Minute Maid Park will include Caswell's, Killen's Texas Smokehouse

New food on display during the media preview of the changes happening at Minute Maid Park this season including more progressive food choices. New food on display during the media preview of the changes happening at Minute Maid Park this season including more progressive food choices. Photo: Michael Paulsen, Staff Photo: Michael Paulsen, Staff Image 1 of / 86 Caption Close Minute Maid Park will include Caswell's, Killen's Texas Smokehouse 1 / 86 Back to Gallery

It's anybody's guess how the Houston Astros will do in the American League West this season. But at Minute Maid Park's concession stands and gift shop, they're ready to "Play ball!"

I got a sneak peek Thursday morning at the stadium's new double-sized Majestic Homeplate Team Store behind home plate.

And a sneak eat of all the new items at food stands.

The team store found extra space when the stadium eliminated Larry's Big Bamboo beer and snack joint. Every shape and size of T-shirts, bobbleheads and Astros gear is there, including jerseys with names of players, like Jose Altuve, Jason Castro, L.J. Hoes and Brett Oberholtzer.

It's a veritable "Who's Who" of superstars - with the emphasis on "Who?"

You can buy game-worn Astros uniforms of olde, including iconic rainbow jerseys from the '70s. There's used equipment, too, including Jeff Bagwell's first baseman's mitt for $350. I know about buying baseball gloves, and Baggy's glove probably cost more than $350 retail off the rack.

Ah, now the food.

Here's an overdue improvement. This year, when you buy a hot dog or peanuts or whatever, you'll pay at the counter, like at normal quick service restaurants. And there will be twice as many cash registers as before. You won't have to wait in line for your food, then wait in another line to pay. Man, that used to bug me.

I had a new Brisket Sausage Sandwich that was perfect. That's going to be a huge hit with fans. Another upgrade, Minute Maid now uses Nolan Ryan brand meats at it concession stands. Hall of Famer Ryan recently signed with the team as an executive adviser, and brought along his personal line of meat products.

That's called "adviser with benefits."

Foodies and barbecue fans will flock to Texas Smoke - Caswell's and Killen's Texas Smokehouse. The new concession stand in Section 124 from local chefs Bryan Caswell and Ronnie Killen will serve country-style barbecue, burgers and classic country sides like baked beans, potato salad and coleslaw.

The various concession stands have new names to reflect hometown pride. There's the H Town Grille, with classic baseball food like dogs, burgers, sandwiches and soda. A bottomless (unlimited free refills) box of popcorn will cost $8.75. Pass it around. Large sodas are $7.50 with one free refill.

Yes, there's a veggie dog, too.

I asked Mat Drain, the Maharaja of Mustard at Minute Maid Park, exactly how many veggie dogs do you sell a year?"

"We sell about 300. We don't know if that's 300 different fans eating one veggie dog each, or one fan eating 300 veggie dogs. We make veggie dogs available because baseball is the ultimate family game, and we strive to have something for everybody in the family," Drain said.

Most important, the Extreme Hot Dog stand is back in right field, with the "Ken Hoffman New York Dog" (sauerkraut and Gulden's Spicy Brown Mustard) and a new "Texas Dog" (with bacon, naturally). I tried those, both great. There's also a Cincinnati Dog and a Georgia Dog.

The Texans Legend Grill at Section 134 has burgers and a New York Strip Steak Sandwich with a white Cheddar horseradish sauce that will slay you.

Maybe the most intriguing new stand is called Street Eats. You'll find a revolving menu usually associated with food trucks. The first offerings include: Chicken Fried BLT (killer), Smoked Pork Sandwich Dip, Pulled Pork Taco and Chicken Bahn Mi, which is Asian chicken with cucumber, pickled carrots, cilantro and chili mayo.

What goes up, rarely comes down. Most everything is 25 cents higher than last year.

The Astros start the 2014 season at home Tuesday with a three-game set against the New York Yankees.