Plunk Everyone

HBPs of note: August 22, 2009

Kelly Shoppach jumped back into a tie with Chase Utley in the 2009 plunk race, being hit twice yesterday for a season total of 18. Those were the 30th and 31st of his career.

Carlos Quentin got hit by a David Hernandez pitch yesterday, which was Quentin's 50th career plunk. Happy 50th plunk Carlos Quentin! It was also his 12th of the season, which mean's he's in striking distance of the league lead if he can pull off what he did last year when he got hit in 6 consecutive games. David Hernandez is a rookie and had never hit a batter before, but he became the 446th pitcher to hit a batter this season. That's five more than the previous mark for the greatest number of pitchers with at least one hit batter as of August 22 in any season in baseball history. In 2007, 489 pitchers hit a batter which is the full season record, and should be in reach once the rosters expand in September - assuming there's actually anyone left in the minor leagues who hasn't already been called up to pitch. Check your voice mail, they might call you any day now. But, even though this year might be a record total for pitchers who hit at least one batter, the total plunks for the season is likely to be the lowest number this decade. So, it's a case of more people being hired to do less.

Evan Longoria got hit by a pitch in the 10th inning of the Rays-Rangers game yesterday, and that put him on base to score the winning run. That's always nice.

David DeJesus also got plunked yesterday, and it was his 40th career plunk at Kauffman Stadium. He's 4 shy of the Kauffman Stadium record, currently held by Mike Macfarlane at 44. Macfarlane also holds the Royals career record at 78, but DeJesus is only 12 away from that with 66.

Other things that happened yesterday include Ted Lilly throwing his 45th career plunk, and Jason Grilli threw the 20th he's ever thrown in the majors.

Labels: HBPs of note