UPON FURTHER EVIEW, 3/30/13, 12 NOON UPDATE: SABR’S Bob Dorrill just called to clarify that Sam Quintero’s earlier report to me of the MMP train’s removal was in error. It’s still in the park, as per usual. That will teach me to go back to the ancient lesson of getting confirmation before making much adieu about nothing. I will take minor solace in the fact that I did note originally that my report lacked confirmation. My apologies to the Astros and readers for running with a story that needing further corroboration before it went to print. My apologies with this promise: Unless I go brain-dead, it will not happen again.
It won’t be an ordinary Opening Day for the 2013 baseball season in Houston. The local club is going into the American League; the Astros don’t have much chance of winning; many old fans swear they are now gone for good from MMP; the Club has the lowest payroll in MLB; hardly any of us could name the Astros starting lineup; and even fewer among us could list the entire 25-man roster; and, as for the coaching staff, forget it. I think Dennis Martinez is both the bullpen coach and the general source of all stories about baseball in the South American boondocks.
The Pecan Park Eagle was also in receipt of an unconfirmed report from friend and fellow SABR member Sam Quintero that the little train that always ran on the tracks down the center to left field lines at MMP was now gone. That report turned out to be untrue.
Keep on Rolling, Gentle Mountain!
Let’s hope that neither the MMP train or Tal’s Hill shall ever disappear from the ballpark landscape. Bring that center field distance mark in from 436 feet to 400 feet and we may then watch a much larger percentage of the fly balls leaving the ball park. Do we really need MMP to turn into a a real “Juice Box?”
Opening Day always reminds me too of all the little changes that have occurred since the days of Houston baseball in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Back then, these kinds of things were everyday deals:
(1) Players tossed their gloves on the outfield grass when they came in to bat. I have no memories of a player ever stumbling over a glove, or a glove causing a deflection of a batted ball. Then, one season in the late 1950s or early 1960s, they just stopped leaving their gloves on the outfield surface.
(2) Infield practice was an everyday pre-game drill. Now it apparently only happens in spring training.
(3) Organ music tracked balls that ran up and then fell back down the screen behind home plate. High notes were for the high spots; low notes were for the low spots.
(4) Fungo bats were clearly in use by coaches heading up pre-game outfield fly ball shagging.
(5) Skinny legged pitchers were often used as pinch runners in the late innings.
(6) Brown spots on the field were created on the short outfield rim by tobacco-chawing infielders like Nellie Fox.
(7) Opening Day was a time for thinking that all good outcomes are possible. And it still needs to be that way, in spite of all the building evidence that keeps suggesting that the truth in this matter lies elsewhere. In that ancient spirit of hope in spite of the facts, I’m going to post my most positive and optimistic prediction here for the Astros’ first season in the American League, with a nod to some later-in-the-season help from people like young Mr. Singleton:
There’s no canceling the hope that is always born ‘neath the summer skies of Houston. It’s been happening too long to be stopped now.
My Astros 2013 Predicted Record: W 63 – L 99, Pct: .389.
The Pecan Park Eagle 
March 29, 2013 at 3:08 pm |
Crane and his band of merry idiots have screwed up a proud franchhise. Gone are many of the people who made it great. Employees with 30+ years of service were dumped for no reason at all except…they were making too much money. Stretch Suba, Doc Coleman, Barry Waters and on and on. Many of the former players will have NOTHING to do with them. Plain and simple, what Peter Gammons was right, “They have spit in the face of the integrity of MLB”. Crane should have NEVER been allowed to buy that team. By the time some of that so called talent matures, the fan base will be gone. In case you don’t know Crane plans to move Spring Trainiing to the Jupiter area of Florida where he has his golf club where he entertained Obama and Tiger. Keep your hand on your wallet…..get Direct TV and watch real games.
March 29, 2013 at 3:35 pm |
I think you are taking Gammons out of context. The integrity question is about how the AAAstros will give the A’s, Rangers and Angels a wild card advantage over the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays. Gammons cares nothing about what was done to the Astros or their fans. All he cares about is how his beloved East Coast teams are affected.
March 29, 2013 at 4:04 pm |
Everyone knows this discounted roster is because of the sequestration. Sounds like as good an excuse as any ;0)
March 29, 2013 at 5:30 pm |
At a recent season ticket holders meet and tour we were told there are no plans to get rid of the train or tals hill. I heard many complaints about this team when Drayton owned it. Like him or not Crane stepped up and purchased a dying organization. As with any rebuilding teams there will be a period of fan disillusion. Whether or not the team is on the right tract, only time will tell. The American League is a done deal, time to stop beating that horse and move on. Ownership change, public or private, brings staff changes, some good some bad. That’s just a way of life. It’s time for baseball. Enjoy being at the park, smelling the popcorn and hotdogs and hearing the crack of the bat. This team may not be as sucessful as we would like it to be but Bo Porter will see that it gives a 100% everytime it steps on the field. That much I beleive. No more negativity, learn these young mens names and root for the Astros
March 29, 2013 at 6:28 pm |
Hello Bill!
My name is Stefan Jagot , and I am the Managerial editor for the MLB section of TheFarmClub.net a sports media site. We are looking for Astros writers for the upcoming season, and after reading your content we would love to have you on board.
If interested please get back to me at sjagot@thefarmclub.net, thank you!
March 29, 2013 at 6:56 pm |
Bill, FYI: Rule changes for the 1954 season included not allowing the players to leave their gloves on the field.
March 29, 2013 at 7:33 pm |
Hi Bill: Back in “my day” when the players left their gloves on the field I also don’t remember ever having a glove stepped on or getting in the way. Also we didn’t need no ___organ when the foul ball rolled down the screen behind home plate. The fans provided the sound track “Whoooooop”! Don’t feel too bad about the Astros, Arod makes more money than your entire roster and he can’t even play. I won’t be at Opening Day because I can’t stand the ear-splitting noise (they call it music) between innings. I’ll watch on the radio. Go Redbirds! Bud
March 29, 2013 at 8:01 pm |
Hey Bill! TM and I will be there Opening Day, mainly because we attended on OD in 2000. I will be equipped with the earplugs I now routinely wear at the ballpark because, like Mr. Kane, I can’t stand the ear-splitting noise between innings, either. And I will try very hard to keep my eyes averted from the loathsome, hideous signage hovering over left field. But I will enjoy learning the new names in the lineup, and dare I say it, hope to see a friend or two wandering about the concourse. (Passwords optional)
March 30, 2013 at 1:28 pm |
We did my fantasy league draft last night and one Astro was taken–Altuve in the 20th round. When he went everyone sniggered…that’s the last one. I don’t recall any new ownership turning everything so negative so quickly, at least in Disastros history. Enjoy those Fowl Poles, Mr. Crane. I hope you got a lot of money for them ’cause you ain’t gettin’ any of mine.
March 31, 2013 at 3:25 pm |
I have ended my long-standing tradition of attending the Astros home opener. In fact, I have no plan to go to any Astros games.
April 3, 2013 at 2:59 pm |
I remember the first exhibition game at the Astrodome with the NY Yankees and Mickey Mantle hit a ball off the roof. Umpires had to meet and discuss a first of its kind ruling. Great memories of the Dome