When it's over, with the Houston Astros having made the good kind of history, their first bit of American League history, Bo Porter's 25 guys come together one more time in the center of the clubhouse.
"We sort of huddled up a moment," center fielder Justin Maxwell says.
The Astros destroy the Texas Rangers 8-2 to kickoff the entire Major League Baseball season on national TV, kick starting what's expected to be a miserable run into American League oblivion and they huddle up? Could anything be more perfect?
The only thing that's missing is J.J. Watt running in and screaming at them in delight — and letting loose with a flying chest bump or three.
This is a team that's being led by a first-year manager who acts like he wants to be a football coach. One look around a revamped Astros clubhouse tells you everything you need to know about Bo Porter's influences and intentions. The types of inspirational quotes that football coaches love are all around the walls. And these are bold, painted on statements. No one is erasing these by May.
These new American League Astros of Porter, Luhnow and Crane never allow the Rangers to relax. Instead, the Astros dictate the way the game is played.
It seems a little strange at first to see that a number of the quotes are from Porter himself. Then again, it's already clear this isn't your ordinary rookie manager. Porter's already made himself at home. Heck, he's taken over the home and commandeered the redecorating. He plans to stay here a while.
You'd better believe his nuggets of wisdom are going to be up on the wall. Even if most casual sports fans around the country still haven't even heard of him.
There are other quotes of course, like this one from longtime Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis: "Greatness is small things done well."
And darn if that's not the story of the Astros on this critic-defying, $25-million-payroll-be-damned opener. Oh, Maxwell hits two triples, coming close to two home runs, including a possible inside the park one, and Rick Ankiel blasts a pinch-hit three run homer that turns Minute Maid Park into a party zone. But it's prickly poise as much as the power that stuns the haughty Rangers.
The Astros are more aggressive than Ron Washington's team. They play better defense (much better defense) than Ron Washington's team. They run the bases better than Ron Washington's team. They basically get in Texas' face.
"I've told them if you allow a team to relax, it will relax," Porter says.
These new American League Astros of Porter, Luhnow and Crane never allow the Rangers to relax. Instead, the Astros dictate the way the game is played.
It starts in the bottom of the first inning when second baseman Jose Altuve immediately tries to steal second after singling. He's called out (in a pretty dubious call as shown by the replays), but when he gets back to the dugout, Porter only tells him, "Do the exact same thing next time."
Porter's already come onto the field to argue the out call by this point, of course. This is a manager who doesn't believe in sitting back. No one will ever wonder if Bo Porter's fallen asleep on the bench.
"He's really vocal in there," Maxwell laughs.
For the first time in a long time, no one wants to leave Minute Maid Park.
What are these overmatched Astros — and yes, they really are still overmatched — thinking? Don't they realize you're not supposed to be able to dictate things with sheer will in baseball? This is a more refined, nuanced sport than that. You can't just run into a wall.
Oh wait . . . there's Maxwell almost running into a wall to take away a hit in the ninth inning. With the Astros up by six. For his second spectacular, all-out-effort catch of the night.
The 29-year-old Maxwell typifies these in-transition Astros in a lot of ways. It seems like he's been around for a long time, but as he reminds, this is actually his first Opening Day. This is the first time he's in the lineup for the first game of a MLB team's season.
No wonder his dentist parents still aren't convinced he's not going to end up in the family business some day.
"My dad tells me to keep my options open," Maxwell says.
On this Opening Night, Maxwell's option is to play superstar for an evening with ESPN in the house.
Rangers Troubles
Porter's guys are all in — and all over the field.
Maxwell dives to stretch out and make a great catch in center field. Maxwell triples off the left field wall, driving in two runs. Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz so completely misplays a little single from shortstop Ronny Cedeno that Brandon Barnes scores all the way from first and Cedeno himself ends up on third. Barnes — who was drafted in 2005 and didn't make his Major League debut until 2012 — is the player Porter holds up as an example of never listening to the noise, commending him for shutting out his critics and fighting on.
Porter even had Barnes talk to the team on season's eve, an unexpected honor for a player with 98 career MLB at bats.
This feeling may only last one night. The sold-out crowd will surely be an only Opening Night thing early. But it's a heck of a first night.
It's hard to imagine a more perfect — or unexpected — Houston night.
Lyle Lovett doesn't just sing the National Anthem before the game. He stays around to sing "God Bless America" in the seventh inning stretch as well. First-pitch man J.J. Watt is still sitting in his prime seat late in the game too.
For the first time in a long time, no one wants to leave Minute Maid Park.
And this has little to do with the remade Diamond Club for the big spenders — as impressive as that new, beyond-giant-screen TV is (part of a $2.5 million overhaul). No, this is about good, old fashioned baseball. And the idea of being part of something bigger than yourself.
This feeling may only last one night. The sold-out crowd will surely be an only Opening Night thing early. But it's a heck of a first night.
For Porter. For Astros American League history. For Maxwell. For Ankiel. Maybe . . . even for hope.
The Rangers pitching is a mess. When your Opening Day starter gets shelled for six runs in less than six innings, you know there are issues. The idea of Lance Berkman replacing even half of Josh Hamilton is laughable.
Washington's guys are hardly the giants they used to be. But they are still a giant Texas measuring stick for Houston's Major League team.
And on this night, it's the Rangers who cannot measure up. They cannot match the Astros' intensity.
"It's special," says Bud Norris, the winning starter in Houston's first-ever American League game. "They can't ever take this away from me or my teammates. Thirty or 40 years will go by and I'll be able to look back at this day."
Not bad for openers. Quite a little piece of history.
Not bad for American League openers.
