could be part of the problem. Honestly though, if you look at the team as a whole….they just basically all have sucked. When we are pitching well, we aren’t hitting. When we are hitting well, we aren’t pitching worth a crap. I’ve felt that this whole year, the only reason that Biggio has been in the lineup is for this quest for 3000….which I was a little bitter about because I would rather win than see him hit 3000…but whatever.
After watching his hit, well I watched the replay because we were playing softball at the time, I’m taking back everything bad I said about Biggio. I know that you heard this said a million times that night…but everytime Biggio plays, he plays hard and he plays the way the game should be played. When you watch him play now, he is but a mere shadow of the player he once was, but he still runs out every single lazy ground ball to the shortstop...you don't see Lee or Berkman doing that ever. Brad had me turn the radio on the other morning and a guy was talking about Biggio getting into the Hall of Fame. He was saying that at no point did he ever think that Biggio was "great". Sure he was good for a long time, but at no point did anyone ever say, that guy is the best…and to him that is how you should judge a player getting into the Hall. What the guy fails to realize is that Biggio IS one of the greatest 2nd basemen to ever play the game. I mean the 3000 hits should automatically put him in the hall, only 26 other players have ever done it. He doesn’t stop there, he is climbing the ladder on so many top lists that its hard to keep up sometimes. With every one of his hits, you always hear the announcers saying some other person he has passed in doubles, extra base hits…its amazing. Anyone that EVER says Biggio shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame is in idiot…hands down.
I’m not gonna lie, I got a little choked up when they showed Bagwell out on the field with him after he got the hit. I mean Bagwell and Biggio brought the Astros from a medicore team to one of the better francises of our time. At that point is when I realized why Biggio needed to hit that mark. He didn’t do it just for himself, he did it for the city and all his fans. We now can say we have one of the greatest players to ever play the game. I don’t care what anyone says, throw Biggio out there everyday…let him lead off, do whatever he wants. Him and Bagwell carried the team on their shoulders through the 90s and he deserves all the playing time he can get. He has been one of the most unselfish players of our time, and to think that he is playing for any other reason other than winning for the fans, you are crazy.
I’m not exactly sure where I was going with this post. It was kind of a tribute/rant kind of thing. Anyway, the point is. No more complaining from me when Biggio swings and misses on the slider down and away. His presence in the dugout and his legacy are enough for me to keep him around. Lets just hope that this win will spark the Astros to go on a run……wishful thinking though I’m sure……
4 Schrute Buck(s):
#1 in Hit by pitch
#1 all time in doubles by a right handed batter...even more than hank aaron and babe ruth
only 2 other 2nd basemen have 3000 hits
one of a very few players in MLB history with over 250 Hrs, 400 Stolen Bases and 3000 hits
only player in MLB history to start and play a whole season at catcher, infield and outfield
You are right kevin, If heart is what people admire as greatness...then why isnt Craig considered one of the greatest of all time...Next stop Hall of Fame
So... let's go to a game. And you need to add some pictures to make this entry a little funner. Yes. Funner.
Excellent!
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