While a dozen or more Houston Astros donned suits and a playful demeanor for Friday night's "Diamond Dreams Gala," CultureMap was able to snare two of the big guns for a quick moment of gravity.
What does the 2016 season hold for our boys of summer?
"I feel good about it. People up top have made some moves and additions to better our team," center fielder Colby Rasmus said. "I think the environment, the atmosphere is going to be good. The chemistry is going to be good on our teams because all these guys get along. We got a lot of these guys that can lean on each other, love on each other, be there for each other, to keep each other confident. That's a big thing in this game.
"We gotta stay confident and know that the man beside us is pulling on the same rope that we are and that we are all a team. So I think things are looking up for us in 2016."
And what about the gala on the field at Minute Maid Park?
"I think it's fabulous, good looking people, good looking outfits," the $15.8 million player said. "Laughs all around. Everybody's having a good time, cutting up."
The gala, starring James Taylor, raised $1.3 million for the Astros Foundation.
New man on the team, closer Ken Giles tells CultureMap, "I'm excited just to be on the team overall. I think I'm more excited to be with them than they are having me. It looks great. The sky's the limit for everybody right now. Everybody is ready to take the next step forward I believe. And I think that's gonna come this coming year."
Go Astros!
Astros center fielder Colby Rasmus joins John Eddie and Sheridan Williams and his wife, Megan Rasmus.
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Photo by Leonid Furmansky