Toy Story
Before I get completely started with my post today, I want to wish our Piña, Yuli Gurriel, a speedy and pain-free recovery.
For those that don't already know, he had surgery on his left hand today. There was some kind of minor fracture in the hook of his hamate bone that sent him under the knife. It will be at least six weeks of recovery, followed by a rehab stint, AND still serving the 5 game suspension. While this will open up the door for the likes of A.J. Reed, J.D. Davis, or whom I believe will be the best fill-in for first base in the first month of the season, Tyler White a.k.a Great White, it is still a bit of a sting for the clubhouse.
But, games must still be played, and they have been incredibly diligently by this Houston Astros squad. Despite only two losses in Grapefruit League, they are ranking right up there with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the two teams they beat in the playoffs to get to the World Series in the first place. Slow and steady is definitely helping to win the race for another repeat championship for the spacemen. Though some players have a bit of catching up to do, there is still a month left worth of preseason games to be played before the season opener in Arlington against the hated divisional and in-state rival, Texas Rangers.
Speaking of which, that brings me to why I referenced one of my favorite films growing up, and arguably one of the best animated films of all time! some fans like yours truly have been given exclusive pre-sale access for single game tickets for the upcoming season. However, much to all of our collective dismays, seeing our World Champions will cost a number of pretty pennies in 2018. It's no surprise, seeing is how most teams that win a championship one year hike up their prices for a lot of things the next. Don't even get me started on the Yankees organization! Unfortunately, for those of us lower middle and working class folks, it may be difficult to secure our spots this season.
All of this brings me to another mildly disappointing thing I encountered in the same email yesterday: The Promotions Schedule. Most of the giveaways this season are pretty solid. In fact, anyone going to that July 7th game against the Chicago White Sox that is willing to sneak me out a World Champions gym bag, I would gladly pay you handsomely for it! But I digress, a few of the players were obvious choices to have a promotional night. Namely, the core four in George Springer, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Even Yuli and Justin Verlander have some promotional giveaways happening throughout the season.
Noticeably absent from the giveaway list are your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis, as well as his #BearSquared wonder twin, Brian McCann, a.k.a the BMac. Even after the good folks at AT&T SportNet ran a poll about which players should be featured in a twin bobblehead night for the upcoming season, the marketing and promotions department for the organization failed to deliver something worthwhile to those of us fans that will be spending our hard earned dimes just to see our champs. They can do it for Altuve and Correa last season, but not for Gattis and McCann this season?
Why is that exactly? Do they know something we don't? Does the team really plan to not bring back the bearded bash brothers in 2019? My answer to that would be that I most certainly hope that isn't the case. These two have been hidden veteran gems on a team full of young talent. That's not something that can easily be replaced. Additionally, where is the love for these two when it comes to the giveaways? What are they, chopped liver?!
You can take a look at the promotions schedule for yourselves here, Astros fans. Quite frankly, a lot of these giveaways should have been remade to give credence to these players. For instance, the Scarf Night could have been a Josh Reddick Nature Boy Scarf Night. Or the tote bag could have been the Chris Devenski Dragon Tote. Maybe I'm just spit balling here, but with half of the regular season games being played at home, there is no reason that at least half of THOSE can't feature some promotional giveaway centered around a player. There are so many great ones on this team, still here from last season, that have helped this ball club reach the achievements that it has.
Look, I don't want to be "that guy," and tell a credible ball club and organization how to do there job. But seriously, who do they have working for them in the marketing and promotions team? And while we're on the subject, who makes the final decisions on these things? I mean, some of the giveaways I get. A lot of them, however, just don't feel like they're enough for our World Series champions, and us fans that support them. Perhaps this department is in need of some fresh eyes and blood? (wink, wink!)
It's going to be difficult for a lot of us to make it out to the juice box this season. Especially me, since any game at MMP requires me to drive 4 hours to the south. Under no circumstance does that mean any of us will stop rooting for the team. But this does present potential awkwardness among the fan base. We all want to enjoy the symbolic "toys" that the club will offer fans coming to the games this year. Regardless of what happens, we all stand behind these guys to bring home a second title this fall. And that will be quite the new story to tell!
But, games must still be played, and they have been incredibly diligently by this Houston Astros squad. Despite only two losses in Grapefruit League, they are ranking right up there with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the two teams they beat in the playoffs to get to the World Series in the first place. Slow and steady is definitely helping to win the race for another repeat championship for the spacemen. Though some players have a bit of catching up to do, there is still a month left worth of preseason games to be played before the season opener in Arlington against the hated divisional and in-state rival, Texas Rangers.
Speaking of which, that brings me to why I referenced one of my favorite films growing up, and arguably one of the best animated films of all time! some fans like yours truly have been given exclusive pre-sale access for single game tickets for the upcoming season. However, much to all of our collective dismays, seeing our World Champions will cost a number of pretty pennies in 2018. It's no surprise, seeing is how most teams that win a championship one year hike up their prices for a lot of things the next. Don't even get me started on the Yankees organization! Unfortunately, for those of us lower middle and working class folks, it may be difficult to secure our spots this season.
All of this brings me to another mildly disappointing thing I encountered in the same email yesterday: The Promotions Schedule. Most of the giveaways this season are pretty solid. In fact, anyone going to that July 7th game against the Chicago White Sox that is willing to sneak me out a World Champions gym bag, I would gladly pay you handsomely for it! But I digress, a few of the players were obvious choices to have a promotional night. Namely, the core four in George Springer, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Even Yuli and Justin Verlander have some promotional giveaways happening throughout the season.
Noticeably absent from the giveaway list are your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis, as well as his #BearSquared wonder twin, Brian McCann, a.k.a the BMac. Even after the good folks at AT&T SportNet ran a poll about which players should be featured in a twin bobblehead night for the upcoming season, the marketing and promotions department for the organization failed to deliver something worthwhile to those of us fans that will be spending our hard earned dimes just to see our champs. They can do it for Altuve and Correa last season, but not for Gattis and McCann this season?
Why is that exactly? Do they know something we don't? Does the team really plan to not bring back the bearded bash brothers in 2019? My answer to that would be that I most certainly hope that isn't the case. These two have been hidden veteran gems on a team full of young talent. That's not something that can easily be replaced. Additionally, where is the love for these two when it comes to the giveaways? What are they, chopped liver?!
You can take a look at the promotions schedule for yourselves here, Astros fans. Quite frankly, a lot of these giveaways should have been remade to give credence to these players. For instance, the Scarf Night could have been a Josh Reddick Nature Boy Scarf Night. Or the tote bag could have been the Chris Devenski Dragon Tote. Maybe I'm just spit balling here, but with half of the regular season games being played at home, there is no reason that at least half of THOSE can't feature some promotional giveaway centered around a player. There are so many great ones on this team, still here from last season, that have helped this ball club reach the achievements that it has.
Look, I don't want to be "that guy," and tell a credible ball club and organization how to do there job. But seriously, who do they have working for them in the marketing and promotions team? And while we're on the subject, who makes the final decisions on these things? I mean, some of the giveaways I get. A lot of them, however, just don't feel like they're enough for our World Series champions, and us fans that support them. Perhaps this department is in need of some fresh eyes and blood? (wink, wink!)
It's going to be difficult for a lot of us to make it out to the juice box this season. Especially me, since any game at MMP requires me to drive 4 hours to the south. Under no circumstance does that mean any of us will stop rooting for the team. But this does present potential awkwardness among the fan base. We all want to enjoy the symbolic "toys" that the club will offer fans coming to the games this year. Regardless of what happens, we all stand behind these guys to bring home a second title this fall. And that will be quite the new story to tell!
Original Photo Credit: Karen Warren of the Houston Chronicle
The promotions team literally dropped the ball in not getting a promotion going for these two in 2018. But, que sera sera, I suppose.
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