This week’s episode is a short sharp shock to your Matt Harvey-fatigued brain. Get in, get out, get back to work.

(0:00-5:50) The open, and our musical guest: MICHAEL FREAKING McDONALD

(6:30-24:44) The emails

(25:13-42:48) The baseball things:

• The Angels and Giants have collapsed, and we as fans are left with nothing
• The Rangers are rolling, and only a game behind the Astros … how?
• The Blue Jays are destroying, run diff of ~200 (196), ~100 (88) more RS than any other team
• NL seems to be pretty much wrapped up - LAD, STL, NYM, PIT, CHC
• Matt Williams is a bad manager, maybe the worst
• Cardinals still employing Devil Magic

(42:35-49:27) The old School Player of the Week Is:

BOB DETHERAGE

This is the only known photo of Bob and his 70-grade DADHAT, DADGLASSES, STORKNECK, and PORNSTACHE. Bob was a lanky OF who played in 20 games for the Royals in 1980. In 26 career ABs he posted a .308 BA w/ two doubles, a bomb, seven RBI and a stolen base. And that was it. After spending 8 seasons in the minors, he sniffed the bigs for 20 games, played one more season at AAA Omaha in 1981 and hung ‘em up at age 26.

He uh … has a Facebook page now. It sucks.

Not gonna split hairs here. Are you in need of some cod? The answer to that is probably “yes”. If so, Dennis Lamp (former MLB pitcher) would love yo sell the shit outta some cod to you. Details to follow … 

(0:00-6:06) The open

(6:40-30:06) The non-Canadian emails. Stream “Opposite Field” here.

( 30:40-50:57) The baseball things.

• ASG recap: Mike Trout is good, and so is the new HR Derby format
  

• The stove’s getting hot: Cueto, Hamels, Samardzija, Bruce, and more

(50:57-1:12:42) The human guest: Eric Stephen of True Blue LA.

(1:13:17-1:19:50) The Old School Player of the Week: DENNIS LAMP

55 (70 ceiling) DADHAT, 70 DADGLASSES, PLUS-PLUSTACHE, and apparently he cloned his mustache and replaced his eyebrows with it.

Dennis Lamp played 16 MLB seasons with the Cubes, White Sox, Blue Jays, A’s, Red Sox and Pirates. His peak years (1978-1980) were spent as a middling starter, but he spent the remainder of his career as a mediocre arm out of the pen. He is responsible for surrendering Lou Brock’s 3000th hit, as well as Cal Ripken Jr.’s first MLB hit.

Mind blown: He has worked behind the seafood counter at Bristol Farms in Newport Beach since 2004.

103 wins and no postseason berth. That hardly seems fair. 

- Open (0:00-7:15)

- Emails (7:47-27:20)

- Musical guest: GAME THEORY. Buy “Blaze of Glory” here. (27:50-33:30)

-  Baseball things: 

• RE2PECT: Derek Jeter Day at The House That Scott Brosius Built, and Derek Jeter’s selfishness?

• Has PitchTrax ruined baseball? (spoiler: no)

• Halos & Orioles have the two best records in baseball, but their starting pitching “is not built for the postseason.” Significant?

• The A’s continue to Brewer.

• Kevin Towers gets the axe in AZ. But why now?

• Ron Washington steps down in TEX. (See above)

- Musical advice: Where does the “playing it live” consideration come in the writing process?

- Puig Destroyer updates

- Au revoir