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Friday, June 29, 2012

Astros to consider removing train from Minute Maid Park

The train arrived, zero coaches long…

Add the train high above left field to Tal’s Hill on the list of Minute Maid Park quirks potentially on the chopping block.

Owner Jim Crane said Wednesday that the club will weigh removing both features before next year when it moves to the American League and rebrands.

“Those are two things people question me about all the time and those are logical,” Crane said. ”We’re going to do our marketing research. We’re going to study it.”

As part of that rebranding, the Astros have submitted new uniforms to MLB and are awaiting approval. Any changes to uniforms would be revealed after the season.

The train, like several of the pennants, which will be moved and colored in the new scheme, could be a casualty of a new set of signs above the Crawford Boxes and Home Run Alley.

Repoz Posted: June 29, 2012 at 07:22 AM | 19 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: astros

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1. Steve Parris, Je t'aime Posted: June 29, 2012 at 08:45 AM (#4169267)

The Astros have one of the most boring uniforms in sports, so just about any change would be a good one.

2. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 29, 2012 at 08:58 AM (#4169271)

Is nothing sacred?

3. JJ1986 Posted: June 29, 2012 at 09:35 AM (#4169300)

so just about any change would be a good one.

They should go back to these.

4. Gonfalon Bubble Posted: June 29, 2012 at 09:44 AM (#4169309)

I wish they'd move the hill from centerfield to between second and third base.

5. TerpNats Posted: June 29, 2012 at 09:47 AM (#4169314)

I like the rainbow shoulder stripe on the '80s unis, but only if the jersey number is added (in orange?), superimposed over the navy blue star. Putting the number on the thigh of the pants, as the Astros and Chisox did at the time, simply looks silly.

Sorry to hear Tal's Hill may be on the way out. The incline adds to the intrigue, just as it did at Crosley Field and the early years of Fenway Park.

6. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: June 29, 2012 at 09:48 AM (#4169315)

Other proposed changes include fielding an actual major league baseball team.

7. Bitter Mouse is a genre addict Posted: June 29, 2012 at 09:50 AM (#4169316)

I always liked the idea of the train, but then I like trains in general. I have never been to the park, so no idea if getting rid of it is a good idea. They also need some new fans if BBC and others are to be believed.

8. Dangerous Dean Posted: June 29, 2012 at 10:07 AM (#4169328)

I go to 2 or 3 games a hear in MMP. The train is a faint curiosity, but not a key feature of the park in my mind. I can't remember the last time I saw it moving. In theory, it represents the fact that the area used to be a key train hub. I couldn't care less whether they keep it or not.

Yes, Bitter. The Astros badly need fans. I went to all 3 of the games when the Rangers came to town this year. Texas had at least 15,000 of the 40,000 fans in the park.

Winning in the AL will be a LOT tougher for the Astros than it has been in the NL.

9. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: June 29, 2012 at 10:16 AM (#4169334)

Winning in the AL will be a LOT tougher for the Astros than it has been in the NL.

Given that they haven't been winning in the NL for some time, that's bad news.

10. bunyon Posted: June 29, 2012 at 10:30 AM (#4169343)

Replace the train with a subway to bring pitchers in from the bullpen.

11. JJ1986 Posted: June 29, 2012 at 10:56 AM (#4169361)

12. Brian C Posted: June 29, 2012 at 11:28 AM (#4169396)

In theory, it represents the fact that the area used to be a key train hub.

Which in no way is at odds with the futuristic "Astros" motif.

They should replace it with a model Space Shuttle that rockets back and forth and occasionally explodes.

13. Justin T is expanding the aperture of awareness Posted: June 29, 2012 at 11:44 AM (#4169411)

I don't know if they have the money (I think Lee and Myers are off the books), but the Astros should pony-up whatever it takes to steal Josh Hamilton after the season. That would instantly make them interesting and they'd move into the other league with a bang instead of a whimper.

I don't think Crane is interested in anything like a marquee free agent signing.

Luckily, through one draft, Luhnow looks like he may be able to build an organization from the bottom up. That's the only way for them, I believe.

14. Cris E Posted: June 29, 2012 at 11:49 AM (#4169417)

They should replace it with a model Space Shuttle that rockets back and forth and occasionally explodes.

Tacky.

But given the direction NASA seems to be taking, they might want to have a series of corporate shuttles and rockets sponsored by a variety of contractors running out there instead.

15. Der_K Posted: June 29, 2012 at 01:52 PM (#4169575)

Well, that was kind of a best case scenario for Luhnow - no clear #1, a legit candidate for the spot with less than normal leverage, and all that cap space. But, yes, he did quite nicely.

16. Mayor Blomberg Posted: June 29, 2012 at 02:18 PM (#4169606)

They should replace it with a model Space Shuttle that rockets back and forth and occasionally explodes.

Tacky.

Naah, it'd get me to the park. & I live close enough it'd be cool to hear it.

17. cardsfanboy

Posted: June 29, 2012 at 03:22 PM (#4169669)

They should replace it with a model Space Shuttle that rockets back and forth and occasionally explodes.

I'm on board with this proposal. Of course I also love the new Marlins park, so I'm not the type of person that would have thought that was a sarcastic(or tacky) comment.

18. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: June 29, 2012 at 03:35 PM (#4169678)

Winning in the AL will be a LOT tougher for the Astros than it has been in the NL.

Winning the AL will become a lot easier for the Astros once they're part of the AL.

19. Brian C Posted: June 29, 2012 at 04:11 PM (#4169702)

Well it was tacky, of course, but it's the Astros. Tacky is the order of the day.

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Astros to consider removing train from Minute Maid Park

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