Effectively Wild Episode 2071: Hello Randomness, My Old Friend
Oct 13, 2023
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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss playoff randomness, the Diamondbacks' victory and the Dodgers' defeat, Bryce Harper's hitting abilities, the Astros advancing to the ALCS, and funny sports-media controversies.
Bryce Harper's outstanding performance in a game against the Braves was fueled by motivation and trash talk from Orlando Arcia, highlighting the intensity of the Braves-Phillies rivalry.
The controversy surrounding Orlando Arcia's comments and media reporting raises questions about on-the-record and off-the-record conversations, media responsibility, and player accessibility.
The Houston Astros' continued success in reaching the ALCS for the seventh consecutive year showcases their ability to perform well in the postseason despite controversies surrounding the team.
Deep dives
Bryce Harper shines in game with grudge against Braves
Bryce Harper's impressive performance in a game against the Braves was fueled by his motivation to prove them wrong. The trash talk from Orlando Arcea, who exclaimed 'ha ha' and 'attaboy' after Harper's misfortune in a previous game, served as additional motivation for Harper. While some may view Arcea's comments as a mild form of trash talk, the Braves' reaction and defense suggest otherwise. The Braves players argue that this type of clubhouse banter should have stayed within the team and not been made public. Despite the controversy, Harper's performance was outstanding, hitting two home runs and staring down Arcea after each one.
The Braves react strongly to media reporting on clubhouse comments
The Braves players and coaching staff responded strongly to media reporting on Orlando Arcea's comments in the clubhouse. Some Braves fans accused the reporter, Jake Mintz, of fabricating the comments or behaving inappropriately by including them in his story. However, Arcea confirmed that he did make the comments, suggesting that they were not intended to be revealed to Harper. The Braves argue that incidents like this make players less inclined to speak to the media and view the clubhouse as a sanctuary. The media discussion surrounding the incident highlights a broader issue regarding the understanding of on-the-record and off-the-record conversations within the sports industry.
The innocuous nature of the trash talk and media responsibility
Despite the controversy, the trash talk itself was relatively benign. Arcea's comments of 'ha ha' and 'atta boy' were perceived by some as harmless banter, while others viewed them as motivation for Harper's outstanding performance. The heated media discussion surrounding the incident raises questions about media responsibility and the boundaries between on-the-record and off-the-record conversations. Overall, the controversy surrounding the trash talk and media reporting adds an interesting dimension to the Braves-Phillies rivalry in the playoffs.
Controversy Surrounding Jake's Reporting
The podcast episode discusses a controversy surrounding a reporter, Jake, who reported on a post-game interaction between a player and a reporter. The speaker criticizes the backlash Jake has received, suggesting that reporters should not protect players from their own words and that there is value in reporting scenes from the clubhouse.
Houston Astros' Consistent Success
The podcast also highlights the Houston Astros' continued success in reaching the ALCS for the seventh consecutive year. Despite a subpar regular season, the Astros have performed well in the playoffs, showcasing a potent offense, solid pitching staff, and a strong bullpen. The speaker acknowledges the controversies surrounding the Astros, but also acknowledges their accomplishments and ability to perform in the postseason.
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 […]
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