NERDS AROUND TOWN
Nerds Around Town: Tom and Jerry, Overwatch Minor League and Crawfish for a Cause
May 22, 2019, 6:37 am
NERDS AROUND TOWN
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!
Today is Wednesday and if you thought this was the blow off week you're crazy, you got this, let's focus up and make this week do your bidding. You got this!
This week the Good Deed of the Day is focusing on an awesome one, it's a buffet for charity. It's an ALL YOU CAN EAT Crawfish boil, that's right! It's the Light of the Phoenix Charity All You Can Eat Crawfish Boil, and also there's a waterslide and bounce house. Boom! Get pumped, $25 if you get your tickets early. $30 at the door, how are you not excited? This is the kind of thing I live for, doing a good deed and eating a bunch of food as you do it. #NerdsUnite
One big complaint I think is fair of Houston sports is that the fans are rather fair weather. The Rockets just got eliminated from the playoffs and you don't feel a lot of pressure in the city for big changes. The contracts to players like Chris Paul are going to weigh this team down but instead of hearing criticism for the General Manager and applicant for self-proclaimed smartest guy in the room, Daryl Morey. You don't hear other sports fans being this lax, if you look into Chelsea fc latest news the soccer club facing a transfer ban is under pressure with every decision they make, fans are worried about the future of their sports franchise and have the franchise under a microscope, versus here in Houston where we can't even be bothered to push the Rockets for any real changes.
The Overwatch league is on break right now after their All Star event last weekend but that doesn't mean there isn't anything to follow. Make sure to check out the 2019 Overwatch Pacific Showdown this weekend as 6 of the top teams from their minor league, called The Contenders League. Two teams from China, two teams from South Korea, a team from Australia and a team from the Asia-Pacific are in this epic six team tournament, showcasing the talents of the next generation of esport athletes. Overwatch has a long term view on their talents and they've smartly been watching out for both their main league and their minor league team and this long view on their talent includes showcasing them in events like this, wisely.
One of the most beloved actors discovered by Marvel Studios has been Michael Pena, who is in a lot of other movies but never comes across as well as he did in Ant Man and Ant Man and the Wasp. News coming out of Hollywood though is that he is signing on to make a live action Tom and Jerry movie. Who on earth is beating the drums for this movie? Is there anyone nudging each other in celebration of the announcement of a Tom and Jerry movie? I don't mean to be so critical of a franchise but the reality of it is that this is a terrible idea for a movie. Before people hammer me over the head with Pokemon movies and things of that nature, I'd point out Pokemon has an active fan base in the millions and when people show up in droves for things like Pokemon Go apps on a phone then a movie makes sense. So that being said, I propose we test the want for a Tom and Jerry movie by making a Tom and Jerry game first on a phone, heck, make it a free app and if no one plays that then please, please, please don't make this movie.
I've been following a news story where a lunch lady let a student roll over an $8 dollar debt to eat lunch at school and the cafeteria lady was fired by her supervisor and accused of dishonesty. Seriously sometimes we need to check ourselves and make sure our compassion meter is on every day, who the heck fires a lunch lady for giving a kid a lunch? Beyond that, who the heck is firing a lunch lady? It's not that great of a gig, I mean no offense to the lunch ladies of the world but I feel like the threshold is low for this gig and here we have a woman being kind to people and letting them carry a small debt so they can EAT A LUNCH. Why aren't we just giving kids lunches anyway at this point? I don't understand why this isn't something we can get figured out? What is going on in our planning and our administrations for education that we can't feed school kids? What's the case against this?
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 fight cancer or listen to Nerd Thug Radio or support our Patreon Page. Thoughts, complaints, events and comments can be sent to corydlg@gmail.com.
In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
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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