Ben’s Play

New ‘Stros pitcher Scott Kazmir didn’t disappoint us last night, going 7 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and zilch in the run department. Kazmir was drafted in the first round of the 2002 MLB Draft. Who selected him?

We will find out if this works. Commentary is talking about mayoral candidate Ben Hall trying to catch an anti-HERO wave. The play isn’t about Ben getting to City Hall. It is about who he hurts politically in the process. The Chron’s Rebecca Elliott has a lengthy piece on Ben’s play. It is definitely an insider story. Here it is:

Two years after coming up short in his first mayoral bid, a well-funded but unfocused affair, Ben Hall has found his campaign issue: taking down Houston’s equal rights ordinance.

Already a staunch opponent of the nondiscrimination law, Hall has become more vocal in the wake of last week’s Texas Supreme Court ruling that City Council must repeal the ordinance, known as HERO, or place it on November’s ballot.

From Twitter to television, Hall is using his criticism of HERO to set himself apart from the largely progressive mayoral field.

“There’s only one candidate in this race who has consistently for the last two years opposed HERO and supported the right of voters to vote,” Hall said in a Fox 26 segment that aired Tuesday. “When the pastors wanted to fight in the court system, none of the other candidates was present. I was.”

Most of Hall’s competitors have remained out of the HERO limelight, issuing a single press release about the Supreme Court’s decision or staying silent.

Five of them – former Congressman Chris Bell, City Councilman Stephen Costello, former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, state Rep. Sylvester Turner and businessman Marty McVey – have said they support the ordinance, while former Kemah mayor Bill King has tried to straddle the fence.

“I do not see the empirical need for a discrimination ordinance,” King said last Saturday, after previously saying he would not have put the item on City Council’s agenda.

Like Costello, King is seeking the support of Houston’s conservative west side.

Through a spokesman, King declined to comment Thursday on whether he would vote to repeal HERO.

“He’s between a rock and a hard place,” said University of Houston political scientist Richard Murray. “The right conservative base doesn’t like HERO, but the people who write big checks are more moderate on this issue.”

Passed in May 2014, Houston’s equal rights ordinance bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy and genetic information, and family, marital or military status.

It applies to businesses that serve the public, private employers, housing, city employment and city contracting, and violators could be fined up to $5,000. Religious institutions are exempt.

Since the ordinance went into effect, 11 complaints have been filed with the city, five of them alleging racial discrimination, five alleging LGBT discrimination and one claiming gender discrimination, according to Houston’s Office of Inspector General. A settlement was reached in one of the five LGBT cases, and the gender case was closed due to insufficient evidence.

In accordance with the Texas Supreme Court’s ruling that the city suspend enforcement of HERO, the OIG is not continuing to investigate the other nine cases. The law’s most controversial provision remains its protection of transgender individuals’ ability to use the restroom consistent with their gender expression, regardless of their biological sex.

Like many of HERO’s conservative critics, Hall has voiced concern that the ordinance would allow men dressed in drag to enter ladies’ bathrooms to potentially harm women and children, and he is among those who signed anti-gay activist Dave Wilson’s petition to define gender identity.

In staking out that position, Hall has endeared himself to some on the right, including local donor Steven Hotze, who publishes an influential Republican endorsement mailer.

“Hall speaks his mind forthrightly with conviction,” Hotze wrote Tuesday in an email sent out through his Conservative Republicans of Texas group.

Campaign finance records show Hotze and his wife each contributed $5,000 to Hall’s campaign, the maximum allowed in a city race.

HERO also puts Hall in a position to chip away at Turner’s support in the African-American community, particularly its more religious subgroups, said Rice University political scientist Mark Jones. “If you’re Turner, this is not a positive development,” Jones said.

Among Hall’s donors is African-American pastor F.N. Williams, one of the plaintiffs in the case seeking to repeal the nondiscrimination ordinance.

“I’m excited that God has gained a victory. It’s not our battle, it’s his battle,” Williams said last Friday following the Texas Supreme Court’s ruling. “We’re standing for him. We’ll continue the fight against sin.”

Even with the resurgent HERO issue, Murray said it is unlikely that Hall, who earned little conservative support in 2013, will have the votes needed in November to make the expected runoff.

As it was two years ago, Hall’s campaign largely is self-funded; he received contributions from just 36 individual donors in the first half of the year, taking in some $94,000, according to his finance report. Hall lent himself an additional $850,000.

“I don’t think you can ride that single issue into the runoff,” Murray said. “I don’t think it has enough resonance with voters that are so much more concerned about infrastructure and the deterioration of the streets.”

Reporter Mike Morris contributed to this story.

No doubt Ben will get votes on this. But he becomes the anti-HERO candidate. A one issue candidate. Let’s see who he ends up hurting.

Scott Kazmir was drafted by the Mets of course in 2002.

Last night was electric! A scoreless game with two out, two on, and a one and two count against Jason Castro in the bottom of the ninth then his dinger to right and The Yard erupted! I was actually getting ready to settle into extra innings, instead, we swept the Angels. Baseball doesn’t get any better, folks!

The team is making some moves. We have us a two game lead. The D-Backs are in for three. Baseball is alive in H-Town and welcome to H-Town, Carlos Gomez

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Her Priorities, Your Priorities, My Priorities

Yesterday, I wrote about “Your Priorities, My Priorities.” Yesterday, the Mayor let us know about her priorities. Here is from the Chron:

With her signature nondiscrimination law likely to appear on the November ballot, Mayor Annise Parker left in doubt Wednesday whether she will ask City Council to also place before voters long-discussed changes to term limits and the city’s revenue cap.

Parker said she has no interest in putting the latter two items to amend the city charter to a vote only to see them fail because they lacked robust campaigns behind them.

“It was my full expectation that I’d be spending my remaining campaign funds and my personal time advocating for these two good-government items, but because of the presence of HERO (the Houston equal rights ordinance) on the ballot, I’m going to be having to split my energy over there,” she said. “There is no – at this point – group willing to step up and advocate for the other two. I’m not going to put some things out there just to fail. It may be more timely to bring the charter amendments to next November’s electorate, and I can leave that decision to the next mayor.”

I am not surprised. I think Rev Cap changes and term limits would have been soundly defeated by the voters. There just hasn’t been any leadership out there for these two issues. Not from City Hall, not from the Downtown business community, not from neighborhood groups, not from political players, and not from special interests. Folks have been pretty timid.

Albert Pujols had a dinger last night and now has 550 for his career. That is 15th best in the career dinger department. Who is at number 14?

Here is from a questionnaire from this campaign season:

Would you support city issued municipal IDs to provide photo identifications for Houston residents, including undocumented immigrants which could serve as an ID card for public services, including a library card? Would you train HPD to recognize and accept the identification?

I understand where this is coming from. But I worry about compiling a city database of folks without papers and then having anti-immigrant groups request it under our Open Records law and having info on where folks without papers live. Talk about harassment! That is really not a good idea.

Manny Ramirez has 555 dingers of course and sits at number 14 all time in career dingers.

Hey, the ‘Stros are back in first. 31,000 plus turned out last night on an ESPN televised game. We are the real deal as Scott Kazmir gets the start tonight.

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Your Priorities, My Priorities

The HERO on the ballot gets some run today by the Chron E-Board. Here is how it ends:

Just a week ago it seemed like the mayor’s race would be about potholes and pensions, with the city’s revenue cap as the most likely referendum item. Now we’re back to refighting an issue that’s dogged local politics for decades. It is time to finally put it to sleep, and if punching a ballot is the only way to show that Houston is a place that doesn’t discriminate, then let the block-walking begin.

Here is the entire E-Board take: http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Equal-rights-and-true-liberty-6411109.php.

Some folks think the HERO vote should be the most important item on the ballot this November. Some folks might think the possibility of losing the Super Bowl is paramount. Other folks might think city finances are a priority. Some might think picking the next mayor should be at the top of the list. And others might think the county bonds are the most important. Some might think the constitutional amendments should be our main focus. How about infrastructure? Everyone has their own priority and we have to respect that. Pick your poison.

Evan Gattis is tied for third in MLB with seven triples. Name the player with the most triples?

The county wants us to vote this November on $848 million in bonds. I wonder how much of the bond money is earmarked for within H-Town? Does that matter? Of course it does.

The lead story on the front page of today’s Chron is about another plan to save the Astrodome. Ok.

Lisa Falkenberg writes today about the editorial cartoon in the Chron this past Sunday that depicted Sandra Bland’s funeral hearse getting pulled over by a trooper. I saw the cartoon and never gave it a second thought. Apparently a lot of folks were offended. I get their point. Some folks wrote letters to the Chron today. The cartoonist also responded. Go check out the Chron.

Kevin Kiermaier of the Rays leads MLB with 10 triples of course.

24,031 showed up at The Yard last night to see the ‘Stros win one and regain a share of first place with the Angels. We scored ten runs including dingers by Correa and Carter and Gattis’ three bagger. Tonight is Dollar Dog night so I expect a bigger crowd. 101 games and we are tied for first.

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Police Presence

Commentary is thinking if the HERO is on the ballot this November, altering the Rev Cap might be a little more difficult. The thinking is the HERO item will bring a bit more social conservatives to the polls who are not inclined to alter the Cap. That’s what I’m thinking. Same goes for altering term limits.

According to MLB.com, Jeff Bagwell is an early favorite to be part of the 2016 Hall of Fame Class. What was Bagwell’s career batting average?

I wonder if the following will have an impact. I am talking about giving HPD officers bonuses for living in high crime areas in the city. This is part of a front page story from today’s Chron:

Officers who agree to reside in 10 of the city’s police districts with the most frequent calls for service would receive three years of bonuses, according to mayoral spokeswoman Janice Evans.

A draft version of the plan heads to the city’s public safety committee Tuesday.

Officials hope it will deter crime and build goodwill in a city where less than half the force calls home.

“It would make people here more comfortable,” said LaTonia White, who works at the community center abutting the church. “It would just help to see a familiar face. And for police, they could see firsthand what goes on here rather than just acting on an assumption that ‘oh, that must be what happens in Sunnyside.’ Unless you live here, you really don’t know.”

The plan, Evans said, would offer 50 officers up to $12,000 to live in districts largely selected because of high call volume – ranging from Sharpstown to the area around Hobby Airport.

The first-year bonus would then step down to a maximum of $8,000 the next year and up to $5,000 the year after. Eventually, 200 officers could receive bonuses for either relocating or already living in those neighborhoods.

“We think it’s important to have as many of our municipal workers actually live in the city as possible,” Mayor Annise Parker said. “It can be particularly important to have the presence of police in neighborhoods with high crime.”

Here is the entire story from behind the paywall: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/City-would-pay-officers-to-live-in-high-crime-6408898.php.

I am not going to be critical. I don’t know if it will deter crime. You might as well give it a try.

Jeff Bagwell of course has a .297 career batting average.

Taylor Swift thinks the ‘Stros are a legitimate playoff contender. She’s moving her concert at The Yard from October to September. Nice move.

She must have looked at the schedule and saw that we had 62 games left including 9 with the Angels, 3 with the Yankees, 3 with the Dodgers, and 2 with the Giants.

Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and now Shane Victorino visit The Yard this evening.

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The Lid from the Brick Red Days

I thought Craig Biggio gave a great acceptance speech yesterday. It was great because he thanked a number of people who helped him get to Cooperstown – teammates, coaches, clergy, friends, family, owners, clubhouse folks, and his wife Patty. He also thanked the game itself.

I am more than A-OK that Craig Biggio will wear forever in the Hall of Fame the lid from the brick red days that made its debut when The Yard opened in 2000. He wore it the night in June of 2007 when he got his 3,000th base hit and he wore it the last eight seasons of his career. I will wear that lid to every game I make it to this homie in honor of Criag Biggio.

Pammy approved that now Hall of Fame lid. Nice choice!

Biggio is the first Hall of Fame great to be inducted wearing ‘Stros gear. Name the seven Hall of Fame greats who at one time wore H-Town gear as a player?

After the HERO got shot down by the Texas Supremes last Friday, this was put out:

Sylvester Turner issued the following statement in response to today’s ruling by the Texas Supreme Court that suspended enforcement of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO):

“I support the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance and am confident that voters will uphold the ordinance. Houston is strongest when we work hard, work together, respect each other’s differences and always put the good of the community first.” – Sylvester Turner

I don’t think so. I really don’t think either side is going to show a whole lot of respect for the other. That’s not going to happen. Not when the potential focal point of the debate is going to be bathrooms.

Heck, the name calling already started. This is going to be a very heated campaign. The local political insiders now want to know if the HERO campaign is going to dominate the political landscape for the next three months or so.

Way to go to the folks who shut down I-10 close to Downtown this past weekend. That was one big cluster___k ya’ll created.

I have to give a shout out to Carlos Duarte and his very professional crew over at Mi Famila Vota in preparing for the Emerging Latino Leaders event over at Rice University in September. Bill King was over there this past Friday for a well conducted interview and twitter chat.

Hall of Fame greats Nellie Fox, Randy Johnson, Eddie Mathews, Joe Morgan, Robin Roberts, Nolan Ryan, and Don Sutton of course all wore H-Town gear as a player during their careers.

The Royals also got a bit better yesterday.

Can ‘Stros baseball get any better? We trail the Angels by one and they are at The Yard for three starting tomorrow evening! Talk about a key series! Be there!

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HFD’s Turn

Commentary doesn’t think the Chron E-Board approves of how the current administration runs HPD and HFD. In recent months the E-Board has called out how the Police Department has been run. Today they put the wood to the Fire Department. Here is how it ends:

Houston needs political leaders who are willing to take a 360-degree look at our fire department and insist that taxpayer dollars only be spent promoting smart strategies. That’s the report we’re waiting to read next.

Ouch!

Check out the entire E-Board take here: http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/HFD-report-still-leaves-us-wanting-6402455.php.

HPD and HFD are two or the largest City departments. What the E-Board thinks is one thing, what the voters think is another. What does that say?

Craig Biggio gets inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend. He played his last game on September 30, 2007. Who did we play that day?

Go get a hard copy of the Chron so you can get your twelve page Biggio commemorative section.

Filling out candidate questionnaires is time consuming. Do they really need to be that long though?

Another week, another mass shooting. Only in America.

I think I will pull an Erica Grieder and not say much about Trump other than to say keep on trumping.

Craig Biggio’s last game was against The ATL of course.

Baseball is back. We made a trade yesterday that brought us Scott Kazmir from the A’s and that made us a bit better.

Then we swept the Red Sox last night on a Jose Altuve walk-off dinger.

30,000 plus showed up last night. We have won five of our last six and are now just a game behind. We are in KC for the weekend and the Royals have the best record in the AL.

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Finding Inequality on the Campaign Trail

Here is the headline from today’s lead Chron editorial:

Fighting inequity
Structural problems at City Hall help well-off neighborhoods and hurt everyone else.

In going over this campaign season’s questionnaires and attending meetings, forums, and candidate screenings, there appears to be a concern that H-Town is becoming more of a city of “haves” and “have-nots.” Some folks don’t like the Rebuild H-Town formula for prioritizing projects. Some think “Worst First” discriminates against low-income neighborhoods. Some feel the well-off neighborhoods get the love from H-Town City Hall and some feel the low-income neighborhoods get neglected by City Hall. I am hearing this from trade groups, civic clubs, and grass roots groups.

Here is how today’s editorial ends:

The upscale neighborhoods get nice things, the poor get moved out of the way, and everybody else gets bad streets. If we want to change this, City Council members will need to start fighting.

Bill King is the only H-Town mayoral candidate who is talking about this and has probably upset a bunch of folks. Some folks in H-Town don’t like things being shaken up.

Here is the entire editorial: http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Fighting-inequity-6400511.php.

Craig Biggio was our leadoff batter for all four of our World Serious games back in 2005. Who batted second?

The Trump media mega-machine goes to Laredo today. Once again he’s sucking up all the GOP press coverage. Meanwhile, the other GOP candidates struggle to get attention. Expect to see and hear Trump punk Rick Perry in his own backyard. In a way Perry is getting his. Perry was one the first to stir up the border security issue and now he’s getting trumped by it.

Commentary is hearing that the U Visa Program is going to be a topic at H-Town City Hall in the near future. Now that is interesting and probably necessary.

Are you following @VoteHOU?

Willie Taveras of course batted second behind Biggio in the 2005 World Serious.

31,000 plus turned out last night and a bunch scarfed down Dollar Dogs. We have won four of five since the All Star break and are still two out. We are 53-43 and continue to lead MLB with 132 team dingers.

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The Horserace versus the Horse

Yesterday I put out the Chron’s horserace piece on the H-Town Mayor’s campaign. Yesterday was about getting the GLBT endorsement. Other horserace takes include who’s running, who’s raising the most dough – you get the picture.

Maybe the Chron will get around to actually covering the horse. Some of the candidates are staking out positions and letting voters know what kind of mayor they want to be. Let’s see if the record matches the rhetoric.

Most have had careers in public service. How and what did they do? I think it is time for this discussion.

Everybody knows that Craig Biggio played from 1988-2007. What year did he become our regular starting second baseman?

On the Sandra Bland death in Waller County, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Lisa Falkenberg says this:

When was the last time you were stopped for failing to turn on the blinker while changing lanes?

If you’re white, chances are never. If your skin has a bit more pigment, you may have a different answer. You may have not-so-fond memories of “routine” traffic stops that really aren’t routine.

I’ve encountered a few jerks in law enforcement but mostly, good, mature cops who handled themselves professionally. So I used to have a hard time believing police officers would waste their time and our tax dollars stopping people for minor infractions until I saw it with my own eyes and heard firsthand accounts from friends and relatives of color.

A black friend was stopped for a dim license plate light, and another time on an East Texas highway for following me too closely. My Mexican-American brother-in-law had his van stopped, searched and partially disassembled in Alabama because the officer told him the tint looked too dark. During the search, the officer said the vehicle looked too nice to be his. My husband, who is South Asian, was stopped for speeding in my home county, Guadalupe, as we drove to a friend’s wedding. We tried to explain to the state trooper that the speedometer was broken, but he quickly ordered my husband out of the car to investigate another claim: whether we were really married.

And:

To get there, we have to go back to the beginning. Bland’s arrest didn’t stem from some serious threat to public safety. It started with a blinker.

Commentary has been Latino forever. When it comes to skin pigmentation I got my Mom’s genes and not my Dad’s so I have never had those lousy experiences but I know friends who have.

I don’t think the trooper involved should be a trooper.

Memo to Rick Perry. You are not going to win an argument with Trump. Here is what Rick Perry said about Trump: “I am going to stand up to him, just like I would stand up to Vladimir Putin.”

What? Putin controls a nuclear arsenal, Trump can’t even control his piehole.

Biggio became our regular starting second baseman in 1992 of course.

It was good to see close to 27,000 show up at The Yard on a Tuesday evening. We won but are still two behind.

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Sign Me Up!

Trump in the headlines is always helpful to Dems. Keep on trumping. Who is next on the insult list?

The struggling Red Sox are in town for three. Name the Red Sox player with the highest batting average on the team?

Is Rep. Sylvester Turner the favorite to win the GLBT endorsement for H-Town Mayor after signing up a bunch of folks? He is playing by the rules. We will see on August 8. Check out Rebecca Elliott’s piece today from the Chron:

Houston’s mayoral candidates are angling for the GLBT Caucus’ coveted support, with state Rep. Sylvester Turner’s campaign purchasing dozens of memberships and others urging supporters to sign up ahead of the group’s August endorsement meeting.

In the last month, caucus membership jumped by about 200 people, from 325 to 525, leaving some longtime members, particularly supporters of former congressman Chris Bell, concerned that this year’s endorsement already may have been bought.

Caucus President Maverick Welsh, however, said the campaigns’ efforts will not be enough to tip the scales.

“We know campaigns actively try to push as many people into the room as possible, and that’s why we’ve strategically tried to grow our membership over the last year and a half,” Welsh said. “I don’t think any candidate has enough members to be able to buy an endorsement.”

The group was formed in 1975, in an effort to provide support for gay-friendly candidates. Spurned in its early days by candidates seeking elected office, the GLBT Caucus endorsement now is highly sought-after in citywide races, its nod having become a stamp of approval for the city’s progressive voters. As a result, campaigns often push people to sign up in an effort to accrue more votes on endorsement day.

Former congressman Chris Bell has been actively encouraging supporters to join and show up for the August meeting, while City Councilman Stephen Costello has pursued what his campaign described as a “low-key effort” to get people to join the caucus’ ranks.

Turner, on the other hand, opted to write the group a $3,040 check two weeks ago – enough for at least 76 memberships, according to spokeswoman Sue Davis.

“It’s something that’s done every year,” Davis said.

All three candidates, as well as former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, are seen as contenders for the caucus endorsement.

However, the scale of Turner’s purchase has garnered attention within the group’s ranks, and caused some in Bell’s camp to worry.

“It’s insulting to the caucus, I think,” said member David Arpin, a Bell supporter. “What does that say about the organization’s endorsement, if the organization’s endorsement is basically worth as much as you’ll pay?”

The issue is particularly acute for Bell, a longtime ally of the gay community – one of the few that consistently votes in Houston’s municipal races – as he currently has less money in the bank than any of the top-tier candidates.

“If he doesn’t get the endorsement, that may cause a reassessment of his campaign,” said Richard Murray, a political science professor at the University of Houston.

The group’s backing is less crucial, but still important, for Turner, who already has a sizable base of support, Murray said, noting that Garcia least needs the endorsement.

Former caucus president Noel Freeman, a Costello supporter, said campaigns also purchased or sponsored memberships during his tenure, though not enough to sway the outcome of the endorsement process.

“I never saw an endorsement vote that was so close that (it) would have made a difference,” he said, adding that he never saw a campaign purchase more than 45 memberships during his tenure from 2011 to 2013.

Welsh, who expects the caucus to send its endorsement card to upwards of 41,000 households, played down the idea that the campaigns’ efforts would swing the vote, but said the uptick in membership is a good thing.

“It’s kind of nice to be in the position of being the belle of the ball for once,” he said.

Former caucus president and Turner supporter Kris Banks agreed.

“I think everyone signing everyone up is just to kind of keep up with everyone else,” Banks said. “I think the members are going to decide for themselves.”

I just hope the folks that got signed up believe in the cause. I wonder if Rep. Turner signed up folks for Tejano Dems?

I am flabbergasted why they go through these exercises knowing full well that it will never become law. Immigrant bashing just guarantees the Latino vote for Dems. Here is from CNN:

The immigration debate, which has roiled the Republican 2016 presidential field, is coming to the House of Representatives this week.

House GOP leaders have scheduled a vote on legislation that withholds federal money for states or local governments that have policies that prohibit federal officials from enforcing immigration laws.

After Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman, made controversial comments about the danger posed by Mexican immigrants in announcing his candidacy other GOP candidates have been pressed about their own positions on how they would reform immigration laws.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts of course leads the Red Sox in hitting with a .309 batting average.

We have won two out of three but have fallen two games behind. We can’t let down against the Red Sox who are on a five game losing streak.

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Weekend with Bernie

Bernie Sanders is good for the process. I have run into his enthusiastic supporters and seen his bumper stickers in my ‘hood. 5,200 saw him yesterday at Hofheinz. 7,000 saw him in Dallas.

I certainly hope he has staying power. It would be good for the Dem Party if we had a healthy and vibrant Dem Primary here in Texas and Harris County. It would be nice if tons of folks came out to vote next March.

This was tweeted last night:

Evan: Homeowner! ‏@evan7257 11h11 hours ago
According to my parents, who are eating at La Griglia, @SenSanders is sitting next to my parents at La Griglia

All I can say is La Griglia has a sign at The Yard above the Landry’s Crawford Boxes so it is OK with Commentary if Bernie grabs a bite there.

Name the pitcher with the most wins in the AL?

I am not going to say much about the race for H-Town Mayor other than to say I find it interesting to see a campaign put out stuff that they can’t back up.

This is what it is in the twitter world:

kept_simple ‏@kept_simple 24h24 hours ago
Trump has been calling Mexicans rapists for weeks but the thing that will finally sink him with journalists is being mean to John McCain

Keep on trumping!

A bit of sad news

The Associated Press ‏@AP 4h4 hours ago
Character actor Alex Rocco, famous for mobster Moe Greene in “The Godfather,” dies at age 79: http://apne.ws/1OpoDOH

One of the best whack job movie scenes of all time – one to the eyeball.

Rocco said this in 2007: “The Godfather is what made me go from hamburger to steaks.”

Dallas Keuchel of course has 12 wins to lead the AL.

What a weekend for the ‘Stros. 36,000 plus change Friday and yesterday, SRO on Saturday. Yesterday Dante and I got there 20 minutes before the game and had to park five blocks from The Yard. I think I posted a picture yesterday of us together. This is our tenth year of going to games together. Dante is a month shy of his 16th birthday and stands at six feet three – wow!

We have the day off and then the Red Sox are in for three.

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