Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2395: Momentum is the Next Day’s Starting Podcast

15 snips
Oct 31, 2025
Ben and Meg dive into Trey Yesavage's extraordinary postseason performance and discuss whether it already equals a full career's worth of value. They compare Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s steady hits to Shohei Ohtani's explosive moments. The conversation turns to the Dodgers' faltering offense, their defensive challenges, and Mookie Betts' future at shortstop. They also explore the concept of 'momentum' in baseball, questioning its true impact. Finally, the quirks of Davis Schneider's batting mimicry add a lighthearted note to the analysis.
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ANECDOTE

Trey Yesavage's Rapid Rise

  • Trey Yesavage rose from a late-season call-up to dominate in World Series Game 5 with a 12-K, 7-inning outing.
  • Ben and Meg note he's already delivered value comparable to a whole career for many draft picks despite only eight big-league starts.
INSIGHT

Postseason Performance Distorts Prospect Value

  • Prospect rankings should project long-term value, not just reward postseason timing, but small-sample postseason contributions complicate that.
  • Ben suggests Yesavage may already have delivered typical career value expected from his draft slot, altering perceived upside.
INSIGHT

Big-Game Composure Adds Real Value

  • Mental makeup matters: Yesavage appears to thrive on big-stage pressure, which can inflate confidence in his future.
  • Ben and Meg note being unfazed in high-leverage moments can be an intrinsic advantage beyond raw tools.
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