Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about redefining the MVP award, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s unearthed baseball blogs, Billy Beane’s new role with the A’s, and the Braves’ spinoff from Liberty Media, plus a Past Blast from 1931. Then (30:27) they bring on listener and top-tier Patreon supporter Peter Bonney to discuss his baseball background and answer listener emails about baseball economics and the leaguewide effects of low-spending owners, an open-ended player to be named later, batters weeping intentionally, the art of arbitrary endpoints, PitchCom voice actors, how many MLB games are available via video, a team award for the regular season, how to order umpires by accuracy in the World Series, holistic Hall of Famers, and having to win three straight games to win the World Series.

Audio intro: Night Beats, “Crypt”
Audio interstitial: The Claudettes, “Dozing in the Crypt”
Audio outro: The Mother Hips, “Payroll Peter”

Link to AL MVP results
Link to NL MVP results
Link to The Ringer FTX explainer
Link to Bloomberg on FTX
Link to Milky Eggs on FTX
Link to SBF’s baseball blog posts
Link to SBF’s first post
Link to SBF’s first pitcher-roles post
Link to SBF’s second pitcher-roles post
Link to SBF on fetishization of the old
Link to Dave Cameron’s pitching post
Link to SBF’s 2021 Twitter thread
Link to story on FTX lawsuit
Link to Ohtani/FTX press release
Link to Manfred on FTX
Link to MLBTR on Beane
Link to Liberty Media announcement
Link to Travis Sawchik on the Braves
Link to 1931 story source
Link to SABR on night baseball
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Peter’s THT articles
Link to Peter’s umpire presentation
Link to Peter’s Fenway presentation
Link to Peter’s company
Link to Kwan on strikeouts
Link to The Gist on polarization
Link to Sawchik on PitchCom
Link to Pujols homer reel
Link to Dayn on a team award
Link to the Stat Blast song
Link to the EW emails database
Link to Ryan Nelson’s MVP tweet
Link to MLBTR on Bellinger

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Shohei Ohtani and the Cy Young Award, Buck Showalter and the Manager of the Year Award, Bryce Harper’s elbow surgery, the Angels signing Tyler Anderson, Anthony Rizzo and the Yankees’ record Defensive Runs Saved total, the Mariners trading for Teoscar Hernández, title inflation and the “associate manager,” and Royals owner John Sherman requesting a new ballpark, plus a double Past Blast (38:21) from 1930 (featuring Jack Powell’s meaty demise). Then (51:06) they talk to FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about AFL award winners Heston Kjerstad and Connor Thomas, whether improvements carry over when players change teams, how rules changes are affecting player evaluation, this week’s 40-man-deadline roster crunches, and Kodai Senga and other NPB players who are coming to MLB.

Audio intro: Tri-State, “Hawk in the Fog”
Audio interstitial: Jordana, “Crunch”
Audio outro: The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, “Mr. Powell”

Link to MLB.com on Showalter
Link to Ben Clemens on Anderson
Link to Hawk Harrelson call
Link to Jay Jaffe on Rizzo
Link to highest team DRS totals
Link to Defensive Efficiency leaders
Link to Esteban Rivera on Teoscar
Link to MLBTR on Venable
Link to Sherman’s tweet
Link to Field of Schemes on Sherman
Link to AFL award winners
Link to FG prospect rankings
Link to Laurila on Boras
Link to Alex Eisert on Hilliard
Link to Evan Drellich on rule changes
Link to R.J. Anderson on rule changes
Link to MLBTR on the Rays’ roster
Link to Eric’s AL East piece
Link to Eric on Latin-American SP
Link to MLBTR on Nolan Jones
Link to 1930 story source
Link to SABR on William Veeck Sr.
Link to SABR on Margaret Donohue
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to @OldBaseballNews on Twitter
Link to article about Bill Haber
Link to first Powell article
Link to second Powell article
Link to NL Cy results
Link to Ben on Alcantara
Link to AL Cy results

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Scott Boras’s opinions about postseason pitch clocks and a neutral-site World Series, discuss Meg’s NL Rookie of the Year vote (14:16) and the rookie class, and then conduct two drafts: the eighth free-agent-contract over/under draft (35:37), and the fifth World Series odds movers draft (1:29:46), plus a Past Blast (1:48:40) from 1929 and a postscript.

Audio intro: Whitehorse, “Best Bet”
Audio outro: Aimee Mann, “Mr. Harris”

Link to Boras’s pitch-clock comment
Link to Boras on the World Series
Link to Ben on the rookie class
Link to Chris Gilligan on the rookies
Link to Tango on the WARs
Link to EW wiki on drafts
Link to competitions/drafts sheet
Link to Ben Clemens on RP signings
Link to MLBTR top 50 FA
Link to FanGraphs top FA
Link to Keith Law’s top FA
Link to qualifying offers
Link to Stathead on tall hitters
Link to WS odds spreadsheet
Link to Fanduel odds
Link to DraftKings odds
Link to 1929 story source
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Craig Wright on few SB
Link to NL RotY results
Link to AL RotY results
Link to Dan S. on Strider
Link to Ben N-S on Rutschman
Link to Tango’s math

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

With Meg Rowley off, Ben Lindbergh talks to three guests: James Wagner (4:55) of the New York Times about Scott Boras puns in the paper of record, why players who test positive for PEDs have disproportionately been from the Dominican Republic, and why players wear perfume and cologne on the field; Ian Araujo (41:46) about the origins, appeal, process, and future of his viral TikTok videos about identifying sports games in the backgrounds of movies and TV shows; and Jeff Pearlman (1:20:24) about his new biography of Bo Jackson, The Last Folk Hero, Jackson’s life and career, separating Bo facts from Bo fiction, and hypotheticals about Bo, plus a closing baseball news brief (1:59:45) and a Past Blast from 1928.

Audio intro: The Americans, “Guest of Honor”
Audio interstitial 1: Jim Lauderdale, “If You Look Real Close”
Audio interstitial 2: Boogie Down Productions, “Bo! Bo! Bo!”
Audio ioutro: Crowded House, “Be My Guest (Home Demo)”

Link to Alden’s list of Boras puns
Link to video of Nimmo pun
Link to Correa’s Dior line
Link to James’s NYT pun mention
Link to Boras episode of EW
Link to James’s PED/DR article
Link to NYT article on Tatis
Link to James on perfume/cologne
Link to Ian’s TikTok account
Link to The Athletic on Ian
Link to Ian’s The Office video
Link to Mel Magazine on Ian
Link to Ben’s Elementary article
Link to The Irishman Reddit thread
Link to Defector on the buzzer-beater
Link to second buzzer-beater story
Link to Hilbert’s problems wiki
Link to baseball Hilbert’s problems
Link to article on TikTok security
Link to The Last Folk Hero
Link to Seitzer/Jackson excerpt
Link to Bo’s tweet about autographs
Link to 91-yard TD video
Link to Bo scaling the wall
Link to Jeff’s website
Link to The Bad Guys Won
Link to “Sho Knows” t-shirt
Link to Astudillo report
Link to MLBTR on Click
Link to Jay Jaffe on Click
Link to MLBTR on Powers
Link to Dan Szymborski on Kershaw
Link to FTX bankruptcy report
Link to FTX sponsorship news
Link to MLB/FTX press release
Link to Ohtani/FTX press release
Link to Emma’s tweet
Link to tweet about Triple-A ABS
Link to J.R.’s World Series data
Link to 1928 story source
Link to SABR on the DH rule
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley share their impressions of HBO’s new feature-length documentary about Willie Mays, Say Hey, Willie Mays!, and reflect on Mays’s career, then (29:23) talk to director Nelson George about the making of the movie, what didn’t make the movie, his interactions with Mays and other legends, and much more, followed (1:04:59) by a postscript and a Past Blast from 1927.

Audio intro: The Baseball Project, “Sometimes I Dream of Willie Mays”
Audio interstitial: Michael Franti & Spearhead, “Say Hey (I Love You)”
Audio outro: Gallagher and Lyle, “Willie”

Link to Say Hey website
Link to Say Hey trailer
Link to story about banning Mays
Link to story about basket catch
Link to Mays on Bewitched
Link to Mays response to Robinson
Link to Alvin Dark controversy
Link to Bill Greason’s SABR bio
Link to MLBTR on Baker and Click
Link to Michael Mountain’s cLI data
Link to 1927 story source
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs writer Ben Clemens banter about Game 6 of the World Series, the Series and the playoffs as a whole, Phillies manager Rob Thomson’s decision to pull Zack Wheeler in favor of José Alvarado, Yordan Alvarez’s titanic dinger, the Astros’ bullpen performance, and Kyle Schwarber’s bunt attempt, before discussing the Astros’ legacy, the 2022 team vs. the 2017 team, and the “dynasty” debate. Then (45:29) they cover Edwin Díaz’s extension with the Mets, what the Phillies have to teach teams about spending, and Other Ben’s ranking of the best free agents (1:01:15), touching on the strengths of the class, their expectations for the pace of the offseason, the contracts Aaron Judge and Jacob deGrom could get, the premium shortstops available, the best and worst values on the market, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:30:33) from 1926.

Audio intro: Frazey Ford, “Season After Season”
Audio outro: Ben Gibbard, “Star Sign”

Link to Justin Choi on the Astros
Link to Ben Lindbergh on the Astros
Link to Zach Kram on the Astros
Link to Jayson Stark on the Astros
Link to The Onion on the Astros
Link to Alvarez homer video
Link to story about Alvarez’s hands
Link to reliever familiarity research
Link to Wheeler fatigue article
Link to Eno on Cash and Snell
Link to Devan Fink on Cash and Snell
Link to story about Schwarber’s bunt
Link to tweet about Astros’ bullpen
Link to Baker’s Cosby comment
Link to Dan Szymborski on Díaz
Link to Ben C.’s free-agent ranking
Link to Hamm’s Turner video
Link to 1926 story source
Link to SABR on the Grier game
Link to SABR on Negro Leagues no-nos
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Minasian’s comments

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley review all of the action from the historic, eventful fourth and fifth games of the World Series, banter about a fan heckling Rob Manfred, and share multiple Past Blasts (33:22) from 1925 (plus a throwback, Philly-centric Past Blast from 1868). Then (50:08) they talk to Baseball Prospectus writer Michael Ajeto about Astros starter Cristian Javier’s unicorn fastball, the value of vertical approach angle, and the state of pitching analysis, plus a postscript.

Audio intro: The Cribs, “Different Angle”
Audio interstitial: Dawes, “From the Right Angle”
Audio outro: Ringo Starr, “Vertical Man”

Link to Baumann on Game 4
Link to Baumann on Game 5
Link to Ben Clemens on Peña
Link to xBA figures from Game 4
Link to Walsh misplay
Link to Hoskins misplay
Link to Mancini play
Link to McCormick play
Link to Manfred letter
Link to Manfred Reddit thread
Link to Manfred heckling video
Link to 1925 story source
Link to Ban Johnson SABR bio
Link to SABR on O’Connell and Dolan
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to 1868 story source
Link to @OldBaseballNews on Coolidge
Link to Coolidge article source
Link to collected “boner” articles
Link to “boner” etymology
Link to Michael on Javier
Link to Passan on Javier
Link to Michael on Gallen
Link to Matt Lentzner on pitch angle
Link to Ethan Moore on VAA
Link to Alex Chamberlain on VAA
Link to Chamberlain on VAA again
Link to VAA primer on YouTube
Link to Ben Clemens on the Giants
Link to Robert Orr on the Giants
Link to Bregman on hitting spin
Link to Jackalopes name change
Link to Ben on pitcher deception
Link to Michael’s podcast

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the percentage of MLB fans who are paying close attention to the World Series, discuss the White Sox filling MLB’s last managerial vacancy by hiring Pedro Grifol (along with Charlie Montoyo as bench coach), and then reflect on a few aspects of Game 3 of the World Series, including Dusty Baker’s decision-making, the surprising postseason defensive success of Nick Castellanos, a pitch-tipping uproar, and more. After that (47:32), they mull over an Atlantic article about the impact of “Moneyballism” on baseball and American culture, note the record average fastball velocity and strikeout rate this postseason, Stat Blast (1:09:55) about how umpire accuracy affects offense (and what that might mean for a robo-ump-infused future), and close with a Past Blast from 1924 (1:24:35), plus a postscript about the Astros’ combined no-hitter in Game 4.

Audio intro: Jack White, “A Tip From You to Me”
Audio outro: Aimee Mann, “Momentum”

Link to MLBTR on the Grifol hiring
Link to MLBTR on the Montoyo hiring
Link to Shakeia Taylor EW episode
Link to study on manager demographics
Link to Shakeia on manager demographics
Link to Rob on manager demographics
Link to James Wagner managers thread
Link to Baumann on Game 3
Link to story about Baker and McCullers
Link to story about Castellanos’s defense
Link to clip of Harper and Bohm
Link to Pedro on pitch-tipping
Link to Rosenthal on pitch-tipping
Link to The Atlantic article
Link to Rany’s thread on the article
Link to FG on postseason velo
Link to BA on postseason velo
Link to Passan on postseason velo
Link to Ben Clemens on postseason Ks
Link to umpire Stat Blast data
Link to Lucas Apostoleris on Twitter
Link to 1924 story source
Link to story about Bohm comments
Link to story about booing Santa
Link to tweet about cheering Santa
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Russell on momentum
Link to Russell on momentum again
Link to FG World Series odds

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about umpire Pat Hoberg’s unprecedented “perfect game” behind the plate in Game 2 of the World Series, followed by musings on Nolan Arenado opting not to opt out of his contract, the Royals hiring Rays bench coach Matt Quatraro as their new manager, and Rob Manfred’s latest update on the zombie runner, then break down Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, reflect on the folly of predicting sweeps and seven-game series, and provide a Past Blast from 1923. Then (1:17:54) they bring on Umpire Scorecards creator Ethan Singer to explain how he realized an umpire perfect game had occurred, how Hoberg’s umpire perfecto was calculated, Hoberg’s track record, the squishy nature of ump perfection, the concepts of accuracy, expected accuracy, and consistency, the odds of a perfect game occurring, Umpire Scorecards in the robot-umps era, umpiring accuracy and difficulty in the postseason, the rest of the umps in the World Series, and more.

Audio intro: John Cale, “Perfect”
Audio interstitial: Ronnie Wood, “100%”
Audio outro: Kiwi Jr., “Highlights of 100”

Link to Ben on umpire perfect games
Link to Hoberg article
Link to Hoberg’s Twitter scorecard
Link to Hoberg’s website scorecard
Link to Hoberg game video
Link to Bob Wolff Larsen call
Link to Vin Scully Larsen call
Link to MLBTR on Arenado
Link to Jay Jaffe on Arenado
Link to MLBTR on Quatraro
Link to MLBTR on the White Sox search
Link to Shakeia Taylor EW episode
Link to study on manager demographics
Link to Shakeia on manager demographics
Link to Rob on manager demographics
Link to James Wagner managers thread
Link to zombie runner comments
Link to 2020 zombie runner survey
Link to The Athletic zombie runner survey
Link to FG zombie runner survey
Link to ZiPS postseason odds
Link to FG WS Game 1 story
Link to FG WS Game 2 story
Link to Jaffe on Verlander in the WS
Link to Posnanski on on Verlander in G1
Link to post on Díaz’s non-HBP
Link to FG post on starters in relief
Link to Valdez suspicion story
Link to Maldonado/Pujols bats
Link to Silver Slugger finalists
Link to Ben on predicting sweeps
Link to Joe’s newsletter
Link to MLB.com WS predictions
Link to ESPN WS predictions
Link to The Athletic WS predictions
Link to CBS Sports WS predictions
Link to 1923 story source
Link to SABR on radio broadcasts
Link to article on televised World Series
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Ethan’s first EW interview
Link to Umpire Scorecards leaderboard
Link to World Series umpire lineup
Link to MLB’s no-hitter redefinition
Link to support Umpire scorecards
Link to Ethan’s personal website
Link to Ben in 2014 on postseason umps
Link to Ben on MLB ump evaluations
Link to 2015 article on ump improvement
Link to 2016 article on ump improvement
Link to study on umpire age
Link to umps and high leverage study
Link to EW on umpire decision fatigue
Link to Baumann on rainout implications
Link to NYT umpire interactive

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen banter about Ben’s latest ex-player Facebook friend recommendations and an MLB bourbon sponsorship, discuss (9:27) David Stearns stepping down from the Brewers’ top job, Adam Wainwright returning to the Cardinals, and Aaron Boone remaining the manager of the Yankees, and then (26:53) preview a few important factors to watch in the World Series, followed by a question (45:14) about Aaron Judge and scouting tall players, an explanation of how the Astros built and have maintained their player-development advantage (53:34), Eric’s insights (1:02:49) into impressive prospects in the Arizona Fall League (such as Rockies speeder Zac Veen), thoughts on Oswald Peraza, Anthony Volpe, and the Yankees’ infield of the future (1:25:50), and a preview (1:29:28) of what to watch in international and winter ball (including the top MLB prospects in NPB and the KBO), plus addenda (1:35:11) and a Past Blast from 1922.

Audio intro: The Fratellis, “Boy Scout to the End”
Audio outro: Ray Davies, “After the Fall”

Link to Evan Williams contest
Link to Jim Beam ad
Link to sponsorship growth story
Link to MLBTR on Stearns
Link to Wainwright signing news
Link to Baumann on Wainwright
Link to news about Boone
Link to news about Boone and Cashman
Link to Jeter video
Link to Michael Kay’s Lincoln comp
Link to info on Kay’s diet
Link to older post on Kay’s diet
Link to Ben on player height increase
Link to MLB.com on team makeup
Link to Ben Clemens WS preview
Link to FG post on Astros lefties
Link to FG post on pitching to Harper
Link to Silver Slugger finalists
Link to AFL stats
Link to AFL prospects on The Board
Link to Veen play
Link to Russell on winter ball
Link to Ben on Murakami
Link to info on LIDOM on MLB.TV
Link to EW emails database
Link to research about alternate titles
Link to 1922 story source
Link to SABR on the Supreme Court
Link to SABR on the MLBPA
Link to update on antitrust case
Link to tweet about minor league CBA
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s baseball Facebook friend recommendations, the Phillies’ odds against the Astros in the World Series, Kyle Schwarber’s mechanical bull ride, a hidden perk of the Astros’ pitching depth, whether we judge managers too much by their rings, the career and legacy of Dave Dombrowski, the Marlins hiring Skip Schumaker as manager, the length of games this postseason, and Shohei Ohtani’s old team drafting another two-way player, followed by Stat Blasts (1:10:37) about when the AL/NL’s cumulative HR total overtook its cumulative SB total, a pitcher pinch running for the DH, and George Springer and the most hits before a first pinch hit, plus a Past Blast from 1921.

Audio intro: Free, “Be My Friend”
Audio outro: Thrush Hermit, “Skip the Life”

Link to FG WS odds
Link to reliever familiarity research
Link to video of Schwarber’s ride
Link to Posnanski on Davey Johnson
Link to post on Dombrowski history
Link to Bannister’s Dombrowski thread
Link to MLBTR on Schumaker
Link to MLB.com on Schumaker
Link to Sam on nicknames
Link to study on manager demographics
Link to report on manager demographics
Link to more on manager demographics
Link to Acta’s mound tweet
Link to MLB.com on game lengths
Link to annual postseason offense
Link to research on scoring and upsets
Link to Yazawa news
Link to Shinjo jersey news
Link to Stathead
Link to Ryan Nelson’s Twitter
Link to EW emails database
Link to CloseCallSports video
Link to 1921 story source
Link to SABR on the ’21 World Series
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley are joined by FanGraphs writer (and Phillies fan) Michael Baumann, who covered the NLCS game in Philly, to recap the Phillies’ NLCS victory over the Padres, explain the minds of Phillies fans, celebrate Bryce Harper, review the Padres’ decisions, and much more, followed by breakdowns of the Astros-Yankees ALCS, the state and future of the Yankees, and the Phillies-Astros World Series matchup, plus a postscript and a Past Blast from 1920.

Audio intro: Herman’s Hermits, “Leaning on a Lamp Post”
Audio outro: Billy Swan, “Swept Away”

Link to Baumann on NLCS G3
Link to Baumann on NLCS G4
Link to Baumann on NLCS G5
Link to Esteban Rivera on Harper’s HR
Link to the Harper HR
Link to MLB.com on the Harper HR
Link to seismometer graph
Link to The Athletic on Melvin
Link to MLB.com on Melvin
Link to Grisham bunt/scoring change
Link to Profar check swing
Link to Ben Clemens on the Yankees
Link to Bader walk
Link to Mike Axisa on the Yankees
Link to story about Boone’s videos
Link to tweet about Ortiz
Link to StarTalk video
Link to 1920 story source
Link to SABR on Maharg
Link to SABR on the Black Sox in 1920
Link to Caminiti book
Link to Fiers confession
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley follow up on their 2022 minor league free agent draft results, banter about ALDS Game 2, teams “not making excuses,” the Rangers hiring Bruce Bochy, and other news, and answer listener emails about a suggestion for changing the number of games per playoff round, how an average person would do in the field if they knew where the ball was going to go, a 75-foot-tall batter, the most embarrassing kind of whiff, multiple “first” pitches, the phrase “a whole new ballgame,” and a ballpark named after the podcast, plus a Past Blast from 1919.

Audio intro: Sloan, “You Don’t Need Excuses to Be Good”
Audio outro: Billy Corgan, “Black Sox”

Link to 2022 draft results
Link to Raymond’s EW wiki post
Link to Boone comments
Link to Severino comments
Link to data on Bregman HR
Link to data on Judge flyout
Link to FG post on ALDS G2
Link to postseason ZiPS
Link to story on McCullers/champagne
Link to Jay on postseason SP
Link to Bochy news
Link to Dusty report
Link to Profar’s swing
Link to story on Veeck’s “giant”
Link to EW emails database
Link to 1919 story source
Link to SABR’s Eight Myths Out
Link to SABR on the Black Sox scandal
Link to SABR on Speaker’s columns
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Patreon/Discord instructions

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley review the results of the 2022 minor league free agent draft, discuss Gold Glove finalists and a study about the lack of special ways to win in the postseason, recap the first few Championship Series games (and banter about José Alvarado and same-named athletes in multiple sports), and answer listener emails about the name of the Division Series, on-screen strike zone graphics, and spotting higher-seeded teams a game before the start of a postseason series, plus a Past Blast from 1918, concluding banter about Shohei Ohtani’s comments about the Angels’ season and José Ramírez’s post-postseason surgery, and a postscript.

Audio intro: Nada Surf, “What is Your Secret”
Audio outro: Andrew Weiss and Friends, “Everybody Loves a Comeback”

Link to 2022 draft results
Link to Raymond’s EW wiki post
Link to Gold Glove finalists
Link to FiveThirtyEight on Gold Gloves
Link to 2021 story on Soto’s defense
Link to Dan S.’s playoffs study
Link to Russell’s playoffs study
Link to Russell on playoff homer-hitting
Link to Rosenthal on the playoff format
Link to ZiPS playoff odds
Link to study on playoff randomness
Link to FG post on NLCS G1
Link to FG post on NLCS G2
Link to MLB.com on Snell
Link to MLB.com on Padres’ rally
Link to MLB.com on Alvarado
Link to FG post on ALCS G1
Link to MLB.com on ALCS G1
Link to BP ALCS game preview
Link to Reddit on the best-of-9 WS
Link to ALCS G1 ump scorecard
Link to Division Series wiki
Link to BP K-Zone plea
Link to FG post on KBO playoffs
Link to EW emails database
Link to 1918 story source
Link to 1918 Ruth box score
Link to MLB.com on Ruth’s lost homer
Link to Reddit on Ruth’s homers
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Ruth homers book
Link to Ohtani Angels story
Link to Ohtani WBC story
Link to Ramírez surgery news
Link to Japan athletes poll
Link to U.S. athletes poll
Link to Patreon/Discord instructions

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Meg Rowley returns from her trip to Seattle to banter with Ben Lindbergh about attending the 18-inning ALDS Game 3, the Mariners’ heartbreaking loss, the fans’ heartening response, and the franchise’s future, as well as overmatched postseason hitters, what scoreless extra-inning games could portend for the zombie runner, the outcomes of the other Division Series, why the NL’s upsets prompted playoff-format handwringing, the cognitive dissonance required to put stock in postseason success, the outlook for the ALCS and the NLCS, and much more, plus a Past Blast from 1917.

Audio intro: Dentist, “Upset Words”
Audio outro: The Wombats, “I Don’t Know Why I Like You But I Do”

Link to Meg’s dispatch from Game 3
Link to Davy Andrews on Game 3
Link to Raleigh injury news
Link to Jay Jaffe on the Dodgers
Link to Ben Clemens on NLDS managers
Link to Jake Mintz on Marsh’s hair
Link to Jay on ALDS Game 5
Link to Boone/Holmes comments
Link to Rosenthal on the playoff format
Link to study on playoff randomness
Link to Ginny Searle on the playoffs
Link to Rob Arthur on stratification
Link to Joe Posnanski on playoff Ks
Link to FG’s NLCS preview
Link to 1917 story source
Link to Shore’s SABR bio
Link to SABR on Shore’s perfect game
Link to Shore EW discussion
Link to Batting by F.C. Lane
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to rigor mortis quote
Link to Schwarber homer
Link to Harper GIF
Link to Patreon/Discord instructions

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

With Meg Rowley on the road, Ben Lindbergh reunites with his former Ringer MLB Show colleagues Michael Baumann, Zach Kram, and Bobby Wagner to discuss the moods of Mets and Phillies fans and catch up on the first few days of Division Series action, touching on Yordan Alvarez, Robbie Ray, a playoff walk-off oddity, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Phil Maton, Max Fried, Jeremy Peña, geese, soup, and much more, plus a Past Blast from 1916 and a postscript.

Audio intro: Mark Lanegan, “Together Again”
Audio outro: Dead Kennedys, “Soup is Good Food”

Link to Jake Mailhot on Ray/Alvarez
Link to MLB.com on Ray/Alvarez
Link to The Athletic on Ray/Alvarez
Link to Eno on Ray/Alvarez
Link to Zach’s walk-off data
Link to Stark on the Alvarez homer
Link to Petriello on the Alvarez homer
Link to Davy Andrews on ALDS G2
Link to Ben Clemens on Alvarez
Link to Ben L. on Alvarez in 2019
Link to Ben on playoff second-guessing
Link to Ben on playoff rookies
Link to info on Peña adjustment
Link to story on Maton
Link to story on Plesac
Link to Eno on Fried
Link to Ben on the Castellanos meme
Link to article on the goose
Link to 1916 story source
Link to SABR on the Giants’ streak
Link to Perritt’s SABR bio
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Correa TV segment
Link to Correa opt-out news
Link to Correa baby news
Link to goose email episode
Link to Sutter SABR bio

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about what would happen if a dominant starting pitcher were caught using sticky stuff in a playoff game, then set up the biggest storylines and scheduling considerations of the division series round, consider which matchup is most likely to result in an upset, and preview each AL and NL series, plus banter about taxing home run balls, and a Past Blast from 1915.

Audio intro: The Society of Rockets, “Western Division”
Audio outro: Phish, “The Divided Sky”

Link to Musgrove quote
Link to BP’s ALDS previews
Link to BP’s NLDS previews
Link to FG’s Yankees-Guardians preview
Link to midges story
Link to FG’s Dodgers-Padres preview
Link to FG’s Braves-Phillies preview
Link to terms of Strider extension
Link to Bloomberg on HR balls
Link to 1915 story source
Link to SABR on the MLBPA’s origins
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about and break down all four wild card series, beginning with big-picture thoughts on the weekend as a whole and the Mariners’ improbable Game 2 comeback win before going series-by-series and discussing Mariners-Blue Jays (8:52), Guardians-Rays (33:03), Phillies-Cardinals (48:39), and Mets-Padres (1:05:50), plus a Past Blast (1:39:25) from 1914.

Audio intro: Dan Auerbach, “Never in My Wildest Dreams”
Audio outro: Meat Loaf, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad”

Link to Castillo’s velo by game
Link to rally shoe tweet
Link to Crawford double
Link to Jake Mailhot on M’s-Jays G1
Link to Justin Choi on M’s-Jays G2
Link to M’s-Jays WE graph
Link to Kyle on Guardians-Rays G1
Link to Jake on Guardians-Rays G2
Link to Guardians challenge
Link to Baumann on Phils-Cards G1
Link to Baumann on Phils-Cards G2
Link to story on Pujols retirement
Link to Ben Clemens on Mets-Pads G1
Link to Kyle on Mets-Pads G2
Link to Davy Andrews on Mets-Pads G3
Link to Musgrove inspection video
Link to tweet about Padres one-hitter
Link to Sarah’s tweet
Link to McCutchen tweet
Link to Showalter/deGrom video
Link to deGrom destination report
Link to The Athletic on int’l blackouts
Link to Forbes on int’l blackouts
Link to 1914 story source
Link to SABR on the Chase game
Link to SABR on the Supreme Court
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the beginning of the playoffs and playoff podcasting, share a few words (17:43) from the diligent author of the retiring Stephen Vogt’s exhaustive Wikipedia page, preview the four wild card series (30:54) and hype up the playoff field, meet major leaguers (1:07:25) Nate Eaton and Brian O’Keefe, and discuss two Royals firings and the coming managerial merry-go-round, plus a Past Blast (1:23:57) about 1913.

Audio intro: Midnight North, “Wild Card”
Audio outro: The Felice Brothers, “Saint Stephen’s End”

Link to Patrick on Vogt’s retirement
Link to Craig Wright on Vogt’s retirement
Link to MLB.com on Vogt’s retirement
Link to Vogt’s Wikipedia page
Link to Vogt’s page “before”
Link to Vogt’s page “after”
Link to Matz’s Wikipedia page
Link to Colin’s Wiki hub
Link to Colin on Twitter
Link to Colin’s books
Link to EW on long Wikipedia pages
Link to 2020 list of long pages
Link to ESPN on the playoff field
Link to FG’s Jays-M’s preview
Link to FG’s Rays-Guardians preview
Link to FG’s Mets-Padres preview
Link to FG’s Cards-Phillies preview
Link to postseason ZiPS post
Link to BP’s AL previews
Link to BP’s NL previews
Link to B-Ref’s new debuts page
Link to arm strength leaderboard
Link to Petriello on arm strength
Link to Tango on arm strength
Link to FG report on Eaton
Link to BA on Eaton
Link to story on Eaton’s promotion
Link to The Royals Reporter on Eaton
Link to The Seattle Times on O’Keefe
Link to Rosenthal on managerial changes
Link to MLBTR on Ohtani’s contract
Link to 1913 story source
Link to 1913 box score
Link to 1993 box score
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to suppose.tv
Link to Reddit post on streaming
Link to Ben on Alcantara
Link to Ben on Judge and Ohtani

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s efforts to get the new dictionary definition for “ghost runner” changed, how to watch the playoffs when one has cut the cord, Meg’s Rookie of the Year voting deliberations, the underrated Jeff McNeil, the two teams whose per-game attendance declined this season, MLB’s problem gambling PSAs, a DraftKings ad, and more, plus Stat Blasts (56:12) about the worst best players on a team, the change in the percentages of players who make the playoffs and the World Series in their careers, and Mike Trout’s emoji and exclamation point use on Twitter, followed by a Past Blast (1:28:25) from 1912.

Audio intro: XTC, “Your Dictionary”
Audio outro: Ty Segall, “It’s Over”

Link to “ghost runner” definition
Link to playoff broadcasting schedule
Link to McNeil Stathead query
Link to team attendance page
Link to article on Ohtani qualifying
Link to article on Trout’s game
Link to MLB press release
Link to DraftKings ad
Link to article on Ohtani grand slam
Link to Stathead
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to worst team WAR leaders
Link to playoff/WS appearance data
Link to Trout’s first airplane tweet
Link to Trout’s latest airplane tweet
Link to Trout tweet data
Link to 1912 story source
Link to SABR on Cubs ownership history
Link to Chance SABR bio
Link to new book about Murphy
Link to Posey ownership story
Link to Hornsby story
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Braves’ first sacrifice bunt of the season, Meg’s gratitude for the effect Mariners fandom has had on her life, the Orioles’ status as impressive also-rans, Atlanta overtaking the Mets, how to assess an MLB season, and the playoff field being set. They also react in real time to Aaron Judge’s 62nd home run and discuss Jon Berti stealing his 40th base, the latest Astros leadership turmoil, and a dismaying dictionary addition, followed by a Past Blast from 1911. Then (46:33) they talk to Jordan Shusterman of Céspedes Family BBQ and Fox Sports about witnessing Cal Raleigh’s drought-ending homer in person, the nickname “Big Dumper,” Jordan’s journey as a Mariners fan (and Meg’s reaction to the team clinching), the potential end of playoff droughts, and more, plus postscript updates and followups.

Audio intro: MC5, “Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa)”
Audio interstitial: Matthew Sweet, “Finally”
Audio outro: The Hollies, “The Very Last Day”

Link to Harris sac bunt
Link to FG post on Braves bunting
Link to Stats & Info Orioles tweet
Link to Judge homer story
Link to Baumann on Berti
Link to Rosenthal on the Astros
Link to Nightengale on the Astros
Link to dictionary announcement
Link to “ghost runner” entry
Link to 1911 story source
Link to “slobber-ball” game story
Link to Walsh SABR bio
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Raleigh at-bat video
Link to Jordan’s article
Link to Kelenic’s tweet
Link to Kelenic’s emoji
Link to Sims call
Link to Rizzs call
Link to Elias on Raleigh
Link to Baumann on playoff expansion
Link to Baseball Bar-B-Cast podcast
Link to playoff bracket

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the fight for the third wild card in the National League and the way in which the expanded playoff format shifts attention toward middling teams, appreciating postseason success and regular-season success, the regular-season dominance of the Dodgers, home-run-record derangement syndrome (17:52) and a middle ground between the warring absolutists worked up one way or another about Aaron Judge (or pitchers not pitching to him), a better name for the combined cycle, a suspicious Carlos Correa quote, a counterintuitive observation about Yadier Molina’s basestealing suppression, Tony La Russa reportedly not returning to the White Sox next season, Rich Hill planning to pitch again, pedantic questions (1:13:01) about non-baseball ballparks, payoff pitches, and long balls vs. big balls, plus a new name for the Grand Junction Rockies, a new use for a descending mound, and a Past Blast (1:26:09) from 1910.

Audio intro: Vampire Weekend, “Obvious Bicycle”
Audio outro: AC/DC, “Big Balls”

Link to study on chance in the playoffs
Link to Ginny Searle on the Dodgers
Link to Maris Jr. quote
Link to Ben on the PED era
Link to Rob Arthur on PED HR outliers
Link to Lamont video
Link to Connecticut baseball divide
Link to Correa video
Link to Correa quote text
Link to Russell on Molina
Link to Edwards on Molina
Link to TLR report
Link to Hill report
Link to EW emails database
Link to “last strike” EW wiki page
Link to GJ Rockies renaming report
Link to GJ Chubs EW wiki page
Link to pit clock EW wiki page
Link to 1910 story source
Link to cork ball source
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Ohtani game story
Link to Sheehan on middling teams
Link to Lasagna story

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the inadequacies of dental insurance and Ben’s rewarding trip to Citi Field, a Marlins marketing strategy, Richard Bleier’s balk debacle, pitchers getting the memo about throwing strikes to Aaron Judge and Judge’s difference-making performance even when he doesn’t homer, preliminary Stat Blasts (41:33) about the most consecutive secondary pitches thrown to a batter in a game and the redundancy of RBI as a Triple Crown stat, finding things to savor in the regular season even with a shortage of standings suspense, more Stat Blasts (59:33) about the Braves’ extreme day/night split revisited, Fibonacci Sequence scoring, getting replaced before a second PA in both ends of a doubleheader, combined/relay cycles, Albert Pujols and homering on the most dates during the regular season, and games getting away from cruising pitchers, plus a Past Blast from 1909 (1:33:56) and a real-time reaction to Judge’s 61st (1:38:40).

Audio intro: Ezra Furman, “My Teeth Hurt”
Audio outro: Son Volt, “Afterglow 61”

Link to Marlins marketing tweet
Link to Dan S. on Meneses
Link to Bleier balks story
Link to Bois’s balk rules
Link to Sam Miller on balks
Link to Rob Mains on the Year of the Balk
Link to first episode about Judge/strikes
Link to consecutive secondaries sheet
Link to FG Junis post
Link to article on HR/SB leaders
Link to FG standings suspense post
Link to Stathead
Link to Stathead webinar
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to Atlanta day/night data
Link to Fibonacci Sequence explainer
Link to Fibonacci games
Link to doubleheader replacement data
Link to post on relay/combined cycles
Link to relay/combined cycles sheet
Link to Seinfeld reference clip
Link to info on ex-cruising pitchers
Link to Russell on replacing pitchers
Link to EW emails database
Link to 1909 story source
Link to Tim Murnane SABR bio
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to video of Judge’s homer
Link to Lindsey on relievers catching HR

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the latest hitting heroics by 30-year-old rookie Joey Meneses, then discuss the Guardians clinching the AL Central title, underdogs that defy the projections and playoff odds, and Albert Pujols’s 700th homer. After that (47:00), they talk to Death Cab for Cutie singer/songwriter/guitarist Ben Gibbard about the Mariners’ stretch run and playoff prospects, the sound of settling (for the third wild card), the greatness of Julio Rodríguez, the strengths and weaknesses of the roster, the future of the franchise, celebrity M’s fans, monitoring the Mariners during Death Cab concerts, the band’s stylistic evolution on new album Asphalt Meadows, the reception to the record, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:37:07), a few followups, and a closing word from Ben G.

Audio intro: Death Cab for Cutie, “A Movie Script Ending”
Audio interstitial: Death Cab for Cutie, “I’ll Never Give Up on You”
Audio outro: Ben Gibbard, “Duncan, Where Have You Gone?”

Link to Ben on Meneses
Link to Jayson Stark on the Guardians
Link to Zack Meisel on the Guardians
Link to Zack on the celebration
Link to article on Guardians’ youth
Link to article on old-school Guardians
Link to SIS on Giménez’s defense
Link to Ben on contact and the playoffs
Link to FG preseason playoff odds
Link to FG preseason staff predictions
Link to MLB tweet about odds
Link to Guardians’ tweet about odds
Link to playoff odds check
Link to second playoff odds check
Link to BP IL Ledger
Link to Rob Mains on weak divisions
Link to Ben on Pujols
Link to Death Cab album/merch
Link to Death Cab tour schedule
Link to stream Asphalt Meadows
Link to Death Cab on Metacritic
Link to story on why we like music
Link to Church cancellation story
Link to Church rescheduling story
Link to “Ichiro’s Theme”
Link to Ben G.’s first EW appearance
Link to article about tour bus shortage
Link to 1908 article source
Link to SABR on the 1908 Winter Meetings
Link to article on lineups and gambling
Link to Shantz interview episode
Link to Pujols swing montage

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the man who tried to return Roger Maris’s 61st home run ball, two Mickey Mantle letters, the 2017 Zac Gallen/Sandy Alcantara trade, how Maury Wills changed (and dominated) basestealing, and Aaron Judge’s recent value even when he hasn’t hit homers, then answer listener emails (38:15) about hitters setting their own strike zones, Atlanta’s extreme day/night winning percentage split, the shift ban and the Stanky rule, which pitchers will suffer from the new pickoff-attempt rules, and immaculate innings that include an automatic strike from the pitch clock (with a digression into “timer” vs. “clock”), followed by a research-intensive Stat Blast (1:05:53) into whether working quickly improves the defense behind a pitcher, and a double Past Blast (1:27:58) from 1907, including an ahead-of-its-time proposal by the eccentric Bob Unglaub.

Audio intro: Styx, “Havin’ a Ball”
Audio outro: Drive-By Truckers, “Bob”

Link to 2022 article about Durante
Link to 2016 article about Durante
Link to offer for Judge ball
Link to article about Judge ball value
Link to other article about Judge ball
Link to 1961 Mantle letter
Link to 1973 Mantle letter
Link to BP on Gallen
Link to article about 2017 trade
Link to Jeff on the 2017 trade
Link to Wills SABR bio
Link to Wills obit
Link to Pages From Baseball’s Past
Link to Craig Wright on SBs
Link to Wright on Wills
Link to 1960–65 SB leaders
Link to 1962 NL MVP voting
Link to video of Judge near-homer
Link to Defector on the Judge flyout
Link to Defector on walking Judge
Link to EW emails database
Link to Stathead on Atlanta’s split
Link to EW Stanky draft
Link to Stanky maneuver story
Link to Stanky maneuver image
Link to Russell on the running game
Link to list of immaculate innings
Link to Stathead
Link to Savant pitch tempo page
Link to Savant defense behind pitcher
Link to Savant team defense
Link to Mike Fast on pace and defense
Link to Ben on pace and defense in 2017
Link to pace and defense Stat Blast data
Link to 1907 Cubs story source
Link to list of in-season exhibitions
Link to SABR baseball cards site
Link to SABR baseball cards tweet
Link to Unglaub’s 1907 arc idea
Link to article on eccentric Unglaub
Link to article on Unglaub not playing
Link to Unglaub SABR bio
Link to Rob Arthur on deeper defense
Link to Rob on better defense
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to DraftKings ad

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the ethics of returning or selling a valuable home run ball, a dilemma involving Aaron Judge on Apple TV+, selling the opposing team’s gear in a ballpark, the Tigers hiring Scott Harris and the Royals firing Dayton Moore, the Mets and Reds setting hit-by-pitch records, Canada dropping its vaccine requirement in time for the MLB playoffs, the lack of standings-derived suspense in the 2022 regular season, the latest Joey Meneses news, and a record number of MLB debuts and 4-WAR rookies, plus a Past Blast from 1906.

Audio intro: The Format, “Give it Up”
Audio outro: Richard Thompson, “I’ll Never Give it Up”

Link to tweet about ball decision
Link to Freedman’s response
Link to Sheehan’s response
Link to Goldstein’s response
Link to article about Jeter ball
Link to Sports Night episode script
Link to Judge on Apple article
Link to article on Giants vendor
Link to Posnanski on Moore
Link to Royals Review on Moore
Link to Moore on Eldred
Link to article on Harris hiring
Link to article on Mets HBP record
Link to post on Buck asking for ball
Link to post on Reds HBP record
Link to Baumann on Mets HBPs
Link to Defector on the Mets/Reds
Link to Canada vaccination change
Link to May EW episode on standings
Link to Gilligan on season suspense
Link to Foolish on Meneses
Link to 2022 MLB debuts
Link to Ben on 2022 rookies
Link to 1906 story source
Link to 1906 game
Link to Lush’s SABR bio
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Ohtani golfing clip

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about pitchers throwing a perplexing number of strikes to an unstoppable Aaron Judge, Judge’s sensational September, upcoming contract, and more, Shohei Ohtani’s pitching prowess, new pitches, and switch-hitting potential, Oneil Cruz’s recent surge, Yordan Alvarez and how much of slumps can be explained by nagging injuries, Max Scherzer and other pitchers getting pulled from in-progress no-hitters or perfect games, the continued excellence of post-peak Clayton Kershaw, the record quality-start streak of Framber Valdez, the bouncebacks of Shane Bieber and Yu Darvish, the record longevity of Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina as a pitcher-catcher duo, and the broken bones of Ozzie Albies and Chris Sale, plus updates on Fox’s flames and the sale of Twins.com, a Past Blast from 1905, and a few final followups.

Audio intro: 10cc, “Good Morning Judge”
Audio outro: The Inbreds, “Don’t Try So Hard”

Link to Judge’s 60th
Link to Judge and the Triple Crown
Link to Petriello on Judge’s season
Link to Craig’s judge homers thread
Link to September player zone rates
Link to September MLB zone rate
Link to tweet about Judge’s 5 Barrels
Link to wiki for multiple-alarm fire
Link to new Ohtani breaking ball
Link to new Ohtani sinker
Link to Ohtani FTX ad
Link to Cruz against deGrom
Link to Cruz’s shot into river
Link to BP on Cruz
Link to article on injured Alvarez
Link to Scherzer on being pulled
Link to article about May
Link to Stathead on hitless starts
Link to article on Framber’s QS streak
Link to Stathead on longest QS streaks
Link to article on Jack Taylor
Link to post on long pitching streaks
Link to Dan S. on Bieber and Nola
Link to Katie on Wainwright/Molina
Link to Sale’s 2022
Link to Albies’ 2022
Link to Jay Jaffe on Albies
Link to Sam on flames
Link to score bug EW episode
Link to Ben on Twins.com
Link to 1905 story source
Link to 1905 game
Link to info on gloves on field
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to 1906 pit story
Link to Sam on the pit
Link to Ashburn quote
Link to football grenade photo
Link to Bugs Bunny video clip

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about minor leaguers officially joining the MLBPA and what minor league unionization might do to the game’s distribution of revenue, follow up on Gold Gloves for utility players, toilet flappers, and Joey Meneses, discuss Jon Berti’s pursuit of 40 stolen bases, what pickoff-attempt restrictions will do to the running game, and why they don’t mind making things easier for runners, examine a Jake McCarthy attempted steal of home, give the Diamondbacks their due, and muse on the different types of steals of home, the potential of the terms “sayonara hit” and “hero interview,” and the homer-hitting prowess of Eugenio Suárez before answering additional listener emails about the effects of the rules changes on infielder offense and pitchouts, swinging twice at one pitch, attempting to get out of tagging up, why the raglan sleeve is associated with “baseball shirts,” deciding to go double or nothing after scoring, emergency backup pitchers, directional arrows projected on the field, and the virtues of teams being pretty good instead of great or terrible, plus musings on listeners learning they like Scott Boras and pitch-clock countdowns on score bugs, and a Past Blast from 1904.

Audio intro: Ducks Ltd., “It’s Easy”
Audio outro: Ryan Pollie, “Steal Away”

Link to Evan on unionization
Link to Russell on minor league pay
Link to story on utility Gold Gloves
Link to story on Meneses interception
Link to Meneses letter
Link to Korky flapper sizing page
Link to Baumann on Berti
Link to Russell on the running game
Link to McCarthy steal attempt video
Link to BP on the steal attempt
Link to Altuve’s steal of home
Link to Ben C. on Arozarena running
Link to Ben on Murakami and Sasaki
Link to HR leaders since 2018
Link to pitchouts by season
Link to Sam on pitchouts
Link to Ben on pitchouts
Link to post on 2016 2B offense
Link to post on Moustakas at second
Link to story on shifting and infielders
Link to story on slowest possible pitch
Link to info on swing timing
Link to info on pitch timing
Link to story on Pence’s double hit
Link to raglan sleeve wiki
Link to story on baseball-shirt sexiness
Link to ESPN Daily on the EBUG
Link to Dodgers-Mets laser story
Link to EW listener emails database
Link to 1904 story source
Link to SABR game story
Link to Sol White’s book
Link to Rube Foster SABR bio
Link to 1904 World Series info
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley talk (4:09) to baseball agent and attorney Scott Boras, the founder, owner, and president of the Boras Corporation (as if you didn’t know who Scott Boras was), about his busiest days, his process for brainstorming metaphors, similes, and puns, his fondness for nautical analogies, other wordplay-related matters, the CBA, his agency’s evolving use of analytics and player-improvement techniques, the unionization of minor leaguers and the conditions he faced as a minor league player, exploiting loopholes, his origin story as a negotiator, whether he’d give it all up to have been a big leaguer, and more. Then (51:45) Ben and Meg discuss Boras’s career and Stat Blast (1:08:30) about Shohei Ohtani’s hitting on days when he pitches, plus (1:30:45) a double Past Blast from 1903.

Audio intro: Sparks, “Metaphor”
Audio interstitial: Dan Bern, “Negotiation”
Audio outro: Willie Nelson, “Still Not Dead”

Link to EW wiki page on Boras
Link to Jeff’s nautical analogies tweet
Link to USS San Diego quote
Link to Soto Star/Mission Bell quote
Link to 2018 Boras Mets lines
Link to Jay-Z Boras quote
Link to Boras Corp website
Link to 2000 Boras NYT story
Link to 2007 Boras NYT story
Link to A-Rod binder story
Link to Boras ESPN story
Link to story on Boras loopholes
Link to Boras MiLB stats
Link to Boras umbrella quote
Link to Verducci Boras/Gilbert story
Link to Dennis Gilbert wiki
Link to Travis Sawchik on agencies
Link to Stathead
Link to Stathead query
Link to Russell on tired pitchers
Link to Ohtani Stat Blast data
Link to TIME article on Ohtani
Link to MLB.com article on Ohtani
Link to Devan Fink on Ohtani hitting
Link to 1903 story source
Link to 1903 story source 2
Link to 1903 story source 3
Link to SABR game recap
Link to Boston Globe cartoon
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to 1939 article
Link to first 1907 article
Link to second 1907 article
Link to 1949 article
Link to Tallulah Bankhead wiki
Link to MLBPA news
Link to early Boras analogy episode

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the old-and-improved Albert Pujols, Mike Trout’s homer streak, the White Sox winning, Elvis Andrus making the A’s pay, James Karinchak’s inconclusive hair inspection, the Dodgers prematurely celebrating a clinching (and the concept of clinch creep), the puzzle of Cody Bellinger, and the retrospective puzzle of Edwin Díaz’s 2019, plus followups (53:48) on Carlos Correa, bigger bases, and shifting, listener emails (1:02:17) about bigger baseballs and/or bats, and a Past Blast (1:18:53) from 1902.

Audio intro: David Bowie, “Saviour Machine”
Audio outro: Fiona Apple, “Extraordinary Machine”

Link to hitting leaders since 8/10
Link to Stathead on big platoon splits
Link to story on Pujols and 697
Link to Pujols’ rolling wRC+
Link to Reddit thread on Pujols homers
Link to Jay Jaffe on Trout
Link to Trout HR streak story
Link to story on Andrus vs. A’s
Link to team SS wRC+ since 8/17
Link to TLR story
Link to Ben Clemens on Karinchak
Link to Rob Arthur on spin
Link to story on Dodgers mistake
Link to Reddit thread on Dodgers clinch
Link to Poscast episode on clinching
Link to Dan S. on Bellinger
Link to Eric Stephen tweet
Link to 2019 EW episode on Díaz
Link to Petriello’s shifting thread
Link to Rob Arthur on shifting
Link to EW listener emails database
Link to story about old bat sizes
Link to Eno Sarris on bats
Link to 1902 story source
Link to Hoy vs. Taylor SABR story
Link to Hoy’s SABR bio
Link to info on Hoy’s nickname
Link to Taylor’s SABR bio
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about how the White Sox have played in Tony La Russa’s absence, then discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the rules changes coming to MLB in 2023: a pitch clock, restrictions on pickoff attempts and the shift, and bigger bases (with asides on a new WAR, Zack Greinke’s front-office acumen, and Ben’s hiccup cure). Then (52:40) they’re joined by historian Richard Hershberger for an in-person Past Blast from 1901, plus a long-term perspective on responses to times of rapid change in baseball, the sport’s cyclical nature, and more.

Audio intro: Phoenix, “1901”
Audio outro: Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses, “Change Is”

Link to La Russa report
Link to MLB story on rules changes
Link to ESPN story on rules changes
Link to info on infield dimensions
Link to Evan on player objections
Link to MLBPA statement
Link to episode on pitch clock history
Link to MLB BABIP by year
Link to Rob Mains on August offense
Link to Rob Arthur on spin
Link to Ben on banning the shift in 2015
Link to Jeff on banning the shift in 2018
Link to shift loophole idea
Link to Russell on banning the shift
Link to Justin Choi on banning the shift
Link to BA on the shift
Link to BA on the rules changes
Link to Justin Choi on banning the shift
Link to info on hiccups
Link to info on “intractable” hiccups
Link to article on Greinke in Milwaukee
Link to article on Greinke in L.A.
Link to article on Greinke in Arizona
Link to article on the new WAR
Link to other article on the new WAR
Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four
Link to Richard’s SABR archive
Link to 1901 story source
Link to episode on 1889 relief experiment
Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website
Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter
Link to Evan on voluntary recognition
Link to Michael Baumann on unionization
Link to Stengel HoF bio

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the late Queen Elizabeth II’s first baseball game, the latest on Joey Meneses and Juan Soto (and on Soto being booed!), an Albert Pujols/Willians Astudillo fun fact, a Mets/Yankees first-place race update, additional thoughts on Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, Paul Goldschmidt and the traditional Triple Crown vs. the “sabermetric” Triple Crown, and the great Rookie of the Year races between Julio Rodríguez and Adley Rutschman in the AL and between Spencer Strider and Michael Harris II in the NL, then (49:03) answer listener emails about Carlos Correa’s front-office chops and unwritten rules they actually like, plus a Past Blast (1:22:15) from 1900.

Audio intro: Dan Bern, “Queen”
Audio outro: Keith Richards, “Yap Yap”

Link to story about QE2’s first game
Link to other story about the game
Link to the game at B-Ref
Link to video of the Queen at the game
Link to The Naked Gun clip
Link to Reggie tweet
Link to Meneses/Soto graphic
Link to other Meneses/Soto graphic
Link to Meneses EW YouTube video
Link to post about Nats’ elimination
Link to article about Soto boos
Link to Uni Watch on booing
Link to Pujols/Astudillo tweet
Link to Sarah Lang’s Mets tweet
Link to Jay Jaffe on the Mets
Link to list of Triple Crown winners
Link to Ben Clemens on Judge
Link to Historic Achievement Award
Link to Strider screenshot
Link to Jeremy Frank tweet
Link to CBA details
Link tweet about Correa
Link to story about Correa
Link to Keuchel’s 2017 comments
Link to info on nose-thumbing
Link to list of unwritten rules
Link to Vlad’s comment on showboating
Link to Hang Up and Listen episode
Link to story on Rangers vs. Celtics
Link to EW emails database
Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four
Link to 1900 story source
Link to story about 2023 rules changes

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a baseball (and softball) toilet flapper, discuss (13:32) the continued excellence of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani (and the benefits of celebrating both instead of elevating one over the other), follow up on the Angels’ shutouts, Mike Trout’s post-injury rebound, the MLBPA’s effort to unionize minor leaguers (38:09), players whose homer totals matched their uniform numbers (46:25), César Hernández’s homers (47:38), Dallas Keuchel’s disastrous denouement (51:14), the Frontier League’s record-setting Empire State Greys (57:38), the variability of check-swing strike call rates (1:00:27), Yankee Stadium’s noise level (1:04:16), and a playoff-seeding quirk’s potential for tanking (1:13:05), followed by additional discussion on Zac Gallen’s scoreless streak (1:22:01) and Joe Maddon’s thoughts on analytics and managing (1:26:35), plus a Past Blast from 1899 (1:46:42) and a few closing thoughts (1:50:30).

Audio intro: The Lumineers, “Flapper Girl”
Audio outro: The Long Blondes, “You Could Have Both”

Link to flapper wrapper photo
Link to Korky flapper page
Link to Hugh Laurie “Corky” montage
Link to article on Clemens and Ohtani
Link to article on Ohtani’s autograph
Link to team shutout leaders
Link to Russell on Ohtani’s WAR
Link to final Frontier League standings
Link to Greys interview episode
Link to lowest pro winning percentages
Link to Evan’s unionization update
Link to list of highest ERAs (min. 60 IP)
Link to Bill James on grounder longevity
Link to Rob Neyer’s response to James
Link to @would_it_dong for Hernández
Link to video of Hernández’s HR
Link to article on Hernández’s HR
Link to Stat Blast on Hernández
Link to Craig Finn tweet
Link to Rob Mains on playoff seeding
Link to Joe Sheehan on playoff seeding
Link to Dan Szymborski on Gallen
Link to Michael Ajeto on Gallen
Link to team OAA leaderboard
Link to “OAA behind pitcher” leaderboard
Link to Maddon’s comments
Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four
Link to 1899 story source
Link to Richard Garner primate research
Link to Barzun baseball essay

 Sponsor Us on Patreon
Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)
 Facebook Group
 Twitter Account
 EW Subreddit
 Effectively Wild Wiki
 iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)
 Get Our Merch!
 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

Source

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and listener/Patreon supporter Nathan Valentine banter about Nathan’s dual team fandom, then answer listener emails (9:58) about Aaron Judge’s lead over the next-most-prolific HR hitter, handing out awards for all of MLB rather than each league, Jhoan Duran and defining an “off-speed” pitch, what constitutes actually visiting a stadium, and whether certain players might lose some motivation after signing a long-term extension, plus “How can you not be pedantic about baseball?” questions (54:11) about saying “after the final out,” “playing DH,” and “hitting safely,” Stat Blasts (1:08:20) about David Peterson and pitcher three-true-outcome outings, Ross Stripling and the fewest pitches to get through the first time through the order, Yadier Molina and seasons where a player had a higher age than wRC+, players with the highest matching HR totals and jersey numbers, and two-out-batting records, and a Past Blast (1:26:28) from 1898.

Audio intro: Aimee Mann, “It’s Not Safe”
Audio outro: Willie Nelson, “Valentine”