Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2433: Off the Dome

7 snips
Jan 29, 2026
Two hosts debate spring training as a live spectacle and how Opening Day’s lead-up has changed. They unpack the many meanings of “back end” in baseball. They imagine an outfielder who repels batted balls and whether telekinetic tricks would count as cheating. They riff on superhero and Fellowship of the Ring position fits. A Stat Blast examines Mets roster turnover and historical extremes.
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INSIGHT

Spring Training’s Diminished Stakes

  • Spring training feels soothing and offers good access to prospects, but its novelty and stakes have diminished.
  • Teams now rely on richer data, reducing spring results' impact on roster decisions.
ADVICE

Avoid Saying “Back End” For Relievers

  • Describe relievers by leverage or inning role rather than saying "back end" to avoid confusion.
  • Use terms like "late-inning guy" or "ninth-inning" for clarity.
INSIGHT

Telekinetic Defense Breaks Fair Play

  • A defensive power that alters a ball before contact would be ruled unfair and likely banned.
  • If predictable and limited, such a power could strategically reshape positioning, but it breaks fair-play norms.
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