Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss a variety of interesting topics, including the Seattle Mariners' recent success, sponsored ads in baseball broadcasts, trusting baseball over Google searches, the similar seasons of J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner, a chain purchase and concerns for Eduardo Escobar, a trade involving Ruiz and Contreras, controversial comments from Angelo of the Orioles, and the challenges faced by left-handed catchers.

Baseball Prospectus’ editor-in-chief Craig Goldstein joins the show to discuss the surging Dodgers (5:26) and what led to their recently concluded win streak, the call-ups of Masyn Winn and Nolan Schanuel (28:07), and the optimal timing of the trade deadline and the draft (44:43), and why Craig doesn’t want to move it back. Plus, Meg and Craig answer emails on keeping relievers in the dark about the score before they enter the game (58:00), how teams might have changed their approach to the offseason and the deadline if they knew that winning the World Series would guarantee that Shohei Ohtani would sign with them (1:03:04), and whether the Padres are trying to save the world by finishing under .500 (1:11:09). Plus, a Future Blast from 2048 (1:22:56). Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Craig’s podcast Five and Dive Link to Michael Baumann on the Marlins, Orioles, and Brewers Link to the FanGraphs playoff odds Link to Jeffrey Paternostro and Timothy Jackson’s Masyn Winn Call-Up piece Link to Eric Longenhagen’s Day One Draft recap Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

With Ben Lindbergh still in Sweden, FanGraphs’ Michael Baumann takes the co-host chair for a spin. He and Meg Rowley begin (2:10) by delighting in a picture of Lance Lynn and Enrique Hernández from Dodgers photo day, then take advantage of Ben’s absence to discuss (7:30) college baseball and how conference realignment might affect the sport (and the athletes who play it). They then turn their attention (32:13) to Cole Hamels, who recently retired, and Félix Hernández, who was recently inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame. Meg and Michael discuss what Hernández and Hamels meant to each of them, the similarities (and important differences) that marked their respective Hall of the Very Good careers, and what it’s like to have a pitcher ruin a pitch for you. Meg and Michael also discuss (51:00) the most impressive players and tools they’ve seen in person, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Corbin Carroll, and Aaron Judge, plus center field defense and big power. Finally, they close with a Future Blast from 2047 (1 hr 06 min). Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Dodgers photo day photos Link to Michael on Lance Lynn’s first Dodgers start Link to Michael on conference realignment Link to Teddy Cahill on conference realignment Link to Michael on Cole Hamels’ retirement Link to Meg on Félix Hernández’s final Mariners start Link to Hamels and Hernández’s career stats Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

With Ben Lindbergh in Sweden on Ringer business, FanGraphs’ Ben Clemens joins Meg Rowley for a turn in the co-host chair. Ben and Meg begin (1:40) by discussing the disturbing allegations made against Rays shortstop Wander Franco over the weekend. They then banter (5:00) about the experience of watching baseball while on vacation, before turning their attention to Ben’s Five Things series, the sneaky delights of mid-sized Midwestern cities, the Braves scoring big against Danny Mendick, chalk preseason predictions (and Ben’s beef with Other Ben’s prognostication choices), which teams’ World Series odds might be too light (or too heavy), a milestone Juan Soto walk, players being over and underrated, announcers’ refusal to discuss no-hitters, the joy of local commercials on baseball broadcasts, the Cardinals’ and Pirates’ recent runs of relative success and futility, and who might shake up the standings down the stretch. They close with a Future Blast from 2046 (55:20) and an invitation to play Magic: The Gathering, if you’re into that sort of thing. Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Evan Drellich and Brittany Ghiroli on the likely next steps in MLB’s investigation into Franco Link to Ben’s Five Things I Liked (And Didn’t Like) Archive Link to 21-3 Braves/Mets Box Score Link to the FanGraphs Playoff Odds Link to the FanGraphs 2023 staff predictions Link to Chris Gilligan on shifting playoff odds Link to Ben’s piece on Michael Lorenzen’s no-hitter Link to Ben’s (latest) Lars Nootbaar piece Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Patreon supporter Samuel Giddins banter about Samuel’s baseball background and history with Effectively Wild, before (9:52) discussing a Juan Soto quote and the type of disappointing team that’s most frustrating. Then (21:35) they answer listener emails about randomizing on-field decisions, the legibility of player autographs, whether teams should employ designated huggers, whether veterans are more clutch, whether we’re misusing the phrase “heating up,” what would happen if Shohei Ohtani asked the Angels to release him, whether teams in a robo-umps world should alternate tall and short hitters in the lineup, offering Ohtani an ownership stake, why we use miles per hour for pitch speeds instead of feet per second, using a matching process in the amateur draft, whether anyone could make a trade if they found a GM’s unlocked phone, mascots as zombie runners, and playoff teams without .300 hitters, plus a Future Blast (1:41:34) from 2045 and a follow-up postscript on a White Sox (un)fun fact. Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)” Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Samuel’s website Link to Soto quote Link to Soto quote source Link to Neil Paine on the unlucky Padres Link to The Athletic on autographs Link to Russell on postseason experience Link to Russell on pennant-race experience Link to tweet about Judge/Altuve zones Link to tweet about Judge’s zone Link to article about Judge/Altuve zones Link to old FG post on Judge’s zone Link to older FG post on Judge’s zone Link to old FG post on Altuve’s zone Link to older FG post on Altuve’s zone Link to EW Stanky Draft Link to KG on player owners Link to Goold on player owners Link to details about Beckham’s contract Link to list of MLB mascots Link to data on teams without .300 hitters Link to graph of teams without .300 hitters Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to EW listener emails database Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki Link to Ben Clemens on Littell Link to tweet about the Sox Link to Sox high-K games Link to worst WP w/13+ K Link to worst WP w/12+ K  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether the plight of running backs in the NFL is analogous to any data-driven developments in MLB, the benefits and drawbacks of more or fewer off days during postseason series (and the problem with pluralizing “series”), the White Sox going 0-11 in games when they’ve struck out 14 or more opposing batters, Cody Bellinger and the surging Cubs, the flailing Diamondbacks and how the sequencing of slumps and hot streaks affects the perception of seasons, and more. Then (1:16:05) they meet major leaguers Slade Cecconi and Davis Schneider, followed by (1:36:45) a Future Blast from 2044. Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Neil Paine on running backs Link to HUaL on running backs Link to Ben on the SP protagonist Link to Rob on pitching and payrolls Link to story on reliever awards Link to Ben C. on the postseason schedule Link to story on reliever familiarity Link to story on SP familiarity Link to tweet about the Sox Link to losing 14+ K Sox games Link to worst record in 14+ K games Link to 2023 teams w/most such games Link to MaML wiki Link to MLBTR on Cecconi Link to Cecconi call-up story Link to video of first K Link to Davy Andrews FG post Link to Cecconi prospect ranking Link to postgame quotes Link to tweet about Schneider Link to other tweet about Schneider Link to article on Schneider’s glove Link to other story on Schneider Link to BaseRuns standings Link to Paine on the unlucky Padres Link to FG playoff odds Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki Link to Ben C. on Lorenzen Link to Lorenzen’s last inning Link to tweet about Lorenzen post-ASB Link to Fullerton fun fact Link to fun fact reply Link to Verducci on the Rays  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Tim Anderson–José Ramírez fight and White Sox clubhouse culture, John Angelos benching Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown, the Angels’ post-deadline slump (and the Mariners’ rise), the return of Gary Sánchez‘s power bat, updates on the MLB injury rate, the pitch clock, and the zombie runner, Charlie Culberson’s re-reunion with Atlanta, the Rays’ latest unlikely starting pitcher, the Yankees’ ambidextrous catching prospect (and the dream of a left-handed catcher), and more, plus (1:21:55) a Future Blast from 2043. Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to video of punches Link to ESPN White Sox story Link to Ramírez comments Link to Hamilton call Link to story on Hamilton call Link to Kopech quote Link to Grandal/Anderson report Link to Hahn comments Link to video of prior 2B tag play Link to The Athletic column on Anderson Link to The Athletic column on the Sox Link to Anderson on personal struggles Link to AA’s Brown report Link to Brown broadcast clip Link to Ghiroli on Brown Link to Rosenthal on Brown Link to other announcers on Angelos Link to Angelos’s spring comments Link to Adley with puppies Link to catcher HR leaders Link to team catcher WAR Link to May episode on Sánchez Link to Rob Mains on July Link to MLBTR on Jung’s injury Link to MLBTR on Culberson Link to Littell cruise ship story Link to Stat Blast on Springs Link to ambidextrous fielder story Link to story on LH catchers Link to LH catcher EW episode Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki Link to McClanahan update Link to Cronin chess story Link to The Matrix Revolutions scene  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben and Meg discuss the debate around Ventura and Ryan's brawl, Ohtani's impressive performance, Rizzo's concussion struggles, trade deadline impact, unique baseball players, and emotional aspects of MLB trades.

After the trade-deadline dust settles, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley break down the big deals from deadline eve and deadline day, starting with high-level trade-season takeaways (reunions, top prospects, hitters vs. pitchers, missing star power) and then zooming in on almost every team as they discuss the Justin Verlander trade, the AL West arms race, and Framber Valdez’s no-hitter, the Mets’ sell-off, the Padres’ non-sell-off (and the itinerant Rich Hill), the Mariners’ middle course, the Orioles’ prospect-hugging, a number of contending teams’ lack of activity, and more, plus pedantry, follow-ups, and a Future Blast (1:21:57) from 2041. Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG trade-post roundup Link to FG post on unmade trades Link to Langs on division leads Link to Jay on the Valdez no-no Link to BP on Valdez Link to tweet about Hill in 2024 Link to February Angelos comments Link to Elias quote 1 Link to Elias quote 2 Link to Elias quote 3 Link to Boone deadline quote Link to Bloom comment Link to Rodriguez veto explanation Link to Kram on deadline W+L Link to Clemens on deadline W+L Link to FG farm rankings Link to Elks record story Link to Milwaukee punching bag Link to Mikolas EW episode Link to Josh Beck EW episode Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Charlie Culberson’s surprising staying power as a barely-playing big leaguer, then break down the first batch of trades preceding the trade deadline, including deals involving Max Scherzer, Jordan Montgomery, Chris Stratton, Jordan Hicks, Nicky Lopez, Randal Grichuk, and C.J. Cron. They also discuss the lack of impact hitters on the market, Matt Chapman dissing the Angels’ offense, how intentional walks affect Shohei Ohtani’s WAR, and how a misaligned strike-zone graphic may have angered Phil Nevin. Then (1:08:34) Ben brings on White Sox pitcher Declan Cronin, the first major leaguer from Ben’s alma mater, Regis High School, for an in-person Meet a Major Leaguer segment with a player promoted thanks to deadline deals. They talk about Declan’s underdog career path as a Regis Raider, Holy Cross Crusader, and 36th-round draftee, his call-up and debut, his data-driven development, his second job at Tread Athletics, and more, followed (1:52:33) by a Future Blast from 2040. Audio intro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Petriello on Culberson Link to MLBTR on Culberson Link to Culberson/Swanson story Link to Rany on the Lopez trade Link to MLBTR on Lopez/Hearn Link to FG post on Scherzer deal Link to FG post on Cardinals trades Link to FG post on Cardinals prospects Link to FG post on Angels trade Link to Eppler comments Link to Rosenthal on the Mets trades Link to defense behind pitcher Link to Eovaldi IL news Link to Ronald Acuña comments Link to story on lack of hitters Link to Sam on Grichuk/Trout Link to Chapman video Link to Chapman game story Link to tweet about Chapman/Nevin Link to story on Nevin suspension Link to story on Nevin ejections Link to Apple strike zone graphic Link to EW Episode 2030 Link to Rob Arthur on umps Link to Meet a Major Leaguer wiki Link to Regis alma mater video Link to Regis notable alumni Link to Declan’s first out Link to Passan tweet about Declan Link to Declan velo video Link to Declan sinker video Link to EW on seam-shifted wake Link to Declan stuff video Link to Ramírez HR video Link to Ramírez HR data Link to Holy Cross call-up story Link to Holy Cross roster page Link to Declan’s LinkedIn page Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source