Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2384: Playoff Baseball is Cruel (But it Beats the Alternative)

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Oct 7, 2025

Ben Gibbard, singer-songwriter and frontman of Death Cab for Cutie, shares his passion as a die-hard Mariners fan. He opens up about the stress of watching postseason games and his cautious optimism for the team's success. Gibbard reflects on meaningful moments from the season, favorite players, and how fandom often extends beyond just wins and losses. He also humorously ponders whether a Mariners championship would inspire new songs, proving that sports and music can beautifully intertwine.

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ANECDOTE

Sick During The Postseason

Meg Rowley described being bed-bound with a 102°F fever and losing two workdays during the postseason.
She credited colleagues Matt Martell and Michael Bauman for keeping Fangraphs and the podcast running while she recovered.

INSIGHT

One-Run Games Intensify Fan Trauma

One-run playoff games create dual feelings: devastation for one fan and equal elation for the other, producing intense collective anxiety.
Close series trade emotional extremes but often settle into split perceptions of being both unlucky and fortunate.

ANECDOTE

Playoff Anxiety And Hydration

Meg described the emotional rollercoaster of close Mariners playoff games and how fleeting relief felt after big moments.
She recounted obsessively hydrating with a 40-ounce Stanley cup while recovering and watching games.

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