Plunk Everyone

HBPs of note: October 6, 2009

Brandon Inge stepped to the plate in top the 12th inning with the bases loaded and a chance to drive in a go-ahead run or four, in last nights tiebreaker playoff game at the Metrodome. He also stepped to the plate with 17 plunks on the season, one behind Kelly Shoppach for the American League HBP title. The first pitch appeared to brush Inge's shirt, which would have driven in the go-ahead run for the Twins, but the umpire ruled that it didn't hit him. That may have cost the Tigers the game, and a trip to the playoffs, but more importantly it cost Inge a share of the AL Most Plunkable Player award. Now, if the umpire had any question in his mind about whether or not the ball hit Inge, maybe he should have been aware the he'd already been hit 6 times this season by the Minnesota Twins and 17 times overall. If it had been any other player, it would be pretty safe to assume the Twins had not plunked him, but that was Brandon Inge - the only player in the past 25 years to get hit 6 times by the Twins.

There were two official HBPs in the game - Brendan Harris got plunked by Zach Miner in the 6th inning, becoming the first player hit by a pitch in a tiebreaker playoff game since Jeff Kent got plunked by Steve Trachsel in the 1998 AL Central playoff game. Also, Aubrey Huff got plunked by Jesse Crain in the 10th inning, and his pinch runner came to score a go ahead run - though the lead did not hold. Also, #9 hitter Nick Punto jumped out of the way of a sure plunking in the bottom of the eleventh inning that would have loaded the bases with 1 out and the top of the Twins batting order coming up - which may have ended the game quicker than the inning ending double play Punto eventually hit into (on a shallow attempt at a sacrifice fly). But, Punto has only been hit twice in 2,530 plate appearances, which is third worst in the majors among batters who have been hit at least once. When you don't develop good getting-hit skills in games throughout the season, you'll never be able to get that clutch HBP when you're team really needs it, Nick Punto. Fortunately for him, his teammates found a way to win in the 12th.

Huff's plunk was the only HBP ever recorded in an extra inning of a one game playoff, but back when the National League used to play 3-game playoff series to break ties for the pennant (before 1962), Dodgers catcher Joe Pignatano got plunked by Joey Jay in the 11th inning of game 2 of the 1959 NL Pennant playoff series.

Labels: HBPs of note