Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley rant about the practice of picking “breakout” players who have already broken out, react (22:20) to the Orioles’ Charlie Morton signing and discuss (38:24) Morton as one of the pitchers who best embodies his era, and answer listener emails (52:14) about whether the existence of the minor leagues suggests that baseball is the hardest sport to play and why MLB’s potential TV-driven decrease in revenue is worthy worrying about, plus a postscript (1:33:54). Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Rooker tweet Link to pet peeve wiki Link to breakout picks article Link to R.J.’s 2024 picks Link to R.J.’s picks revisited Link to Ben’s tweet about R.J. Link to MLBTR on Morton Link to FG post on Morton Link to McCarthy interview Link to team SP projections Link to individual SP projections Link to team payrolls Link to O’s payroll page Link to McCarthy interview Link to baseball exceptionalism wiki Link to Ben on caliber of play Link to Allegory of the Cave Link to Seidler story 1 Link to Seidler story 2 Link to Seidler story 3 Link to Seidler story 4 Link to Chargers story Link to neutral zone wiki Link to listener emails database Link to EW Episode 2104 Link to 2-strike tOPS+ Link to 2-strike sOPS+ Link to Schunk story Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Patreon supporter Jordan Smith banter about Jordan’s baseball background, the Tigers’ 2025 hopes, the Dodgers signing Hyeseong Kim, and more, then (30:48) answer listener emails about per-game stats, “advanced” stats, televised arbitration cases, an owner playing in games, pit stops on the basepaths, assorted variations on the Golden Batter (and the Golden Batter vs. the zombie runner), relaxing substitution rules, defining “changeup,” and $ per HR. Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Seinfeld episode Link to Seinfeld clip Link to MLBTR on Kim Link to Ted Turner story Link to player/owner story Link to player/owner post Link to Ben on arbitration Link to Sam on lineup resetting Link to Sam on pits Link to listener emails database Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

As the halfway point of the offseason approaches, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the relative merits of the first half of the offseason vs. the second half of the offseason, assess the weakest projected positions on contending teams and the best remaining free agents, and list MLB stories they’re looking forward to following. Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to weak positions sheet Link to FG team projections Link to FA projections Link to SP projections Link to WAR leaders page Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the latest on Roki Sasaki’s posting process, the NL-AL imbalance, and why the active homer leader doesn’t have more homers, then (50:44) review the team goals from the 2024 season preview series. Audio intro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Sasaki update Link to Mains on NL vs. AL Link to Posnanski post Link to Jeremy Frank tweet Link to B-Ref HR page Link to active HR leaders Link to season preview predictions Link to Red Sox prospects Link to Bryant car story Link to crotch bump story Link to crotch bump clip Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh, Lindsey Adler, and Hannah Keyser talk about Lindsey and Hannah’s evolving relationships to baseball writing, near-simultaneous Substack-starting, and (ongoing) pursuits of self-discovery and creative fulfillment. Then (45:27) Ben and Hannah analyze the Teoscar Hernández and Corbin Burnes signings and (1:05:49) discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each National League team that wasn’t previously covered on the podcast in 2024 (plus a real-time reaction to Shohei Ohtani’s announcement that he’s going to be a dad). Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)” Link to Lindsey’s Substack Link to Hannah’s Substack Link to MLBTR on Teoscar Link to Passan on Teoscar Link to MLBTR on Burnes Link to Ben C. on Burnes Link to Gammons on Hazen Link to Hannah on diving catches Link to Ohtani’s Insta post Link to Toglia’s Insta post Link to Burnes’s Insta post Link to Snow/Baker video Link to Shaq meme Link to MLBTR on Maxwell Link to Maxwell on EW Link to missed stories links Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann play “College Baseball Player or U.S. Army Air Forces Pilot Who Took Part in Operation Vengeance,” banter about Jake Burger’s three consecutive seasons with a .250 batting average, the Tigers signing Gleyber Torres, and how the ruling about Diego Pavia’s NCAA eligibility could affect college (and pro) baseball, then (26:59) discuss least one listener-nominated topic about each American League team that wasn’t previously covered on the podcast in 2024. Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes 2, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Operation Vengeance Link to MLBTR on Torres Link to FG top 50 FA Link to over/under draft Link to AP on Pavia ruling Link to BA on Pavia ruling Link to Pavia wiki Link to missed stories links Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss the career and life of Rickey Henderson, focusing on changes in public perceptions of his play and personality, how underrated he was (even though he was highly rated!), and his impact on the modern game and media, then (41:52) catch up on a flurry of transactions, including a run on first basemen, NL/AL East pitching moves, and predawn newsbreaking. Audio intro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Ben on Rickey Link to Bryant on EW Link to Mays EW episode Link to FG payrolls page Link to MLBTR arb salaries Link to FG SP projections Link to Marlins revenue sharing Link to Santana house sale Link to Rooker tweet Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Sam Miller, a sharp baseball analyst from Pebble Hunting, joins the hosts to discuss memorable moments in baseball, particularly what might stand out from 2024. They dive into Michael Lorenzen's two-way playing aspirations and reflect on past predictions about player performances. The conversation shifts to Paul Skenes and how his metrics define his legacy versus public perception. With humor, they tackle viral baseball incidents and explore how cultural shifts influence memory in sports. Expect plenty of laughs and insightful commentary!

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Cody Bellinger trade, the Yankees’ and Cubs’ next moves, Guaranteed Rate Field changing to Rate Field, and the results of MLB’s inquiry into pitcher injuries. Then (31:39) they bring back A’s slugger Brent Rooker to discuss his monster 2024, his work as a World Series correspondent, misconceptions about hitting, how Sutter Health Park will play, leaving the Coliseum, his future with the A’s, unreported injuries, ballplayer parental leave, his favorite meals of the year, learning chess, his 2025 goals, and much more. Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Bellinger Link to Guaranteed Rate wiki Link to Rate Field announcement Link to ESPN on the MLB research Link to Passan on the MLB research Link to the AP on the MLB research Link to The Athletic on the MLB research Link to Ben on pitcher injuries Link to Ben on too many pitchers Link to Rooker’s first pod appearance Link to FG post on Rooker Link to correspondent announcement Link to Annie Hall scene Link to story on surgery Link to “not trading” tweet Link to extension story Link to weddings story Link to crosswords research Link to Sutter Health story Link to park factors Link to Rooker’s TikTok Link to Rooker’s Instagram Link to Rooker’s Twitter Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the qualifications for being a superstar, the Kyle Tucker trade from the Astros’ and Cubs’ perspectives, the Devin Williams trade from the Yankees’ and Brewers’ perspectives, and various other transactions, including the A’s trading for Jeffrey Springs and the Orioles signing Tomoyuki Sugano, plus thoughts on Caleb Durbin’s dimensions, the significance of financial terms in transaction analysis, a possible spending divide stemming from a disparity in TV revenue, and Rob Manfred on restoring the starter. Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Joe Sheehan Newsletter Link to FG post on Tucker trade Link to Rome on Tucker Link to FG post on Williams trade Link to Durbin photo Link to FG post on Springs trade Link to Pride Night story Link to FG payrolls page Link to Patrick’s post Link to Manfred’s comments Link to trial balloon wiki Link to Langs tweet Link to “Cody’s Only” Link to “Superstar” Link to EW gift subscriptions  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Bluesky Account  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch! Source