Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Preakness 2012: I'll Have Another Wins Again

SB Nation Neyer's Wire

Astros' New Owner Won't Commit To Keeping 'Astros'

By Rob Neyer - National Baseball Editor

Jim Crane officially took over as the Houston Astros' owner, and announced some fan-friendly changes in 2012 while refusing to rule out the possibility of changing the team's name.

Jan 23, 2012 - Monday, Jim Crane officially became the new majority owner of the Houston Astros. And at his press conference, Crane made a couple of significant fan-friendly gestures:

Ticket prices for more 5,000 seats have been lowered, as have domestic beer prices. And for the first time since Minute Maid Park opened, fans will be permitted to bring in their own food and beverages.

"We feel this is the right thing to do," Crane said. "It is a way for us to let our fans know how vital they are to our success, and to let them know we've been listening to them."

That's all great news for Astros fans, of course. And the smart thing from Crane's perspective. Once he's got the fans on his side, he can start raising ticket prices every year. Especially if the club's actually winning.

For the rest of us, though, the real news comes from another source:

@zacharylevine
Zachary Levine Crane says they'll even evaluate the name "Astros" before next year. No change promised.
Jan 23 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply

I'll bet decent money the name stays the same. If the club takes a survey, the opinion will be overwhelmingly against switching from Astros after 47 seasons. The great majority of today's fans weren't even alive when the Houston Colt .45s became the Houston Astros upon moving from Colt Stadium to the Astrodome in 1965. Astros is all they know, and (mostly) love.

But it's worth at least mentioning that the Astros were named for a stadium in which they no longer play, and which might someday be demolished. I don't think you can blame them for at least considering a change.

It's exceptionally unlikely to happen, though. If only because most of the good names are taken already.

If you've got a good idea for a new name for the Houston club, please share in the comments.

Read More: Houston Astros

Do you like this post?

Head_medium

Rob Neyer

National Baseball Editor

Rob Neyer began his career with legendary baseball author Bill James, and later worked for STATS, Inc. and ESPN.com, writing more words for that website than anyone else. Rob has written or... Read full bio

SB Nation Profile

Subscribe to Rob Neyer

Other features by Rob Neyer

Comments

Display:

Houston Brisbees. Just so I can see the articles written about that.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

by Brandon C. on Jan 23, 2012 6:19 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

Perhaps the Houston Generals, given that the city is named for Gen. Sam Houston.

by Phrozen on Jan 23, 2012 6:21 PM EST reply actions  

Love it

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

by Brandon C. on Jan 23, 2012 6:23 PM EST up reply actions  

Houston Rodeos

Give it the East and West coast bias so that it is pronounced “How-stun ro-DAYOS” like the streets in NY and LA. :-)

by Brakeman8 on Jan 24, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions  

Like it

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

by Brandon C. on Jan 23, 2012 6:23 PM EST up reply actions  

or Senators, or Governors, or Congressmen, or Presidents.

Ol’ Sam held many titles.

Difference of opinion among my community is a sign of the bounty of God.

by iglew on Jan 23, 2012 7:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Rangers

And, since they play in the state of Texas, change the whole name to Texas Rangers, thus triggering plenty of confusion over who’s winning the division and who’s finishing last.

But no, I would keep it.

Check out www.dugoutcentral.com for the latest news, live game blogs, and great sabermetric vs. traditionalist debates

by John Armbruster Bowen on Jan 23, 2012 6:23 PM EST reply actions  

Houston Bathyscaphes

Sea Cucumbers of Houson

The Red Zephyrs

Houston Crazy Dead Cells

The Houston Score Cards of the Former First Lady

FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.

by Jess'HittheBall on Jan 23, 2012 6:23 PM EST reply actions  

I googled “Animals found in Houston” and was directed here

http://houstonzooblogs.org/zoo/2010/05/venomous-snakes-found-in-the-greater-houston-area/

Houston Canebrake Rattlesnake?

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

by Brandon C. on Jan 23, 2012 6:24 PM EST reply actions  

It might interest you to know

there already is a team named after a species of rattlesnake, and they haven’t done to shabby either

isitspringtrainingyet.com

by imstillhungry95 on Jan 23, 2012 9:56 PM EST up reply actions  

Being a Yankees fan, haven’t heard of them. Do you find it odd there was no MLB season in 2001 too?

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

by Brandon C. on Jan 23, 2012 10:25 PM EST up reply actions  

Wow, so then you don't recall how the Yankees reinvigorated NYC after Sept. 11th

Or 2 of the greatest games in Yankee Stadium history, when Kim blew saves on back to back nights giving up homers with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth?

Thats alot to forget just because Rivera blew it (for probably the only time in his carrer) at the very end of Game 7.

by Persi W on Jan 24, 2012 12:34 PM EST up reply actions  

Heh, and the life of Enrique Wilson was saved because of the loss

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

by Brandon C. on Jan 24, 2012 3:28 PM EST up reply actions  

Interesting

I never knew about that.

by Persi W on Jan 24, 2012 4:34 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes sir, not sure of exact details so I apologize, but Wilson would have gone on a different plane if the team won the game. The plane he would have gone on crashed and I believe everyone died. Not 100% on that, though, but I think I remember Mo saying he’s happy he blew the save because he still has his friend.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

by Brandon C. on Jan 24, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions  

Mumbles

something about stupid east coast and stupid east coast bias

isitspringtrainingyet.com

by imstillhungry95 on Jan 24, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions  

Planet Houston

Kneel before Zod!

Ow! My oblique!

by Cantankerous on Jan 23, 2012 6:25 PM EST reply actions  

They could continue the tradition

If they want to have the name reflect the stadium they currently play in, they could go with the Houston Juicers.

by Aisle 424 on Jan 23, 2012 6:27 PM EST reply actions  

Speaking of which

Jim Crane just made powerful enemies with Coca-Cola. They own the naming rights to the stadium and the last thing they want to happen is for the people to bring in Pepsi products though Pepsi is the official soft drink of MLB. What I am getting at is that Coca-Cola has a contract with the Astros to serve Coke products inside the same ballpark that is named after one of their brands. If everybody is allowed to bring in their own drinks and does so, Coke can’t make any money. I do see the logic behind the change where it is more fan friendly, but this should be limited to babies who drink baby formula out of a bottle. The correct fan-friendly move would be to cut ticket prices.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew
I would like to see Dallas vs the Giants on Thanksgiving, Make it happen NFL!

Check out my eBay items.

by Jessy S on Jan 23, 2012 8:46 PM EST up reply actions  

For some reason

I doubt it would put a dent in Coca-Cola’s bottom line if Astros fans consumed less coke at the stadium. Who orders a coke at a baseball stadium anyway?

by JaySchu on Jan 23, 2012 10:30 PM EST up reply actions  

Do your research. The only drink they will allow people to bring in is a bottle of water.

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it. - Henry Ford

by BustaPozee on Jan 23, 2012 11:15 PM EST up reply actions   1 recs

How about The Sesquicentennials?

Named after the park.

FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.

by Jess'HittheBall on Jan 23, 2012 6:29 PM EST reply actions  

The Houston (Baseball) Texans

You can’t spend two minutes in this state without being overtly reminded you’re in in Texas.

by BMFS on Jan 23, 2012 6:30 PM EST reply actions  

That would probably be the only name change I would approve of.

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it. - Henry Ford

by BustaPozee on Jan 23, 2012 7:52 PM EST up reply actions  

Texas is sort of shaped like a car engine.

FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.

by Jess'HittheBall on Jan 23, 2012 6:35 PM EST reply actions  

Houston Galvestons

*I understand it might remind some of the hurricanes, but I personally think it’s got a cool late 19th-early 20th century ring to it.

FanGraphs should consider a venue for a Gallery Night... they could even serve a cake with a Win Expectancy Chart of the 7/7/11 Brewers' game etched in the frosting, and 7-up. Oh, yeah - and t-shirts that say "SABR-Friday." I'm totally there.

by Jess'HittheBall on Jan 23, 2012 6:43 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

Terrible

The fact that are even considering changing the name is a slap in the face to the space industry. It’s bad enough our government has lost all vision in progress in space but to have the home-town team drop this reference to the history of the city is just tragic.

by jeanniez on Jan 23, 2012 6:45 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

I agree with you, but

Space “industry”? What there is of that is mostly in Huntsville or California. Though if an American wants to actually go to space they have to thumb a ride with the Russians.

by J0SER on Jan 23, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions  

True

But mission control is based in Houston and was since the 1960’s. In fact, most of the astronauts live and train in Houston. The only time they leave the state is for their missions.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew
I would like to see Dallas vs the Giants on Thanksgiving, Make it happen NFL!

Check out my eBay items.

by Jessy S on Jan 23, 2012 8:50 PM EST up reply actions  

And this would become Stephen Colbert's favorite team

After the Yankees that is.

I'm a proud fan of the Minnesota Twins and Dallas Cowboys!
"Life is precious and time is a key element. Let’s make every moment count and help those who have a greater need than our own." – Harmon Killebrew
I would like to see Dallas vs the Giants on Thanksgiving, Make it happen NFL!

Check out my eBay items.

by Jessy S on Jan 23, 2012 8:51 PM EST up reply actions  

If they were the Colt .45s in Colt Stadium

And the Astros in the Astrodome, doesn’t the logic follow that they would now be the Houston Maids?

by Sharparoni on Jan 23, 2012 6:49 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

Or the Houton Minutes

I believe Houston Minutes are a whole lot longer than the New York kind.
It sure seems that way when you’re there, anyway.

by J0SER on Jan 23, 2012 8:35 PM EST up reply actions  

Maybe

the Houston Citrus

isitspringtrainingyet.com

by imstillhungry95 on Jan 23, 2012 9:58 PM EST up reply actions  

Why don't they

sell naming rights to the team? You know somebody is thinking that thought right now.

by bucdaddy on Jan 23, 2012 6:53 PM EST reply actions  

The Houston Dorritos

"id take 5th Dimention Wormhole Rivera over Wells any day of the week"
-clover_black

by the king of CERA on Jan 23, 2012 7:10 PM EST up reply actions  

Houston Cranes

You know that’s what he’s thinking.

by mscaa on Jan 23, 2012 7:15 PM EST reply actions  

That's not bad!

A significant percentage of the world’s tiny population of Whooping Cranes actually winters not far from Houston.

by Rob Neyer on Jan 23, 2012 7:20 PM EST up reply actions  

See: Johnson, Robert and the Charlotte Bobcats.

Personal attacks are the weapon of the ignorant.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Jan 24, 2012 1:32 PM EST up reply actions  

Houston Oilers

Might as well confuse several leagues at once.

San Francisco Giants ***GLORY ACHIEVED 11/01/10***

by Skaldheim on Jan 23, 2012 7:24 PM EST reply actions  

Houston Colts

It’d be a nice hat tip to history. And Texans love horses, right?

by Jorio on Jan 23, 2012 7:58 PM EST reply actions  

Houston Mustangs

If you’re actually going to name them after horses. Plus they could get Ford to pony* up some money.

*Pun intentional.

by po8crg on Jan 24, 2012 6:10 AM EST up reply actions  

The...

Houston Atwaters Prarie Chicken?

Founder of the 'Foundation for the Advancement of Clefoing' a 501C3

by Clefo on Jan 23, 2012 8:49 PM EST reply actions  

Houston Wolfpack.

Because it sounds good, kind of appropriate, and I’ve always thought of a wolf pack as the ultimate in teamwork.

"In the biographies of men and nations, success often arrives in a mask of failure"

by hunterpencefan on Jan 23, 2012 9:42 PM EST reply actions  

How about

the Houston Cowpokes? I’m not sure if I’m kidding or not…

isitspringtrainingyet.com

by imstillhungry95 on Jan 23, 2012 10:00 PM EST reply actions  

you might be on (to) something there...

… but after last season, the Houston Cowflops might be more appropriate :shrug:

by gonfalon on Jan 24, 2012 10:43 AM EST up reply actions  

That's

what Russia calls there space people. We can’t have that. REDS ARE EVIL. Oh… Wait…

isitspringtrainingyet.com

by imstillhungry95 on Jan 24, 2012 3:00 PM EST up reply actions  

Since they were named for their old stadium

The new name should be “The Minute Maid Orangemen.”

by Aphthakid on Jan 23, 2012 11:31 PM EST reply actions  

Houston Killer Bees

Do it. For Bags, Biggio, and whoever the third one was. Roy Boswalt?

by puquerda on Jan 24, 2012 12:45 AM EST reply actions  

Houston Whitneys

I wanna feel the heat with somebody.

by seabass on Jan 24, 2012 7:08 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions   2 recs

The Houston Problems

As in “Houston, we have a problem.”

by Tom Ruane on Jan 24, 2012 8:38 AM EST reply actions   4 recs

Why not name the team after the GREATEST PLAYER IN HOUSTON HISTORY?

.
The Jonathans
.

.

________________________________
Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Jan 24, 2012 10:35 AM EST reply actions  

Not the Kleins?

Personal attacks are the weapon of the ignorant.

Panthers '011: This is what we've been waiting for...we get to overpay the core of a 2-14 team!

by MichaelProcton on Jan 24, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions  

"The great majority of today's fans weren't even alive..."

“…when the Houston Colt .45s became the Houston Astros upon moving from Colt Stadium to the Astrodome in 1965.”

I don’t know, is it really true that the “great majority” of fans are 46 and under? Intuitively—and based on demographic data—it seems more likely that 46 would be fairly close to the median age for fans. is there any data about this sort of thing?

by 68strat on Jan 24, 2012 12:41 PM EST reply actions  

Or maybe a tribute to Houston minor league history?

I actually prefer the previously suggested idea of the Houston Eagles as a tribute to the Negro League team. But another option is to revive one of the names of Houston minor league teams. The first Houston team doesn’t really provide a good candidate (the Houston Babies), but I like the Houston Mud Cats or the Houston Buffalos.

by What Cheer Wombat on Jan 24, 2012 5:38 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Astros' New Owner Won't Change Team's Name

A general view of Minute Maid Park from behind home plate in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

7 updates with 142 comments

Like to see major updates on this story in Facebook.

MLB Scoreboard

Mark Ellis Injury: Dodgers 2B Has Emergency Leg Surgery

Adam Lind Placed On Outright Waivers, According To Report

Orlando Hudson Signing With White Sox, Says Robin Ventura

Brandon McCarthy Lands On 15-Day DL With Strained Right Shoulder

Emilio Bonifacio To DL With Sprained Thumb

Lance Berkman Leaves Game With Knee Injury

Chipper Jones Likely To Miss Weekend With Leg Contusion

Danny Duffy Indeed Having Tommy John Surgery

Diamondbacks' Chris Young Comes Off Disabled List

Allen Craig, Kyle McClellan Hit DL

More News »

SB Nation on YouTube

Previous
Next

Subscribe More videos

Yahoo_full_count

Recent Posts on Hot Corner

Read more on Hot Corner »
Yahoo_fantasy_baseball

Photo

Baseball On Par With Other Professional Sports In Dealing With Bad Umpires

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after hitting his first career home run in the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during interleague play at Nationals Park on May 20, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Stephen Strasburg Pulled Early With 'Arm Fatigue', Downplays Significance

Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman is looked at by manager Mike Matheny and the team trainer after suffering an apperant injury against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

Lance Berkman Placed On 15-Day DL With Right Knee Injury

OpenCalais - Powered by Thomson Reuters • Odds Shark OddsShark