Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2369: The Epitome of Mid

18 snips
Sep 3, 2025
The hosts dive into the underwhelming performance of the Cardinals while humorously dodging detailed discussions about them. They chat about Sandy Alcantara's comeback and whether Walker Buehler can bounce back. The spotlight shines on switch-thrower Carlos Cortes and his unique talent. The uplifting banter also touches on quirky baseball terms like 'fart bat,' nostalgia from the 90s, and the evolution of pitcher strategies. Finally, they explore the emotional rollercoaster fans experience with their teams, mixing humor and insight throughout.
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INSIGHT

Cardinals: The Epitome Of Mid

  • The 2024 St. Louis Cardinals are exactly as expected: perfectly middling and unremarkable across metrics and storylines.
  • Ben Lindbergh notes their projected and actual win totals align almost exactly, explaining media silence around them.
INSIGHT

Alcantara's Midseason Resurgence

  • Sandy Alcantara has pitched like a top starter since late July, reversing his early-season struggles.
  • Ben Lindbergh suggests teams might regret not buying low at the trade deadline given his recent run.
INSIGHT

Why Phillies Took A Chance On Buehler

  • Walker Buehler's pickup by the Phillies is a depth and upside gamble ahead of postseason roster deadlines.
  • Meg Rowley argues teams often add such reclamation projects to provide rotation flexibility or bullpen postseason arms.
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