Super Astros Crawfish Boil: April 12, 2015

Good morning boys and girls, baseball is back. Here are some links to get you through till Sunday's game:

Change of scenery doesn’t change Carlos Corporan’s infectious attitude - Ultimate Astros
Carlos Corporan is still smiling, even with the other guys.

Astros' Rasmus finds saving grace on, off field - Houston Chronicle
Colby Rasmus was in his hometown of Phenix City, Ala., early this offseason, sitting in the pew of The Way church, a non-denominational congregation of more than 200 people. He was talking with David Wilson, who has been the church's senior pastor since its founding four years ago.

Evan Gattis' four strikeouts perfectly encapsulate Astros' struggles | Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
From Yahoo Sports: Evan Gattis' poor day at the plate summed up the Astros' recent struggles.

Houston Astros Mascot and Security Guard Square Off in Epic Dance Showdown | XN Sports
Houston Astros Mascot Orbit has an epic showdown with a security guard. Who wins?

Fresno Grizzlies Hope Astros Affiliation Boosts Fan Interest | Valley Public Radio
The Fresno Grizzlies will open their 2015 season tonight at Chuckchansi Park. But for the first time in 18 years, the AAA team won’t be stocked with

Astros report: Hofheinz's daughter recalls Astrodome's roots - Houston Chronicle
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Astrodome's first game, the Astros had Judge Roy Hofheinz's daughter, Dene, throw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday at Minute Maid Park. She was joined by former Astros manager Larry Dierker, who was an 18-year-old pitcher with the Astros on April 9, 1965, when the Dome opened.

Delino DeShields Jr. enjoying his opportunity with Rangers - Ultimate Astros
Even before the Lone Star Series started Friday, the Rangers had delivered a blow.

All Funked Up :: Astros Play First MLB Game in Texas in 1962
On April 10, 1962, Major League Baseball debuted in the state of Texas with its first regular season game in Houston.  It was on this day that the Houston Colt .45s(now the Houston Astros) hosted the Chicago Cubs in the first regular season home game as a franchise.

Astros report: Luhnow at liberty to operate shuttle - Houston Chronicle
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow deflected a little praise when talking about the flexibility he's created with the club's 2015 roster.

Five Bold Predictions for the 2015 Houston Astros
Baseball Essential is a fast-growing team of correspondents dedicated to connecting players, writers & fans to a multimedia platform.

Game over for domed ballparks | TBO.com and The Tampa Tribune
When it opened 50 years ago this week, it was hailed as an engineering marvel and nicknamed the eighth wonder of the world by evangelist Billy Graham. President Lyndon Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird

Falkenberg: Let's face the Astrodome's future like we did its inception - Houston Chronicle
Try to think of the polar opposite of Roy Hofheinz, the legendary Harris County judge hailed as a hard-charging visionary and "grand huckster" after turning a 250-acre patch of gulf coast prairie into the Eighth Wonder of the World

91-year-old man has attended every Astros Opening Day | Sports - Home
Cleve Lockett, 91, hasn't missed an Astros home opener since Houston started playing Major League Baseball in 1962.

Entry music aside, Gregerson thrives in new role as Astros’ closer - Ultimate Astros
Astros righthander Luke Gregerson is so new to the closer’s role, he hasn’t even bothered to pick his entrance music. The rugged boilermaker’s son was as surprised as anybody to hear Ariana Grande’s Bang Bang blaring throughout Minute Maid Park as he headed to the mound to pitch the ninth inning. He vows to change the music but little else from his impressive Opening Day performance.

New deal with City Hall would cut Fresno Grizzlies' rent by half | Local News | FresnoBee.com
City officials and the baseball team's current owners hope fewer financial losses at Chukchansi Park might make the team more enticing to a buyer.

Nolan Ryan and Craig Biggio share Astrodome memories - Ultimate Astros
In a simpler time, thousands of Colt .45 fans would march over from old Colt Stadium to the edge of the giant excavation where the so-called Eighth Wonder of the World would be built. Nolan Ryan and his Alvin High buddies would stare into the mammoth hole and let their imagination run.

Houston's Astrodome was the 'eighth wonder of the world' when it opened | Cities | The Guardian
A history of cities in 50 buildings, day 12: Fifty years old today, can the vast, abandoned Houston Astrodome find unlikely redemption as one of the world’s largest indoor parks?

The Astrodome turns 50 today | HardballTalk
It may not be the Eighth Wonder of the World anymore, but it's still standing.