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Born with a comic book in one hand and a remote control in the other, Cory DLG is the talent of Conroe's very own Nerd Thug Radio, Sports and Wrestling. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio show at www.nerdthugradio.com!
Hey Nerds!
It's a glorious Monday and we've got a week to nail, am I right? I'm right, right? Right. Let's get this week going. I always believe Mondays are the most important day of the week because they are the day you use to plan and build and organize your whole week.
GOOD DEED OF THE DAY
So never let it be said that I, Cory DLG can't take criticism and advice, so we're making an adjustment to the GOOD DEED OF THE DAY, we'll try and focus on something all week, so we do MORE good for one thing at a time. So this week we're focusing on helping two things with one section, The Arc of Greater Houston (who does great work with families with disabilities) needs help with their booth at Bayou City Art Festival. They're looking for volunteers for the Children's Center they're putting on to entertain kids at the festival which in itself benefits local charities and artists. So you know, help out and also check it out this weekend starting Friday and blowing through Sunday.
THAT'S SOME AWFUL NETFLIX
This weekend I may have wondered into the dark corners of Netflix. I was on a weird late night binge after re-watching Love, Death and Robots and I was trying to satisfy the weirdness and I stumbled across Extraordinary: The Stan Romanek Story. This is a weird one guys, so I take no positions for the purpose of this article on whether or not I believe aliens abduct people (I don't) but this guy Stan definitely believes they do. He has one of the most documented series of encounters with aliens ever, and there are all kinds of interesting stories and videos and facts and things in the documentary. It's about an hour and a half of semi-interesting stuff and then at the end, there's a note on the screen that after the documentary was made the dude got arrested for kiddie porn. What the heck? Lead with that so I can judge everything properly, I can't go through a whole movie trying to decide if this guy is as crazy as it seems and then be proven right at the very end. Absolute disaster, do not watch. Although the two videos of aliens are pretty funny… so maybe.
THIS WEEK, HISTORY CONTINUES
This week, something pretty freaking awesome is happening. Batman #1000 comes out, that's right, literally the one thousandth issue of Batman. So obviously I'm a huge comic nut but this year has been a big deal for a couple reasons one of which being Action Comics #1000 also came out earlier. Now in general I'm a Marvel guy, but come on, one thousand issues of Superman and Batman is pretty flipping awesome. Every kid grew up with some iteration of these two, they are every kids first superheroes growing up, the capes and the mask, these two drove pop culture for a long time and it's important to remember where things come from. In my case, these two. Here's to another thousand, if you're looking for some great modern batman stories to get into, check out Scott Snyder's recent run on Batman. He introduced some really awesome stuff into the myth of Batman including The Court of Owls, a secret society of the most powerful families in Gotham and also did something really twisted with The Joker, I don't want to spoil it, so seriously, look into it.
INDY AS YOU GO GO
So I promised I'd be doing these and I keep my word, today a great comic on Indiegogo runs its clock out. This project has already funded and will be getting made no matter what, I recommend you check it out because the art is crazy awesome. This guy is talented and deserves as big a launch as possible on this project, Longharbor. Combining HP Lovecraftian elements and a hint of John Carpenter, this modern story is beautifully crafted and worthy of attention. Check it out and get your nerd on with this Indiegogo gem, and the nice part is, it's already funded so you know you'll get the thing you're rooting for, which is my only complaint about crowd funding. I waffle back and forth because on kickstarter your money doesn't come out if the project doesn't get made but on indiegogo the money comes out no matter what, which can be disappointing if not enough money winds up on a project, the artist is just stuck half funded and you don't get what you were looking for.
TAKING BACK SUNDAY ON A MONDAY
Man, this was one of my favorite bands back in the day. I wasn't a total emo kid but man did I love some Taking Back Sunday, I think it's a little odd they're playing a two day engagement, kind of makes me wonder where they've been as of late. I'm guessing not as busy as they'd like but hey what do I know? No literally, what do I know? Also today at White Oak Music Hall is Grandson, but it's sold out, so just mosey on over to House of Blues and hang out with Taking Back Sunday, high school me's favorite band.
SUPPORTING A LOCAL ARTIST
So one thing I did come across this weekend getting ready for this blog, I came across this guy who made his own movie for under a grand. Pretty cool stuff so now I'm pimping it, this Friday come see the premier of So Far Close 2. The premiere will feature live music and free drinks! So make sure you check out the link and start making your plans to include a local artist chasing his dream and also, free drinks.
I'm going to jump out and wish you guys a great Monday and remind everyone to be kind to each other and try a little harder to have a great day! I'm coming back tomorrow and we'll be bringing more good times your way. Feel free to check out my digital short story The Wilson House, or buy a shirt from Side Hustle Ts where every shirt is now under $20 or listen to Nerd Thug Radio. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.
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So where does one turn now in Houston for mediocre, overpriced salsa? I kid, I kid. While wondering if Breggy Baked Beans are on the horizon. Congrats to Alex Bregman and agent Scott Boras for landing an on its face outlandish three-year 120-million dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. With deferred money part of the deal the contract will be valuated in the neighborhood of “only” three years 90 million. Would Bregman have taken that from the Astros if offered? The Astros’ six-year 156-million dollar proposal was 26 mil per season. Bregman has the right to opt out after each of the first two seasons of his BoSox deal. If his decline (while still a very good player) of the last two seasons continues, or even if he holds steady, there is near zero chance of Bregman opting out unless he hates life in New England. At the end of the three years, will Bregman be able to land a three-year 66 million-dollar deal when he’s about to turn 34 years old? That plus the 90 mil with deferrals accounted for in his new deal would total 156 million. Massachusetts taxes personal income of just over a million dollars and upward at a nine percent rate. Playing half his games in the Bay State, Bregman will pay Massachusetts tax on half his salary.
Reminders...
Bregman obviously had an excellent Astros’ career, among non-pitchers he is top 10 all-time, but the excellence was frontloaded. Over Bregman’s first three big seasons he compiled a .289 batting average and .924 OPS. Elite numbers. Over the five seasons since: .261 and .795. Good, nothing legendary. After his monster MVP runner-up 2019 season (stats aided by the juiced balls of that season) Bregman was on a strong early Hall of Fame track. Now not so much, without some offensive resurgence. Fenway Park should suit Bregman well. He’ll bang singles and doubles off of the Green Monster, though the much higher than Crawford Boxes wall will not goose his home run numbers. In his time with the Astros Bregman mashed at Fenway with a .375 batting average and 1.240 OPS. That’s in a statistically not very significant 98 regular season plate appearances.
It is myth that Bregman in the postseason was some relentless hitting machine. He posted phenomenal numbers over seven Division Series batting .333 with an OPS over 1.000. Over 68 American League Championship Series and World Series games: batting average .196, OPS sub-.700.
For his career, Bregman’s worst month of performance by far has been April (plus any days in March, .737 OPS). In 2024 Bregman was baseball garbage into mid-May. Should a typical slow start happen again, we’ll see what the Fenway faithful patience level is. By far, Bregman’s best batting month has been August (.992 OPS). As it works out, both Astros-Red Sox series are in August this year. First in Boston August 1-3 then in Houston August 11-13.
Who's on third?
Over the last two seasons combined, new Astros’ third baseman Isaac Paredes has been as good offensively as Bregman. That includes Paredes pretty much stinking for two months in Chicago after being dealt from the Rays to the Cubs. Paredes, who turns 26 years old on Tuesday, was an AL All-Star last season. Bregman, who turns 31 March 30, was last an All-Star in 2019. The defensive drop-off from Bregman to Paredes is a fairly steep one.
There is no question that Bregman’s official departure weakens the Astros via a domino effect. Had Bregman wound up staying here, Paredes would have shifted to second base with Jose Altuve primarily in left field. Now, 600-plus plate appearances that Bregman would have taken project to be divided among Mauricio Dubon, Ben Gamel, Zach Dezenzo, and others. That projects as a substantial offensive downgrade. The lineup net result of the Astros’ offseason is negative. Christian Walker and Paredes joining the infield in lieu of Jon Singleton and Bregman is fine. Kyle Tucker out, hodge-podge in in the outfield, oh boy.
Alex Bregman is an unquestioned gamer, leader, and would seem to have the temperament to take well to the more intense baseball environment of Boston relative to that in Houston. Yankee fans should reeeeally love him now!
New beginnings
Considering baseball wasn’t invented until more than a century later, the poet Alexander Pope did not have baseball in mind when in 1732 he wrote “Hope springs eternal (in the human breast).” It works though. Other than the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies, Major League teams have convened in Florida or Arizona thinking if things break right this could be their year! I’d probably put the Miami Marlins in with the ChiSox and Rockies. Many Astros’ fans are strongly disgruntled over the departures of Bregman and Kyle Tucker. This team still has “gruntlement” potential. The batting order appears Morganna-level (Google as necessary) top heavy, but one through five stacks well versus most other lineups. In the American League only the Mariners, Yankees, and maybe Royals have starting pitching rotations that should rate above the Astros’ rotation. Let the countdown to Opening Day begin!
Spring training is up and running. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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