Houston Astros

[Nick_G]

The Superbowl is over, the Mannings have another trophy for their already cluttered mantel.

Looking forward to baseball season (where we could use some more clutter) and since this is a community environment.

I would like to point out the astros.com season ticket partner zone, which is a free service that allows you to get in touch with others who would be interested in sharing season tickets.

http://houston.astro...ex.jsp?c_id=hou

Edited February 6, 2012 by Nick_G

[tamtagon]

Of all of the MLB teams added during expansion (from 1961 to the present) ... 14 expansion teams.

MLB needs more teams!!

[Subdude]

What are other pro teams that have changed their names, Washington Bullets?

It'll feel like we're throwing out our entire history with the name change. Or maybe not. What's the point of doing it anyway, simply to start fresh??? I think food and uniform changes is enough. I don't see a need to change the name.

In answering this before, I forgot the obvious response: the Astros started out as the Colt .45s! In the major leagues, Tampa Bay recently shortened their name, and a number of teams renamed when they relocated. So there are precedents for franchise name changes. I kind of wish the Astros had gone through with it.

Also lost in the shuffle is that they are considering changes to Tal's Hill, which I assume means the elimination of it.

Never gave it much thought myself, although I do know people who absolutely despise it for being too much of an obvious obstacle, like on a miniature golf course.

MLB needs more teams!!

There are plenty of teams as it is. If anything, I have always thought it would be a good idea to institute a system of relegation and promotion. Demote the two or three worst teams to the minors every year, and promote the best performing minor league teams. It would keep’em all on their toes. Of course, the major league teams would scream bloody murder so it would never happen.

[Nick_G]

In answering this before, I forgot the obvious response: the Astros started out as the Colt .45s! In the major leagues, Tampa Bay recently shortened their name, and a number of teams renamed when they relocated. So there are precedents for franchise name changes. I kind of wish the Astros had gone through with it.

What name would you have gone with?

I am in the camp (it may only have my tent) that I do not like the Houston Texans name because it is not really Houston specific. I wish they were the Oilers. Naming the NFL team the Texans just gives whoever is watching them play the generic Texas brand promotion.

I ask those who are reading this thread, what is the generic Texas brand that the Texans promote when they play?

Edited February 9, 2012 by Nick_G

[plumber2]

I was listening to an Astros game this week and the team was wearing their original Colt 45 uniforms, in celebration of 50 years as a franchise. A caller was talking to the broadcaster who was intervieing Bob Aspermonte at that moment, and the caller mentioned that "he had been a fan since the Colts first game at Buff Stadium". I was shocked that neither the broadcaster nor Bob Aspermonte corrected him. Maybe they were just being repsectful or did the Colt's ever play a game at Buff (Busch) stadium? Can someone clarify this? I was under the impression that all Colt 45 home games were played at Colt Stadium on North Stadium Drive.

[Fringe]

According to my book "Colt 45's, A Six Gun Salute", the Colts never played at Buff Stadium. Their first game in April 62 was at the quickly built Colt Stadium, which was of course only a temporary stadium until the Dome could be completed.

[crunchtastic]

No matter how bad the Astros sucked it today, at least our uniforms aren't as bad as those new Florida outfits.

You have to look really hard to see it's not a rainbow sombrero masquerading as an "M." Even worse than the chiclet-era San Antonio Spurs, which set a standard for bad ideas in major league branding.

[RedScare]

No matter how bad the Astros sucked yesterday, at least they weren't 1-7, like last year.

Edited April 16, 2012 by RedScare

[KinkaidAlum]

I just got back from Miami.

The new Miami Marlins uniforms and logos fit in quite nicely with the new Marlins Park and the entire city. Colorful, a bit gaudy, and completely unique.

My complaints about the series;

1) Energy dance team? Really? A coed cheer squad at a baseball game?

2) If we were going to have to lose on a walk-off on Friday night, then that damn ball should have gone over the wall so I could have seen the marlin/dolphin/flamingo art/water cannon display.

2a) I didn't attend Sundays game so I never got to see that damn thing go off

[samagon]

No matter how bad the Astros sucked yesterday, at least they weren't 1-7, like last year.

Seriously, I think they already have more wins this early in April than they did all of last season.

It appears that they are trying to win fans with, wins!

[Specwriter]

Slash the ticket prices. More fans = more concessions sold even if the prices for those don't change.

[ChrisPHous]

Slash the ticket prices. More fans = more concessions sold even if the prices for those don't change.

Exactly, I was in a discussion with a friend of mine on the subject. I was saying Crane and Co. should find an organization each week and give away as many upper deck seats as they can. Say 2000 soldiers and their families that kind of thing. It makes the crowd look somewhat more full and if 1 person buys 1 concession out of the 2000 then that was money you otherwise wouldn't have had!

Again this is all in theory and I'm sure if people would find out that 1000s of tickets were given away they wouldn't be trying to pay for them, but it was a nice thought!

[crunchtastic]

Red, since when did you become a baseball fan???

I am always supportive of my Astros. But the Nationals, ugh. Now Cap'n Crunch, who spent some formative years in the DC area and misses the olden days of the Senators, is giving me endless shit about the Nats. I guess that means we're going to tomorrow night's game.

But hey, the Aeros squeaked into playoffs. Good thing there may be some action in Toyota Center this spring after all.

[samagon]

But hey, the Aeros squeaked into playoffs. Good thing there may be some action in Toyota Center this spring after all.

not to change the subject, but isn't the league they are in comprised of 18 teams, 16 of which make the playoffs?

[kylejack]

Slash the ticket prices. More fans = more concessions sold even if the prices for those don't change.

Eh, hard to go much lower. Tickets could be had for as cheap as $5 last year. I like this better, keeping the ticket prices where they are (cheap) and letting people bring in their own food.

[lockmat]

As you all probably know already, the Astros are getting a new logo. You've also probably seen all the "leaks" of the logo, uniforms and "new" team mascot this week. Honestly, it is now getting to the point of pure embarrassment.

First the logo was leaked and the MLB submitted an apology to the Astors.. Then another leak happened and they blamed it on Sandy. Now the mascot leak?

My comment in yesterday's leak Chron story that they would accidentally leak the apology leak before the next leak. By now, I'd rather that just fess up to the intentional leaks, because now they just look incompetent, whoever "they" are, whether MLB or the Astros.

In the grand scheme of things, who cares, right? This is a good time to discuss their logo, move to the AL etc anyway, if anyone cares during the Texans season.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2012/10/31/another-web-leak-will-mascot-orbit-soon-return-to-astro-land/

[JLWM8609]

Do you wonder if these leaks are intentional?

[samagon]

bring back Orbit!!!!!!!!!!!!

I certainly prefer the nod to the original logo, it was a good simple team logo, and I was always disappointed by the 'open star' logo they changed to.

If it's a choice of keeping the 'open star' or old school, I pick old school, if it's a choice of old school, or unknown, I pick old school, I'm a pessimist and do believe that they would have made something even worse.

[editor]

Here's the article about it over at Brand New: http://www.undercons...new (Brand New)

Here's the old and new logo:



Here's some older logos:

Here's a video about it:

[Pleak]

bring back Orbit!!!!!!!!!!!!

No - they need to bring back Chester Charge, not some amorphous green blob. I seem to remember that he even had a cannon that he would fire.

[Subdude]

It's a big improvement. My all-time favorite though is the 1965 shooting star.

[fatesdisastr]

I do wonder how they are going to change up the stadium to display the new colors, logo and all.

Gosh I hope they get rid of those awful advertisements in center field for this next season.

[TxDave]

Love the tie back to the former look – helps establish historical tradition for the club

[Subdude]

Love the tie back to the former look – helps establish historical tradition for the club

Yeah but they're AL now, so they've tossed historical tradition in the bin.

[samagon]

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/houston-astros-owner-fans-write-check-10-million-215556552--mlb.html

His statement is pretty raw. Basically, it's a private team and I don't want to spend a lot of money.

well I hope he learns that the fan response is going to be, alright well make tickets cheaper.

[kbates2]

He is sounding like a certified prick. The team may be privately owned but the stadium that you play in isn't. Now I want to pull down those stupid banners he added in the left field view more.

I am fine with the strategy of getting younger, but Crane is handling it like a D-Bag.

[lockmat]

In the wsj article says people may complain about it, they have a right to complain about it, but they're going to stick with the plan.

I suggest reading the wsj article. It actually made me excited about their strategy and makes me believe they are doing it the right way. Yahoo I think simply took the most offensive quote they could and ran with it solely for clicks and website visits.

As fans these days we can be quite impatient. But I'd rather be patient now and have a winner down the line than rush into it just to be eternally average.

I think this strategy irks the casual fan because they don't see W's. For those who simply like the game and appreciates skill and talent, even on an opposing team, I think they'll be fine with this strategy.

But sure, crane probably should have said that differently, but he right. It sounds like he wants to win and is willing to spend money, he just wants to effectively and at the right time.

[Fringe]

Crane wasn't the one that ran the Astros into the ground. Hopefully he's on the right track to making them a respectful franchise again. I'm not mad at him for rebuilding but I am mad at this whole exclusive Comcast TV network that won't let me watch Rockets or Astro games. Talk about alienating fans.

 

I had Comcast once and I wouldn't have them again even if they paid me. Worse company in the world. 

[kbates2]

The Wallstreet article is better, I agree. I am fine with the move, but I think the guy makes some pretty stupid comments. He didn't make his money by making stupid decisions, but comments may be another story.

[kylejack]

He's got a pretty arrogant way of putting things. He should put all statements out through a PR pro and not grant interviews. This doesn't really make me want to start going to games again.