Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2401: Just Awards

6 snips

Nov 15, 2025

Michael Mountain, a StatBlast contributor and analytics enthusiast, joins to discuss his innovative rivalry-score project that quantifies team rivalries through pain points and championship leverage. He reveals how recent games affect rankings, explains the decay function in rivalries, and highlights historical matchups like Yankees vs. Red Sox. The conversation touches on the criteria defining rivalries, surprising contemporary rankings, and why some teams, like Houston and Colorado, have weak rivalry profiles.

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INSIGHT

Boras: Showmanship Plus Strong Stance

Scott Boras mixes theatrical wordplay with substantive stances like advocating a full ban on per-pitch prop bets.
Ben and Meg find his quips often corny but agree his call to eliminate those bets protects player safety and integrity.

ADVICE

Eliminate Per-Pitch Prop Bets

Ban per-pitch prop bets to remove manipulation incentives and protect players and families from threats.
Meg argues removal prevents escalation and preserves competitive integrity while satisfying recreational bettors' demand elsewhere.

INSIGHT

Repeat Winners Shrink Award Drama

2025 awards were dominated by repeat winners across multiple categories, reducing suspense.
Manager of the Year repeats highlight how that award rewards surpassing preseason expectations more than sustained excellence.

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