Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2339: The Big Thumper

15 snips
Jun 25, 2025
The hosts dive into the quirky embrace of Richard Lovelady's nickname 'Dicky' and the fun surrounding players named 'Otto.' They analyze Cal Raleigh's impressive records and the dual challenges of young player development. Noise levels at MLB ballparks, especially Yankee Stadium, get some funny critiques. A dramatic home plate play between the Mets and Phillies brings out baseball's lighter side, while they also discuss player demotions, injuries, and a notable historical baseball match that highlights America's racial complexities.
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ANECDOTE

Dickie Lovelady's Name Divide

  • Richard Lovelady recently embraced the nickname "Dickie," which his family has used for years. 
  • Despite this, he still prefers "Richard" in formal contexts, maintaining a divide between names.
INSIGHT

Otto's Resurgence in Baseball and Names

  • The name Otto, once popular in the early 20th century, is seeing a resurgence in MLB and baby naming.
  • It broke back into the top 1000 US male names after decades and is popular again in 2024.
INSIGHT

Denzel Clark's Offense-Defense Divide

  • Denzel Clark's extreme defense offsets very poor offense, making him still playable.
  • His defense ranks high in value despite limited innings, pushing the boundaries of offense-defense trade-offs.
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