Luvofthegame
09-13-2006, 09:44 PM
Astros icon ready to make a move to surpass 3,000 hits
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Houston Chronicle
9/13/06
Astros icon Craig Biggio intends to play one more season, but if his pursuit of 3,000 hits cannot continue in Houston, he will play elsewhere, Biggio told the Chronicle on Tuesday.
"I am not retiring," Biggio said. "I am definitely coming back. I know I'm not done. If it's not Houston, unfortunately it will be somewhere else."
Biggio, 40, has 2,916 hits. He did not rule out playing after 2007 but said his focus beyond the Astros' fading postseason hopes will be securing a one-year contract with the club for next year.
Barry Axelrod, Biggio's agent, met with Astros general manager Tim Purpura in San Diego during the first week of August for preliminary discussions regarding a contract for 2007.
Biggio's greatest hope is that a contract can be worked out with the Astros. He said the game remains fun and that he will pursue 3,000 hits, a feat only 26 major leaguers have accomplished, even if the Astros choose not to offer a contract.
"The 3,000 hits, I really want to give it to the fans of Houston so bad," said Biggio."There's nothing more I would like than to do that for them. I'd be disappointed if I don't do it in Houston. There's no doubt about it."
Biggio has struggled to hit on the road all season and is presently in an 0-for-20 slump. Manager Phil Garner has moved Biggio up and down the lineup in hopes of igniting an offensive spurt. Biggio did not play in Tuesday's game at St. Louis, and Garner announced he won't start him until Friday's homestand opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Minute Maid Park.
Believing the game has passed Biggio by, some fans and members of the media have called for him to retire or be benched.
"People are entitled to their opinion," Biggio said. "If I was having a horrible year, that's one thing. If I had two home runs and six doubles, then you know when it's time to walk away. But I can look in the mirror."
Biggio is batting .248 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs. He has 32 doubles and has scored 72 runs.
"I know how to work these things out," Biggio said. "I know that retirement for me is coming. But I'm definitely coming back and playing at least another year."
Biggio ranks among baseball's all-time leaders in multiple offensive categories. He is ninth in doubles (636), 19th in runs (1,768) and 34th in hits.
Considered an almost certain Hall of Famer, Biggio is within 14 hits of Rogers Hornsby, widely considered baseball's best-ever second baseman.
Biggio also is the only player in major league history to have at least 600 doubles, 2,800 hits, 250 home runs and 400 stolen bases. In 1998, he became just the second player to have as many as 50 doubles and 50 steals in the same season, joining Hall of Famer Tris Speaker.
Biggio also is baseball's modern-era leader in getting hit by pitches, having been plunked 281 times in his career. He is within six of catching all-time leader Hughie Jennings, who ended his career in 1903.
Known as a scrappy, hustling team player, Biggio has changed positions over the course of his 19-year career several times, moving from catcher to second base, then the outfield and back to second.
The Astros have advanced to the playoffs six times in the last nine seasons. Along with first baseman Jeff Bagwell, who is expected to officially retire after this season, Biggio has served as a patriarch of sorts for the franchise.
Biggio and his wife, Patty, have raised millions of dollars for children's cancer research and support through Biggio's longtime support of the Sunshine Kids nonprofit organization.
"You play as long as I have and have the kind of support I've had, you want to get 3,000 in front of the Houston fans," Biggio said. "But realistically, you never know. I'll be playing somewhere next year, though."
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Houston Chronicle
9/13/06
Astros icon Craig Biggio intends to play one more season, but if his pursuit of 3,000 hits cannot continue in Houston, he will play elsewhere, Biggio told the Chronicle on Tuesday.
"I am not retiring," Biggio said. "I am definitely coming back. I know I'm not done. If it's not Houston, unfortunately it will be somewhere else."
Biggio, 40, has 2,916 hits. He did not rule out playing after 2007 but said his focus beyond the Astros' fading postseason hopes will be securing a one-year contract with the club for next year.
Barry Axelrod, Biggio's agent, met with Astros general manager Tim Purpura in San Diego during the first week of August for preliminary discussions regarding a contract for 2007.
Biggio's greatest hope is that a contract can be worked out with the Astros. He said the game remains fun and that he will pursue 3,000 hits, a feat only 26 major leaguers have accomplished, even if the Astros choose not to offer a contract.
"The 3,000 hits, I really want to give it to the fans of Houston so bad," said Biggio."There's nothing more I would like than to do that for them. I'd be disappointed if I don't do it in Houston. There's no doubt about it."
Biggio has struggled to hit on the road all season and is presently in an 0-for-20 slump. Manager Phil Garner has moved Biggio up and down the lineup in hopes of igniting an offensive spurt. Biggio did not play in Tuesday's game at St. Louis, and Garner announced he won't start him until Friday's homestand opener against the Philadelphia Phillies at Minute Maid Park.
Believing the game has passed Biggio by, some fans and members of the media have called for him to retire or be benched.
"People are entitled to their opinion," Biggio said. "If I was having a horrible year, that's one thing. If I had two home runs and six doubles, then you know when it's time to walk away. But I can look in the mirror."
Biggio is batting .248 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs. He has 32 doubles and has scored 72 runs.
"I know how to work these things out," Biggio said. "I know that retirement for me is coming. But I'm definitely coming back and playing at least another year."
Biggio ranks among baseball's all-time leaders in multiple offensive categories. He is ninth in doubles (636), 19th in runs (1,768) and 34th in hits.
Considered an almost certain Hall of Famer, Biggio is within 14 hits of Rogers Hornsby, widely considered baseball's best-ever second baseman.
Biggio also is the only player in major league history to have at least 600 doubles, 2,800 hits, 250 home runs and 400 stolen bases. In 1998, he became just the second player to have as many as 50 doubles and 50 steals in the same season, joining Hall of Famer Tris Speaker.
Biggio also is baseball's modern-era leader in getting hit by pitches, having been plunked 281 times in his career. He is within six of catching all-time leader Hughie Jennings, who ended his career in 1903.
Known as a scrappy, hustling team player, Biggio has changed positions over the course of his 19-year career several times, moving from catcher to second base, then the outfield and back to second.
The Astros have advanced to the playoffs six times in the last nine seasons. Along with first baseman Jeff Bagwell, who is expected to officially retire after this season, Biggio has served as a patriarch of sorts for the franchise.
Biggio and his wife, Patty, have raised millions of dollars for children's cancer research and support through Biggio's longtime support of the Sunshine Kids nonprofit organization.
"You play as long as I have and have the kind of support I've had, you want to get 3,000 in front of the Houston fans," Biggio said. "But realistically, you never know. I'll be playing somewhere next year, though."