Don't let a Houston Astro hold your cup of coffee. He'll probably spill it right in your lap.

And forget about choosing an Astro for your recess team. These guys don't believe in tag.

Yes, it's easy to make jokes after these Astros lay an egg (though they'd probably just launch the eggs into center field) in new owner Jim Crane's first Opening Day. Brad Mills' team commits four errors in a game in which they only collect five hits, falling to the Colorado Rockies 5-3.

But before you scream "Same Old Astros" — which the crowd of 43,464 knows better the team's new "Root. Root. Root" marketing campaign, right fielder Brian Bogusevic has a message. At age 28, Bogusevic actually qualifies as one of the more veteran Astros even if he's still trying to establish himself in the Major Leagues.

And Bogusevic doesn't want the large crowd — what could be the biggest crowd of the entire season — to think this game means his team is locked back into last year's 100-plus loss ways already.

"We're not that team," Bogusevic says standing at his locker after a game in which those four errors were compounded by two missed tags at second base. "Mills has stressed to us the importance of doing the little things. We know that's a big part of our game. We have to be sound defensively. We will be.

"We're not that team."

It's easy to say and harder to prove of course. Still, it's encouraging that Bogusevic is the one saying it. This season is about developing leaders, developing players and developing hope.

There are going to be days like this. Probably lots of days this season.

Catcher Jason Castro is one of those young players the Astros are dependent on. Finding out about players like Castro — seeing if they have what it takes to be winning Major Leaguers — is infinitely more important than the win-loss record now.

And there's Castro in a pressure moment — tie game in the eighth, a fast runner dancing off second — air mailing the ball into center field when Eric Young Jr. is caught off base. Instead of catching Young for an out, the error allows the Rockies to score the game-winning run.

It's just one moment in game one of 162. They'll be many more chances for Castro. But it's an important one nonetheless.

Mills largely gives Castro a pass on the play in his postgame press conference. He's more upset with second baseman Jose Altuve failing to cover first base in time on what's scored as a Wandy Rodriguez throwing error, about the missed tags at second base. The injury-setback Castro just playing a full nine innings in an official Major League game again is no small step.

Still . . .

"In that situation I have make the decision pretty much in the blink of an eye," Castro says. "I tried it get it to second. Unfortunately, I didn't get it there."

The errors are all the more confounding to Mills beause as he notes "I think we had the fewest amount of errors in the Grapefruit League." There is a big difference between spring training and the regular season though — something the Astros are already quickly learning.

Even 14-year Major League veteran Carlos Lee admits he was "shaking" in his first at-bat.

"We're going to be good defensively," Lee says, specks of that Opening Day green grass still on his face. "I think it's just one of those things. First game — there's a lot of emotion out there."

No Fairytales

At first and second thought, you'd think the Rockies would be a series for the Astros to win. But even though Colorado is not expected to do much this season, the Rockies do have established big league stars and breakthrough stars on their roster in players like shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.

That's more than the Astros can say at this point in the rebuilding. They're playing hard though. They keep coming Friday night, rallying from down 3-1 to tie it, putting two on with two out in the ninth, bringing life to the stadium. This team just might end up being more fun to watch than you think.

Want more good news? Lee — the one truly established threat they have — took a step toward increasing his trade value. The 35-year-old drove in two with a single and a no-doubt bomb over the left field wall.

Despite the 106 losses last season, the dire predictions for 2012 and the complete lack of a recognizable star on the Astros roster, excitement can be felt in the streets around Minute Maid before the game. This may say more about the incurable addiction of baseball fans than anything, but it's still a welcome sight.

It surely makes Crane smile.

The owner walks up the steps from the Astros dugout to the field a few hours before first pitch, general manager Jeff Luhnow at his side. Wearing a gray sports jacket, a crisp white shirt, no tie and blue pants, Crane looks the part of a relaxed multi-millionaire on a summer afternoon.

"It's certainly a different view," Crane says, looking back at the stands from the field.

He'd waited so long to own a team, endured Bud Selig's demands that the Astros cede to ending life as a National League franchise, squirmed as the vetting process got more than personal, but now Crane's day is here.

The size of this new Crane ownership group can be seen in the first-pitch ceremonies which sees 12 Astros owners throwing to 12 catchers. Crane is in the center and the former small college All-American pitcher has little trouble getting the ball to the plate.

Minute Maid is still one of the more enjoyable parks to watch a game in the big leagues, especially before the worst of the heat rolls in and the roof closes. On Opening Night it's packed too, an official sellout. Oh every single green seat doesn't have a body in it, but every section is very well populated.

It starts so sunny for the Astros as well with Jordan Schafer making a diving catch in center field for first out of the season, with Lee delivering a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first. Those unremarkable Rockies score three runs in the third inning though, using two Houston errors and a missed tag at second base.

The Opening Day optimism doesn't die that quick though.

Not with Lee and Bogusevic going back-to-back in the bottom of the fourth. Not with Fernando Rodriguez pitching Wandy Rodriguez out of a little jam against the heart of the Colorado order in the seventh inning.

In the fairytale, pinch hitter Matt Downs hits a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth once the Astros scrap to get those two on with out. In this Astros reality, he strikes out.

"We're not that team." Maybe. We'll all find out soon enough.