Tell me I should take Jim Crane's mention of evaluating the Astros nickname with a grain of salt. Tell me it was one bad note in an otherwise very positive press conference on the upcoming fan-friendly changes.
Tell me that I shouldn't be upset at the very notion of possibly changing the name.
I'm really not. But, I am.
See, the whole reason I suggested a uniform change last summer when Crane was hired was that I wanted them to get back to traditional Astros colors and away from the more corporate, marketing-friendly but surprisingly sanitized color scheme they currently feature.
Changing the name flies in the face of all that and would prove fairly unprecedented. I mean, the franchise has already done it once, but that was because of a pending lawsuit. The only other case I can think of where a professional team drastically changed its nickname is the Washington Bullets switching to the Washington Wizards.
Every other change has accompanied a move to another city. I don't think Crane, a Houston businessman, is thinking of moving the Astros to Las Vegas or Portland, so let's rule that out. What else could be the impetus?
If the Astros name has such a negative connotation that it rivals the Washington Generals or St. Louis Browns for futility. That just doesn't seem to be the case. Houston's Astros are uniquely situated as a name that reflects the region they come from.
I guess the question is: Do you still think of Houston as Space City?
That'd be the only reason to change from the Astros. Otherwise, the move just looks like an attempt to sell new merchandise to a fan base that's not exactly thrilled with the state of the franchise to begin with. And, couldn't they accomplish the same thing with just changing the uniform in the first place?
I like that Crane is evaluating everything and shaking up a system that had grown stale under Drayton McLane. However, I'm sure they will find in the end that the damage a nickname switch will do is not nearly enough to justify the few new fans they might scare up or make excited by a new nickname.
I hope. I don't have it in me to root for the Bayou Gators or whatever nonsense they may come up with...
0 recs | 53 comments
i’d be pissed, and my dear twitter followers would hear about it
Subber10 - January 23, 2012
I think that would be it for me as a fan
It doesn’t make me supper angry but I don’t live in Houston any more and probably never will again. They have absolutely no players left that I am bonded too and they are moving to the American league… The name is all I have left. It won’t be a “god damn it! I’m not a fan anymore!”. It will be a “hey I live next to Fenway park. What did they change the Astros too? Pirates? Royals?” do they care about the 23 of us that still love the team despite everything that has happened so far? Maybe they feel they have nothing left to lose.
Houston will always be the space city. It’s part of its history. Are there real cowboys in Dallas? Personally I think they should be reminding us of our past not erasing it. If you think about it in terms of the Astros, what’s better? The past, present, or future? The past has playoffs a world series and great players. The present has more than 100 losses. The future… Is pretty damn bleak. They should be clinging to the past for dear life until they build a present that isnt an abomination.
ntn - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Agreed
It’s tough enough to be an Astros fan in Tulsa, OK (blackout restrictions on the MLB.TV app, and all I ever get are Rangers/Royals/Cards games). The move to the AL is bad enough, but changing the name, too? They might as well move the team, a la Seattle Sonics to the OKC Thunder, and just start over.
whk3 - January 23, 2012
Maybe they will become the “Texas terror 2” “the smog” “the sprawl” “the oilers”…I might get behind that one.
But bring back more traditional uniforms. Keep the name. Play a series in the astrodome. Bring back orbit. Don’t be cheap. Don’t be stupid. Don’t treat the fans like morons. I think it would be cool if they refused to use the DH once they are in the American league…at least until they don’t stink. Me and my fantasies.
ntn - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Should the Astros keep their name?
In a word, HELLYES!
Its Gonna Happen - January 23, 2012 via mobile
I think people are going overboard with this
I feel that Crane was only saying that he will look into improving every aspect of the team and I respect him for thinking that way. I dont think he will change the name but i do believe he will look into whether or not it would be beneficial for the team and act accordingly.
Uncle Chris - January 23, 2012
Agreed.
Jim Crane isn’t looking to alienate people, especially with a majority of the fanbase upset about the league switch. He’s probably just bringing up a potential name change as a way of illustrating how far he’s willing to go I’m his efforts to revamp the team.
Stupendous Man - January 23, 2012 via mobile
*in his efforts
Stupendous Man - January 23, 2012 via mobile
If that's the case then we
Have to blow it out of proportion or else it could happen.
Crane needs to get the message loud and clear. If he finds indifference then mixing things up will get attention which is good for business because he will feel that he’s already starting from square one.
ntn - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Crane Contact Info.
Hit that fool up with a letter about the name change
http://www.craneww.com/contact-us/
LonerATO - January 23, 2012
We already have the sugarland skeeter, but maybe we could be the Houston Mosquitoes.
conroestro - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Name changes
There have been MULTIPLE teams—just in MLB to change their name without changing cities:
Florida Marlins = Miami Marlins
St. Louis Brown Stockings, Browns, Perfectos = St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Red Stockings = Cincinnati Reds
Chicago White Stockings, Colts, Orphans = Chicago Cubs
Pittsburgh Alleghenys, Alleghenies, Innocents = Pittsburgh Pirates
Boston Red Caps, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, Bees = Boston Braves
Philadelphia Quakers, Bluejays = Philadelphia Phillies
Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, Bridegrooms, Grooms, Superbas, Robins = Brooklyn Dodgers
New York Gothams = New York Giants
Tampa Bay Devil Rays = Tampa Bay Rays
New York Highlanders = New York Yankees
Boston Americans = Boston Red Sox
Cleveland Bluebirds, Broncos, Naps = Cleveland Indians
Chicago White Stockings = Chicago White Sox
Other sports have similar changes.
dsides - January 23, 2012
Yes, but...
The Miami Marlins stayed the Marlins, and the Devil Rays simply dropped the “Devil”. Neither were major changes. And those other examples are all ancient history, so their relevance is lost on today’s fans.
Stupendous Man - January 23, 2012 via mobile
If the name was changed from Astros to "Stros, would that be equivalent to changing the Devil Rays to Rays?
clack - January 23, 2012
Yeah, I suppose. But better " ’Stros" than “Houston Crawdads” or something.
Stupendous Man - January 24, 2012 via mobile
you forgot about the Colt 45s
thebluffrat - January 23, 2012
Who???
Its Gonna Happen - January 23, 2012 via mobile
Pissed
This makes me more upset than the move to the AL. There is a lot of power, emotion and meaning wrapped up in a name.
LonerATO - January 23, 2012
I really didn't care about the move to the AL
but if the name is changed significantly, I will never watch a game again.
T-Moar - January 23, 2012
I don't think he will change the name
I think it just shows he is evaluating everything and is willing to bounce even the craziest ideas off the board to see where they land.
OremLK - January 23, 2012
The team I saw in Houston...
was named the Colt 45s. So it’s not unprecedented. It’s wrong, though.
patrickdolan - January 23, 2012
Only way I would be OK with it happening is
if they entered into a sponsorship deal with Colt and went back to being the Colt 45’s… Anything other than that and I would be pissed. My first ever baseball game was in the dome to watch the Houston Astros… I have been an Astros fan since that day, and I dont mind saying I am quite attached to the name Astros.
Crzycjunx76 - January 23, 2012
It's like the Astros are doing everything in their power
so that I won’t be a fan anymore. Last 5 years, one thing after another. You gonna move the team next?
danielcp0303 - January 23, 2012
You realize they haven't actually changed the name, right...
OremLK - January 23, 2012
Calm down calm down
A new owner is coming into an organization that just finished as the worst in the sport. He’s doing what he should be doing and taking into consideration every aspect of the franchise. It doesn’t mean he’ll change everything, but he’s doing the right thing in looking into every detail of the team, including the name.
Its Gonna Happen - January 23, 2012 via mobile
you think it's possible he's just trying to get the Astros back in the conversation nationally?
is there such a thing as bad press? I mean let’s face it. The ‘Stros were a laughing stock. If they were an NFL team, they’d be on the fast track to LA or London.
Now he drops a nugget at a presser and there’s consternation.
Joe Fisher - January 23, 2012
From the locals, maybe.
Nobody in the national media cares. Nobody cared about baseball screwing us over with the league change (It was all “Hurf durf MOAR PLAYOFFS GOOD”), nobody cared that a racist war profiteer bought the team on $300 million in loans, why would they care about this?
I’m writing the team a letter tomorrow. It won’t do anything, I’m sure. But, shit, I’m tired of feeling utterly powerless about what happens to this dumb team.
Only_A_Lad - January 23, 2012
So would we make Disastros official?
Only_A_Lad - January 23, 2012
New Name
Hello Houston Mockingbirds or maybe Crane will take Texas back, Texas Roadrunners!
LonerATO - January 23, 2012
I am more worried about what a change of uniforms would mean....
after getting a look at that terrible suit Crane wore during the presser.
baggs - January 23, 2012
Nobody has ever done orange-and-blue flannel uniforms, right?
Only_A_Lad - January 23, 2012
Oh please God, no!
Its Gonna Happen - January 23, 2012 via mobile
I think Crane’s suit looks pretty cool in that picture, personally…
Stupendous Man - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Agreed.
MadMartygan - January 24, 2012
I am starting to like Crane
He knows what he wants to do, and he is taking initiative. He also is able to cause a stir in the media, I mean what better way to get your team in the major media outlets than to say you are going to evaluate the name at the end of the year, its genius. He has brought this team in a new direction, one that will have a winning attitude in years to come.
astrosfan3 - January 23, 2012
Look
This isn’t about the name change. This is about an owner who is a businessman first. He wants to show the city a couple of things. 1) he’s serious about improving this team and getting rid of that uncle drayton mentality which alienated a lot of fans over the last few seasons, and 2) it’s now HIS team, and he wants it to be the start of a new era.
A trip to the World Series or even a deep playoff run a couple of seasons from this upcoming one, and all would be forgiven in a heartbeat. Winning gives people serious amnesia.
Fuzion - January 24, 2012
1. An interesting question to me: was this an off-the-cuff remark by Crane which demonstrates that he is PR-impaired? Or is this some kind of brilliant maneuver that shows Crane and Postolos are deviously smart?
2. I tend to think that it is an unintentional PR blunder. The fan outcry over a possible name change detracts from what should have been a much lauded announcement of lower prices and fan friendly policies. But maybe I’m wrong and Crane-Postolos are following the old adage of “any publicity is good publicity.” Certainly the name change mention has gotten national headlines.
3. My initial reaction was that changing the Astros’ name would be horrible. But I have to admit that reading some of the discussion around the internet makes me realize that there are some decent arguments on the other side. The Astros name no longer conveys the “futuristic city” view of Houston that it once did. If a really good alternative name were available, maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. But I’m not in love with any alternative names. I recall when the Texans’ franchise started, and various names were considered, none of which were that appealing—-and frankly the “Texans” nickname is uninspiring, though maybe the best of the nickname candidates at the time.
4. Baseball is unique among professional sports in terms of its ties to tradition. And, even if “Astros” no longer conveys the image it once did, the name ties the current team to a proud past and former players.
5. Lots of current baseball teams have names that have little current meaning to the team—-but it’s the tradition that makes the name viable for current fans. “Dodgers” refers to pre-subway Brooklynites dodging street cars. How far can you get from current day LA?
clack - January 24, 2012
I think he just meant that he’s not going to rule anything out. I think the name probably stays the same.
Off topic, did you hear the Astros hired Mike Fast of baseball prospectus?
MadMartygan - January 24, 2012
I did not hear that. What will his position be.
conroestro - January 24, 2012 via mobile
I haven't seen them specify.
Here’s a Fast Tweet
There were also a few tweets congratulating him from Cameron and others.
MadMartygan - January 24, 2012
That’s very interesting. I don’t know if you have noticed….but I think I have referenced more Mike Fast articles in my saber-related TCB articles than anyone else. I think he is one of the best researchers out there. I find his articles to be creative and relevant to questions that interest me. (…which must be why I have referenced so many.) Congratulations to him, and hopefully this will help the Astros.
clack - January 24, 2012
Here's the Levine article on it, just to make it official.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2012/01/24/astros-add-baseball-prospectus-alum-fast-in-drive-for-stats-knowledge/
MadMartygan - January 24, 2012
That article has a link to Fast’s article archives at B-Pro, which some might want to look at.
Among other things, Fast has been among the researchers working on quantification of catcher defense and pitch framing. That’s important stuff.
clack - January 24, 2012
He has some very in depth stuff over there.
MadMartygan - January 24, 2012
I love the move.
conroestro - January 24, 2012 via mobile
The Astros really are going to become the new darling of the internet community. Ha. Talk about a 180. Love the move, also.
MadMartygan - January 24, 2012
Luhnow and Daryl Morey were both involved in a twitter chat today. I was really interesting. They were answering some pretty cool questions.
MadMartygan - January 24, 2012
I went back and read the Jeff Luhnow part to that chat and it was pretty good stuff.
conroestro - January 24, 2012 via mobile
If Luhnow is able to run the Astros even half as well as Morey runs the Rockets, I will be thrilled.
Stupendous Man - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Thanks!
I’m looking forward to doing my part to help us get more wins. I’m sure I’ll have a lot to learn, but hopefully I can bring some helpful knowledge to the team’s decisions, also.
Mike Fast - January 24, 2012
I'm attached to the name "Astros" sentimentally
But if I were bringing a new team to Houston today (in an alternate universe where the Stros didn’t exist) there is no way in heck I would use that name. I always felt the NASA associations in Houston sports franchises felt a bit forced and had never been done in a way which didn’t feel corny. That’s why I actually like all the rail station iconography in current Minute Maid Park, because it has some real historical resonance with the city of Houston.
I think if the name were changed, which it won’t be, that I would be initially upset but would get over it quickly.
OremLK - January 24, 2012
New Names
Houston was never “futuristic.” What should they change the name to? Something that has do with the city? Oil/Gas? or other things that the city is known for; smog, obesity and traffic? They cannot use the name Houston Oilers without approval from Bud Adams and how sad would that make the franchise seem, that it would want to use the name from a previous existing NFL team. Had the government not canceled the shuttle program recently, we would not be talking about how this city is no longer “Space City.”
LonerATO - January 24, 2012
Houston MLB 3.0 Change The Name!
unprecedented? I’ll tell you what’s unprecedented. This whole Selig-spawned forced league switch to approve a twice-rejected owner is unprecedented.
To Mr. Coleman: If we sustitute your article topic from name change to league change, your writing sums up my feelings nicely. I’m glad you understand a bit of what I feel about the team being forced to switch leagues.
The Astros, after 2012, are dead. May they rest in peace with their traditions and name intact. Let the new Houston AL team have a fresh start.
mikrobass3 - January 24, 2012
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