Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the difficulty of watching Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the Japan Series, the last time an MLB pitcher threw as many as 138 pitches in a game, their hopes for Joey Votto’s next act, and the Brewers trading Mark Canha to the Tigers, then (32:13) answer listener emails about Silver Slugging Gold Glovers, pitching a perfect game in a time loop, whether the Rockies will win a championship before one of the next expansion teams does, a playoff lottery system, and how players could convince owners to let them hold trophies first, plus Stat Blasts (1:22:25) about Jose Altuve and the best pound-for-pound (and inch-for-inch) players and Frank Howard-esque all-offense players.

Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Yamamoto game story
Link to Yamamoto K montage
Link to info on Japan Series streaming
Link to info on the Curse of the Colonel
Link to EW on the Curse of the Colonel
Link to Jack Moore’s tweet
Link to 138-pitch regular-season starts
Link to 138-pitch postseason starts
Link to MLBTR on Votto
Link to 2016 Votto quote
Link to 2023 Votto profile
Link to MLBTR on Canha
Link to MLBTR on Rodriguez
Link to Silver Slugger/Gold Glove list
Link to Silver Slugger/Gold Glove sheet
Link to Chris Gilligan’s FG post
Link to Sam on expansion teams
Link to Manfred on expansion
Link to story on owners and trophies
Link to Commissioner’s Trophy wiki
Link to Topps Now
Link to Altuve/Bregman photo
Link to heights/weights sheet
Link to Frank Howard obit
Link to Howard +200/-200 club
Link to listener emails database

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about which MLB franchise will win its first championship next, the postseason “second-chance issue,” Clayton Kershaw’s shoulder surgery and other Dodgers decisions, a change in Astros primary catchers, the Braves re-signing Joe Jiménez, and Nelson Cruz’s career and retirement, then (1:05:20) discuss the stories they’re most interested in following this winter.

Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Chris Gilligan’s FG post
Link to preseason prediction scores
Link to Sheehan on second chances
Link to MLBTR on Kershaw
Link to MLBTR on Jiménez
Link to Jiménez press release
Link to MLBTR on Lynn
Link to MLBTR on Muncy
Link to Jay Jaffe on Muncy
Link to MLBTR on Diaz
Link to MLBTR on Cruz
Link to 2020 EW episode on Cruz
Link to Cruz retirement tour tweet
Link to WAR from age 28 on
Link to HoF WAR from age 28 on
Link to offseason schedule FG post
Link to MLBTR on Counsell
Link to Law’s top 50 FA list
Link to Sam on pitch-clock exceptions
Link to pitch-clock-exceptions rule
Link to postseason time of game
Link to article on streaming NPB
Link to article on Yamamoto
Link to info on the Curse of the Colonel
Link to EW on the Curse of the Colonel

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s experience covering the World Series in Arizona, then discuss the most interesting aspects of the series, what (if anything) teams could learn from the Rangers’ success, the futures of the Rangers and Diamondbacks, the entertainment value of the 2023 playoffs, and much more.

Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Eovaldi interview transcript
Link to Seinfeld car smell
Link to Ben on the Rangers
Link to Baumann on bullpen games
Link to preseason playoff odds
Link to Epstein quote
Link to postseason spreadsheet 1
Link to postseason spreadsheet 2

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about saying the wrong episode number in the intro to Episode 2077 and the definition of a title drought, then answer listener emails (18:45) about whether it would make sense to choose a bye in the playoffs if your opponent got to draft a player from the team it defeated, letting a non-playoff team into the playoffs via a lottery, a lineup set by the opposing team’s manager, a NOBLETIGER technicality, placing trampolines on the field, tagging a runner on an object you placed on them, a slugger setting a single-minded goal to break the single-season home run record, loving baseball but not MLB, international talent vs. minor league talent, and Clayton Kershaw playing a partial season à la Roger Clemens.

Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Temporal Loom explainer
Link to anniversary-gift explainer
Link to types of droughts
Link to lineup-optimization post
Link to more on lineup optimization
Link to EW wiki trampoline page
Link to NOBLETIGER thread
Link to Semien tag explainer
Link to Semien tag video
Link to EW episode on Rendon
Link to league-quality comparison
Link to 2007 article on Clemens
Link to Clemens announcing return
Link to MLBTR on Hill in 2024
Link to EW emails database
Link to Ben on Jagger
Link to Ben on Super Mario Bros. Wonder

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the end of the NLCS, discuss the discourse surrounding the improbability of and fallout from the Diamondbacks-Rangers World Series matchup, banter about the Brewers always losing in the playoffs to eventual pennant winners, preview the World Series, postulate a conspiracy surrounding this postseason’s lack of extra-inning games, and react to the Red Sox hiring ex-pitcher Craig Breslow as their new Chief Baseball Officer/POBO, then (54:14) Stat Blast about how the World Series and future postseasons might be swayed by a reliever familiarity effect that could counter the pitcher-usage changes caused by the times-through-the-order penalty and restore longer starts, including a chat (1:12:06) with reliever-familiarity-effect researcher Dr. David J. Gordon.

Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Baumann on NLCS G7
Link to Ben C.’s Series preview
Link to Ginny Searle’s Series preview
Link to Neil Paine’s Series preview
Link to MLB.com on Ginkel
Link to Jay Jaffe on Scherzer
Link to Leo Morgenstern on Semien
Link to tweet about Brewers losses
Link to MLBTR on Breslow
Link to 2017 Breslow article
Link to info on Eovaldi game
Link to Topps Now
Link to Cameron Grove EW episode
Link to Cameron Grove tweet
Link to Cameron Grove study
Link to David Gordon study
Link to Ben’s SP study
Link to Ben on reliever familiarity
Link to D-backs headlines wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss assorted ALCS and NLCS action and playoff takeaways and trends, with an emphasis on Adolis García’s heroics, the Rangers vanquishing the Astros, MLB’s handling of Bryan Abreu’s suspension, and Craig Kimbrel’s career (plus reactions to the Giants hiring Bob Melvin as their manager).

Audio intro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to García/Abreu video
Link to Garver/Abreu video
Link to Rosenthal on the suspension
Link to Sam on being plunked
Link to Gurriel suspension story
Link to Ben Clemens on Yordan
Link to Kelly exit video
Link to Dusty retirement article
Link to reliever JAWS leaders
Link to MLBTR on Melvin

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about ALCS and NLCS action, the definition of an “unanswered run,” and a forthcoming documentary about Shohei Ohtani, then (51:16) answer listener emails about a playoff hot-hand theory, how bad an underdog would have to be for a postseason upset to shock them, and a pitcher with two right hands, plus a Stat Blast (1:20:57) about the least and most exciting postseasons ever and a follow-up (1:38:42) about Friday’s games.

Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG post on NLCS Game 3
Link to FG post on ALCS Game 4
Link to John Middleton video
Link to Carleton on pulling pitchers
Link to LIDOM preview
Link to Ohtani documentary news
Link to Rob Mains on playoff upsets
Link to Dan S. on playoff success
Link to AI image of hands
Link to EW listener emails database
Link to Topps Now
Link to WPA/cWPA data
Link to Kenny Jackelen’s Twitter
Link to series-length data
Link to Michael Mountain’s Twitter
Link to lead-change data
Link to Ryan Nelson’s Twitter
Link to FG post on ALCS Game 5
Link to FG post on NLCS Game 4

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the lack of pitch-clock violations in the postseason, an on-field Phillies smooch, the Phillies’ 2-0 lead on the Diamondbacks in the NLCS, a pivotal offseason for the Brewers, how MLB newsbreakers differ from NBA newsbreakers, the rising percentage of pitchers who’ve had Tommy John surgery, and how different baseball would be if regular-season series worked like postseason series, followed by (1:30:50) a radio-play-style Future Blast from 2074.

Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG clock violations
Link to MLBClockTracker on Twitter
Link to Phillies kiss tweet
Link to story on Yordan’s kisses
Link to FG post on Arizona’s bullpen
Link to Sheehan on lead changes
Link to drummer’s Phillies tweet
Link to “Jimmy Eat World” origin
Link to Neil Paine on the Phillies
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to story on Woodruff’s injury
Link to Arnold on Brewers decisions
Link to MLBTR on Woodruff
Link to Heyman on Counsell
Link to Brewers ballpark funding
Link to WaPo on Woj vs. Shams
Link to NY Mag on Shams
Link to The Arm
Link to Roegele’s TJ tweet
Link to Roegele’s TJ database
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Alan Smale’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to ʻOumuamua wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the abrupt end of Kim Ng’s tenure as the general manager of the Miami Marlins, Alyssa Nakken interviewing for the Giants’ manager job, the Rangers taking a 2-0 lead on the Astros in the ALCS, and the new Netflix documentary The Saint of Second Chances. Then (48:12) Ben talks to the documentary’s subject, baseball maverick Mike Veeck, about why he wanted to tell his up-and-down-and-up story, his legendary dad, Hall of Famer Bill Veeck, and the colorful Veeck clan, Disco Demolition Night, the origins of modern independent baseball, Darryl Strawberry’s season with the St. Paul Saints, the secret to a great baseball promotion, the Savannah Bananas, whether MLB could ever have a Veeck-ian owner again, MLB’s control (and contraction) of the minor leagues, and more.

Audio intro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ghiroli on Ng
Link to Passan on Ng
Link to Kepner on Ng
Link to MLBTR on Nakken
Link to Ben Clemens on the Astros
Link to Ken Rosenthal on Yordan
Link to article on Jordan’s flu game
Link to exploding-scoreboard video
Link to The Saint of Second Chances
Link to documentary trailer
Link to MiLB.com on Mike Veeck
Link to list of Veeck’s promotions
Link to Vice on Disco Demolition Night
Link to Ben on Bill Veeck 1
Link to Ben on Veeck 2
Link to Ben on Veeck 3
Link to Ben on Veeck 4
Link to SABR on the ’43 Phillies
Link to BJO on book inaccuracies
Link to SABR’s Bill Veeck bio
Link to Craig Wright on Paige
Link to EW interview about the Bananas
Link to Veeck As in Wreck
Link to The Hustler’s Handbook
Link to Fun is Good
Link to Mike’s website
Link to playoff-stats spreadsheet
Link to The Ringer-Verse podcast
Link to House of R podcast

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the career of the incomparable Bryce Harper, more “Attaboy” blowback, the end of the Phillies-Braves NLDS, scoring and competitiveness in the postseason as a whole, a Phillies homer-prediction contest, the pitch clock in the postseason, the Championship Series matchups, their most desired World Series matchups, why we say “balls and strikes” instead of “strikes and balls,” and more. Then (1:16:44) The Ringer’s Zach Kram joins to Stat Blast about players who return from absences in October and how various rate stats differ between the regular season and postseason (plus an MLB/NBA playoff comp).

Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to The Onion on Mr. Autumn Man
Link to Verducci on Harper from 2009
Link to double-blow-dryer clip
Link to Harper on pandering
Link to Phillies as himbos
Link to 2014 Harper overrated
Link to 2015 Harper overrated
Link to 2019 Harper overrated
Link to Jake’s article
Link to Rizzo comments
Link to Rizzo apology
Link to BBWAA statement
Link to Jake’s thread
Link to Bissinger/Leitch article
Link to Baumann on NLDS Game 4
Link to Joe Sheehan on playoff scoring
Link to Joe Posnanski on playoff scoring
Link to Alex Eisert on playoff scoring
Link to Defector on the Braves
Link to Strider quote
Link to bullpen prediction game
Link to Dan S. on the ALCS
Link to Schoenfield on the pitch clock
Link to Petriello on the Phillies defense
Link to Kram on upsets
Link to article on balls/strikes in Japan
Link to 1887 umpire indicator
Link to 1886 umpire indicator
Link to Ngram viewer results
Link to paper on English binomials
Link to Topps Now
Link to Stubbs in overalls
Link to long-layoff-players sheet
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to Pinch Thomas SABR bio
Link to FG regular-season stats
Link to FG postseason stats
Link to HR reliance study
Link to playoff randomness comparison
Link to another randomness comparison

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Diamondbacks’ victory and the Dodgers’ defeat, more musings on playoff randomness, Bryce Harper, Orlando Arcia, and the silliest sports/sports-media controversy of the year, the Astros advancing to the ALCS again (at the Twins’ expense), the all-Texas ALCS, and more.

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Meg on NLDS Game 3
Link to Jay on the Dodgers
Link to Magic Johnson tweet
Link to Lynn quote about homers
Link to McCullough on Kershaw
Link to Facebook thread on Kershaw
Link to worst team postseason SP
Link to Jake’s article
Link to Chelsea’s thread
Link to d’Arnaud clip
Link to Arcia clip
Link to Clemens on Pressly
Link to Ben on the Astros
Link to story on Rangers and Creed
Link to “Marlins Will Soar”

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss some renewed fretting about playoff formats, long layoffs, and upsets, recap (31:44) Clayton Kershaw’s playoff career and consider how (if at all) it will affect his legacy, and then examine (55:25) the latest action in each Division Series, plus follow-ups (1:29:49) on multiple topics from the preceding episode (including postseason sweeps and conductors).

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)”

Link to Rosenthal on the playoff format
Link to Ben Clemens on long layoffs
Link to Joe Sheehan on long layoffs
Link to Ben L. on playoff randomness
Link to FG postseason leaderboards
Link to playoff pitching decliners sheet
Link to Ben L. on the Dodgers
Link to MLB.com on Harris and Harper
Link to Sam on the Correa play
Link to Ben C. on the Wheeler decision
Link to Russell on removing the starter
Link to study on reliever familiarity
Link to Neil Paine on Yordan
Link to Langs Orioles tweet
Link to Paine on the O’s
Link to EW Episode 2069
Link to holds leaders
Link to 2012 Clippard article
Link to 2015 Clippard article
Link to Senators FB thread
Link to EW Episode 1217

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a failing effort to make peanuts a ballpark staple in Japan, preview the various Division Series (10:32), discuss the deep, enduring desire of former GM Paul Richards to trade his team for an entire other team (47:48), answer listener emails (1:06:50) about postseason “sweeps” and traitorous base coaches (and extraneous conductors?), and Stat Blast (1:22:21) about Tyler Clippard, Cam Gallagher, splitting the top 4 MVP finishers between two teams, the correlation between payroll and wins, and Orioles regression defiance.

Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Benny and A Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)”

Link to WSJ peanuts article
Link to Cracker Jack wiki
Link to FG on Braves-Phillies
Link to FG on Dodgers-Diamondbacks
Link to FG on Orioles-Rangers
Link to FG on Twins-Astros
Link to Ringer division series piece
Link to Richards articles
Link to Ben on the Waxahachie Swap
Link to story on Kekich and Peterson
Link to EW listener emails database
Link to Russell on the 3B coach
Link to Russell on trying to score
Link to Topps Now
Link to Clippard Stathead
Link to Gallagher leaderboard
Link to top 4 MVPs sheet
Link to Ben on spending
Link to Ben on the O’s

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about their takeaways from sweeps week in the wild card round (how sweep it is!) and pick the division series they’re most excited about, then examine Mariners POBO Jerry Dipoto’s comments about aspiring to win 54 percent of games over a decade (46:04) and provide updates on the results of two Effectively Wild drafts (1:23:37).

Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Kram on Atlanta’s offense
Link to Clemens on clean innings
Link to Tango on lineups vs. Montgomery
Link to Canha HR quote
Link to ESPN comments about Rays
Link to Clemens on Schneider
Link to Dipoto clip
Link to Dipoto follow-up
Link to .540 spreadsheet
Link to Drellich on Dipoto
Link to Drellich on candid quotes
Link to Logan Davis on Twitter
Link to EW competitions/drafts
Link to MLBTR on Eppler

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Mariners, the Cubs, and other teams that just missed the playoffs, discuss the firings of Giants manager Gabe Kapler and Mets manager Buck Showalter (19:21), and then (32:51) bring on FanGraphs writers Michael Baumann and Ben Clemens to assemble an ultimate playoff team by drafting components of existing playoff teams: hitting, baserunning, defense, starting pitching, relief pitching, and managing.

Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Raleigh comments
Link to Raleigh apology
Link to Woodruff update
Link to FG playoff predictions
Link to BP on Framber
Link to study on waiting in line
Link to Petriello on the Rays pen
Link to Petriello on playoff Castellanos
Link to more on playoff Castellanos
Link to even more on playoff Castellanos
Link to preseason predictions pod
Link to preseason predictions standings

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Shohei Ohtani’s (finally) leagues-leading jersey sales, Mets grounds crew shenanigans, and shrinking minor leaguers, then (28:18) answer listener emails about restructured pitching staffs on which everyone would throw 3-to-4 innings at a time, a speed limit for pitches, displaying error bars for WAR, allowing outfielders only a certain number of catches per game (plus info on secret natural lefties), and a pitcher who reliably gets stronger as the game goes on, followed (1:20:03) by a guest Stat Blast on the not-nice improbability of the Twins’ playoff losing streak by Chris Hanel, maker of the new YouTube documentary “The Minnesota Twins and the Cruelest Streak in Sports.”

Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to 2023 jersey-sales ranking
Link to 2021 jersey-sales ranking
Link to 2018 jersey-sales ranking
Link to grounds crew story
Link to Schumaker video
Link to Longenhagen on heights
Link to shrunk/shrank pedantry thread
Link to Laurila on the Rays
Link to Petriello on the Rays
Link to restrictor plate article
Link to Ben on smaller pitching staffs
Link to EW Episode 449
Link to BP DRC+ SDs
Link to info on natural lefties
Link to baseball bounce catches
Link to EW emails database
Link to Topps Now cards
Link to Twins Topps Now archive
Link to EW guests archive
Link to Chris on score bugs
Link to Twins playoff results
Link to Chris’s Twins doc
Link to Chris’s Twins blog post

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Ronald Acuña Jr.’s historic strikeout-rate reduction is as impressive as his historic power-speed combination, the Acuña-Mookie Betts NL MVP race, the enduring defensive excellence of the late Brooks Robinson, Josh Hader’s insistence on one-inning outings and the degree to which players should dictate their own usage, the Rockies’ first-ever 100-loss season, Rob Manfred’s comments about broadcasts and betting, and the somewhat-improved probabilities on Apple TV+ telecasts.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to article on power-speed seasons
Link to article on Acuña’s Ks
Link to Acuña’s 70th steal
Link to Tango on Acuña/Betts
Link to xWOBA minus wOBA
Link to Robinson’s fielding stats
Link to Total Zone Runs leaders
Link to 1960 fielding leaders
Link to 1975 fielding leaders
Link to old Gold Glovers
Link to Robinson defensive montage
Link to Goldman on Robinson
Link to Robinson obit
Link to story on Hader
Link to Hader arbitration story
Link to 2021 Hader story
Link to Union-Tribune on Hader
Link to more Union-Tribune on Hader
Link to Cup of Coffee on Hader
Link to BP on Hader
Link to reliever leverage leaderboard
Link to story on first Padres extras W
Link to yearly Rockies wRC+
Link to Manfred interview
Link to sports-gambling explainer
Link to Bloomberg on betting effects
Link to 2022 odds interview
Link to nVenue partnership links
Link to Ben Clemens on the 2022 odds
Link to Ben C. on the 2023 odds
Link to Holy Hand Grenade scene

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about The Rolling Stones’ credentials as a baseball band, Mike Trout’s slow healing, more Padres reporting and one-run-game whiplash, the Mariners’ rough stretch, how well this year’s playoff teams are built for October, and the most bonkers stats of the season, plus a few follow-ups.

Audio intro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Stones tweet
Link to Stones/MLB shop
Link to new Stones single
Link to info on the Stones at Shea
Link to article about Trout
Link to Liver King info
Link to Padres payroll article
Link to Rob Mains on the Padres
Link to RosterResource payroll page
Link to Dan S. on playoff factors
Link to Dan on 2023 playoff teams
Link to Jay on the Astros
Link to bonkers stats article
Link to Looney Tunes characters
Link to Galvis sleep article
Link to Boggs boat article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Yusei Kikuchi’s (and other players’) sleep habits and the possibility of a three-way AL West tie with no tiebreaker game, then (28:28) answer listener emails about surprising team assignments in Baseball-Reference headshots, a player who replicates the talent of the player who started in the same lineup spot the previous game, making mound visits to the opposing pitcher, a GM who can predict UCL tears and call up a replacement for the pitcher who’s going to get hurt, whether prospect-promotion incentives could delay the call-ups of the top two prospects in baseball, and retirement-tour qualifications, plus Stat Blasts (1:16:53) about on-base streaks to start a career, all-sweep season series, the best leaguewide power-speed seasons, pitchers who make switch-hitters sacrifice the platoon advantage, and José Abreu and the biggest year-to-year offensive changes.

Audio intro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to first McGrath thread
Link to second McGrath thread
Link to Apstein article
Link to info on Ohtani’s sleep
Link to more on Ohtani’s sleep
Link to even more on Ohtani’s sleep
Link to Nootbaar on Ohtani’s sleep
Link to article on Trout’s sleep
Link to article on Verlander’s sleep
Link to article on Cruz’s naps
Link to article on Smith’s naps
Link to article on Casas’s naps
Link to Russell on sleep hygiene
Link to article on nap rooms
Link to article on Phillies’ sleep
Link to article on Federer’s sleep
Link to article on LeBron’s sleep
Link to Sheehan on tiebreakers
Link to Anderson’s B-Ref page
Link to Valverde’s B-Ref page
Link to tweet about Valverde
Link to Andino headshots
Link to study on icing the kicker
Link to article on Cabrera’s tour
Link to more on Cabrera’s tour
Link to article about A’s Miggy gift
Link to article on Yadi/Pujols
Link to Rolling Stone on Jeter
Link to more on Jeter and tours
Link to listener emails database
Link to Topps Now
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to on-base-streaks sheet
Link to Langs tweet
Link to season-sweeps sheet
Link to power-speed sheet
Link to power-speed wiki
Link to article on Edman
Link to wrong-side sheet
Link to detailed wrong-side sheet
Link to Tango on pitch-type splits
Link to year-to-year wRC+ sheet
Link to Burger helmet video
Link to ESPN’s A’s article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the five-year anniversary of a Twitter wager about Adalberto Mondesi and Shohei Ohtani, then compare and contrast two in-depth articles about the problems supposedly plaguing the Padres and discuss how convincing they find those reports’ explanations for the team’s disappointing season (plus additional banter about the possible reasons for recently successful former Padre Mike Clevinger going unclaimed on waivers, and a few follow-ups).

Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Bill James tweet
Link to Union-Tribune on the Padres
Link to The Athletic on the Padres
Link to Rob Mains on the Padres
Link to Ginny Searle on the Padres
Link to Pythag record wiki
Link to story on Machado’s elbow
Link to FG hitting clutch
Link to FG pitching clutch
Link to Ben’s RISP prediction episode
Link to RISP through 5/25
Link to RISP since 5/25
Link to info on Padres in extras
Link to Soto quote
Link to Soto follow-up quote
Link to BaseRuns records
Link to article on Anthony Young
Link to payroll-record correlation info
Link to pitcher WAR since 7/29
Link to MLBTR on Clevinger
Link to Clevinger/Smith kerfuffle
Link to statement on Ohtani
Link to Ohtani’s insta post
Link to tweet about Ohtani
Link to first Moyer statement
Link to second Moyer statement
Link to article on Gas Plant District

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about precedents for 50-year-old Bartolo Colon retiring as a Met, whether it’s better for a player to go out on top or be humbled a bit before the end, the ramifications of the Rays’ deal for a new ballpark in St. Petersburg, whether each team is on track to have a successful season by the standard set on the podcast’s season preview series, the likely end of Shohei Ohtani’s time with the Angels, and the curious career of Anthony Rendon.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”
Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to story about Colon
Link to Colon’s flip play
Link to Colon’s homer
Link to story about Bernie’s retirement
Link to story about Franco’s retirement
Link to story about Jones’s retirement
Link to story about Bautista’s retirement
Link to Ben on Pujols’s 2022
Link to Ben’s story on Chipper’s gifts
Link to Stark on the oldster derby
Link to EW episode on the derby idea
Link to Romney bio excerpt
Link to info on thinking things are worse
Link to story about Rays’ ballpark
Link to Drellich on public funding
Link to Manfred on expansion
Link to preview-pod team goals
Link to Gilligan on the Brewers
Link to Blum on Ohtani and the Angels
Link to Blum on Rendon
Link to EW episode on King
Link to EW episode on Ivie
Link to article on Rendon’s suspension
Link to video of Rendon altercation
Link to list of old Rendon articles

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Patreon supporter Max Harris banter about Ben’s problems remembering Orioles rookie Heston Kjerstad’s name, Baltimore’s lookalike offensive core, and Max’s history with the podcast and baseball, then (18:22) answer listener emails about seat fillers at MLB games, hypothetical players “Mr. Repeat” and “Mr. First Time,” centralizing MLB R&D, systemic vs. individual explanations for changes in the game, instituting minimum and maximum pitch counts, Kyle Schwarber vs. Nick Ahmed, the good-but-disappointing Blue Jays, the Mariners’ streak of not losing by a lot, and Theo Epstein pedantry, plus a Future Blast (1:27:39) from 2059 and a follow-up (1:30:31) about a tiered Hall of Fame.

Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to first tweet about Orioles
Link to second tweet about Orioles
Link to Swanson/Culberson story
Link to The Athletic on tech spending
Link to Scouting Bureau story
Link to Ben on Scout School
Link to Swanson interview episode
Link to Ben on Dunn and Pierre
Link to Ben on defense vs. offense
Link to offense vs. defense spending
Link to Ben on pitcher limits
Link to no-blowouts streaks
Link to Sam Kennedy quote
Link to listener emails database
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to Kjerstad homer
Link to Bill James proposal
Link to Hall of Stats
Link to career tiers sheet

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the firing of Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom and the extension of Nationals president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo, injuries to Max Scherzer and Sandy Alcantara and MLB’s UCL scourge, and a proposed tier system for the Hall of Fame and single-season awards, then Stat Blast (1:08:33) about Zack Greinke’s win-loss record, Matt Olson and players with more homers than their team has losses, the most team innings with a homer to start a game, two players 40 or older homering in the same game, walk-off balks, high-WAR seasons for multiple teams, and Ian Happ and the longest on-base streaks against a team, plus a Future Blast (1:38:32) from 2059 and a follow-up.

Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Sox press release
Link to MLBTR on Bloom
Link to Alex Speier on Bloom
Link to Speier on Boston’s ’22 deadline
Link to story on Bloom and Dermody
Link to FG farm rankings
Link to FG payroll rankings
Link to MLBTR on Rizzo
Link to CBS Sports on Rizzo
Link to Rizzo on Strasburg
Link to Lerner’s Stras statement
Link to MASN agreement
Link to DiPuglia resignation story
Link to scout firings story
Link to Alcantara UCL story
Link to story on velo and UCLs
Link to Sam on UCLs
Link to Ben on pitcher limits
Link to Bill James answer
Link to Posnanski on James
Link to Topps Now
Link to Greinke W-L spreadsheet
Link to Paine on Greinke
Link to Jaffe/Laurila on Greinke
Link to starter run support
Link to EW 1855 Stat Blast
Link to Olson club sheet
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to team innings w/HR doc
Link to Ryan on 40+ HR hitters
Link to walk-off-balks sheet
Link to story on second WO balk
Link to Stat Blast on balks
Link to high-WAR multi-team seasons
Link to Drake EW interview
Link to story on Happ’s streak
Link to tweet about Happ’s streak
Link to info on DiMaggio scoring
Link to Sam on on-base streaks
Link to on-base-streak sheet
Link to on-base-in-starts streaks
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to Edman article
Link to switch-SH sheet

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about baseball comps for the season-ending injury of quarterback Aaron Rodgers four snaps into his New York Jets career, the Rip Van Winkle-esque return of Orioles starter John Means after Tommy John surgery, the Mariners’ rough stretch, Meg’s pennant-race anxiety, and George Kirby’s comments about not being pulled earlier from a start, the Yankees’ unlikely extra-innings win and loss of Jasson Domínguez, the Mets finally hiring David Stearns to run their baseball operations department, the promotion of Pete Crow-Armstrong and why so many top prospects are coming up late in the season, what Mike Trout would bring back (if anything) on the trade market, and more, plus a few follow-ups from last week and a Future Blast (1:36:43) from 2058.

Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to The Ringer on Rodgers
Link to The Ringer on Rodgers again
Link to FB thread of baseball comps
Link to MLBTR on Means
Link to 30/30 fun fact
Link to Kirby video
Link to story on Kirby
Link to Divish tweet about Kirby
Link to Clemens tweet about Kirby
Link to Mulder tweet about Kirby
Link to McCarthy tweet about Kirby
Link to Weaver tweet about Kirby
Link to 2014 Weaver story
Link to Rob Mains on the TTOP
Link to Mains on the TTOP again
Link to Jay on Domínguez
Link to story on Yankees’ 13-inning win
Link to MLBTR on Stearns
Link to Crow-Armstrong call-up piece
Link to Sheehan on prospect promotions
Link to aging-curves research
Link to Nightengale on Trout
Link to Yamamoto no-hitter story
Link to Ben Clemens on Suzuki
Link to Lee Maye wiki
Link to Scott Radinsky wiki
Link to Edman story
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the NL wild card race and Dodgers starting pitching, then (17:24) answer listener emails about league-sanctioned spies, the best second jobs for an MLB player, a clairvoyant catcher, celebrating obscure records, switch-hitters and pitchers with reverse splits, existential fandom crises, selective fun-fact framing, oddly aligned MLB logos on a Dairy Queen cup, and an incredibly durable but otherwise unremarkable player, plus Stat Blasts (1:22:00) about quantifying “compilers,” superlative power-speed seasons, and long streaks of different team WAR leaders, a Future Blast (1:41:48) from 2057, and follow-ups.

Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG playoff odds
Link to story on Lawlar’s debut
Link to MLBTR on Alcantara/Soler
Link to MLBTR on Buehler
Link to Jay on Gonsolin and TJ
Link to report about Urías
Link to Ben on MLB trade secrets
Link to Cronin podcast interview
Link to Loutos podcast interview
Link to story on mound visits
Link to story on Stallings record
Link to story about Maddon and splits
Link to more on Maddon and splits
Link to THT on pitcher-split forecasts
Link to FG info on splits
Link to Ben on matchup decisions
Link to Jay Cuda tweet
Link to Dairy Queen photo 1
Link to DQ photo 2
Link to MLB/DQ partnership
Link to Votto’s tweet
Link to Sam on Votto’s tweet
Link to listener emails database
Link to compilers spreadsheet
Link to Kenny Jackelen on Twitter
Link to power/speed spreadsheet
Link to Power/Speed Number wiki
Link to post on team WAR leaders
Link to team WAR leaders sheet
Link to Shantz EW interview
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to Machado throw

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss listener responses to their banter about surprising Statcast throwing speeds, then (12:42) discuss Nick Ahmed’s unsung great glovework, the A’s turning out to be (slightly) less historically terrible than they initially seemed, the AL West race, and how the Rangers missing the playoffs would reinforce conflicting narratives about baseball. After that (57:24), they answer listener emails about Mookie Betts overtaking Mike Trout in career WAR, how to tell when a team gets good at player development, and where it would be easiest to hide a smaller base among bigger bases, plus a Future Blast (1:32:26) from 2056.

Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to just-noticeable difference
Link to Ahmed DFA story
Link to FG WAR change post
Link to Lawlar call-up story
Link to study on Gold Gloves
Link to DRS leaderboard
Link to OAA leaderboard
Link to Fielding RV leaderboard
Link to Nichols’ Law
Link to Dan S. on the A’s in May
Link to Tango on the A’s in May
Link to EW on the A’s in May
Link to The Athletic on the Tigers
Link to CBS Sports on the Tigers
Link to worst run differentials
Link to BaseRuns records
Link to Fisher interview
Link to Fisher’s notepad
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to Kram on the AL West
Link to Astros HR fact 1
Link to Astros HR fact 2
Link to FG payroll ranking
Link to Ben on spending and wins
Link to highest WARs through 30
Link to those players post-30
Link to Driveline dev study 1
Link to Driveline dev study 2
Link to story on Benoit’s slider
Link to pitching lab story 1
Link to pitching lab story 2
Link to pitching lab story 3
Link to pitching lab story 4
Link to listener emails database
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to visual acuity research
Link to Sam on Hamilton

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a Statcast-standout throw by Brenton Doyle, a Statcast-standout homer by Ronald Acuña Jr., and how closely Statcast data matches the eye test in various aspects of performance, the surges or resurgences of Cole Ragans, Blake Snell, and Trea Turner, a Julio Rodríguez fun fact, Royce Lewis’s grand slam streak, David Fry’s ironman position-player-pitching appearance, Kodai Senga’s strong season and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s free agency, the second arrest (and possible second suspension) of Julio Urías (55:43), updates on Jake Diekman and Kolten Wong (1:06:06), a name for Gunnar Henderson’s non-cycle, the end of a Terrance Gore era, a study on the decreasing durability of pitchers, and more, plus (1:27:05) a Future Blast from 2055.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic Version)”
Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to story on Doyle’s throw
Link to García throw
Link to story on Acuña’s homer
Link to FG post on Ragans
Link to MLB Network video on Ragans
Link to best pitchers since 7/15
Link to Eno on Ragans
Link to best pitchers since 5/25
Link to Joe Sheehan on Snell
Link to highest single-season LOB%
Link to best hitters since 8/5
Link to pitch-type performance since 8/5
Link to BP on Turner’s fan reception
Link to ESPN on Turner’s leave
Link to story on 25-25 Julio
Link to BP on Lewis’s slams
Link to MLB.com on Lewis’s slams
Link to Lewis fun fact 1
Link to Lewis fun fact 2
Link to Lewis fun fact 3
Link to story on Fry’s outing
Link to FG post on the rookie class
Link to rookie pitcher WAR leaders
Link to MLBTR on Urías
Link to story on Wong’s changes
Link to Wong’s Triple-A homer
Link to Wong’s MLB homer
Link to Gore’s EW interview
Link to Rays signing Hamilton
Link to BJOL closing announcement
Link to Bill James pitching study
Link to FG post on Hendricks
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a new browser game called Homer Hindsight, where all the players placed on waivers ended up, the White Sox promoting Chris Getz and the continued comeback of the ex-player GM, Brandon Lowe’s Yankees trash talk, whether load management has diminished the grind, updates to the strike zone and pitch clock in Triple-A, and Bernie Williams’s comments about Shohei Ohtani. Then (42:42) they talk to FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about the wave of top prospects that crested in August (including Noelvi Marte, Ronny Mauricio, Jordan Wicks, Masyn Winn, Jasson Domínguez, Ceddanne Rafaela, Curtis Mead, and Kyle Harrison), the Angels’ and Padres’ aggressive promotions of Nolan Schanuel and Ethan Salas, respectively, prospects who might still debut this season, and the number of prospects named Jackson, followed by (1:31:54) a Future Blast from 2054.

Audio intro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Homer Hindsight
Link to Dan S. on the waiver outcomes
Link to Craig Goldstein on the Angels
Link to Patrick Dubuque on the Angels
Link to tweet about Angels payroll
Link to MLBTR on Getz
Link to Sox Machine on Getz
Link to 2017 Getz podcast
Link to Getz on Vizquel in 2019
Link to Getz on Vizquel in 2023
Link to Defector on Reinsdorf
Link to Reinsdorf Ohtani quote
Link to Lowe trash talk
Link to Russell on the grind
Link to Triple-A rules tweaks
Link to Passan’s pitch-clock tweet
Link to Bernie on Shohei
Link to Rosenthal on Ohtani’s TJ decision
Link to FG top-prospect rankings
Link to story on Mead’s background
Link to Waldrep’s Gators page
Link to story on Salas promotion
Link to Baumann on Schanuel
Link to BA on Schanuel
Link to Domínguez baseball cards story
Link to Mauricio’s first hit
Link to Domínguez’s first homer
Link to Domínguez’s number quote
Link to Yankees uni numbers story
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to One Year
Link to Sports Explains the World

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s voice and the potential for an ambidextrous superstar who blends the skill sets of Shohei Ohtani and Pat Venditte, then discuss all the implications of the Angels (and a few other teams) placing prominent players on outright waivers right before the deadline for postseason eligibility. After that (44:43), they talk to Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service frontman Ben Gibbard about his beloved Mariners’ surge into first place, his relationship with this Mariners team, his thoughts on the postseason field and the new rules, his upcoming two-way-player tour featuring full performances of Transatlanticism and Give Up, and more, plus (1:31:29) a Future Blast from 2053.

Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Jon Becker’s waiver FAQ
Link to Ben Clemens on the Angels
Link to Zach Kram on the Angels
Link to outright waivers explainer
Link to The Athletic on the waiver moves
Link to The Athletic on waivers again
Link to MLBTR on the Angels
Link to Craig Goldstein on the Angels
Link to FG handedness filter
Link to “Ichiro’s Theme”
Link to Death Cabby for Cutie Day
Link to “An Arrow in the Wall”
Link to period/quarter mix-up
Link to Larry Stone article
Link to Transatlanticism
Link to Give Up
Link to Asphalt Meadows
Link to Gibbard’s album ranking
Link to “Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand”
Link to Gibbard’s two-way tour
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about classifying throws by infielders that are actually made in the outfield, imagine a multi-sport two-way Shohei Ohtani, and belatedly acknowledge Scott Cooper’s singular cycle, discuss Kyle Schwarber’s possible sub-replacement-level 40-homer season, break down the NL MVP race featuring Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, pat Kyle Barraclough on the back for wearing one, note that regression has come for Mickey Moniak, and offer another hosana to Julio Rodríguez. Then they follow up on the previous episode’s mystery about why wild pitches and passed balls have declined, first (1:06:51) by interviewing Yankees quality control and catching coach Tanner Swanson about improvements in catching technique and the evolution of catcher defense, and then (1:37:13) by presenting additional data and theorizing, followed by (1:47:29) a Future Blast from 2052.

Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Elly’s 99.8 mph throw
Link to Elly’s 99.7 mph throw
Link to Elly’s 97.9 mph throw
Link to infield-throws leaderboard
Link to infield-throwers leaderboard
Link to Winn’s 100.5 mph throw
Link to Winn’s 99.9 mph throw
Link to arm strength leaderboard
Link to Haberstroh on two-sport players
Link to post on Cooper’s cycle
Link to Cooper’s cycle game
Link to Cooper’s cycle video
Link to Schwarber tweet
Link to sub-replacement sluggers
Link to Eli Ben-Porat on batting average
Link to Tom Tango on batting average
Link to Tango on batting average again
Link to Ben Clemens on batting average
Link to FG WAR leaders
Link to B-Ref WAR leaders
Link to Mike Petriello on MVP Mookie
Link to SB leaderboard
Link to FG post on Freeman’s baserunning
Link to story on fans and Acuña
Link to video of fans and Acuña
Link to Moniak slump stretch
Link to Posnanski on the Stargell Award
Link to MVPs w/multiple teams
Link to Mearns on Barraclough
Link to Stathead on Barraclough
Link to EW Stat Blast about WP/PB
Link to team catcher defense
Link to story on Swanson and Garver
Link to story about catching’s future
Link to Swanson MVP Machine reference
Link to story on Swanson and the Yankees
Link to Ben on Flowers
Link to Franke/Rogers catcher slides
Link to Kai Franke on Twitter
Link to Jack Rogers on Twitter
Link to team CI leaderboard
Link to EW on the CI surge
Link to Tango on interference and framing
Link to WP/PB totals
Link to Cooper on one-knee catching
Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 2
Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 3
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to Tango on errors/hits
Link to Cooper on errors/hits

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about how late it is in the season and a fan’s exuberant reaction to the only known unassisted outfield triple play in major or minor league history, answer listener emails (15:17) about Shohei Ohtani 2.0 and whether “bulk guys” could stave off extinction for 300-game winners, Stat Blast (38:11) about standings-related fun facts, precedents for the Mariners rapidly erasing a 10-game deficit in the AL West, team droughts in back-to-back-to-belly homers, non-All-Star MVPs, bunting by count, this season’s uptick in balks, Gunnar Henderson and the passing-up-the-cycle club, and a wild pitch/passed ball mystery, plus a Future Blast from 2051 (1:49:48) and a few follow-ups (1:52:30).

Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Brentz
Link to Craig on the triple play
Link to Pages From Baseball’s Past
Link to ITYSL
Link to Ringer ITYSL ranking
Link to listener emails database
Link to Sam on Ruth/Ohtani
Link to story on Ohtani MRI
Link to Ben on Yarbrough
Link to “bulk guy” origin story
Link to story on Verlander and 300
Link to Evan’s team streaks data
Link to last-place NYY/NYM
Link to thread on Yanks 10-loss streak
Link to Ben on competitive balance
Link to EW Episode 1354
Link to ALW division odds graph
Link to 1982 Braves doc
Link to team HR streaks data
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to Marlins 3-HR game
Link to team 4-HR streaks
Link to Ben on Padres stars
Link to non-All-Star MVPs
Link to bunt data
Link to Belt bunt attempt
Link to McGuire bunt
Link to Grisham bunt attempt
Link to Rojas bunt
Link to team balk leaders
Link to league balk totals
Link to WP/PB/balks data
Link to Rob Mains on ’88 balks
Link to ’88 article on balks
Link to 2023 article on balks
Link to skipped cycles data
Link to Henderson post
Link to Henderson video
Link to Henderson game story
Link to story on Fuld
Link to list of Gunnar games
Link to 2001 Frye story
Link to Frye tweet
Link to Foxx’s cycle game
Link to 1933 cycle citation
Link to Ben on sticky stuff
Link to WP/PB totals
Link to Cooper on one-knee catching
Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 2
Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 3
Link to WaPo on the 2022 ball
Link to game-reenactment EW email
Link to Russ Hodges call
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to Strasburg salary report
Link to Passan violations tweet

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley lament and discuss Shohei Ohtani’s UCL injury and its ramifications for the rest of his season, his two-way future, his free agency, the Angels, and the continued happiness of baseball fans and podcast co-hosts, followed by conversations about Stephen Strasburg’s retirement (59:17), Wander Franco’s placement on administrative leave (1:11:30), and whether players are required to wear pants (1:21:06), plus a Future Blast from 2050 (1:31:37).

Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ben’s Ohtani article
Link to Evan Drellich on Ohtani
Link to Jay Jaffe on the Angels
Link to Sam on the Angels
Link to FA class
Link to Ohtani and Elly
Link to TJS study
Link to Stat Blast on max-effort pitching
Link to Ben on pitcher roster limits
Link to WaPo report on Strasburg
Link to Drellich on Franco
Link to Jeff Passan on Franco
Link to Jay Cuda pants tweet
Link to CBA
Link to high-socks study
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s week away, Julio Rodríguez’s hot streak and the Mariners’ surge, and the White Sox firing Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn, plus a grab bag of topics that caught Ben’s attention while he was in Sweden: the Dodgers signing Kolten Wong; a Cubs adult-diaper ad; an oddly ricocheting Luke Raley home run; errors and official scoring, another incident that made Miles Mikolas mad; Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and the Tigers’ rebuild; Bobby Witt Jr.’s sophomore breakout; Nationals extensions, CJ Abrams, and Joey Meneses; the similar seasons of J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner; the potential for good teams to miss the playoffs, and radical realignment; Jon Singleton returning to the Astros; Dallas Keuchel continuing to pitch; a nifty Brewers trade revisited (and Christian Yelich’s bounceback); the sale of Fogo de Chão; John Angelos’s latest groaners; preseason prediction philosophies, and more, plus a Future Blast (1:32:04) from 2049 and a few follow-ups (1:33:37).

Audio intro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Jay on Julio
Link to mlb.com on Julio
Link to Stark on Julio
Link to info on latest M’s win
Link to “Here Come the Warm Jets”
Link to MLBTR on White Sox firings
Link to The Athletic on Sox firings
Link to article on Sox relocation
Link to tweet about Cubs ad
Link to Reddit thread on Cubs ad
Link to Raley HR video
Link to Defector on Raley’s homer
Link to Kevin Cash quote
Link to ballpark homogenization info
Link to Stat Blast on official scoring
Link to The Athletic on official scoring
Link to Russell on official scoring
Link to story on Mikolas/Alonso/Winn
Link to more on Alonso/Winn
Link to FG post on Witt
Link to FG post on Abrams
Link to MLBTR on Greene moving
Link to MLBTR on Nats extensions
Link to FG post on Yelich
Link to Keuchel article
Link to other Keuchel article
Link to Singleton dingers
Link to Bain buying Fogo
Link to article on Escobar and Fogo
Link to Angelos interview
Link to Rob Mains on Angelos
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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Baseball Prospectus’ editor-in-chief Craig Goldstein joins the show to discuss the surging Dodgers (5:26) and what led to their recently concluded win streak, the call-ups of Masyn Winn and Nolan Schanuel (28:07), and the optimal timing of the trade deadline and the draft (44:43), and why Craig doesn’t want to move it back. Plus, Meg and Craig answer emails on keeping relievers in the dark about the score before they enter the game (58:00), how teams might have changed their approach to the offseason and the deadline if they knew that winning the World Series would guarantee that Shohei Ohtani would sign with them (1:03:04), and whether the Padres are trying to save the world by finishing under .500 (1:11:09). Plus, a Future Blast from 2048 (1:22:56).

Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Craig’s podcast Five and Dive
Link to Michael Baumann on the Marlins, Orioles, and Brewers
Link to the FanGraphs playoff odds
Link to Jeffrey Paternostro and Timothy Jackson’s Masyn Winn Call-Up piece
Link to Eric Longenhagen’s Day One Draft recap
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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With Ben Lindbergh still in Sweden, FanGraphs’ Michael Baumann takes the co-host chair for a spin. He and Meg Rowley begin (2:10) by delighting in a picture of Lance Lynn and Enrique Hernández from Dodgers photo day, then take advantage of Ben’s absence to discuss (7:30) college baseball and how conference realignment might affect the sport (and the athletes who play it). They then turn their attention (32:13) to Cole Hamels, who recently retired, and Félix Hernández, who was recently inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame. Meg and Michael discuss what Hernández and Hamels meant to each of them, the similarities (and important differences) that marked their respective Hall of the Very Good careers, and what it’s like to have a pitcher ruin a pitch for you. Meg and Michael also discuss (51:00) the most impressive players and tools they’ve seen in person, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Corbin Carroll, and Aaron Judge, plus center field defense and big power. Finally, they close with a Future Blast from 2047 (1 hr 06 min).

Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Dodgers photo day photos
Link to Michael on Lance Lynn’s first Dodgers start
Link to Michael on conference realignment
Link to Teddy Cahill on conference realignment
Link to Michael on Cole Hamels’ retirement
Link to Meg on Félix Hernández’s final Mariners start
Link to Hamels and Hernández’s career stats
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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With Ben Lindbergh in Sweden on Ringer business, FanGraphs’ Ben Clemens joins Meg Rowley for a turn in the co-host chair. Ben and Meg begin (1:40) by discussing the disturbing allegations made against Rays shortstop Wander Franco over the weekend. They then banter (5:00) about the experience of watching baseball while on vacation, before turning their attention to Ben’s Five Things series, the sneaky delights of mid-sized Midwestern cities, the Braves scoring big against Danny Mendick, chalk preseason predictions (and Ben’s beef with Other Ben’s prognostication choices), which teams’ World Series odds might be too light (or too heavy), a milestone Juan Soto walk, players being over and underrated, announcers’ refusal to discuss no-hitters, the joy of local commercials on baseball broadcasts, the Cardinals’ and Pirates’ recent runs of relative success and futility, and who might shake up the standings down the stretch. They close with a Future Blast from 2046 (55:20) and an invitation to play Magic: The Gathering, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Evan Drellich and Brittany Ghiroli on the likely next steps in MLB’s investigation into Franco
Link to Ben’s Five Things I Liked (And Didn’t Like) Archive
Link to 21-3 Braves/Mets Box Score
Link to the FanGraphs Playoff Odds
Link to the FanGraphs 2023 staff predictions
Link to Chris Gilligan on shifting playoff odds
Link to Ben’s piece on Michael Lorenzen’s no-hitter
Link to Ben’s (latest) Lars Nootbaar piece
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Patreon supporter Samuel Giddins banter about Samuel’s baseball background and history with Effectively Wild, before (9:52) discussing a Juan Soto quote and the type of disappointing team that’s most frustrating. Then (21:35) they answer listener emails about randomizing on-field decisions, the legibility of player autographs, whether teams should employ designated huggers, whether veterans are more clutch, whether we’re misusing the phrase “heating up,” what would happen if Shohei Ohtani asked the Angels to release him, whether teams in a robo-umps world should alternate tall and short hitters in the lineup, offering Ohtani an ownership stake, why we use miles per hour for pitch speeds instead of feet per second, using a matching process in the amateur draft, whether anyone could make a trade if they found a GM’s unlocked phone, mascots as zombie runners, and playoff teams without .300 hitters, plus a Future Blast (1:41:34) from 2045 and a follow-up postscript on a White Sox (un)fun fact.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”
Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Samuel’s website
Link to Soto quote
Link to Soto quote source
Link to Neil Paine on the unlucky Padres
Link to The Athletic on autographs
Link to Russell on postseason experience
Link to Russell on pennant-race experience
Link to tweet about Judge/Altuve zones
Link to tweet about Judge’s zone
Link to article about Judge/Altuve zones
Link to old FG post on Judge’s zone
Link to older FG post on Judge’s zone
Link to old FG post on Altuve’s zone
Link to older FG post on Altuve’s zone
Link to EW Stanky Draft
Link to KG on player owners
Link to Goold on player owners
Link to details about Beckham’s contract
Link to list of MLB mascots
Link to data on teams without .300 hitters
Link to graph of teams without .300 hitters
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to EW listener emails database
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to Ben Clemens on Littell
Link to tweet about the Sox
Link to Sox high-K games
Link to worst WP w/13+ K
Link to worst WP w/12+ K

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether the plight of running backs in the NFL is analogous to any data-driven developments in MLB, the benefits and drawbacks of more or fewer off days during postseason series (and the problem with pluralizing “series”), the White Sox going 0-11 in games when they’ve struck out 14 or more opposing batters, Cody Bellinger and the surging Cubs, the flailing Diamondbacks and how the sequencing of slumps and hot streaks affects the perception of seasons, and more. Then (1:16:05) they meet major leaguers Slade Cecconi and Davis Schneider, followed by (1:36:45) a Future Blast from 2044.

Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Neil Paine on running backs
Link to HUaL on running backs
Link to Ben on the SP protagonist
Link to Rob on pitching and payrolls
Link to story on reliever awards
Link to Ben C. on the postseason schedule
Link to story on reliever familiarity
Link to story on SP familiarity
Link to tweet about the Sox
Link to losing 14+ K Sox games
Link to worst record in 14+ K games
Link to 2023 teams w/most such games
Link to MaML wiki
Link to MLBTR on Cecconi
Link to Cecconi call-up story
Link to video of first K
Link to Davy Andrews FG post
Link to Cecconi prospect ranking
Link to postgame quotes
Link to tweet about Schneider
Link to other tweet about Schneider
Link to article on Schneider’s glove
Link to other story on Schneider
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to Paine on the unlucky Padres
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to Ben C. on Lorenzen
Link to Lorenzen’s last inning
Link to tweet about Lorenzen post-ASB
Link to Fullerton fun fact
Link to fun fact reply
Link to Verducci on the Rays

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Tim Anderson–José Ramírez fight and White Sox clubhouse culture, John Angelos benching Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown, the Angels’ post-deadline slump (and the Mariners’ rise), the return of Gary Sánchez‘s power bat, updates on the MLB injury rate, the pitch clock, and the zombie runner, Charlie Culberson’s re-reunion with Atlanta, the Rays’ latest unlikely starting pitcher, the Yankees’ ambidextrous catching prospect (and the dream of a left-handed catcher), and more, plus (1:21:55) a Future Blast from 2043.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to video of punches
Link to ESPN White Sox story
Link to Ramírez comments
Link to Hamilton call
Link to story on Hamilton call
Link to Kopech quote
Link to Grandal/Anderson report
Link to Hahn comments
Link to video of prior 2B tag play
Link to The Athletic column on Anderson
Link to The Athletic column on the Sox
Link to Anderson on personal struggles
Link to AA’s Brown report
Link to Brown broadcast clip
Link to Ghiroli on Brown
Link to Rosenthal on Brown
Link to other announcers on Angelos
Link to Angelos’s spring comments
Link to Adley with puppies
Link to catcher HR leaders
Link to team catcher WAR
Link to May episode on Sánchez
Link to Rob Mains on July
Link to MLBTR on Jung’s injury
Link to MLBTR on Culberson
Link to Littell cruise ship story
Link to Stat Blast on Springs
Link to ambidextrous fielder story
Link to story on LH catchers
Link to LH catcher EW episode
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki
Link to McClanahan update
Link to Cronin chess story
Link to The Matrix Revolutions scene