Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley follow up with additional details about the Cardinals’ cheeseburger phone, banter about the hot hitting of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Aaron Judge, answer listener emails (31:13) about home run rituals and the unwritten rules, a prophylactic procedure to prevent Tommy John surgery, whether a runner could be safe because of his beard, the percentage of players who could be on the same statistical list as a Hall of Famer, whether pitchers fan batters or vice versa, a rapid player promotion, and making fan interference part of the game, react to a Luke Voit “beef” reference, meet Major Leaguers Josh Walker and Garrett Acton (1:13:46), Stat Blast about entire divisions being better than entire other divisions, players batting without a position, and streaks of starting pitchers with the same handedness (1:27:39), plus follow-ups and a Past Blast from 2009 (1:42:22). Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Goold on phone details Link to burger image Link to burger GIF Link to home run rituals Link to Lawless bat flip Link to “beanball” wiki Link to FG WAR leaderboard Link to xWOBA leaderboard Link to other Ben on Acuña Link to Sheehan on Acuña/Judge Link to story about prophylactic TJ Link to more on TJ Link to even more on TJ Link to bearded Napoli slide Link to Speier tweet Link to Episode 1426 Link to spirit week explainer Link to listener emails database Link to story on Walker Link to more on Walker Link to even more on Walker Link to MLBTR on Walker Link to Walker interview Link to Acton debut story Link to Acton’s first K Link to BA on Acton Link to FG on Acton Link to background on Acton Link to Ben on pitcher deception Link to new MLB debuts Link to Voit video Link to Topps Now cards Link to ALE/ALC standings Link to tweet about “nothings” Link to SABR on “nothings” Link to most “nothing” PA Link to most “nothing” runs created Link to Russell on SP handedness Link to 2009 Past Blast source Link to more on Ripken’s site Link to even more on the site Link to video on the site Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to long hair article  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 sesame-seer Cardinals using a cheeseburger phone to predict home buns (er, runs) by hitters who are dialed in, the varying fortunes of three offseason big spenders (the Mets, Padres, and Rangers) and the stakes of their success, Kumar Rocker’s Tommy John surgery, Dustin May’s flexor strain, the proliferation of ranked prospects, Jackson Holliday, the Orioles’ infield future, and what it takes for tanking to be justified, the need for a Lab League to test the pre-tacked ball, José Abreu’s power outage, Zac Gallen’s bird omen, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:38:22) from 2008 and a few follow-ups. Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Wainwright interview Link to burger image Link to burger GIF Link to home run rituals Link to Mets celebration article Link to Mets comeback homers Link to Machado injury info Link to FG post on Heim Link to Rocker Pipeline thread Link to SAL leaderboard Link to article on pre-tacked ball Link to Bird Bath Splash Zone info Link to Gallen bird video Link to asterisk-ball display Link to 2008 Past Blast source Link to MLB replay wiki Link to article on David’s catch Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to competitions/drafts sheet Link to Episode 201 draft Link to Modesto game box score Link to Modesto game thread  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 Shohei Ohtani’s near-cycle and newly hot hitting on days when he’s pitched, the Cardinals reinstating Willson Contreras at catcher (and Zac Gallen’s comments on the Cardinals Way), the Sean Murphy/William Contreras/Esteury Ruiz trade revisited, post-peak Christian Yelich and the breakout of Brent Rooker, the dominant Rays’ possible vulnerability, Aaron Judge peeking while at the plate, the verdict on the shift restrictions so far, the confounding seasons of the Red Sox, Cubs, and Padres, MLB app notifications about old games, mini-reviews of two new documentaries about Yankees icons, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:26:36) from 2007 and follow-ups. Audio intro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Ohtani quotes Link to Ohtani homer Link to Ohtani’s yearly splits Link to Ohtani’s career splits Link to Ohtani Stat Blast Link to post on Chisholm’s defense Link to news on Chisholm’s injury Link to Marmol’s Contreras quote Link to Post-Dispatch on Contreras Link to The Athletic on Contreras Link to Nightengale on Contreras Link to Woodward on Contreras Link to Gallen comments Link to FG on William Contreras Link to Rooker story Link to Rooker interview Link to Jay on the Rays Link to Judge story Link to Judge video Link to Tango on the shift Link to Ben on the Red Sox Link to BaseRuns standings Link to story about Pint promotion Link to Reggie Link to It Ain’t Over Link to 2015 greatest players Link to Crane lawsuits info Link to Mays doc episode Link to 2007 Past Blast source Link to article about 756 sale Link to asterisk info Link to article about 762 ball Link to Hample incident info Link to Hample banning tweet Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to Jays-Yanks story Link to Rosenthal on tipping Link to Casas clip  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 Akil Baddoo taking a baseball to the beans, broadcasters describing groin shots, and players deciding whether to wear cups. Then they compare a resurgent Joey Gallo and a slumping Andrew Benintendi (20:25), recall reliever Zack Littell’s affinity for cruise ships (33:22), forecast MLB’s international future (37:22), consider the Dodgers’ secret Ugandan academy (47:06), discuss an update on MLB’s integration of Negro Leagues stats (1:13:40), and assess their levels of anxiety about game-fixing in light of two college gambling scandals (1:30:21), plus a Past Blast (1:42:35) from 2006. Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Baddoo play Link to first cup tweet Link to second cup tweet Link to MLB nutshots compilation Link to another nutshots video Link to swinging nutshot video Link to Ben Clemens on Gallo Link to Ben L. on Gallo in 2014 Link to Gallo’s juggle catch Link to Gallo on New York Link to Gallo on New York again Link to Littell article Link to old Littell EW episode Link to MLB international plans Link to South Korea game info Link to Uganda academy article Link to info on Dodgers’ DR academy Link to info on academies’ impact Link to prospect exploitation report Link to Horace Wilson article Link to article on Negro Leagues stats Link to Ben on MLB’s reclassification Link to Ben on reclassification again Link to Baumann on the Ala. scandal Link to Sheehan on the Ala. scandal Link to Iowa scandal story Link to Iowa State info Link to 2006 Past Blast source Link to 2022 article on Jones Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to Rasmussen info Link to 2022 Megill story Link to 2023 Megill story  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 Meg’s recovery from COVID and the belated release of the CBA, predict how well White Sox cast-off Jake Diekman will pitch for the Rays, discuss injuries to Luis Garcia, Max Fried, Tyler Mahle, and more pitchers and investigate forearm/flexor strains as potential precursors to Tommy John surgery, react to Jack Flaherty’s comments about his diminished velocity, assess the state of the Astros’, Mets’, and Braves’ rotations, celebrate the call-up of Marlins prospect Eury Pérez and speculate about the call-up of hard-hitting Reds prospect Elly De La Cruz, laud the new, old Kenley Jansen, review what the “insiders” say about Shohei Ohtani’s upcoming contract, evaluate the needs of the Orioles and Mariners, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:42:35) from 2005. Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to CBA Link to Diekman news Link to Sam’s Rays tweet Link to Conte EW episode Link to forearm strain study Link to SI on velo and injuries Link to Dan S. on Atlanta injuries Link to Fried forearm strain Link to Márquez forearm strain Link to Mahle forearm strain Link to Senzatela forearm strain Link to Miller forearm strain Link to Flaherty quote Link to Dan on Flaherty Link to more Dan on Flaherty Link to Tango on Flaherty Link to Flaherty’s max velos Link to velo change study Link to study on velo and injury Link to more on velo and injury Link to Ben on pitcher restrictions Link to Sheehan on the Mets Link to team pitching age Link to Pérez call-up info Link to FG post on Yandy Link to Pérez call-up tweet Link to De La Cruz hit speeds Link to cat chonker chart Link to Miley’s Kershaw quote Link to Petriello on Jansen Link to reliever JAWS Link to ESPN on Ohtani Link to BP on the Mariners Link to MLBTR on the Mariners Link to O’s offseason review Link to Adley extension post Link to team payrolls Link to 2005 Past Blast source Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to Sam’s bat article Link to M’s bat video  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 talks to Will Leitch about the Cardinals’ horrendous start, their baffling decision to bar big free-agent addition Willson Contreras from catching, how Yadier Molina’s legacy looms over the franchise, how Oli Marmol and John Mozeliak have handled the team’s struggles, how the rest of the season might go, and more, along with the Effectively Wild connection in Will’s new novel, The Time Has Come. Then (54:51) Ben talks to David Hrusovsky about wearing a SpongeBob costume to Guardians games and David’s ongoing effort to map every high school baseball field in the country and document the weirdest ones. After that (1:19:58), Ben brings on frequent Stat Blast consultant Ryan Nelson to deliver several Stat Blasts, followed by (1:51:35) a Past Blast from 2004 and a few follow-ups. Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Katie Woo on Contreras Link to Katie on Contreras again Link to Rosenthal on Contreras Link to playoff odds changes Link to Marmol-Bucknor feud Link to Marmol on Contreras Link to Marmol on booing Link to more Marmol on booing Link to Posnanski on Marmol Link to Jay Jaffe on the Cardinals Link to Will’s Cardinals podcast Link to Will’s newsletter Link to The Time Has Come Link to EW wiki on weird fields Link to David/SpongeBob video Link to David/SpongeBob article Link to Gonzalez/SpongeBob article Link to David’s HS fields site Link to weird field % by state Link to Uni Watch on David Link to MLB field sizes Link to ballpark homogenization info Link to Topps NOW cards Link to Ryan’s first EW episode Link to EW guest data Link to Stat Blast results/data Link to Santander Reddit thread Link to Russell on fouls Link to 2004 Past Blast source Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to Royals Pasquatch ad Link to Pasquatch footage Link to MLBTR on Greiner Link to tall-catchers EW episode Link to Anton’s MLB birthday data Link to relative age effect wiki Link to article on MLB RAE Link to Shane on M’s broadcast  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 more examples of players whose names describe what they do (like Colin Holderman), the return of Justin Verlander, Juan Soto’s overdue hot streak, Keynan Middleton calling out Carlos Correa, the difference between Craig Kimbrel’s leverage and results, and how success lowers the boo threshold, then (16:22) react to excerpts from Ben’s conversation with an MLB exec about rules changes and strikeouts. After that (37:38), they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Mack Mashburn to discuss his background as a podcaster listener and baseball fan and answer listener emails about the pitch clock and suspense, the next step for home run celebrations, narrowing fair territory at high elevations, the competitive advantage of cloud seeding, whether relievers all long to be starters, whether Baseball Zen isn’t zen enough, MLB Gameday’s recent redesign, why lefties tend to throw slower than righties, the causes of increasing injury rates, the effects of improved pitching machines, a wizard who makes players shorter every time they get hits or strikeouts, and Aristides Aquino’s DRS, plus a Past Blast from 2003 (1:58:40) and follow-ups (2:01:56). Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Holderman immaculate inning Link to Wynn headline 1 Link to Wynn headline 2 Link to Wynn headline 3 Link to Webb comments Link to Verlander gamer Link to Middleton comments Link to low-WPA relievers Link to high-leverage relievers Link to Muncy walk-off Link to Cardinals booing Link to Ben on rules and strikeouts Link to baseball drag measurements Link to Sam on the pitch clock Link to Sheehan on the pitch clock Link to Emma on HR celebrations Link to info on NPB HR celebrations Link to Grant on “beast mode” Link to Franco’s ball toss Link to Sam on unwritten rules Link to foul lines article Link to more foul lines info Link to foul lines column Link to foul lines verdict Link to Tal’s Hill story Link to cloud seeding wiki Link to McClellan EW interview Link to “failed starters” Stat Blast Link to Baumann on Fulmer Link to Baseball Zen videos Link to Baseball Zen article Link to Gameday redesign info Link to Ben on lefty velo Link to FG on lefty velo Link to average LHP velo Link to average RHP velo Link to Ben on pitching machines Link to leg-lengthening story Link to more on leg lengthening Link to listener emails database Link to It’s Christmastown Link to 2022 RF DRS leaders Link to Aquino catch 1 Link to Aquino catch 2 Link to Aquino catch 3 Link to Aquino catch 4 Link to 2003 Past Blast source Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to Peacock broadcast info Link to announced attendance article Link to pitch counts Stat Blast Link to Turner’s quote Link to Speier tweet Link to Zimmer’s velo column Link to Rickey’s ’51 Williams report Link to 1886 “velo” use Link to ESPN on Alabama betting Link to The Athletic on Alabama betting Link to Baumann on Alabama betting  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 players being paid for on-field, in-game interviews, pitcher injuries and pitcher call-ups, how low Oakland’s attendance could go (and whether the team might bungle its move to Las Vegas), the NL West race, the AL East’s strength compared to the AL Central’s, which team invented the in-dugout home run ritual, whether the Angels should sign Gary Sánchez, Bryce Harper’s return, the Marlins’ record in one-run games, Colin Holderman and nominative determinism, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:18:13) from 2002. Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to report about player payments Link to Emma on in-game interviews Link to Ben on in-game interviews Link to article on Rockies trying Link to FG’s prospect rankings Link to Millers game Link to lowest 2023 attendance Link to lowest 2022 attendance Link to lowest 1990-2019 attendance Link to ’97 White Sox game story Link to Passan’s A’s tweet Link to 2014 Dodgers bubbles story Link to 2013 A’s tunnel story Link to 2023 HR celebrations Link to Twins HR celebration Link to Sam on WS dogpiles Link to Sam on walk-off celebrations Link to Mariners trident story Link to article on AL East strength Link to depth charts standings Link to playoff odds Link to Jay Jaffe on the Yankees Link to Yankees IL tweet Link to combined WAR leaderboard Link to MLBTR on Sánchez Link to catcher depth charts Link to Sánchez’s Savant page Link to article on Sánchez’s defense Link to Angels coaches tweet Link to Ben C. on Harper Link to BaseRuns records Link to Holderman’s game log Link to 2002 Past Blast source Link to 2002 source, cont’d. Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack  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 podcast’s naming conventions, the EW reverse jinx boosting Byron Buxton, the stress of observing Jacob deGrom’s high-wire act, Drew Maggi’s first major league hit (off of Hobie Harris!), high-scoring, high-altitude baseball in Mexico City, MLB editing (and later restoring) an A’s highlight, White Sox fan unrest, Jazz Chisholm Jr. being mic’d up on a broadcast while batting, the standouts toward the top of the combined WAR leaderboard one month into the season, and more, then (1:12:00) Stat Blast about the lowest-career-WAR players ever to lead a team in WAR in one season, the most players ever used in one game at each position, and how the pitch clock has made games not only much shorter, but also much less variable in duration, plus (1:41:32) a Past Blast from 2001 and a few follow-ups and closing thoughts (1:43:39). Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to deGrom injury info Link to Ben Clemens on deGrom Link to Maggi hits video Link to article on Maggi being optioned Link to Ben on baseball in Mexico City Link to Mexico City game stats Link to Susan’s humidor tweet Link to Susan’s Mexico City gamer Link to Susan’s Game 2 gamer Link to story about A’s fans Link to tweet about A’s highlight Link to Ben on in-game interviews Link to mic’d up Maldonado Link to White Sox fan rant Link to James Fegan on Sox fans Link to James on the Roberts benching Link to Jay on the White Sox Link to combined WAR leaderboard Link to article on Chapman’s defense Link to FG post on Cole Link to Cole’s Hicks reaction Link to Topps NOW cards Link to Episode 1952 Stat Blast Link to worst WAR leaders Link to most players at position links Link to Ben on the Waxahachie Swap Link to all-position players Link to Ben on game times Link to April 25 games Link to 1969 time-of-game article Link to 2001 Past Blast source Link to contraction plan details Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack Link to Twins HR celebration Link to Sam on WS dogpiles Link to Sam on walk-off celebrations Link to 2019 Nats celebrations Link to 2019 Nats article Link to 2023 HR celebrations Link to White Sox walk-off gamer Link to Passan division tweets Link to A’s walk-off gamer Link to A’s winless SP record Link to Ohtani homer Link to Cruz triple Link to CBA/start times thread  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

In the fourth incarnation of a time-honored tradition that recurs every 500-ish episodes, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley are joined by former co-hosts Sam Miller and Jeff Sullivan, and The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee, to draft assorted things that they like about baseball, followed (1:37:06) by a Past Blast from 2000. Audio intro: Benny and the Jeffs, “Effectively Wild” Audio outro: Sam Miller, “Effectively Wild Theme (Ken Maeda’s Nice ‘n’ Easy Remix)” Link to Episode 500 Link to Episode 996 Link to Episode 1500 Link to Barmes injury article Link to silly injuries Link to more silly injuries Link to even more silly injuries Link to still more silly injuries Link to silly injuries again Link to article on Hill’s dream Link to Torkelson injury Link to Sam on “around the horn” Link to NYT on Mets broadcasts Link to pitch-clock countdown Link to SNY “ghost runner” Link to Blue Jays hug Link to Aybar/Callaspo story Link to Grant’s Wills card Link to minor league team naming Link to the Murphy card Link to Grant on the Ripken card Link to Grant on time between pitches Link to Conlan’s SABR bio Link to Sam on the strike zone Link to no-umps spring game Link to Giannis video Link to collected King articles Link to 2000 Past Blast source Link to more on the baseball testing Link to Ben on the Steroid Era Link to David Lewis’s Twitter Link to David Lewis’s Substack  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