Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

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

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the end of the Winter Meetings, then discuss the rest of what down in Dallas: the Max Fried signing and where the Yankees roster stands, the Garrett Crochet trade, referring to a single player as a “Red Sox,” the Andrés Giménez (and Spencer Horwitz) trades, the Rangers re-signing Nathan Eovaldi and trading for Jake Burger, the Nationals landing the no. 1 overall pick in the draft lottery, Washington’s pitching development philosophy, the saga of Braggo Roth, and more, plus a few postscript updates. Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Dan S. on Fried Link to Jaffe on Fried Link to Clemens on Crochet Link to Passan tweet Link to Clemens on Giménez Link to team DRS Link to team FRV Link to Longenhagen on Giménez Link to Baumann on García Link to Andrews on Eovaldi Link to Baumann on Burger Link to payrolls page Link to Rule 5 reports Link to Rizzo quote Link to Nats spring sign Link to Nats preview pod Link to 2023 team Stuff+ Link to 2024 team Stuff+ Link to team fastball velo Link to team pitching WAR Link to Braggo bio Link to Braggo wiki Link to A’s and Fried Link to Sheehan on Crochet 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 Roki Sasaki’s destination, follow up on their previous discussion of the Juan Soto signing, and discuss several more transactions, including the Giants signing Willy Adames, multiple Dodgers and Orioles moves, and a trio of starting-pitcher signings, plus reactions to the Hall of Fame elections of Dick Allen and Dave Parker, and FanGraphs Walk-Off talk. Audio intro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Wolfe’s comments Link to seasons explainer Link to FG post on Adames Link to FG on Adames splits Link to Passan on Adames Link to over/under draft results Link to Passan on Adames Link to Keltner list Link to Zaidi report Link to Posey profile Link to Ben on ex-player execs Link to Posey hirings Link to Melvin on bunting Link to FG post on the Dodgers Link to FG post on the Orioles Link to FG post on Holmes Link to Petriello on conversions Link to FG post on Bieber Link to FG post on Romano Link to MLBTR on Cobb Link to MLBTR on Baumann Link to Baumann on EW Link to MLBTR on Cobb Link to Jay on Allen/Parker Link to Allen shirt Link to FG Walk-Off Link to Ben on Piazza 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 all the aspects of Juan Soto signing a record-breaking contract with the New York Mets. That’s it. That’s the episode. Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)” Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Dan S. on Soto Link to Ben C. on Soto Link to Kram on Soto Link to Passan on Soto Link to The Athletic on Soto Link to Heyman on Soto Link to MLBTR on Soto Link to FG Soto stats post Link to OBP+ leaders Link to OBP+ through 26 Link to payrolls page Link to Friedman quote Link to EW gift subscriptions Link to Secret Santa sign-up form  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 Tigers tweet about future first-pitch timing and other non-topical PSAs, provide a Secret Santa sign-up reminder, consider baseball authority figures who answer fan mail, discuss the impact that the changing economic landscape of college sports could have on MLB drafting and development, react to Danny Jansen’s deal with the Rays, and answer a question about defining “division rivals,” then (57:10) bring on Michael Mountain to Stat Blast about his new Wins Above Average-based Hall of Fame metric, BOOG, plus updates. Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2” Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Tigers tweet Link to Monfort email 1 Link to Monfort email 2 Link to Manfred email Link to Manfred autograph 1 Link to Manfred autograph 2 Link to Manfred autograph 3 Link to Manfred autograph 4 Link to Selig email quote Link to Updike quote Link to NIL Athletic article Link to MLBTR on Jansen Link to tweet about Jansen Link to Tango Bluesky post Link to Tango blog post Link to Michael’s Stat Blast cover Link to HoF pace for hitters Link to HOF pace for pitchers Link to tiered HOF by BOOG score Link to BOOG graphs site Link to MLBTR on Holmes Link to MLBTR on Bieber Link to MLBTR top 50 FA Link to over/under draft score Link to ABA article Link to Manfred backtrack Link to EW gift subscriptions Link to Secret Santa sign-up form  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 A’s signing Luis Severino and year-end podcast-listening stats, follow up on the golden at-bat and Hall of Fame plaques, and (1:07:46) discuss the history of deferred payments in sports contracts. Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Severino Link to over/under draft results Link to Gonzalez A’s tweet Link to Passan spending tweet Link to FG payrolls page Link to Pesäpallo episode Link to The Athletic’s Soto report Link to Manfred and Stugotz Link to non-Gandhi quote Link to Russell on the golden AB Link to golden thong story Link to listener emails database Link to plaque variations Link to story on Jackie’s plaque Link to AP on the Dodgers Link to Dolgoff plan info 1 Link to Dolgoff plan info 2 Link to Ard interview Link to ABA article Link to “Sutter Day” on EW Link to Sutter article Link to Turner censure article Link to reaping/sowing tweet Link to Hunter article 1 Link to Hunter article 2 Link to Hunter article 3 Link to Hunter article 4 Link to Hunter article 5 Link to Hunter article 6 Link to 1981 article Link to Rice article Link to 2013 deferrals story Link to EW gift subscriptions Link to Secret Santa sign-up form  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  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about their obliviousness to Juan Soto signing rumors, what should count as a team claiming to have tried to sign someone, a rash of recent real signings, the strength of the free agent market so far, the Dodgers’ accounting tactics and misperceptions about deferrals, the decline in therapeutic use exemptions to MLB’s joint drug policy, and (44:17) the pros and cons of the controversial “golden at-bat” idea that was recently mooted by Rob Manfred. Audio intro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Passan’s Soto tweet Link to MLBTR’s Soto stories Link to The Athletic’s Soto report Link to MLBTR’s top 50 FA Link to FG’s top 50 FA Link to We Tried Tracker post 1 Link to We Tried Tracker post 2 Link to We Tried Tracker Link to FG post on Montas Link to FG post on Boyd Link to Cubs spending rumor Link to FG post on Higashioka Link to FG post on Edman Link to Becker on Snell Link to Becker on Edman Link to 2009 TUE story Link to 2016 TUE story Link to Russell on TUEs Link to 2024 testing stats Link to Bluesky bot Link to pudding expression Link to Delilah wiki Link to Manfred pod appearance Link to Stark article Link to Bananas rule Link to EW gift subscriptions Link to Secret Santa sign-up form  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  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a Nolan Arenado rumor, then (5:15) answer listener emails about fandoms that are overrepresented in baseball media, Formula 1-style “pay players” in MLB, whether players should be paid overtime for the postseason, whether MLB will ever classify foreign leagues as “major,” a Disney Channel baseball scene, fan-elected baseball executives, and (1:14:13) a player (Earl Pruess) with a mysterious nickname, followed by a bonus Stat Blast (1:24:02) about the typical tenures of sports leagues commissioners and Supreme Court justices. Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Arenado Link to Arenado Athletic report Link to Dave’s USSM letter Link to MLBTR on the letter Link to “pay drivers” article Link to NBA prize money Link to Dodgers postseason pool Link to Ben on league reclassification 1 Link to Ben on league reclassification 2 Link to Suite Life scene Link to Suite Life episode Link to spectator interference rule Link to Veeck’s fanagers Link to “Gibby” nicknames Link to Pruess post Link to Pruess TSN card Link to Pruess signing article Link to Pruess gambling article Link to Pruess documents Link to Pruess autograph 1 Link to Pruess autograph 2 Link to Pruess autograph 3 Link to Pruess obit Link to younger Pruess obit Link to listener emails database Link to EW commissioners discussion Link to Stat Blast spreadsheet Link to latest HUAL episode Link to EW gift subscriptions Link to Secret Santa sign-up form  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  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch! Source

Blake Snell's big signing with the Dodgers sparks a lively discussion about pitching strategies and the market dynamics at play. The Angels aim for a comeback with their signing of Yusei Kikuchi, raising eyebrows and hopes. Amid trade talks, the complexities of the Rays' stadium situation emerge, alongside humorous takes on Thanksgiving traditions and naps. The conversation also tackles the unpredictable nature of baseball, celebrating both the sport's quirks and the evolving language of fandom.

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, Ben Clemens, Michael Baumann, and podcast scorekeeper Chris Hanel convene to play “College Baseball Player or Fictional Republican Politician?” and reveal the victors of the 2024 minor league free agent draft and bold preseason predictions game, including recaps of each prediction. Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to minor league FA draft pod Link to draft wiki Link to past draft research Link to 2024 bold predictions pod Link to 2024 bold predictions wiki Link to 2023 predictions recap Link to preseason predictions wiki Link to drafts/competitions sheet Link to “WDJDD?” song Link to Ohtani scrum count Link to EW guests spreadsheet Link to Baumann on 300 Ks Link to Chris’s website Link to Support Class Link to Patreon gift subs Link to Secret Santa sign-up form  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  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch! Source