Houston determined to stay in title business

Complacency won’t be an issue for defending world champions.

When A.J. Hinch walked out of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America awards dinner in New York last month, he was greeted by a couple of Yankees fans.

“Enjoy your ring now, Hinch!” they yelled at him. “We’ll be back!”

Hinch grinned, then replied: “I will.”

He and the rest of the Astros will get their championship rings on April 3 at Minute Maid Park. That night against Baltimore, the reigning World Series champions also will wear a special uniform with gold lettering and numbers — signifying they won it all in 2017.

It was a magical year for the franchise. The Astros set lofty goals in spring training, telling anyone who would listen that they were capable of winning the World Series.

Some believed them. Others didn’t.

But the Astros never doubted