Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2365: MVP? Wait and See

24 snips
Aug 22, 2025
Tune in as hosts engage in lively banter about the unique sounds of sports equipment, comparing baseball bats to tennis racquets. They dive into the thrilling MVP race, highlighting the impact of player performance and injuries, including insights on rising star Jakob Marsee. Discover the evolution of the knuckleball through Pierson Ohl and explore the shifting landscape of MLB's broadcasting agreements with ESPN. Plus, enjoy a humorous take on unexpected distractions like umpire sneezes and what the future holds for MLB awards.
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INSIGHT

Bat Crack Carries Real Signal

  • The sound of a bat crack contains measurable information about exit velocity and batted-ball quality.
  • Rob Arthur's work shows amplitude correlates with harder contact despite broadcast variability.
ANECDOTE

Torpedo Bat Sparks Montgomery Tear

  • Colson Montgomery started using a torpedo bat on July 22 and immediately hit three consecutive home runs.
  • He then produced a 163 wRC+ from July 22 to Aug 11 before cooling off in recent games.
INSIGHT

MVP Race Still Up For Grabs

  • The Judge–Cal MVP race remains essentially a coin flip with several weeks left.
  • WAR differences are within the margin of error, so patience is warranted before crowning a winner.
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