The following podcast contains explicit language.

Hi, this is Josh Levine, and this is Slate's sports podcast, hang up and Listen for the week of October 23rd, 2017.

On this week's show, we'll talk with ESPN's Howard Bryant about the World Series

matchup between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers,

and the Washington Nationals decision not to retain their manager, Dusty Baker,

who led the team to back-to-back division titles.

We'll also speak with Kevin Arniewicz of ESPN

about the Milwaukee Bucks Janice Antedicumpo, aka the Greek Freak, who's off to one of the best

starts in NBA history, and Alan Siegel, who's written about The Simpsons for Slate and the

Ringer, will join us for a conversation about the mockumentary Springfield of Dreams. The Legend of Homer Simpson released this past weekend upon the 25th anniversary

of the classic episode Homer at the Bat, where an Ozzy Smith disappeared in the

Springfield mystery spot and Ken Griffey Jr.'s jaw became grotesquely swollen.

Joining me in Washington, D.C. is Stefan Fatsis, author of the books, Word Freak,

and a few seconds of panic.

Hey, Josh.

So I actually had to do that part for Stefan because we forgot to record this intro, and then

Stefan left the office.

He's going to be really surprised when he hears this show, when it gets released on Monday evening.

But what other option do we have?

Stefan says hello.

You'll hear from him in a second when we do our first segment, which is starting now.

On Saturday night in Houston, the Astros, who I'm still having a hard time believing are in the American League.

...