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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. Check out the podcast replay of the FM radio shows www.nerdthugradio.com!
Coming out of Summer Slam, it seems WWE is focusing on a solid new direction with Seth Rollins beating Brock Lesnar cleanly. Then having AJ Styles show up and challenge him on Raw the very next night. It's interesting to me that after a few years of ignoring The Bullet Club even existed they are now having AJ, Gallows and Anderson invite Balor into the "OC" during Summer Slam which is still a terrible name but is essentially the WWE Bullet Club. The Miz and Dolph's match was short as it should be at this point with Dolph just begging for more punishment afterwards, what are they going for with this angle? Rey and Andrade put on a great two falls match, they are now consistently putting on a great show every week but it's time to have them fight some other people it feels like. The match between Cedric Alexander and Drew Mcintyre was fantastic and it's great to see some new faces on TV these past few weeks. No Way Jose has absolutely no way to ever being a relevant wrestler, after being squashed again on television for the umpteenth time, this time by Bobby Roode. The Women's Tag Title match was great, it's fantastic to see Alexa Bliss in action again and I think a tag run is great for her because it keeps her elevated amongst the women's division without making her the focus of matches, limiting injury opportunities for her which is smart. The finish of Raw with Braun Strowman handing the title back to Seth Rollins, was a great hero turn.
Smackdown came out swinging managing to fit a lot into the two hour show. From the massive surprise return of Sasha Banks, to the final meeting between Roman Reigns and Rowan there was a lot to talk about. Sasha returning is incredibly interesting for several reasons most notably she's seemed unhappy on social media and with her contract ending late this year it seemed like she was angling to get to AEW and leave WWE behind. Tonight may signal a big change from those positions. The Kevin Owens match against Samoa Joe was an entertaining hard match and his turn into face is going great, which is a surprise because he is a great heel on the mic. Turning Shane into a great villain for Kevin to play off is really the key ingredient for this push. The Roman Reigns story is honestly not that interesting to me but it's working for guys like Buddy who get to have a match. The Revival and The New Day aren't anywhere near as exciting as say New Day vs the Usos and honestly, I think it's time to start looking for somewhere else for the guys from the Revival to land. Overall this week was a lot better than the last few weeks have been.
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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The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the defending champs this weekend, they changed the tone of their season.
Dominant pitching. Star power. Road swagger. The three-game dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine wasn’t about revenge or validation. It was about showing, once and for all, that this version of the Astros, short-handed and all, belongs squarely in the conversation with baseball’s elite.
A statement series
The Astros pitching staff was lights out against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, holding the Dodgers to just six runs across three games, including two contests where LA managed just a single run. Lance McCullers Jr., much-maligned after getting shelled by the Cubs last week, bounced back in a big way. He worked around four walks, giving up just one run on a solo homer, a much-needed course correction as the Astros evaluate their playoff rotation options.
On the offensive side, the stars delivered in a big way. Jose Altuve torched Dodgers pitching with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. Christian Walker matched him with six hits of his own, including a pair of long balls and six RBIs.
A shift in expectations?
This wasn’t just a series win. This was a proof of concept.
Houston came into the series already heating up, now they’re officially on fire. Over the last 30 days, the Astros rank third in runs and fifth in RBIs. For the season, they’re top 10 in nearly every key offensive category: eighth in OPS, first in batting average, ninth in slugging. Defensively, the numbers are just as strong. They lead MLB in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average, and rank second in WHIP.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a team with top-five upside in both pitching and offense. The pieces are clicking. The vibes are real. And the Astros suddenly look like a legitimate World Series contender again.
Is help on the way?
Reliever Hector Neris rejoined the team this week, offering a veteran boost to a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily. Neris brings postseason pedigree and a reputation as a clubhouse leader. The Astros hope a return to familiar surroundings, and the guidance of one of the best pitching development staffs in the league, can get him back on track.
Tayler Scott returns on a minor league deal, and while the move may not turn heads, it adds another layer of depth to a bullpen that’s already one of the league’s best.
Background noise in LA
No Astros-Dodgers series goes by without a little extra noise and this one was no different. During the broadcast, former Cy Young winner and Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser raised eyebrows by implying that Houston’s offensive surge might not have been entirely on the level.
Predictable? Absolutely. Meaningful? Not even close.
If anything, it’s a weird kind of compliment. No one questions legitimacy when you’re losing. But after a lopsided 18-1 beat down people start reaching for answers, or excuses.
Inside the Astros clubhouse, though, that chatter doesn’t register.
They know exactly what this sweep meant. And so does the rest of the league.
There's 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.
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