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!
Thursday guys, it's thursday. If you're cheering for the weekend, you're almost there and if you're really not feeling it, call it a week and start your weekend here tonight.
GOOD DEED OF THE DAY
So for some people a walk in the park is a pleasant experience, for others not so much (like me) but when a walk is for a good cause, then we all win. The Epilepsy Foundation is hosting a Walk to End Epilepsy with the Houston Zoo. It's Saturday April 13th at 7am with registration at the front gate of the Houston Zoo. They're promising 95% of proceeds will be donated and this whole event will be held at zero cost to the community, that's awesome. So come on and hang out with the animals and other walkers and celebrate all of you coming together for a great cause this weekend.
THATS A LOT OF MOVIES
So it technically started yesterday but it goes for 10 days so it's cool, right now it's the 52nd Annual Worldfest-Houston at the Memorial City Cinemark. People from all over the world are here for ten days to screen independent films and attend galas and just have a good time taking a stab at the craft that is Hollywood. When I say a lot of movies, I do mean a lot of movies there will be over 200 screenings during this 10 day period, and I don't think Hellboy is going to be a single one of them. Anyway if you want to try something different, I recommend going out there and giving it a try, you never know what you might discover.
SPEAKING OF
This weekend will see the debut of Hellboy. If you're a fan of the first two films, I have some bad and confusing news, this one is a reboot. Guillermo del Toro isn't directing, and Ron Perlman isn't starring in this third Hellboy movie. Taking a stance closer to the horror themes of the Mike Mignola source material and featuring finally rising star David Harbour of Stranger Things this is a new take on the existing concept. While Del Toro had always said he had a planned trilogy in mind and had a definitive story he wanted to tell, the timing and funds never quite lined out the way it was supposed to go, with at one point there was finally studio support for the third Hellboy movie but it was contingent on Pacific Rim reaching certain box office numbers and that didn't happen. The movie as its own project looks interesting, I'm not sure if this is going to be the movie everyone wants to see this weekend with all the other things scheduled around it but we'll know the answer to that come Monday.
ANYTHING FOR SELENAS
I hope you've been practicing your Washing Machine and you held on to your brassiere because tonight at Barbarella Houston it's Selena night. The music will be featuring her hits and there will be a costume contest, so you know, this is pretty flipping cool. Selena is one of those Houston Icons that we hold onto near and dear because the consensus was she was talented and it was honestly just a matter of time before she broke out into mainstream music. Its easy now looking back at the pop music of the past few eras to see where she would have fit in perfectly abd the interesting things is her career launched two stars, hers and Jennifer Lopez in the biopic. Before that there hadn't been a ton of heat on Jennifer Lopez but that movie proved she could sing and act and suddenly the world loved J.Lo. RIP Selena.
I DO LOVE WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER
So Disney has been busy making announcements these past few weeks and plans for the back half of 2019 are starting to clear up. One of the biggest pieces of news has been the various announcements for shows on the Disney+ streaming service. Recently they've announced a Marvel themed show that will focus on people having an impact in their community, and another series of documentaries focusing on the iconic history of Marvel comics and those are neat but not anywhere near as neat as these other announcements, A Falcon/Winter Soldier crossover series, a Loki Series, a Scarlet Witch series and a Hawkeye based series centered around Clint Barton training his young protege Kate Bishop. This is a big deal because there had been some casting in Avengers that was making a lot of people think we might see a young female hero debut in Avengers End Game, either daughter of Scott Lang, Stature or protege of Hawkeye, Kate Bishop. While this doesn't guarantee either, it makes Kate Bishop the likely candidate if either is even correct.
NOT THAT ANYONE ASKED
So one thing that is a little worrisome about Disney acquiring Star Wars and Marvel and now 20th Century Fox is now Disney owns roughly 27% of the movie industry with this move. This is potentially a problem because Disney themselves have had struggles over the years for direction and have had some odd starts and stops, including once exploring the idea of a "Dark Disney" like adult themed movies and things that had no appeal to the younger demographics but they did eventually get away from that idea. When someone has most of the cards, sure that usually marks them as quite successful but it doesn't always make that for the best. This isn't me wishing for them to fail, this just means they become gatekeepers in a sense. Recently a stand up comic chose to do his stand up special with comedy central instead of Netflix because Netflix would only offer him a 30 minute special with a clause requiring a second special because that's how Netflix thinks comedians should progress, however Comedy Central offered him an hour special and better money for just a one special deal, and while he will likely get fewer viewers he is able to make his next move much sooner this way. The reason this story is relevant to my point is this: The fewer options the creatives have to create, the fewer chances we have to see something new and special. This might be great, but it might be trouble.
I'm going to jump out and wish you guys a great Thursday and remind everyone to be kind to each other and try a little harder to have a great day! I'm coming back Friday 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 or support our Patreon Page. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.
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How latest Astros events highlight serious concerns around core philosophies
May 22, 2025, 12:59 pm
Two seasons ago the Astros were oddly feeble at home and warriors on the road. Now, this season is headed nowhere if they can't pick it up away from Daikin Park. In the first week of April, the Astros won their initial road series of the season. It will be June before they win another. Well, presumably June. Approaching seven weeks since they took a series at Minnesota, it's now seven consecutive road stops without a series victory. In six straight three-game road series the Astros have lost two out of three, including at the laughingstock White Sox. They did split the four-game set in Arlington against the Rangers last weekend. The Astros’ road record is 10-15.
Now they're home for 10 in a row, starting with four versus the team the Astros look up at in the American League West standings. The Seattle Mariners hit town three and a half games ahead of the Astros. Last June, the Astros trailed the Mariners by 10 games and wound up winning the division. Expecting a sequel as good as an original usually is not a good idea. Winning this series is certainly not a necessity given the season still only reaches its one-third completed mark this coming Tuesday. Still, at least getting a split is advised, or the Astros are looking at falling five and half games off the lead should the Mariners win three out of four, seven and a half back should Seattle sweep. But flip the script. If the Astros sweep, they go to bed Sunday night leading the division. Taking three out four would be just fine, and have the Astros within a game and a half of first.
The Astros are carrying a payroll roughly 75 million dollars larger than that of the Mariners. The M’s have a farm system (currently one of the highest rated among the franchises) vastly superior to what the Astros have (one of the worst systems in the sport). So if Mariners’ ownership opted to loosen the purse strings in pursuit of in season talent infusions, the M’s are way better positioned to make an impact move than are the Astros. Just remember, even if the Mariners are going to pull away, the wild card picture does not have three teams that are obviously ultimately better than the Astros.
Positive vibes only
If you're into good luck charms, dig up a four-leaf clover or find a rabbit's foot, then cross your fingers where Ronel Blanco is concerned. It is quite an ominous sign that the Astros sent Blanco back to Houston a day early after he reported soreness in his pitching elbow. I mean, who would be surprised to hear that Blanco is done for the season a la Hayden Wesneski. It's increasingly essential that Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez hold up physically and qualitatively the rest of the way. That Brown had his worst start of the season Wednesday in Tampa is no big deal. It's called being human. The Rays torching him for three home runs and five runs in five innings spiked Brown's earned run average all the way up to 2.04. Ooooh. Brown has been fantastic.
The Astros underestimated how long Spencer Arrighetti would be out. Shocking! Some boost from him seems necessary. There is only so much the Astros can reasonably hope for out of Lance McCullers, and the likes of Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter. That either Cristian Javier or Luis Garcia makes it back by, say, August is a best-case scenario. Then it would be hope about level of performance. The Astros hold no monopoly on serial pitching injuries. The Mariners have lost three-fifths of their stout starting rotation. George Kirby making his first 2025 start Thursday is a boost for them. Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller are both still out.
Heart of the matter
Among the core frustrations for Astros’ fans are the continued crummy overall performances of Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, and Yainer Diaz. If it turns out that the 35-year-old Altuve has truly fallen over the hill as opposed to just enduring an extended deep slump that would be an obvious bummer. The same with the 34-year-old Walker though there is no emotional tug for Astros’ fans with Walker as there is with Altuve. Yainer Diaz is just 26. His regression is troubling, perhaps low-lighted by his one walk in his last 33 games played, four walks for the season in 170 plate appearances. That’s pathetic. Yainer, Victor Caratini, and Astros’ pitchers have collectively done a brutal job at dealing with opposition running games. The Astros have given up 62 stolen bases in 67 attempts, with one of the five caught stealings a pickoff, another a botched double steal.
For Astro-centric conversation, 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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