Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and FanGraphs writer Dan Szymborski banter about how much spring training stats matter, which players improved their projections the most this spring, whether prospects really have a harder time making the transition to MLB from Triple-A today, their spring training award winners, the five-ish biggest questions/storylines for each of them this MLB season, and a smattering of “bold predictions” from EW listeners. Then (1:23:29) Ben brings back the “Baseball Jobs” series by interviewing Josh Kantor, longtime Fenway Park organist, to talk about how he got his gig, his side projects, the ins and outs of his in-game responsibilities, the upcoming season, and much more, followed by a brief keyboard performance. Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme 2” Audio interstitial: Josh Kantor and Nancy Faust, “Sweet Caroline” Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to 2015 spring study Link to Hoyer quote Link to Ben’s new prospects article Link to Ben’s old prospects article Link to spring champions Link to ST team wins Link to FG ST leaderboards Link to five Clemens questions Link to listener bold predictions Link to EW predictions ballot Link to previous Baseball Jobs pod Link to Josh Kantor wiki Link to Baseball Project pod Link to Baseball Project song Link to Kaminski pod  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Give a Gift Subscription  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

Join Davy Andrews, a talented FanGraphs writer known for his sharp baseball insights and the 'We Tried Tracker,' as he discusses his journey in sports writing. The conversation dives into intriguing offseason transactions and how teams navigate player acquisitions. They explore the concept behind the 'We Tried Tracker,' highlighting failed attempts to obtain players. The episode also tackles player performance strategies, including stance adjustments, and the impact of player health and nutrition on the game.

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s positional power rankings progress and discuss why MLB is “evaluating” its Diversity Pipeline Program, then for the first time in a while answer listener emails (15:35) about how baseball would be different if swinging hard caused more serious injuries, a high-elevation league/division, inter-game penalties for frivolous end-of-game challenges, whether the challenge system will make umpires tone down their punchout calls, whether player-initiated challenges should be included in WAR calculations, split-squad games in the regular season, and limits on the number of NPB players per MLB roster, plus a real-time reaction (1:14:03) to the Chesapeake Oyster Catchers logo. Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Meg’s PPR intro Link to Athletic report Link to Calcaterra report Link to travel ban news Link to 2019 Cuba deal news Link to Russell on power hitting Link to Ben on Mexico City Link to Oyster Catchers logo Link to logo response story Link to Pickles mascot story Link to GJ Chubs episode Link to EW emails database Link to predictions vote  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Give a Gift Subscription  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 FanGraphs authors Michael Baumann and Ben Clemens play “College Baseball Player or Musician Who’s Performing at Sea.Hear.Now 2025” (4:53), and then explain the third annual preseason predictions game (11:53) and make 10 bold predictions apiece (18:57) about baseball in 2025, to be voted on by listeners. Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to vote Link to music festival Link to Ben on festival posters Link to previous scores Link to 2024 predictions Link to 2023 predictions Link to FG playoff odds Link to Ohtani max velo Link to .500 teams data Link to Waldron article Link to Lewis article Link to knuckleball qualifiers Link to Ben on knuckleballs Link to Other Ben on sliders Link to slider rates Link to highest bullpen WPAs Link to Rob on stolen bases Link to Corbin signing article Link to Dan S. booms/busts Link to 3B sends data Link to Savant 3B sends Link to Patrick on 3B sends Link to Russell on 3B sends Link to Oyster Analytics on 3B sends Link to 2024 attendance Link to Ben on risk aversion Link to vote  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Give a Gift Subscription  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 opening series of the regular season in Japan, then (10:55) discuss the removal (and eventual restoration) of a page about Jackie Robinson on the Department of Defense website, before (39:53) bantering further about breakouts, how player heights dropped (or didn’t!) after players were measured more accurately this spring, Joey Gallo’s attempted conversion to pitching, and an abandoned Marlins player-development idea. Then (1:27:38) they talk to Pirates pitching phenom Paul Skenes about being a cover model for MLB The Show 25, his stoic exterior, starters as stars, an auction for his debut baseball card, his hobbies, his expanding pitch mix, and max-effort pitching. Audio intro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Randy Johnson on EW Link to Ohtani homer Link to ratings info Link to Davy gamer 1 Link to Davy gamer 2 Link to post about Jackie page Link to article about Jackie page Link to archived 404 page Link to restored page Link to NPR on Rogers page Link to first statement to Passan Link to second statement to Passan Link to segregation ban story Link to MLB D&I page Link to old MLB D&I page Link to post about change Link to CBB breakouts tweet Link to height changes sheet Link to pitcher-measuring info Link to Gallo tweet Link to Ben on Gallo in 2014 Link to TTO% leaderboard Link to Marlins ad Link to Stock tweet Link to Herald on Marlins Link to Athletic on Marlins Link to The Show gameplay trailer Link to The Show launch trailer Link to Livvy’s nonchalant quote Link to Skenes composure quote Link to Skenes Opening Day reveal Link to Skenes dexterity quote Link to new pitches story Link to Skenes auction Link to Skenes on workload Link to deGrom 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 completing the season preview series, then preview the 2025 New York Yankees (7:48) with Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, and the 2025 Chicago White Sox (1:04:41) with Sox Machine’s James Fegan. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to offseason spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to Yankees depth chart Link to Yankees offseason tracker Link to BaseRuns standings Link to Gary’s author archive Link to White Sox depth chart Link to White Sox offseason tracker Link to 2024 CWS WAR leaders Link to Grifol eclipse story Link to James’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 Jacob deGrom dialing down the velo, the Cardinals signing their first free agent of the offseason, David Robertson still being available, the underrated career of Yasmani Grandal, the latest New Era cap confusion, follow-ups on several recent topics, and the newly jacked Mr. Met. Then (57:22) they talk to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports and Thomas Nestico of TJStats about their podcast-approved approaches to picking breakout candidates, their methodologies and success rates, their breakout picks for 2025, and more. Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)” Audio interstitial: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Passan on deGrom Link to MLBTR on Maton Link to MLBTR on Grandal Link to latest caps Link to more on the caps Link to FG post on caps Link to old EW on caps Link to slambio article Link to Rob on walk-off reversals Link to Patrick on 3B coaches Link to Keke Palmer meme Link to jacked Mr. Met Link to Grizz Link to R.J.’s breakout picks Link to Thomas’s breakout picks Link to R.J.’s 2024 breakouts review Link to xkcd comic Link to sickos meme Link to Devers article 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 surprising amount of Mo Vaughn content, a rash of spring injuries (including Gerrit Cole‘s Tommy John surgery and other Yankees ailments), the latest A’s and Rays woes, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers (26:11) with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and the 2025 Colorado Rockies (1:34:00) with The Rockies Insider’s Patrick Lyons. 2025 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NLATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes 2, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Vaughn story 1 Link to Vaughn story 2 Link to Enhanced Games wiki Link to Hang Up episode Link to FG post on Cole Link to Ben on spring injuries Link to Rays report Link to A’s report Link to A’s report 2 Link to A’s feature Link to Russell on rep. level Link to offseason spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to Dodgers depth chart Link to Dodgers offseason tracker Link to Sasaki signing info Link to “Lettuce” digital short Link to EW TJ research Link to “Are We the Baddies?” Link to cherry blossoms info Link to prank war article Link to prank war video Link to Fabian’s author archive Link to Rockies depth chart Link to Rockies offseason tracker Link to Rock Talk 1 Link to Rock Talk 2 Link to Colorado pronunciation Link to hangover effect info Link to Freeland on EW Link to Ben on Freeland in 2018 Link to Sheehan on Bud Black Link to Monfort prediction Link to Patrick’s work Link to Patrick’s podcast Link to trademark article 1 Link to trademark article 2 Link to trademark article 3 Link to trademark renewal 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 baseball flub in medical procedural The Pitt, Lawrence Butler’s extension, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s lofty contract target, how the ball moves differently in the Cactus League, and the value of variety in pitch selection, followed by Stat Blasts (49:20) about the WAR values of letters in player names, the best one-and-done pitcher/batter seasons in each franchise’s history, and the longest-tenured groups of players on pennant winners. Then (1:08:20) they talk to Carson Lund, director and co-writer of newly debuted baseball movie Eephus, about his celebrated contribution to the beleaguered genre. Audio intro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: The Gagnes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to slider explainer Link to The Pitt episode Link to Inglourious Basterds scene Link to Bluesky post Link to Passan tweet about Butler Link to MLBTR on Butler Link to Vlad contract info Link to Ortiz comments Link to Baumann on Vlad Link to Dan S. on Vlad Link to Trueblood on Vlad Link to Rosen on movement Link to Rosen on variety Link to Down on the Farm study Link to Oyster Analytics Link to Stat Blast 1 spreadsheet Link to Cocaína García wiki Link to Stat Blast 2 request Link to Stat Blast 2 spreadsheet Link to Stat Blast 3 request Link to Stat Blast 3 spreadsheet Link to Carson’s IMDb Link to Eephus website Link to Eephus trailer Link to Eephus Rotten Tomatoes Link to Eephus AP review Link to list of baseball movies Link to Filmmaker Magazine Link to Jacques Barzun quote Link to Barzun essay Link to Soldiers Field game Link to Soldiers Field photos 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 fresh wave of “breakout candidate” crimes, Jerry Dipoto’s latest Meg-maddening comments, the rise of the “kick change,” how ball/strike calls differ from other boundary calls, Barry Bonds’s comments about Shohei Ohtani, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Atlanta Braves (50:56) with 92.9 The Game’s Grant McAuley, and the 2025 Miami Marlins (1:35:27) with Fish on First’s Kevin Barral. 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: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Passan article Link to breakout screenshot 1 Link to breakout screenshot 2 Link to breakout screenshot 3 Link to Dipoto article Link to kick change info 1 Link to kick change info 2 Link to kick change info 3 Link to kick change info 4 Link to kick change info 5 Link to “new hotness” tweet Link to Naquin article Link to Ishbia article Link to MASN update Link to Jay on Iglesias Link to Hang Up and Listen Link to James quote Link to latest Bonds comments Link to earlier Bonds comments Link to Bonds armor Link to Sam on retaliation Link to Rob on retaliation Link to offseason spending Link to FG payrolls page Link to Braves depth chart Link to Braves offseason tracker Link to Baumann on Braves SP Link to team SP projections Link to team RP projections Link to Grant’s author archive Link to Grant’s podcast Link to Marlins depth chart Link to Marlins offseason tracker Link to Sherman article Link to Sheehan on breakouts Link to 2024 attendance Link to grievance article Link to Kevin’s author archive Link to Kevin’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