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.
What looked like a minor blip after an emotional series win in Los Angeles has turned into something more concerning for the Houston Astros.
Swept at home by a Guardians team that came in riding a 10-game losing streak, the Astros were left looking exposed. Not exhausted, as injuries, underperformance, and questionable decision-making converged to hand Houston one of its most frustrating series losses of the year.
Depth finally runs dry
It would be easy to point to a “Dodger hangover” as the culprit, the emotional peak of an 18-1 win at Chavez Ravine followed by a mental lull. But that’s not the story here.
Houston’s energy was still evident, especially in the first two games of the series, where the offense scored five or more runs each time. Including those, the Astros had reached that mark in eight of their last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s finale.
But scoring isn’t everything, not when a lineup held together by duct tape and desperation is missing Christian Walker and Jake Meyers and getting critical at-bats from Cooper Hummel, Zack Short, and other journeymen.
The lack of depth finally showed. The Astros, for three days, looked more like a Triple-A squad with Jose Altuve and a couple big-league regulars sprinkled in.
Cracks in the pitching core
And the thing that had been keeping this team afloat, elite pitching, finally buckled.
Hunter Brown and Josh Hader, both dominant all season, finally cracked. Brown gave up six runs in six innings, raising his pristine 1.82 ERA to 2.21. Hader wasn’t spared either, coughing up a game-losing grand slam in extra innings that inflated his ERA from 1.80 to 2.38 in one night.
But the struggles weren’t isolated. Bennett Sousa, Kaleb Ort, and Steven Okert each gave up runs at critical moments. The bullpen’s collective fade could not have come at a worse time for a team already walking a tightrope.
Injury handling under fire
Houston’s injury management is also drawing heat, and rightfully so. Jake Meyers, who had been nursing a calf strain, started Wednesday’s finale. He didn’t even make it through one pitch before aggravating the injury and needing to be helped off the field.
No imaging before playing him. No cautionary rest despite the All-Star break looming. Just a rushed return in a banged-up lineup, and it backfired immediately.
Second-guessing has turned to outright criticism of the Astros’ medical staff, as fans and analysts alike wonder whether these mounting injuries are being made worse by how the club is handling them.
Pressure mounts on Dana Brown
All eyes now turn to Astros GM Dana Brown. The Astros are limping into the break with no clear reinforcements on the immediate horizon. Only Chas McCormick is currently rehabbing in Sugar Land. Everyone else? Still sidelined.
Brown will need to act — and soon.
At a minimum, calling up top prospect Brice Matthews makes sense. He’s been mashing in Triple-A (.283/.400/.476, 10 HR, .876 OPS) and could play second base while Jose Altuve shifts to left field more regularly. With Mauricio Dubón stretched thin between shortstop and center, injecting Matthews’ upside into the infield is a logical step.
*Editor's note: The Astros must be listening, Matthews was called up Thursday afternoon!
The Astros are calling up Brice Matthews, their top prospect on @MLBPipeline
via @brianmctaggart pic.twitter.com/K91cGKkcx6
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 10, 2025
There’s also trade chatter, most notably about Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins, but excitement has been tepid. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but compared to who the Astros are fielding now, Mullins would be a clear upgrade and a much-needed big-league presence.
A final test before the break
Before the All-Star reset, Houston gets one last chance to stabilize the ship, and it comes in the form of a rivalry series against the Texas Rangers. The Astros will send their top trio — Lance McCullers Jr., Framber Valdez, and Hunter Brown — to the mound for a three-game set that will test their resolve, their health, and perhaps their postseason aspirations.
The Silver Boot is up for grabs. So is momentum. And maybe, clarity on just how far this version of the Astros can go.
There's so much more to discuss! 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.
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*ChatGPT assisted.
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