Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley close the book on 2022 by bantering about the year in Effectively Wild, the Marlins signing Jean Segura, the heretofore-unsuspected existence of Charles Leblanc, and the pitch-calling accuracy of 10 retiring umpires, plus followups on how the zombie runner affects plate appearance totals, Lars Nootbaar’s pepper grinder, the year-to-year consistency of team replay-review success rates, and overlooked Rockies stories. Then (38:51) they discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each American League team that they had previously overlooked on the podcast in 2022 (including mini Stat Blasts about the most unique team lineups used per season and Anthony Santander and team winning percentages when a player hits at least two homers), plus a Past Blast (1:46:52) from 1949. Audio intro: Other Lives, “End of the Year” Audio outro: Blue Rain Boots, “2023” Link to nVenue episode Link to MLBTR on Segura Link to projected team WAR Link to retiring umps story Link to Umpire Scorecards Link to Hallion punchouts video Link to story on ump improvements Link to story on ump age Link to EW episode on NL teams Link to pepper grinder story Link to tweets about Nootbaar Link to replay success rates Link to success-rate spreadsheet Link to stat correlations Link to SP stat correlations Link to more stat correlations Link to pitching stat correlations Link to xstats correlations Link to Freeland clip Link to Pint story Link to Rockies scoreboard Second link to Rockies scoreboard Link to 2022 SP WAR Link to Baker deli story Link to Craig Wright on Vogt Link to UPI Vogt story Link to Vogt homer video Link to Vogt ref impression 1 Link to Vogt ref impression 2 Link to Ringer best sports moments Link to highest BABIPs Link to OAA behind pitcher Link to FG on the righty shift Link to Jays Journal on Gausman Link to The Athletic on Gausman Link to Jay Jaffe on Gausman Link to FG on Jays shifting Link to Kwan pinball story Link to swing rate leaderboard Link to CtC on Gonzalez Link to story on Gonzalez’s swings Link to story on Harry Ford Link to story on Great Britain/WBC Link to 2+ home run spreadsheet Link to immaculate innings story Link to best second-half hitters Link to Harold Ramírez story Link to Boston.com on Eck Link to The Ecktionary on Twitter Link to Ecktionary glossary Link to The Athletic on Eckersley Link to Eck on “pair of shoes” Link to CBS Sports on Cuas Link to The Athletic on Cuas Link to Cuas MLBN video Link to Cuas on his debut Link to article on Meadows Link to Rodriguez report Link to Rodriguez return story Link to lineups spreadsheet Link to Ryan Nelson’s Twitter Link to previous lineups Stat Blast Link to RP WPA leaders Link to fastest four-seamers Link to story on Cruz and Arraez Link to ultimate grand slams Link to Cabrera robbery Link to article on Cabrera Link to Pinstripe Alley on Cabrera Link to 1949 story source Link to Dodgertown site Link to story on Rickey innovations Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter  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 FanGraphs writer Ben Clemens continue a cherished podcast tradition by conducting the 10th annual Effectively Wild Minor League Free Agent Draft, in which they select 10 minor league free agents each and compete to see whose roster will accumulate the most combined MLB playing time in 2023. First they explain the history and ground rules of the draft, and then they start making their selections (18:11), followed by a Past Blast (1:20:02) from 1948. Audio intro: Greg Brown, “Laughing River” Audio outro: Buzzcocks, “Playing for Time” Link to eligible free agents Link to WAR of past selections Link to the draft at the EW wiki Link to competitions spreadsheet Link to this year’s picks Link to BA picks Link to Down on the Farm (hitters) Link to Down on the Farm (pitchers) Link to Down on the Farm (signings) Link to VEB on draftees Link to 1948 story source Link to SABR on Braves Field Link to SABR on neon foul poles Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter  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 Carlos Correa’s contract limbo, the Pirates signing Rich Hill, the Rangers signing Nathan Eovaldi, the Red Sox signing Corey Kluber, the Blue Jays trading Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to the Diamondbacks for Daulton Varsho, the Braves extending Sean Murphy, and the Phillies signing Craig Kimbrel. Then (39:51) they discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each National League team that they had previously overlooked on the podcast in 2022 (including a Stat Blast at 1:12:53 about the decline in qualified hitters and hitters with 700-plus plate appearances), plus a Past Blast (1:44:29) from 1947. Audio intro: Carl Smith, “I Overlooked an Orchid” Audio outro: Harvey Danger, “I Missed It” Link to article on “Dead Week” Link to 2014 Correa injury Link to Heyman on Correa Link to Puma on Correa Link to 2022 Correa injury Link to MLBTR on Hill Link to Hill quiz Link to EW wiki on Hill Link to MLBTR on Eovaldi Link to FG SP depth chart Link to MLBTR on Kluber Link to MLBTR on Varsho Link to MLBTR on Murphy Link to MLBTR on Kimbrel Link to story on Heredia swords Link to Stathead on Heredia Link to info on Heredia demotion Link to info on Heredia promotion Link to MLBTR on Heredia Link to 2022 roster report Link to Battery Power on Heredia Link to Infinity Gauntlet story Link to Brewers bell story Link to Nootbar ASB story Link to Nootbaar grinder origin Link to Nootbaar grinder story Link to Thompson/Kile story Link to Laurila on Thompson Link to info on Robertson demotion Link to Robertson error Link to Jeff Albert story Link to story on Morel’s homer Link to story on homer prediction Link to fist-bump photo Link to team attendance cost Link to D-backs/Rays comparison Link to Dodgers celebration Link to Dodgers Reddit thread Link to 2022 Clutch leaders Link to Stathead on Flores split Link to Doval story Link to Doval pitch usage Link to 2022 fastest pitches Link to Stat Blast spreadsheet Link to teams with one qualifier Link to Ryan Nelson’s Twitter Link to research on days off Link to more research on days off Link to load management article Link to more on load management Link to Nate Fisher story Link to Reddit thread on Friedland Link to Friedland’s LinkedIn Link to Defector on Mets replays Link to replay-challenge leaders Link to replay success rates Link to WaPo on Doolittle Link to Washingtonian on Doolittle Link to Musgrove trip website Link to MLB.com on Musgrove Link to Musgrove pitch Link to Musgrove’s Polaroids Link to Stathead on Phillies saves Link to minor league leaderboard Link to Pirates Reddit thread Link to MLBTR on Kendall Link to Greene’s pitch usage Link to Ben Clemens on Greene Link to BA on Greene’s fastball Link to FG on Greene’s fastball Link to MLB.com on Robinson Link to EW on catcher bias Link to MLB.com on Rox prospects Link to 1947 story source Link to Doby SABR bio Link to SABR on integration Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter Link to Craig Wright on Doby Link to Wright on Doby/Boudreau Link to Nootbaar grinder Link to Nootbar framed photo Link to Nootbaar unframed photo Link to Nootbar uninscribed ball Link to Nootbar inscribed ball  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 latest Carlos Correa-related reporting, the Giants’ signings of Michael Conforto and Taylor Rogers, the hijinks potential of twin teammates Taylor and Tyler Rogers, the final results of the free-agent-contract over/under draft, their cautious optimism about the Angels (28:35), the Reds’ spending constraints (39:19), owners complaining about Steve Cohen, how it feels for fans when a team’s identity changes, and Trevor Bauer’s reinstatement from the suspended list (55:16). Also: a Past Blast from 1946 (1:10:15) and Stat Blasts (1:14:57) about the most distinct batters to come to the plate in one half-inning, the most Retrosheet offensive events by one player in one game, and (with guest Stat Blaster Zach Kram of The Ringer) the highest and lowest team payrolls adjusted for MLB salary inflation. (Hint: The highest is not the 2023 Mets.) Plus a postscript! Audio intro: The Boo Radleys, “Twinside” Audio outro: Alvarado Road Show, “Baseball Stops for Christmas” Link to Passan on Correa Link to The Athletic on Correa Link to Grant on Correa Link to Gausman tweet Link to Verducci on Correa Link to Correa’s house-hunting Link to details on Correa’s leg Link to Ben C. on Giants signings Link to Drellich on Cohen Link to Ben L. on long contracts Link to Reds spending tweet Link to Alex Eisert on Reds moves Link to WFAN Correa call Link to KNBR Correa calls Link to fan self-esteem study Link to Jake Mailhot on Drury Link to EW competitions/drafts Link to ESPN on Bauer Link to WaPo on Bauer Link to L.A. Times on Bauer Link to 1946 story source Link to “defensive spectrum” wiki Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter Link to Stat Blast info Link to Ryan Nelson’s Twitter Link to current team payrolls Link to inflation-adjusted payrolls Link to 2018 Craig Edwards post Link to SIS on the Yankees’ defense Link to team DRS rankings Link to Langs tweet Link to eclipse game box score Link to MLBTR on Varsho Link to outfield OAA leaders  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 break down every incredible angle of the biggest twist of the MLB offseason: free agent Carlos Correa’s overnight pivot from a 13-year agreement with the San Francisco Giants to a 12-year deal with the New York Mets. After their incredulous Correa reactions, they close with a few thoughts on the Pirates’ latest innovation in the realm of announcing signings (this one involving Austin Hedges), Aaron Judge and the Yankees’ captaincy, and their intention to talk about Brandon Drury and the Angels, plus a Past Blast from 1945. Audio intro: Fruit Bats, “Stunned One” Audio outro: The Weakerthans, “Hymn of the Medical Oddity” Link to Ben L. on Correa Link to Ben C. on Correa Link to Boras comments Link to Verducci on Correa Link to Heyman’s report Link to Heyman on Cohen Link to The Athletic on Correa Link to Emma’s tweet Link to team payrolls Link to team depth charts Link to 2003 Onion story Link to Astudillo report Link to R.J.’s Pirates tweet Link to Jeter video Link to MLBTR on McCann Link to 1945 story source Link to SABR on Robinson’s signing Link to SABR on Wright Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter  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 differences, if any, between a two-year deal with an opt out after the first year and a one-year deal with a player option for a second year, then discuss the Dansby Swanson signing, the destinations of the winter’s top four shortstops, and the state of the Cubs, the spending of the White Sox, the AL Central, and the trajectories of Andrew Benintendi and Joey Gallo, Atlanta depending on Vaughn Grissom to replace Swanson at shortstop, the Dodgers and Red Sox essentially swapping DHs in J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner (and Boston’s confusing competitive stance), the Orioles’ unexciting signings and the Marlins’ lack of moves, the Padres and Mets continuing to add players and payroll and whether Seth Lugo is like socks, the Astros re-signing Michael Brantley, Kris Bryant being on the Rockies, and more, plus Stat Blasts about this winter’s unusually long contracts and Rich Hill’s gap between 30-start seasons (1:03:35), a Past Blast from 1944 (1:15:28), and a Hall-of-Fame follow-up. Audio intro: ABBA, “Two for the Price of One” Audio outro: JD McPherson, “Socks” Link to Wendy on mutual options Link to article on tweet length Link to Ben Clemens on Swanson Link to Dan Szymborski on the Cubs Link to Laurila on Benintendi Link to Baumann on Gallo Link to Chris Gilligan on Lugo Link to team payrolls Link to SP depth charts Link to Battery Power on Grissom Link to Esteban Rivera on JDM Link to Justin Choi on Turner Link to Baumann on the Red Sox Link to article on Bloom buying/selling Link to article on Boston’s deadline Link to Dan on the Orioles Link to Hill Stat Blast data Link to 1944 story source Link to story on Phillies rebrand Link to SABR on team nicknames Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter Link to latest Ringer-Verse episode Link to first Ringer-Verse episode  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 Yankees signing Carlos Rodón, Rodón’s recent trajectory and future, New York teams at the top of the payroll leaderboard and starting-pitcher projections, the career of the late Curt Simmons, and the perfect pace of this offseason. Then (31:06) they answer listener emails about the best players to pick for a snowball fight, using the same baseball throughout a game, Steve Cohen and sportswashing, persuading Pirates owner Bob Nutting to spend, Nutting and A Christmas Carol, a lottery for a free agent Shohei Ohtani, and a baseball rope-a-dope strategy, plus a Past Blast from 1943, musings on the Red Sox designating Jeter Downs for assignment, and a postscript on late-breaking transactions and a pedantic observation about the term “DFA.” Audio intro: The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, “New York” Audio outro: The Orchids, “Mr. Scrooge” Link to Ben Clemens on Rodón Link to Jake Mintz on Rodón Link to info on Rodón non-tender Link to team payrolls Link to SP depth charts Link to Craig Wright on Simmons Link to Pages From Baseball’s Past Link to “The Homer They Fall” Link to EW emails database Link to 1943 story source Link to info on Ullenberg Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter Link to MLBTR on Downs Link to MLBTR on Benintendi Link to MLBTR on Gallo Link to MLBTR on Hosmer Link to Secret Santa sign-up sheet Link to Secret Santa FB 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 the Pirates’ Vince Velasquez hype video, a “mutant option” for Cody Bellinger, and a Francisco Rodríguez-only Hall of Fame ballot, then (22:09) discuss Carlos Correa’s 13-year contract with the Giants and its implications for the NL West, the Twins and Cubs, and the future of old-player production, along with musings on the state of the Dodgers’ rotation after their signing of Noah Syndergaard. After that (51:24), FanGraphs writer Ben Clemens joins to get everyone interested in interest rates and explain why the CBA and economic conditions have encouraged teams to sign so many free agents to extremely lengthy deals this winter. They close (1:22:40) with a Past Blast from 1942. Audio intro: The Luxembourg Signal, “Ramblin’ Rodriguez” Audio interstitial: The Hold Steady, “On With the Business” Audio outro: PUP, “Grim Reaping” Link to Velasquez video Link to signing tweet Link to Priester video Link to laptop tweet Link to Pirates’ winter moves Link to “mutant option” tweet Link to Foolish tweet Link to Belisle mutual option Link to bad ballot Link to Dan S. on Correa Link to Mallory Pugh wiki Link to Eisert on Syndergaard Link to Dodgers depth chart Link to SP depth charts Link to Simon on Correa Link to Olney on Judge Link to Ricketts comment Link to Ben on long deals Link to Rosenthal on long deals Link to EW on long deals Link to Kovalchuk article Link to NPR on interest rates Link to 1942 story source Link to FDR’s letter Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter Link to Carlin video Link to Carlin transcript Link to Secret Santa sign-up sheet Link to Secret Santa FB 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 discuss the two teams at the top and bottom, respectively, of the MLB payroll hierarchy, the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics, touching on the Mets’ signings of Brandon Nimmo, Kodai Senga, and David Robertson, the A’s trading away Sean Murphy, and what a vast disparity in spending does and doesn’t signify for MLB’s competitive balance. They also banter about the other teams’ ends of that three-team trade, the state of the NL East, the Giants’ starting-pitcher signings, a reported Padres offer, the Blue Jays’ and Twins’ latest additions, Munetaka Murakami news, and more, plus a Past Blast from 1941. Audio intro: Billy Joel, “Last of the Big Time Spenders” Audio outro: Sex Bob-Omb, “Threshold” Link to Patrick Dubuque on Cohen Link to Longenhagen on Senga Link to Baumann on Mets spending Link to Rosenthal on owners Link to Rosenthal on Murphy Link to Baumann on Murphy Link to Law on Murphy Link to Petriello on Murphy Link to FG payroll page Link to team catcher WAR Link to SP depth charts Link to 2005 team payrolls Link to FG post on Manaea Link to FG post on Bassitt Link to FG on Vázquez/Zunino Link to Marlins article Link to Padres report Link to Kovalchuk article Link to Murakami news Link to Ben’s SNL oral history Link to 1941 story source Link to Lefty Grove bio Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter Link to Secret Santa sign-up sheet Link to Secret Santa FB thread Link to share of team Ks sheet  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 their AI chatbot counterparts, then discuss the ramifications of the Padres signing Xander Bogaerts (12:58), the significance of the Red Sox losing Bogaerts and the trend toward very long-term contracts (51:26), and a report about multiple models of the baseball being used during the 2022 season (1:19:59), plus updates and a Past Blast from 1940 (1:49:43). Audio intro: Pixies, “Get Simulated” Audio outro: Parker Gispert, “Life in the Goldilocks Zone” Link to ChatGPT Link to OpenAI Link to ChatGPT intro script Link to Dan S. on Bogaerts Link to Nightengale tweets Link to team payroll breakdown Link to story on Bogaerts leaving Link to story on Bloom Link to story on Story Link to Kram on the Meetings Link to Stark on long contracts Link to hitter aging curves Link to Kovalchuk story Link to new baseballs report Link to last year’s report Link to last year’s EW episode Link to 1940 story source Link to Jacob Pomrenke’s website Link to Jacob Pomrenke on Twitter Link to over-30 lineups study Link to 1985 automatic runner ref Link to other 1985 ref Link to giant Turner tweet  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