Ken and Tim cover the league from coast to coast in to start the show. The Giants and Dodgers battle for West Coast supremacy while the Red Sox and Mets overcome off the field challenges to stay in the race. All that before opening up this week's mailbag...

-Will MLB make needed changes to replay?

-Why isn't Joe Maddon on the hot seat?

-What teams will be in on the free agent shortstops?

-What's wrong with Joey Gallo?

-Will Theo Epstein be running the Mets next season?

-Should MLB begin process of starting a women's professional baseball league?

-New ideas for the Manfred runner

-Should the Wild Card game not count as the Postseason?

All that and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected].

Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_Rosenthal

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster

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DVR and Keith discuss the Phillies' pursuit of Atlanta in the battle for the NL East, the recent struggles of Yu Darvish, the next steps in Cleveland as Year 2 of the post-Lindor era approaches, Adalberto Mondesi's future in Kansas City, Keibert Ruiz's future, and the arrival of Joe Ryan to the Minnesota rotation. 

Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper

Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw

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The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee talk about the Mets' Thumbs Down salute, tight wild card races & team's built for the playoffs. The guys talk about the Mets doing a a thumbs down salute to the fans and if they think it was the right move or not. The Wild Card Races are tight and the guys break down who they can make a run heading into September. They talk about what team's in each the AL & NL are built to make a long playoff run. They talk about what to think of the Giants heading into September and if Logan Webb is the ace of their starting rotation. And how the Dodgers still could be the top team to win it all again this season.

Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpence

Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbee

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The Braves had every reason to become sellers when Ronald Acuna Jr. went down, but Alex Anthopoulos doubled down on the 2021 season. He joins Starkville to talk about that, submitting an offer for Aroldis Chapman on the way to his wedding, his first job in baseball and more.

Plus Jayson and Doug dive into the Atlantic League moving the mound back a foot and the Dodgers and Padres 16-inning marathon. All that plus trivia. Could the guys snap their losing streak?

Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst

Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville

Follow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster

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The Red Sox and Yankees look destined to meet in the AL Wild Card Game. The last time the two teams met in a one-game winner take all matchup was 1978 when Bucky Dent's home run over the monster sent the Yankees to the playoffs and eventual World Series title. Ken and Tim discuss the AL East before opening up this week's mailbag...

-Will Yankees ever get rid of facial hair policy?

-Will MLB expand the WC series?

-Could the Padres move on from Jace Tingler?

-Possible suitors for Max Scherzer?

-Explaining the Dodgers and baseball's actions regarding Trevor Bauer?

-Does Ohtani's home runs help his Cy Young candidacy?

-Are robo umps going to happen?

-Favorite brothers in baseball history?

All that and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected].

Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_Rosenthal

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster

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DVR and Keith discuss the recent arrival of Edward Cabrera in Miami, and check in on several members of the 2021 rookie class -- including Wander Franco, Andrew Vaughn, and Ke'Bryan Hayes -- while setting and adjusting expectations for the group in the wake of the lost 2020 minor-league season.

Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper

Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw

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The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee are ready to talk some baseball. Tim McMaster is filling in for Grant this week. The guys talk about if they think Ohtani is having the best season ever, the 500 HR club and updated Wild Card Races. Is Shoehei Ohtani having the best season ever in MLB history? The guys give their thoughts on it and compare his hitting and pitching numbers to some of the greats in the game. Miguel Cabrera became the newest member of the 500 Home Run Club. The guys debate which players could be next to get to the big milestone. And they break down some of the updated Wild Card races and if the Padres can turn things around to get into the Playoffs.

Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpence

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster

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Joey Votto looks at baseball differently than most and he brings that unique perspective to Starkville. Some of the topics covered...

-The problem with getting 2000 hits is that it's not 3000 hits  

-How the game has changed throughout his career

-How to measure intangibles

-Why he's so impressed by Mike Trout

-What made 2017 his pièce de résistance

-What made the middle of his career difficult and why he's having the most fun of his career right now

All that and more. Then, in Strange But True, Rays outfielder Brett Phillips placed himself along side legends of the game after his inside-the-park homer last week and Jayson and Doug get a blast from the past as Paul Hembekides delivers this week's trivia question.

Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst

Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville

Follow Paul Hembekides on Twitter: @PaulHembo

Follow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster

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The Orioles front office says the club's re-build is on track despite an 18-game skid. Ken was new to the Orioles beat back in 1988 when the O's lost 21 in a row. He explains the differences and what baseball can do to try to stop tanking. Then in the mailbag...

-Should MLB shorten games to help pitcher fatigue?

-Should the criteria for a win change with starters not pitching deep into games?

-Will the Angels be able to keep Ohtani in free agency?

-Is MLB returning to the Field of Dreams too soon?

-Would moving the All-Star Game to March help give players a mid-season break?

-How can Reds react if Castellanos opts out?

-Should Robert Clemente Day be given more attention? 

-Why do people care if a Hall of Famer is voted in unanimously?

All that and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected].

Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_Rosenthal

Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster

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DVR and Keith discuss the Padres’ recent slide into a legitimate Wild Card race with the Reds, their picks for who ultimately comes away with the final playoff spot in the National League, and a few reasons to be optimistic about the Pirates’ long-term outlook. 

Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper

Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw

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