NERDS AROUND TOWN

Nerds Around Town: Clowney, Kobe and Spider-Man

Nerds Around Town: Clowney, Kobe and Spider-Man
ART BY JESUS RODRIGUEZ

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 and Sports. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio show at www.nerdthugradio.com!

This week isn't over yet, don't quit on it yet.

GOOD DEED OF THE DAY

In honor of college kids going back to school, I want you to look on Facebook and find one of your teacher friends and click on their Amazon wishlist. They're all doing it this year, they all should be doing it this year except that education is the most important thing in the world for children and we as a society should care more to educate them, poor or rich, white, black or brown. We should be teaching them how to think and ask questions and let them make this world a better place since obviously we don't know how.

PATRIOTS GOOD, TEXANS BAD

The Texans have angered Clowney who reportedly was ready to report this week but instead saw the trade rumors and is now choosing to not sign his franchise tender until he's happy. This gives him leverage like no player in the NFL has ever had, if he isn't happy with a potential trade location he can simply say he won't sign and kill the trade. Meanwhile the Patriots traded for two offensive lineman with starting experience last season but were likely backups this year shoring up their questionable line. The Patriots continue being the pinnacle of football excellence and The Texans continue what has been an offseason of bizarre ineptness for what is usually at the very least a high-class organization.

CONTROVERSY IN COMICS

This week comic book creator Matt Rosenberg tweeted out that it's the job of comic book creators to help promote their comic books projects. This was met with lots of creators complaining and saying they work all the time on creating and don't have the time or inclination to promote their projects. The reality of that though is they're wrong. Yes the publisher should be promoting their books but there are lots of books coming out every month and the shops and the consumers know that publishers want to sell books so they know they're being promoted to. The creators like artists of every era are obligated to sing for their supper like everyone else, it isn't enough to make great works, it's important to tell the fans you appreciate their money and enthusiasm. Entertainment is everywhere and money is tight, earn it.

REALLY GUYS

Shaq and Kobe had a mini feud on social media the other day. Will these two ever shut up? I'm so over the Kobe Bryant fandom and Shaq while dominant isn't the greatest of all time like he keeps trying to act like. I know they are great sports figure and Shaq does have a statue outside of the Staples Center which is impressive but they aren't those guys anymore. The whole obsession over these two and Kobe in particular is annoying to me, the sports world seems to hang on his every word and they seek out his comment on matters of all kind. Oh Lebron scored a triple double, let's talk to Kobe about it. Oh Dwight Howard is on another team let's talk to Kobe about it. James Harden shoots a lot of threes let's talk to Kobe about it. I wish they'd stop it already, talk to Kobe about that.

NOT THAT YOU ASKED

So Spider-Man voiced by Tom Holland is going to appear in Disney+ streaming service's "What if…" series in at least two episodes, so some people think that means there is a secret deal between Sony and Disney. There isn't. This is because Sony only owns the movie rights to Spider-Man, so television and animated shows they don't need Sony's permission, because they own it. There was an animated cartoon named Spectacular Spider-Man that was produced by Sony Studios but they had to cancel it when Disney bought Marvel specifically because of this reason. That cartoon was awesome and DVDs are on sale everywhere and worth checking out.

Feel free to check out my brand new comic book Another Day at the Office or buy a shirt from Side Hustle Ts where some proceeds help people struggling with cancer or listen to Nerd Thug Radio. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.

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Houston's pitching is leading the way. Composite Getty Image.

A month into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros have emerged as one of MLB’s most confounding teams. Their offense ranks near the bottom of nearly every key category, yet they remain competitive thanks to a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the most formidable in baseball.

Despite winning back-to-back games just once this season, Houston’s pitching has kept them afloat. The Astros boast a top-10 team ERA, rank seventh in WHIP, and sit top-eight in opponent batting average—a testament to both their rotation depth and bullpen resilience. It’s a group that has consistently given them a chance to win, even when the bats have failed to show up.

Josh Hader has been the bullpen anchor. After a rocky 2024 campaign, the closer has reinvented himself, leaning more heavily on his slider and becoming less predictable. The result has been electric: a veteran who’s adapting and thriving under pressure.

Reinforcements are also on the horizon. Kaleb Ort and Forrest Whitley are expected to bolster a bullpen that’s been great but occasionally spotty—Taylor Scott’s 5.63 ERA stands out as a weak link. Lance McCullers Jr. missed his last rehab outing due to illness but is expected back soon, possibly pairing with Ryan Gusto in a piggyback setup that could stretch games and preserve bullpen arms.

And the timing couldn’t be better, because the Astros' offense remains stuck in neutral. With an offense ranked 26th in OPS, 27th in slugging, dead last in doubles, and just 24th in runs scored, it's clear the Astros have a major issue producing consistent offense. For all their talent, they are a minus-two in run differential and have looked out of sync at the plate.

One bright spot has been rookie Cam Smith. The right fielder has displayed remarkable poise, plate discipline, and a polished approach rarely seen in rookies. It’s fair to ask why Smith, with only five Double-A games under his belt before this season, is showing more patience than veterans like Jose Altuve. Altuve, among others, has been chasing too many pitches outside the zone and hardly walking—a troubling trend across the lineup.

Before the season began, the Astros made it a point to improve their pitch selection and plate discipline. So far, that stated goal hasn’t materialized. Many of the players who are showing solid discipline—like Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker—were already doing that on other teams before joining Houston. It raises the question: are the Astros’ hitting coaches being held accountable?

The offensive woes are hard to ignore. Catcher Yainer Diaz currently owns the second-worst OPS in baseball, while Walker ranks 15th from the bottom. Even a star like Yordan Alvarez has yet to find his groove. The hope is that Diaz and Walker will follow Alvarez's lead and trend upward with time.

With so many offensive questions and few clear answers, a trade for a left-handed bat—whether in the outfield or second base—would be ideal. But with the front office laser-focused on staying below the tax threshold, don’t count on it.

For now, Houston's path forward depends on whether the bats can catch up to the arms. Until they do, the Astros will remain a team that looks good on paper but still can’t string wins together in reality.

We have so much more to get to. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!

*ChatGPT assisted.

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