BoSox Tavern: July 2014

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Changing the 2015 Schedule For NASCAR

With the NASCAR teams forming the Race Team Alliance and talking about saving money on costs and drivers now speaking out on changing tracks and days of racing, I figured that I would redesign the schedule for NASCAR and the tracks in the Chase.

I do like Ryan Newman’s idea of racing on Wednesday nights, although that might hurt attendance at the races. Jimmie Johnson had put out there that maybe cutting back on the amount of races. Tony Stewart has advocated bringing new tracks. And there are other ideas out there as well. I am going to use some of the ideas. The one idea that I absolutely agree with is no Super Speedways in the Chase. So that would eliminate Daytona and Talladega from the last 12 races. That doesn’t mean that they won’t play a part in determining who gets through to the Chase. Let’s figure out how to make the schedule a bit better than what it is.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Houston

As you may already know, I flew to Houston last weekend to see my brother, good friend AA and catch a Red Sox game at Minute Maid Park. (I think that makes five different ballparks where I've seen them play and nearly three times that many ballparks total)
I don't really have a whole lot to say except that we had a great time eating lots of great food and drinking beer during the three days I was there. The ballpark is beautiful. Got to see Big Papi hit a homer in a game they ultimately lost 3-2 (the only game of the three-game series they did lose). Jake Peavy pitched very well again with no run support, although I disagreed with the manager's decision to let him start the 8th inning having already thrown 102 pitches and the top of the order coming up. I was right as Jose Altuve led off with a hit and ultimately scored the game-winning run. An Astro hit a homerun, so we got to see the train over the left field wall go choo choo and then run down the track.
Did you know this ballpark is built right behind the old Houston South Station train station? We entered through South Station and then walking out the opposite side you enter a covered area that is a picnic area that essentially connects the station to ballpark. Thought that was a great touch.
I took a few photos and from them you'll be able to see we splurged and sat in the club level. What's great about that is not only do you have a seat outside that's pretty close with good sight lines but you can go back inside the club level and watch the game in air-conditioned comfort.
Below you'll see pictures from inside and outside Minute Maid Park but you'll also see a picture I took from my window on the airplane of the Atlanta skyline. I think it's pretty cool, and if you zoom in it's even better and you can see what I think is the Georgia Dome. The other couple of pictures are of the Astrodome, which I wanted to see before they tear it down. Unfortunately we couldn't get very close to it.