Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Discussion on ALCS and NLCS games, including Adolis García's heroics and the Rangers defeating the Astros. Critique of MLB's handling of Bryan Abreu's suspension and Craig Kimbrel's career. Reactions to the Giants hiring Bob Melvin as their manager.

Discussion of competitive CS and NLCS games, including a thrilling walk-off win and a controversial pitching change. Praise for the Phillies owner's engagement with fans. Debate on balancing expectations and managing effort in baseball, Tori Lavello's decision-making process, and the concept of scoring unanswered runs. Anticipation for the Shohei Ohtani documentary. Exploration of a pitcher with two right hands and the significance of hands in player development. Analysis of excitement in baseball postseason and appreciation for Patreon supporters.

Topics discussed include the lack of pitch-clock violations in the postseason, an on-field Phillies smooch, the Phillies' lead on the Diamondbacks in the NLCS, the Brewers' pivotal offseason, the differences between MLB and NBA newsbreakers, the rising percentage of pitchers with Tommy John surgery, the hypothetical scenario of regular-season series working like postseason series, and a radio-play-style Future Blast from 2074.

Baseball maverick Mike Veeck talks about his up-and-down story, legendary dad Bill Veeck, Disco Demolition Night, independent baseball, Darryl Strawberry's season with St. Paul Saints, great baseball promotions, Savannah Bananas, MLB's control of minor leagues, and more.

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss the career of Bryce Harper and scoring in the postseason. They also talk about Championship Series matchups and desired World Series matchups. The Ringer's Zach Kram joins to Stat Blast about players returning from absences in October and how rate stats differ between regular and postseason. They explore the origins of 'balls and strikes' and key pinch hitting situations. They compare regular season and postseason baseball statistics, and discuss NBA and MLB playoff formats and Patreon support.

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss playoff randomness, the Diamondbacks' victory and the Dodgers' defeat, Bryce Harper's hitting abilities, the Astros advancing to the ALCS, and funny sports-media controversies.

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss some renewed fretting about playoff formats, long layoffs, and upsets, recap (31:44) Clayton Kershaw’s playoff career and consider how (if at all) it will affect his legacy, and then examine (55:25) the latest action in each Division Series, plus follow-ups (1:29:49) on multiple topics from the preceding episode (including […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a failing effort to make peanuts a ballpark staple in Japan, preview the various Division Series (10:32), discuss the deep, enduring desire of former GM Paul Richards to trade his team for an entire other team (47:48), answer listener emails (1:06:50) about postseason “sweeps” and traitorous base coaches […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about their takeaways from sweeps week in the wild card round (how sweep it is!) and pick the division series they’re most excited about, then examine Mariners POBO Jerry Dipoto’s comments about aspiring to win 54 percent of games over a decade (46:04) and provide updates on the results […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Mariners, the Cubs, and other teams that just missed the playoffs, discuss the firings of Giants manager Gabe Kapler and Mets manager Buck Showalter (19:21), and then (32:51) bring on FanGraphs writers Michael Baumann and Ben Clemens to assemble an ultimate playoff team by drafting components of […]