2018 Schedule

[Bench]

The 2018 schedule was released today, which is appropriate considering this season is over.

Highlights include:  Opening day in Arlington, and the final seven games of the season in Toronto and Baltimore.  Interleague is against the NL West, so 36 of the Astros' 81 road games will be in the Pacific Time Zone, including a stretch of 21 out of 30 games from July 20 - August 26.

[Lefty]

42 games in the first 45 days of the season.

[Navin R Johnson]

What a crap road trip schedule.  Yuck.

[Andyzipp]

Admittedly, I was checked out when I couldn't watch the Astros on television for 2 years, but is the 4 game series a normal thing now?

I dislike the 2 and 4-game series greatly, but old man...clouds...

[juliogotay]

Admittedly, I was checked out when I couldn't watch the Astros on television for 2 years, but is the 4 game series a normal thing now?

I dislike the 2 and 4-game series greatly, but old man...clouds...

4 game series are not common.

[Andyzipp]

4 game series are not common.

The Astros have 11 of them in 2018.  (20%)

[Navin R Johnson]

What a crap road trip schedule.  Yuck.

Not only are the weekend road series super lame, but since we are playing the AL West, we just tacked on a bunch more 9PM CST start times.  Awesome.

[Fredia]

but to have to start with the stranger is cruel and unusual punishment

[TerryPuhl21]

As an Astros fan on the east coast, let me say this schedule SUCKS!!!


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[juliogotay]

but to have to start with the stranger is cruel and unusual punishment

why? Opening with a division opponent is neither cruel nor unusual. It is predictable.

[juliogotay]

The Astros have 11 of them in 2018.  (20%)

More than I expected but still not common.

[Bench]

why? Opening with a division opponent is neither cruel nor unusual. It is predictable.

The difference here is fuck the rangers. 

[moriartp]

The Astros have 11 of them in 2018.  (20%)

I hate that. I'm not sure why, but I hate it.

[Navin R Johnson]

 Brian McTaggart
With the Astros playing the NL West in Interleague next year, 36 of their 81 road games will be played in Pacific Time Zone.

[austro]

Brian McTaggart
With the Astros playing the NL West in Interleague next year, 36 of their 81 road games will be played in Pacific Time Zone.

Fuck you, Bud Selig.

[austro]

The 2018 schedule was released today, which is appropriate considering this season is over.

Highlights include:  Opening day in Arlington, and the final seven games of the season in Toronto and Baltimore.  Interleague is against the NL West, so 36 of the Astros' 81 road games will be in the Pacific Time Zone, including a stretch of 21 out of 30 games from July 20 - August 26.

Seems kind of cruel to open and close on the road.

[BudGirl]

If you are going to want me to organize opening day, and the opportunity for a discount happens, I want to know who would be in for the home opener.  I know it is early, but be honest, who's not going to want to go, especially if I can get a deal on the tickets?

[homer]

why? Opening with a division opponent is neither cruel nor unusual. It is predictable.

I think it is more a lost opportunity to open against the Rangers. And also to finish with them for the year at the end of July.

[juliogotay]

I think it is more a lost opportunity to open against the Rangers. And also to finish with them for the year at the end of July.

there is a whole lot not to like about the '18 schedule.

[ValpoCory]

I think it is more a lost opportunity to open against the Rangers. And also to finish with them for the year at the end of July.

Agreed.   Opening Day is a sellout regardless of which team you are playing.  The Rangers lose one of their "good drawing regardless of calendar" Astros gates now.   

The 2 things I noticed about the schedule are:

1) Only 2 series in the last 4 weeks of the season come against AL West opponents (6 of 25 games)
2) There is not a single night game series finale on the road scheduled right now.    All 10 road series finales that have game times are day games.  Granted there are still quite a few TBDs, but it's nice to see the new collectively-bargained rule in effect.    No more flights landing at home at 7am like Houston is doing tomorrow night/Friday morning.

[Duman]

Being based in Alabama now, the closest the Astros will come to me is Tampa which is only about an 1 1/2 HR closer than Houston to me. Might have to think about a road trip to Houston.

[Nate in IA]

One thing I don't understand is Twins in early April.   That's just asking for snow in that stadium which has no roof.   Might have to make a road trip to KC to pick up some Royals/Astros next summer.

[ValpoCory]

One thing I don't understand is Twins in early April.   That's just asking for snow in that stadium which has no roof.   Might have to make a road trip to KC to pick up some Royals/Astros next summer.

Good call.  That is another weird thing about having an indoor team like Houston start and finish away from home when the weather is the most unpredictable. 

[AstroFrog]

One thing I don't understand is Twins in early April.   That's just asking for snow in that stadium which has no roof.   Might have to make a road trip to KC to pick up some Royals/Astros next summer.

As a Minneapolis-area resident, I hate that the Astros lone visit is in early April when the weather could be crap and I am still busy with school.

In fairness, I could note that in 2014 the Astros came here in June, in both 2015 and 2016 it was August, and in 2017 it was very late in May (including the famous Memorial Day game).  After four years of pretty good luck, I suppose an early season visit was bound to happen.

My other personal gripe with the 2018 schedule is that i had been planning/hoping for a weekend visit to Seattle with a friend who grew up a Mariners fan.  The Astros have zero weekend games in Seattle in 2018, despite playing 9 or 10 games in that damn city.

[Navin R Johnson]

My other personal gripe with the 2018 schedule is that i had been planning/hoping for a weekend visit to Seattle with a friend who grew up a Mariners fan.  The Astros have zero weekend games in Seattle in 2018, despite playing 9 or 10 games in that damn city.

Same, we got a bunch of shit weekend non-division roadies, I was at least hoping for a trip to Seattle, which is the best divisional roadie by a factor of about 20.   Especially in August, when it is 200 degrees in Houston and 70 in Seattle.

[HudsonHawk]

Being based in Alabama now, the closest the Astros will come to me is Tampa which is only about an 1 1/2 HR closer than Houston to me. Might have to think about a road trip to Houston.

A road trip to Tampa ain't so bad.  You could go see Ynez...

[NeilT]

A road trip to Tampa ain't so bad.  You could go see Ynez...

I was thinking about going to Tampa in June.  It's in the middle of Tampa's tarpon season, and I've never been.  The guide hasn't responded though.

I take it there are hotels in St. Pete?  Sorry.  I'm not supposed to talk about hotels.

[chuck]

I was thinking about going to Tampa in June.  It's in the middle of Tampa's tarpon season, and I've never been.  The guide hasn't responded though.

I take it there are hotels in St. Pete?  Sorry.  I'm not supposed to talk about hotels.

I was poking around the other day and found a video you might like. I've mentioned Peter Matthiessen before. I was reminded of this because the guide he used in the video is still around, but curiously he now owns this chain of restaurants and is a bestselling author of detective fiction:

https://www.docfords.com/

The video is at the bottom of the page:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/on-peter-matthiessen/

[NeilT]

Randy Wayne White? He's pretty well known as an author in his own right.  Batfishing in the Rain Forest is a personal favorite.

[austro]

Randy Wayne White? He's pretty well known as an author in his own right.  Batfishing in the Rain Forest is a personal favorite.

You guys frighten me.

[chuck]

You guys frighten me.

You should watch the clip I referenced. The guy  Randy comes across as a bashful sort of guy - knowledgeable but unassertive. Which is why I find it so remarkable that 25 years later or whatever it is he's a multiformat mogul.

[NeilT]

You guys frighten me.

He's also got a pretty well-known series of mystery novels, the Doc Ford novels, and used to write the a column for Outdoors magazine .

[HudsonHawk]

I was thinking about going to Tampa in June.  It's in the middle of Tampa's tarpon season, and I've never been.  The guide hasn't responded though.

I take it there are hotels in St. Pete?  Sorry.  I'm not supposed to talk about hotels.

There are plenty of hotels in St Pete, and June should be off-season so they'll be cheaper. The last few times I've stayed at the Beachcomber in St Pete Beach. Right on the water and connected to Jimmy B's Beach Bar. If you don't want the waterfront, there are lots of places and could even Airbnb.

I did a guide one time, but don't remember his name. It was in Feb though, so no tarpon. That time we had to meet him in Safety Harbor so I stayed on the Tampa side of the causeway. Nice hotel, right next to Hulk Hogan's restaurant.

And if you need a fishing partner...

[NeilT]

There are plenty of hotels in St Pete, and June should be off-season so they'll be cheaper. The last few times I've stayed at the Beachcomber in St Pete Beach. Right on the water and connected to Jimmy B's Beach Bar. If you don't want the waterfront, there are lots of places and could even Airbnb.

I did a guide one time, but don't remember his name. It was in Feb though, so no tarpon. That time we had to meet him in Safety Harbor so I stayed on the Tampa side of the causeway. Nice hotel, right next to Hulk Hogan's restaurant.

And if you need a fishing partner...

Unfortunately, you'd have to kick Kris out of the boat, and she's the only one of who's actually caught a tarpon, losing her thumb nail in the process.  I'm not sure I'd take on that task.

On the other hand, an Astros game in June in Tampa could be pretty fun with a group . . . Everything I've heard about the stadium is other-worldly.  Or something.

[NeilT]

There are plenty of hotels in St Pete, and June should be off-season so they'll be cheaper. The last few times I've stayed at the Beachcomber in St Pete Beach. Right on the water and connected to Jimmy B's Beach Bar. If you don't want the waterfront, there are lots of places and could even Airbnb.

I did a guide one time, but don't remember his name. It was in Feb though, so no tarpon. That time we had to meet him in Safety Harbor so I stayed on the Tampa side of the causeway. Nice hotel, right next to Hulk Hogan's restaurant.

And if you need a fishing partner...

So we've made our reservation at the Beachcomber, booked a guide for tarpon, and are waiting for the single game tickets to go on sale.  I'm just trying to figure out how to explain to Kris that I really need to buy some cigars in Tampa.

ETA:  and Randy Wayne White made a documentary about Cuba little league baseball in Cuba with Bill Lee.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gUd00c3jGI

[Navin R Johnson]

There are a couple breweries right near the stadium, in St Pete I enjoyed this one the most.    http://3dbrewing.com/

[HudsonHawk]

So we've made our reservation at the Beachcomber, booked a guide for tarpon, and are waiting for the single game tickets to go on sale.  I'm just trying to figure out how to explain to Kris that I really need to buy some cigars in Tampa.

ETA:  and Randy Wayne White made a documentary about Cuba little league baseball in Cuba with Bill Lee.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gUd00c3jGI

A word bout the Beachcomber.  It's not fancy.  It's more "old school" Florida.  But the times I've stayed there the rooms were clean and it had a bed and a shower.  The biggest pluses are the location...walk out the back to the water, and you have to walk through one of the more popular beach bars in town.  And you're close to other nightlife and restaurants.  There's a good little burger join near downtown St. Pete that Ty took me to.  Ask him and I'm sure he can point you to it on game day.  I don't know where the tarpon hang out, but probably not at the bar. 

As for buying cigars in Tampa...I can't believe you even have to explain.  She should know this.  It's common knowledge.  Take her to lunch or dinner at the Columbia Restaurant, and she can walk around Ybor with you while you get some smokes.  I think the devil crabs at Carmine's are pretty good, and you can get them to go to take back for a late night snack or lunch the next day. 

Also, the Al Lopez House, where the Tampa Baseball Museum is or is to be located, is close by.  I don't know when it will open to the public, but you might get lucky. 

And a few nuggets so you don't sound like a tourist:

1.  Tampa Bay is a large body of water.  There is not city called "Tampa Bay".  You're either in Tampa, or St. Petersburg, or Clearwater, or wherever.  If you want to annoy a local, say you're visiting "Tampa Bay". 

2.  The term for a Tampa native is "Tampan", despite the juvenile response you may receive.  Don't let anyone tell you it's "Tampanian".  That's just dumb. 

3.  Three things never, ever, under any circumstance, go on a proper Cuban sandwich:  mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes.  It's ham, roast pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese and pickles with yellow mustard.  IN THAT ORDER!  Learn it.  Know it.  Live it.

[NeilT]

I asked the guide about the Beachcomber.  He said good choice and near where we'd be putting in. 

[Ty in Tampa]

3.  Three things never, ever, under any circumstance, go on a proper Cuban sandwich:  mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes.  It's ham, roast pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese and pickles with yellow mustard.  IN THAT ORDER!  Learn it.  Know it.  Live it.

I fail here.

[HudsonHawk]

I fail here.

If I didn't teach you any better, than *I* have failed *you*.  I will not make that same mistake with Neil. 

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

In art there is what is known as variations on a theme. In science it exists as the scientific method. This dynamic approach to a rigidly defined concept has led to great innovations and new discoveries in the arts, science, and in the quality of human life. And I think the "proper" Cuban Sandwich can be improved upon. But sure, then it's just a Cuban styled or Cuban influenced sandwich, not a "proper" Cuban Sandwich.

[Ty in Tampa]

Even a "proper" Cuban sandwich is in dispute, depending on whether you back a Miami Cuban or Tampa Cuban. The Tampa Cuban has Genoa salami added due to the influence of the abundance of Italian immigrants in Ybor city.

[HudsonHawk]

Even a "proper" Cuban sandwich is in dispute, depending on whether you back a Miami Cuban or Tampa Cuban. The Tampa Cuban has Genoa salami added due to the influence of the abundance of Italian immigrants in Ybor city.

The original version is proper, which means Tampa.  It's like chili in Texas.  The cowboys who made chili on the trail did not have tomatoes or beans, hence, no tomatoes or beans in proper chili. 

[Ty in Tampa]

The original version is proper, which means Tampa.  It's like chili in Texas.  The cowboys who made chili on the trail did not have tomatoes or beans, hence, no tomatoes or beans in proper chili. 

I'm with you. But I've seen some pretty fierce fuckers prop up the Miami version...much more fierce than I've seen anyone lobby for beans.

[chuck]

The original version is proper, which means Tampa.  It's like chili in Texas.  The cowboys who made chili on the trail did not have tomatoes or beans, hence, no tomatoes or beans in proper chili.

In what year was mayonnaise finally brought to Tampa?

[NeilT]

In what year was mayonnaise finally brought to Tampa?

My daughter lived in Argentina for a year.  The thing she found most remarkable was the amount of mayonnaise and sugar sold in the grocery stores.  It wasn't the mayonnaise shelf, it was the mayonnaise aisle.  Not defending it, but some people just like mayonnaise. 

[Ty in Tampa]

My daughter lived in Argentina for a year.  The thing she found most remarkable was the amount of mayonnaise and sugar sold in the grocery stores.  It wasn't the mayonnaise shelf, it was the mayonnaise aisle.  Not defending it, but some people just like mayonnaise. 

A proper TyCuban sandwich has yellow mustard AND mayonnaise.

[HudsonHawk]

In what year was mayonnaise finally brought to Tampa?

The year after they invented the refrigerator.

[Limey]

In art there is what is known as variations on a theme. In science it exists as the scientific method. This dynamic approach to a rigidly defined concept has led to great innovations and new discoveries in the arts, science, and in the quality of human life. And I think the "proper" Cuban Sandwich can be improved upon. But sure, then it's just a Cuban styled or Cuban influenced sandwich, not a "proper" Cuban Sandwich.

Surely a "proper" Cuban sandwich is like Champagne, and can only be the genuine article if made in Cuba?  So, just as California "champagne" is really only sparkling wine, so a Cuban sandwich made in Tampa (or anywhere else that's not Cuba) is just a pork sandwich with fixin's.

[Ty in Tampa]

Surely a "proper" Cuban sandwich is like Champagne, and can only be the genuine article if made in Cuba?  So, just as California "champagne" is really only sparkling wine, so a Cuban sandwich made in Tampa (or anywhere else that's not Cuba) is just a pork sandwich with fixin's.

My understanding is that the "Cuban" sandwich did not originate in Cuba but in Tampa (or Key West if you're inclined) by Cuban immigrants.

[HudsonHawk]

Surely a "proper" Cuban sandwich is like Champagne, and can only be the genuine article if made in Cuba?  So, just as California "champagne" is really only sparkling wine, so a Cuban sandwich made in Tampa (or anywhere else that's not Cuba) is just a pork sandwich with fixin's.

A Cuban sandwich is "Cuban" in the same way fajitas are "Mexican" food.  They do not have "Cuban sandwiches" actually *in* Cuba.  They were invented in Tampa by Cuban immigrants.  They are properly called a "mixto", and colloquially known as "Cuban sandwiches". 

[Ty in Tampa]

colloquially known as "Cuban sandwiches". 

A full meal.

[austro]

Even a "proper" Cuban sandwich is in dispute, depending on whether you back a Miami Cuban or Tampa Cuban. The Tampa Cuban has Genoa salami added due to the influence of the abundance of Italian immigrants in Ybor city.

I have to admit that I had never heard of putting Genoa salami on a Cuban sandwich. One can learn a lot here.

[Limey]

I have to admit that I had never heard of putting Genoa salami on a Cuban sandwich. One can learn a lot here.

"While I was on holiday in northern Italy, a pretty girl spoke to me when I was having lunch at a cafe ."

"Genoa?"

"No.  Never met her before in my life."

[HudsonHawk]

Since we're talking about Cubans in Tampa...Dr. Ferdie Pacheco died yesterday.  Known at "The Fight Doctor", he was Muhammad Ali's physician and cornerman from 1960-1977, in addition to being a ubiquitous boxing writer and commentator.  Pacheco was also an award winning writer and painter, much of his subjects being from his West Tampa/Ybor City hometown. 

[NeilT]

Since we're talking about Cubans in Tampa...Dr. Ferdie Pacheco died yesterday.  Known at "The Fight Doctor", he was Muhammad Ali's physician and cornerman from 1960-1977, in addition to being a ubiquitous boxing writer and commentator.  Pacheco was also an award winning writer and painter, much of his subjects being from his West Tampa/Ybor City hometown.

I know this has been discussed before, but consider opening the major league stadium section for stuff like this.  It's always great information, and it would be great to have to go back to. 

Are the public libraries worth visiting? 

[HudsonHawk]

I know this has been discussed before, but consider opening the major league stadium section for stuff like this.  It's always great information, and it would be great to have to go back to. 

Are the public libraries worth visiting?

I've had a "Road Trip" section in progress for 10+ years.  Need to dust that off during the void.

As for public libraries in Tampa...not sure.  The architecture at the University of Tampa is pretty cool though.  And I'm not sure what, if anything is going on the Tampa Theater, but it's a pretty cool place.  Nowadays I spend all my time fishing and smoking cigars. 

[Limey]

Since we're talking about Cubans in Tampa...Dr. Ferdie Pacheco died yesterday.  Known at "The Fight Doctor", he was Muhammad Ali's physician and cornerman from 1960-1977, in addition to being a ubiquitous boxing writer and commentator.  Pacheco was also an award winning writer and painter, much of his subjects being from his West Tampa/Ybor City hometown.

Was he was the man who cut Ali's glove to give him time to recover from the right pasting he was getting from "our" Henry Cooper?  The extra time it took to get a replacement glove allowed Ali to come out strong and, perhaps in an effort to get it over quickly to avoid another bolt like the earlier one, took the fight to the notoriously thin-skinned Cooper, who immediately got cut up and the fight was over.

But I'm not bitter...

[HudsonHawk]

Was he was the man who cut Ali's glove to give him time to recover from the right pasting he was getting from "our" Henry Cooper?  The extra time it took to get a replacement glove allowed Ali to come out strong and, perhaps in an effort to get it over quickly to avoid another bolt like the earlier one, took the fight to the notoriously thin-skinned Cooper, who immediately got cut up and the fight was over.

But I'm not bitter...

That would be his trainer Angelo Dundee.  Allegedly. 

And Cooper was cut up pretty bad and bleeding profusely before the knockdown.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Since we're talking about Cubans in Tampa...Dr. Ferdie Pacheco died yesterday.  Known at "The Fight Doctor", he was Muhammad Ali's physician and cornerman from 1960-1977, in addition to being a ubiquitous boxing writer and commentator.  Pacheco was also an award winning writer and painter, much of his subjects being from his West Tampa/Ybor City hometown.

Did not hear about that.

I was old enough for the last stages of Ali's career to have an impact.  And of course the Tyson era.

Now when I read about/ watch footage all I can think about is what those guys were doing to their brains as we cheered them on.  Not just Ali, but of course his was  the starkest contrast between his heyday and his nadir.