NERDS AROUND TOWN
Nerds Around Town: Next Iron Man, Jason Bourne TV show and big Batman news
Jun 19, 2019, 6:42 am
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!
Hey Nerds!
Welcome to Wednesday, I hope things are going great for everybody and today's the day you crush your week.
GOOD DEED OF THE DAY
AICF and Mark Clayton Scholarship Golf Tournament, it's one part golf tournament and one part scholarship fund. I mean, it feels self explanatory. #NerdsUnite
TREADSTONE
USA Network occasionally has some great television projects so I usually pay attention when they announce or roll out something. Well this one fell under my radar somehow but it sounds fascinating. It's in development and it's called Treadstone. If that sounds familiar, it's the name of the program that created Jason Bourne in that movie franchise. So this sounds great, the idea of a show about the program making super soldiers/assassins is fascinating, there's so much you could do with a show like this. Everything from government intrigue to amnesic soldiers, to rogue agents and regulatory agencies, the stories and the drama write themselves. I'm very hopeful for the show and I'd love to see where it goes and when it comes out. This one is now officially on the watch list.
THE BIG CHANGE
All indications is that Tom King, the current writer of Batman who has been on an epic run telling a massive Batman arc for what was originally going to be around 100 issues. Allegedly, his big finale has had to be pre-approved by Warner Bros and not just the typical DC comics editorial approvals. They moved it to it's own mini series, presumably to give it more pomp and opportunity but we'll see I suppose. I'm curious what the change actually will be. I think it's going to be Batman and The Catwoman actually getting married and becoming a permanent duo. Part of the whole story has been about who is Bruce Wayne and who is Batman, and I think Bruce finding happiness at one time meant the death of Batman. Now Tom King has put Batman in a place where it doesn't. We'll see if I'm crazy or not.
THE ENDORSEMENT OF IRON MAN
Robert Downey Jr did something interesting the other day, he was at a media event of some kind and he expressed interest in having Riri Williams introduced into the Marvel Universe to fill the boots of the now deceased Tony Stark. This is the kind of endorsement and support a character like Ironheart needs to make it into the MCU, having the proud film papa (RDJ) of Marvel films saying that what the world needs in the empty shoes of Tony Stark is Riri Williams. I would love this so much. She's a great character in her own right, and she has such opportunity in the films for growth and is a solid young character that could really grow into her own franchise.
NOT THAT YOU ASKED
Marvel's been making these great little docu-minis about the big important moments in the history of the X Men and I am freaking stoked for these things. They are awesome and they sort of tell these stories perfectly and set up this big X Men story that is starting next month. I think it's going to be huge, Hickman has been telling these massive crazy stories for a little while and I am so pumped to see where it all goes next. This thing feels MASSIVE, I can't wait for next month!
I'm going to jump out and wish you guys a great Wednesday and remind everyone to be kind to each other and try a little harder to have a great day! I'm coming back Thursday 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 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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The NFL Draft, NBA playoffs, and NHL playoffs all dwarf baseball in the sports pecking order this week, but that doesn’t detract from the Astros playing their best stretch of baseball in the still young season. Following up taking two of three from the previously sizzling hot Padres by sweeping the Blue Jays three straight has the Astros’ record at a just fine 13-11 as they open a three-game weekend series in Kansas City. 13-11 may not sound special, because it isn’t, but having come home from St. Louis last week with the record at 8-10 makes 13-11 a quality leap. Plus, a 13-11 pace over 162 games extrapolates to 87 wins, which last season were enough to win the American League West and for an AL Wild Card spot.
Batter up!
While no one will be confusing the potency of this Astros’ lineup with those of the 2017 or 2019 juggernauts, some welcome perking up may have kicked in, despite Yordan Alvarez still not getting rolling. After Joe Espada gave Christian Walker a “mental rest” game off Monday, Walker produced a three-hit game Tuesday and a two-hit follow-up Wednesday, including a home run. Walker’s .202 batting average and .640 OPS are still lousy, but a much lesser grade of lousy than the statistical abyss he was in starting the Toronto series. Yainer Diaz has been much worse than Walker to this point. Diaz managed at least one hit in all three games of the Jays series. Baby steps. He is still sitting on an unacceptable three walks in 78 plate appearances.
Speaking of hits and walks, Jeremy Pena carries a 14-game hitting streak into the weekend. One-quarter of the way to Joe DiMaggio’s big league record! Willy Taveras set the Astros’ record with a 30-gamer back in 2006. Pena hasn’t been crushing it during the streak, during which he has just two multi-hit games. He’s had stretches where he has hit better and slugged harder (2022 postseason anyone?), but while too small a stretch to declare a leap has been made, it is noteworthy that over the 14 games Pena has drawn six walks. That gives him eight free passes in 24 games this season. More math fun! That’s one walk drawn per three games, which over 162 games would make for 54. Last season in 157 games played Pena drew a paltry 25 walks. Add in that his defense has been superb so far this season with a number of fabulous plays made and just one error committed, and Pena could be making modest offensive improvement that makes him a meaningfully better player.
Furthermore speaking of hits and walks, it’s been a struggle on both fronts the last couple of weeks for Jose Altuve. A two-week funk does not represent a crisis, but there are troubling trends that bear watching as Altuve sets to turn 35 years old May 6. Over his last 14 games, Altuve’s OPS is a sub-Maldonadian .547. In this stretch he has two doubles as his lone extra base hits and drawn just two walks. Altuve has struck out 22 times in 24 games. Setting aside the short 2020 COVID season when Altuve never got it going, last year he had the worst strikeout percentage of his career, while his walk rate was his worst since 2015. So far this season, Altuve’s strikeout rate is more than 20 percent worse than last year’s, with his walk rate down 30 percent from 2024. He is hitting line drives at a much lower rate than ever before, and struggling to get the ball in the air. The season still isn’t 20 percent old, but since Altuve last season finished with his lowest OPS (.790, again, exempting 2020) since 2013, and his current .728 OPS is 62 points lower than that, the antennae of at least mild concern are up. This is the first season of Altuve’s five-year 125 million dollar contract extension. Remember, the Astros would not offer Kyle Tucker a contract that took him to age 35.
Bringing the heat!
Hunter Brown makes his next start Sunday in Kansas City. Good luck Royals! Until getting a doubleheader against the pathetic Rockies Thursday, K.C. was averaging under three runs per game. Brown's earned run average through five starts is 1.16! It's waaaaay early to focus on this, but the best season ERA for an Astro pitcher who qualified for the statistical lead (one inning pitched per team game played) belongs to Nolan Ryan who posted a 1.69 in the strike-shortened 1981 season. Over a full-schedule season, Justin Verlander's 1.75 in 2022 is the standard. Brown has fired 24 consecutive shutout innings. Ryan Pressly holds the Astros’ record with 38 consecutive scoreless innings pitched. Orel Hershiser set the Major League record by finishing the 1988 regular season with a ridiculous 59 straight shutout innings. Yes he won the National League Cy Young Award. The Cy Young is strictly a regular season award. Hershiser in 1988 also won the League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, and World Series MVP.
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.
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