HEADED FOR HOME AND ONE BIG PARTY
Off to 3-1 start, Astros geared up for the unveiling of title banner, ring ceremony at Minute Maid
For the first time, the Astros on Monday will play a home game as defending World Series champions.
All spring they have disapproved of complacency. They have declared an ambition to be the first title winners to repeat in 17 seasons. They repeatedly have stressed the importance of putting last year behind them, concerned that dwelling on their epic post-Harvey postseason run might go to their heads.
How have they prepared?
“It was as if we never won,” said pitcher Justin Verlander.
How have they stayed motivated?
“We’re not talking about our championship last year,” said second baseman Jose Altuve.
How have they handled the splendor of winning?
“Pretty soon we’re going to stop talking about that and just get to playing games,” said manager A.J. Hinch, unenthused by a question he has heard several times.
The team has expressed no interest in savoring victory. Such focus and restraint suggested that the World Series commemoration at Minute Maid Park
this week would be quick, perhaps subtle.
Something like … a fete spanning two days of the six-game homestand, during which the Astros will welcome a fullthroated standing ovation from more than 40,000 fans — at least twice; unsheathe new banners above a hooting train; wear gold and flaunt diamonds — so many diamonds; unfurl an American flag gigantic enough to cover the field; invite an ear-blistering flyover from four T-45 Goshawks out of Kingsville; honor more than 30 winners of a social media contest; and strut to unequivocal adulation, a response so overwhelming that the Clydesdales rounding the track will be the runner-up show ponies on display.
“We’re all anticipating the ceremony,” Hinch said Sunday, before his team improved to 3-1 on the season with an 8-2 victory over the Texas Rangers. “We’ll hang the banner, and the rings are going to come the next day. The first couple days are going to be packed full of fans, excitement, of memories, of videos and some special people coming back throwing first pitches. It’ll be a lot.
“Opening day (in Arlington) was exciting because of the anticipation of the season. It’s multiplied when you have something so special to celebrate like the World Series.”
The last time Houston hosted a meaningful baseball game, the Astros did not have a title in their history. That was 155 days ago, when they beat the Dodgers 13-12 in 10 innings to take a 3-2 lead in the World Series. It was at the end of a snake-bitten 55year stretch, which by design will become easier to forget for fans returning to Minute Maid Park, where past laurels have been placed aside like unflattering junior high photos swapped out for a modeling portfolio.
The ballpark’s light tower in left-center field had displayed metal banners to remind the world that the Astros made the playoffs 10 times in 55 seasons. Now, nine of those teams will be honored with a series of pennants on the brick facades of the upper deck.
Before playing the Orioles on Monday night, the Astros will unveil two larger banners above the left-field train tracks to commemorate winning the 2005 National League pennant and the 2017 World Series. Former coach Rich Dauer, who has recovered from surgery for an acute subdural hematoma suffered during the downtown parade last year, will throw out the first pitch.
Rings will be handed out Tuesday. The first-pitch honor will go to Carlos Beltran, who retired after playing the last of his 20 major league seasons with the Astros last year.
The nine signs across the upper deck will be about 6 feet above the walkway, so fans may take photos with them, said Reid Ryan, the Astros’ president for business operations.
The Astros will extend the extravaganza through the homestand. They have branded a corporate-sponsored “Championship Weekend” for three games against the Padres, in which they will give replica championship trophies, replica World Series rings, and posters to the first 10,000 fans who arrive on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
On Friday, players will be recognized for the awards they earned in 2017: Jose Altuve for his American League Most Valuable Player and Silver Slugger awards, George Springer for his World Series MVP and Silver Slugger honors, and Justin Verlander for his ALCS MVP award. Artist Opie Otterstad will give each a portrait he painted.
If all of that is not enough to remind Astros fans that they root for a winner, the 2017 Commissioner’s Trophy will be ferried between Union Station and the ballpark’s team store for viewing this season.
The organization is exploring security logistics that could allow fans to pose with the trophy for photos at the station, but they would not be permitted to do so in the store.