Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the end of the Yankees’ beard ban, the potential end of MLB’s business relationship with ESPN, and whether the World Baseball Classic should imitate the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off. Then they preview the 2025 Texas Rangers (50:07) with MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry, and the 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates (1:27:23) with Pittsburgh Baseball Now’s John Perrotto, plus a postscript (2:03:57) about Ben’s growing affection for Tigers righty John Brebbia. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Yankees announcement Link to story on policy change Link to story on policy origins Link to Simpsons clip Link to Gleyber photo Link to Castillo hair story Link to Castro hair story Link to McCutchen hair story Link to Vlad/Yankees story Link to Williams reaction Link to ESPN opt-out story 1 Link to ESPN opt-out story 2 Link to Ben on the WBC Link to Ben on Hang Up Link to offseason spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to Rangers depth chart Link to Rangers offseason tracker Link to Kennedi’s author archive Link to Pirates depth chart Link to Pirates offseason tracker Link to John’s author archive Link to Brebbia 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 banter about the start of spring training games, the charms of Tigers reliever John Brebbia, whether MLB’s uniform pants were always semi-transparent, and Shohei Ohtani’s parallel parking skills. Then they preview the 2025 Seattle Mariners (27:37) with Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, and the 2025 Cincinnati Reds (1:12:53) with The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Brebbia video Link to Buffalo/buffalo sentence Link to Brebbia’s college page Link to Brebbia article 1 Link to Brebbia article 2 Link to Mandela effect wiki Link to Ohtani video Link to offseason spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to Mariners depth chart Link to Mariners offseason tracker Link to Ryan’s author archive Link to Petriello on T-Mobile Link to Reds depth chart Link to Reds offseason tracker Link to C. Trent’s author archive 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 a player who signed an extension (Geraldo Perdomo), a player who didn’t sign an extension (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.), a player who’s switching positions (Mike Trout), and a player who’s not switching positions, at least for now (Rafael Devers), plus an update on Meg’s updated beliefs about Shohei Ohtani’s dog. Then (48:42) they talk to Eric Longenhagen about FanGraphs’ top 100 (well, 102) prospects list and much more. Audio intro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)” Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Perdomo Link to MLBTR on Vladito Link to MLBTR on Trout Link to MLBTR on Devers Link to MLBTR on Stroman Link to Ohtani/Decoy photo Link to Eric’s top 100 list Link to Dan’s top 100 list Link to Alfaro 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 and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s new sound-dampening windows, listener defenses of MLB’s altered two-way-player rule, and the latest intolerable “breakout” pick, followed by Stat Blasts (15:49) about the teams with the most winless, non-lossless pitchers and the all-time past-their-prime/time-travel teams. Then they preview the 2025 Houston Astros (32:41) with The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, and the 2025 St. Louis Cardinals (1:25:07) with The Athletic’s Katie Woo. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to windows explainer Link to breakout push notification Link to Ragans article Link to late-2023 pitcher WAR Link to Stathead results Link to Kram’s Stat Blast Link to 2005 payrolls Link to Ryan’s Stat Blast data Link to Michael’s Stat Blast data Link to offseason spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to Astros depth chart Link to Astros offseason tracker Link to Chandler’s author archive Link to Chandler’s podcast Link to Cardinals depth chart Link to Cardinals offseason tracker Link to 2024 attendance change Link to Katie’s author archive Link to Katie’s podcast Link to MLBTR on Ragans 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 Red Sox signing Alex Bregman, the Padres signing Nick Pivetta, and Anthony Rendon’s latest long-term injury. Then they preview the 2025 Chicago Cubs (29:35) with The Athletic’s Sahadev Sharma, and the 2025 San Francisco Giants (1:14:41) with The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Bregman Link to MLBTR on Bregman Link to over/under draft results Link to MLBTR on Pivetta Link to Blum on Rendon Link to EW episode on Rendon Link to Cubs depth chart Link to Cubs offseason tracker Link to offseason spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to Sahadev’s author archive Link to Sahadev’s podcast Link to Giants depth chart Link to Giants offseason tracker Link to 2014 Giants preview Link to Grant’s author archive Link to Grant’s podcast 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 Rob Manfred’s Super Bowl cameo, the return of not-terrible uniforms, a new finding in the “familiarity vs. fatigue” debate about the times through the order effect, two more Dodgers signings, and an intriguingly timed alteration to the criteria for two-way-player classification. Then they preview the 2025 Minnesota Twins (46:06) with The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman, and the 2025 Detroit Tigers (1:29:21) with The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Manfred clip Link to Fielder meme Link to uniforms article Link to BP TTOP study Link to previous TTOP research Link to MLBTR on Kershaw Link to FG on Hernández Link to 2024 major league rules Link to 2021 major league rules Link to 2019 rule announcement Link to 2020 press release Link to 2021 press release Link to current glossary entry Link to archived entry Link to Twins depth chart Link to Twins offseason tracker Link to offseason FA spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to A-Rod arb news Link to RP projections Link to 2024 RP WAR Link to SP projections Link to Aaron on France Link to Aaron’s author archive Link to Aaron’s podcast Link to Tigers depth chart Link to Tigers offseason tracker Link to farm system ranking Link to Cody’s author archive Link to Cody’s podcast 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 Dodgers’ overstuffed 2025 bobblehead lineup, Ippei Mizuhara’s sentencing, and the Angels’ tireless pursuit of players who were good several seasons ago. Then they preview the 2025 Baltimore Orioles (35:55) with the Baltimore Banner’s Danielle Allentuck, and the 2025 Kansas City Royals (1:08:21) with the Kansas City Star’s Jaylon Thompson. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Jonathan Crymes 2, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)” Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Dodgers promotions Link to Dodgers bobbleheads post Link to past bobbleheads Link to giveaway conditions Link to bobblehead data Link to Rockies bobblehead post Link to Angels bobbleheads Link to Ippei sentencing 1 Link to Ippei sentencing 2 Link to Knight thread Link to Angels additions Link to Ben on the Orioyals Link to Orioles depth chart Link to Orioles offseason tracker Link to offseason FA spending Link to FG on O’s spending Link to Camden Chat on O’s spending Link to Danielle’s author archive Link to Royals depth chart Link to Royals offseason tracker Link to Dan S. on the Royals Link to KC stadiums update Link to Moore for governor news Link to Jaylon’s author archive 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 Mets re-signing Pete Alonso, the Twins signing Harrison Bader, and the compressed standings in the newly released FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus playoff odds. Then they preview the 2025 Tampa Bay Rays (31:35) with MLB.com’s Adam Berry, and the 2025 Milwaukee Brewers (1:09:55) with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Curt Hogg. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Alonso Link to 2021 Boras study Link to FG post on Bader Link to Byrd wiki Link to FG playoff odds post Link to FG playoff odds Link to BP playoff odds Link to Rays depth chart Link to Rays offseason tracker Link to Adam’s author archive Link to Franco update 1 Link to Franco update 2 Link to Brewers depth chart Link to Brewers offseason tracker Link to Episode 2262 Link to Episode 2263 Link to MLBTR on Contreras Link to Trueblood on Contreras Link to Curt’s author archive 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 introduce the 13th annual Effectively Wild season preview series, then banter about the Tigers signing Jack Flaherty to a smaller-than-expected deal, a long-awaited explanation for the gambling-related firing of umpire Pat Hoberg, and the death and legacy of former commissioner Fay Vincent. Then they preview the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays (43:30) with the Toronto Sun’s Rob Longley, and the 2025 San Diego Padres (1:20:30) with MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to season preview series wiki Link to projected standings page Link to Silicon Valley clip Link to Dan S. on Flaherty Link to Petriello on Flaherty Link to MLBTR on Flaherty Link to over/under draft wiki Link to Hobert press release Link to EW on Hoberg’s ump perfecto Link to Vincent’s NYT obit Link to Vincent’s SABR obit Link to Vincent’s SABR bio Link to Manfred’s Vincent statement Link to Sheehan on Vincent Link to Vincent on gambling Link to Posnanski on Vincent Link to EW on commish tenures 1 Link to EW on commish tenures 2 Link to Law on farm systems Link to McDaniel on farm systems Link to Jays depth chart Link to Jays offseason tracker Link to Rogers Centre offense info Link to Rob’s author archive Link to Padres depth chart Link to Padres offseason tracker Link to black swan wiki Link to Padres TV subs Link to AJ’s author archive Link to Topps Bunt 24 art Link to Winfield game Link to Canseco/Garvey game Link to Ben’s Luka pod Link to Memorial Cup wiki 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 Max Scherzer and Jorge Polanco signings, Scherzer vs. Justin Verlander, and the changes in pitcher usage over the course of those pitchers’ careers. Then (20:17) they discuss stricter restrictions on the size of fielders’ gloves, and the merits of a tax in Meg’s county to help pay for the Diamondbacks’ ballpark renovations. Finally (55:54), they answer listener emails about designated “jersey guys,” rotating, pre-assigned pennant winners, and factors that could differentiate teams in their pursuits of free agents. Audio intro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Scherzer Link to MLBTR on Polanco Link to Ben on innings eaters Link to article on headlights Link to Patrick on gloves Link to Ben on the foul lines Link to Ben on pitcher limits Link to Sam on errors Link to AZ tax article Link to deMause on the tax Link to better-than-average effect Link to franchise tag wiki Link to Verducci on Burnes Link to listener emails database Link to Pete Rose Baseball 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