Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a baseball (and softball) toilet flapper, discuss (13:32) the continued excellence of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani (and the benefits of celebrating both instead of elevating one over the other), follow up on the Angels’ shutouts, Mike Trout’s post-injury rebound, the MLBPA’s effort to unionize minor leaguers (38:09), players whose homer totals matched their uniform numbers (46:25), César Hernández’s homers (47:38), Dallas Keuchel’s disastrous denouement (51:14), the Frontier League’s record-setting Empire State Greys (57:38), the variability of check-swing strike call rates (1:00:27), Yankee Stadium’s noise level (1:04:16), and a playoff-seeding quirk’s potential for tanking (1:13:05), followed by additional discussion on Zac Gallen’s scoreless streak (1:22:01) and Joe Maddon’s thoughts on analytics and managing (1:26:35), plus a Past Blast from 1899 (1:46:42) and a few closing thoughts (1:50:30). Audio intro: The Lumineers, “Flapper Girl” Audio outro: The Long Blondes, “You Could Have Both” Link to flapper wrapper photo Link to Korky flapper page Link to Hugh Laurie “Corky” montage Link to article on Clemens and Ohtani Link to article on Ohtani’s autograph Link to team shutout leaders Link to Russell on Ohtani’s WAR Link to final Frontier League standings Link to Greys interview episode Link to lowest pro winning percentages Link to Evan’s unionization update Link to list of highest ERAs (min. 60 IP) Link to Bill James on grounder longevity Link to Rob Neyer’s response to James Link to @would_it_dong for Hernández Link to video of Hernández’s HR Link to article on Hernández’s HR Link to Stat Blast on Hernández Link to Craig Finn tweet Link to Rob Mains on playoff seeding Link to Joe Sheehan on playoff seeding Link to Dan Szymborski on Gallen Link to Michael Ajeto on Gallen Link to team OAA leaderboard Link to “OAA behind pitcher” leaderboard Link to Maddon’s comments Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1899 story source Link to Richard Garner primate research Link to Barzun baseball essay  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 listener/Patreon supporter Nathan Valentine banter about Nathan’s dual team fandom, then answer listener emails (9:58) about Aaron Judge’s lead over the next-most-prolific HR hitter, handing out awards for all of MLB rather than each league, Jhoan Duran and defining an “off-speed” pitch, what constitutes actually visiting a stadium, and whether certain players might lose some motivation after signing a long-term extension, plus “How can you not be pedantic about baseball?” questions (54:11) about saying “after the final out,” “playing DH,” and “hitting safely,” Stat Blasts (1:08:20) about David Peterson and pitcher three-true-outcome outings, Ross Stripling and the fewest pitches to get through the first time through the order, Yadier Molina and seasons where a player had a higher age than wRC+, players with the highest matching HR totals and jersey numbers, and two-out-batting records, and a Past Blast (1:26:28) from 1898. Audio intro: Aimee Mann, “It’s Not Safe” Audio outro: Willie Nelson, “Valentine” Link to Ben’s article on Meneses Link to Meneses walk-off video Link to Statcast HR leaderboard Link to Judge’s expected HR by park Link to Joe Sheehan on Judge Link to Zach Kram on Judge Link to Ben on Stanton in 2017 Link to article on PED Era HR leaders Link to Russell on league differences Link to Duran video Link to Pavlidis on Duran Link to Apostoleris on Duran Link to pitch-type-name matrix Link to pitch-type guessing game Link to Ben Clemens on sweepers Link to Timmy Trumpet story Link to Players’ Tribune piece Link to tweet about hitting safely Link to Stathead Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to Peterson TTO game Link to Mathews TTO game Link to Stripling EW episode Link to Adcock game Link to Age>wRC+ sheet Link to post on Levey’s MVP vote Link to 2021 Braves game Link to 1954 Dodgers game Link to EW listener emails database Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1898 story source  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 annual promotion of Terrance Gore as a harbinger of the changing seasons, the modest September roster expansion and the arrivals or returns of Gunnar Henderson, Oswald Peraza, and Billy Hamilton, an umpire caught swearing on a hot mic (4:45), whether the Yankees could actually lose their lead in the AL East (7:59), the continued torrid hitting of Joey Meneses (20:09), the offensive potential of MLB games in Mexico City (21:34), an interruption (22:02) for a real-time reaction to Meneses’s walk-off homer, and two Past Blasts from 1897 (30:10). Then (46:57) they talk to Evan Drellich, senior writer for The Athletic, about the MLBPA’s effort to unionize the minors, touching on why the announcement was such a surprise, why this campaign is happening now, what will happen next, how a union of major and minor leaguers would work, potential points of conflict and agreement, how the sport could change, how far minor league advocacy has come, the league’s response, what the unionized minors might mean for Rob Manfred, and Jeff Luhnow’s sneaky phone deletions. Audio intro: James Taylor, “Migration” Audio interstitial: Todd Rundgren, “Long Flowing Robe” Audio outro: Billy Bragg, “There is Power in a Union” Link to Gore EW episode Link to story on swallow migration Link to Dan S. on Henderson Link to hot-mic ump Link to Rob Mains on winning by losing Link to story on Ohtani homer Link to Trivino jersey story Link to story on Meneses homer Link to MLB.TV offer Link to Ben on baseball in Mexico City Link to MLB on the Mexico City series Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1897 knuckler story source 1 Link to 1897 knuckler story source 2 Link to @OldBaseballNews account Link to NYT story on bathrobe Link to Emslie’s SABR bio Link to bathrobe story 2 Link to bathrobe story 3 Link to bathrobe story 4 Link to bathrobe story 5 Link to bathrobe story 6 Link to bathrobe story 7 Link to bathrobe story 8 Link to bathrobe story 9 Link to bathrobe story 10 Link to bathrobe story 11 Link to Evan on unionization Link to Evan’s Clark Q&A Link to Evan’s ILR expert Q&A Link to Gallup poll on unions Link to Winning Fixes Everything Link to Luhnow book excerpt Link to Rodger Sherman Yankees tweet  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 Ben’s habitual misappraisal of checked swings and the potential for automated checked-swing calls, then discuss the potential unionization of the minor leagues via minor league players joining the MLBPA, Nationals rookie replacement Joey Meneses outplaying Juan Soto and Josh Bell since the trade deadline, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and the AL Cy Young and MVP races, the Brewers’ and Padres’ results since the Josh Hader–Taylor Rogers trade, the potential postseason teams with the most sympathetic narratives for neutral rooters, Dallas Keuchel and the long tail of a former Cy Young winner’s career, the Angels’ surprisingly high shutout total, an Albert Pujols fun fact, John Smoltz’s communication breakdown, the return of soaring spin rates, a record-setting Mickey Mantle card, New York number retirements for Paul O’Neill and Willie Mays, and the reinvented stance of the late John Wockenfuss, plus two Past Blasts (1:36:32) from 1896 and a few followups. Audio intro: Kurt Vile, “Check Baby” Audio outro: Nick Drake, “Joey” Link to checked-swing rule explainer Link to SIS study on checked swings Link to Ben on checked swings Link to Tipping Pitches T-shirt Link to MLBTR on unionization efforts Link to Ohtani’s postgame comment Link to team RP WAR since 8/2 Link to Jay Jaffe on the Hader trade Link to SIS on Hader Link to Michael Ajeto on Hader Link to Robert Orr on Hader Link to highest ERAs w/29+ saves Link to team shutout leaders Link to Pujols record article Link to Ben Clemens on Smoltz Link to Rob Arthur on spin rates Link to 2022 offense by month Link to story on the Mantle card Link to EW episode on memorabilia Link to Yankees WAR leaderboard Link to story on the Mets and Mays Link to Craig Wright’s story series Link to Wright on Wockenfuss Link to video of Wockenfuss Link to BSG imitation of Wockenfuss Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1896 story source Link to first source on Pond Link to second source on Pond Link to third source on Pond Link to Pond/sweater story Link to Pond’s SABR bio Link to Fox 96 mph screenshot Link to Fox 97 mph screenshot Link to Dan S. on head-to-head records  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 Julio Rodríguez‘s complex, long-term extension with the Mariners, which wild card contenders Meg is most worried about as a Mariners fan, George Kirby’s game-starting strike streak and the nature of a strike, the new CBA’s impact on midseason callups, and Bryce Harper’s return, follow up on MLB players playing KBO players, “defended” vs. “defensed,” Munetaka Murakami’s homers, and Yankee Stadium’s design, share a Past Blast (43:17) from 1895, and reflect on the 20th anniversary of the first MLB game stream. Then (54:40) they talk to listener and broadcast designer/director Chris Hanel about his research into the pitch-speed flames and score bugs on baseball broadcasts, the biggest score bug mistakes and disputes, how score bugs have evolved, the best and worst score bugs, the future of score bugs, and more. Audio intro: The Apples in Stereo, “Stream Running Over” Audio interstitial: Bobbie Gentry, “Bugs” Audio outro: Popsicle, “Join My Stream” Link to Passan’s extension article Link to Passan’s Twitter thread Link to MLBTR on the extension Link to Dan S. on the extension Link to Stathead on 20/20 players Link to Kirby strike-record data Link to Stowers walk-off video Link to Elias fact tweet Link to CBA incentive details Link to BP on the Cavalli callup Link to tweet about Henderson Link to info on the “Korea Series” Link to Mark Simon on Walker Link to Zach Buchanan on Walker Link to Murakami tweet Link to defended/defensed discussion Link to story about streaming anniversary Link to 2002 streaming screenshot Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1895 story source Link to Sam on the flames Link to Chris’s flames grid Link to Chris’s graphics sheet Link to NPB graphics screenshot Link to NPB graphics screenshot 2 Link to story on ESPN NFL graphics change Link to MLB survey screenshot thread Link to Chris’s score bug account Link to Chris’s thread with more info Link to Chris’s baseball account Link to Chris’s company  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 approving responses to Ben’s blistering (by Ben’s standards) Yankee Stadium review, Christian Walker’s scale-breaking defense at first base, “defended” vs. “defensed,” the Dodgers’ historic run of regular-season success, and the battle between teammates Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt for NL MVP frontrunner status, followed by Stat Blasts (49:13) on the Yankees and slumping prospective playoff teams, teams whose players led their league in each type of hit, the biggest differentials in pitcher Game Score from one start to the next (against different teams and the same team), Lucas Giolito and the longest strings of starts with different numbers of earned runs allowed, and the most non-hit RBI to start a career, plus a Past Blast (1:11:56) from 1894. Audio intro: Super Furry Animals, “Run! Christian, Run!” Audio outro: Atomic Rooster, “Never to Lose” Link to first base OAA leaders Link to Petriello’s tweet Link to Mark Simon on Walker Link to Scoop leaders Link to Petriello on the Dodgers Link to Ben on the Dodgers in 2015 Link to Dan Szymborski on Bellinger Link to Angels lineup with Ford Link to info on MLB co-MVPs Link to Tyler Kepner on the Yankees Link to Jay Jaffe on the Yankees Link to Jay on playoff-team season ends Link to MLB.com on playoff-team season ends Link to Stathead Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to hottest team starts Link to playoff-team slumps Link to league hit leaders data Link to worst 2022 Game Scores Link to worst pre-2022 Game Scores Link to biggest Game Score swings Link to listener emails database Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1894 story source  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 inflation of flames for fast pitches on baseball broadcasts, Oneil Cruz’s record-setting hard hit and the limitations of tools, Ben’s review of a trip to Yankee Stadium and Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski’s review of Wrigley Field compared to Fenway Park, the potential impact of a forthcoming Angels franchise sale, the latest Tony La Russa shenanigans, the importance of Johnny Cueto, updates on the streaking Cardinals and Albert Pujols, Jordan Montgomery, and Yadier Molina, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s shoulder surgery, the new, more balanced MLB schedule coming in 2023, the return of Alex Bregman’s bat, and the historic exploits of NPB phenoms Munetaka Murakami and Roki Sasaki, plus a Past Blast from 1893 and a few followups. Audio intro: The Super Friendz, “Down in Flames” Audio outro: Nils Lofgren, “Yankee Stadium” Link to Sam on the flames Link to percentage of 95+ pitches Link to percentage of 95+ fastballs Link to percentage of 95+ 4-seamers Link to percentage of 96+ 4-seamers Link to story on Cruz hit Link to Jay Jaffe on the Yankees Link to Winckowski comments Link to “bean counter” etymology Link to Angels sale announcement Link to The Athletic on the Angels sale Link to MLBTR on the ballpark sale Link to La Russa quote Link to article on Kopech Link to other post on Kopech Link to MLBTR on the Cueto signing Link to article about players of the week Link to Jay on Pujols Link to Jeremy Frank tweet about Pujols Link to Ben Clemens on Montgomery Link to Foolish tweet about Montgomery Link to article on Molina’s absence Link to article on Tatis’s surgery Link to article on the 2023 schedule Link to Clemens on Bregman Link to David Laurila on Bregman Link to June episode about Bregman Link to DeltaGraphs Link to Ben on DeltaGraphs Link to CBS Sports on Murakami Link to The Sporting News on Murakami Link to The Japan Times on Murakami Link to Kyodo News on Murakami Link to article on Murakami’s streak Link to video of Murakami’s streak Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1893 story source Link to Goldeyes EW episode Link to Wade/Ward EW wiki page Link to high Offense, negative WPA sheet Link to 1978 Orioles cap  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 impending premiere of Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon, the projection-system verdict on the Braves’ extension of Michael Harris II, the White Sox signing Elvis Andrus, the possibly underrated, could’ve-been-Hall-of-Fame career of José Abreu, and the sophomore improvement of Ha-Seong Kim, then (25:06) answer listener emails about Albert Pujols and the 100-WAR threshold, big leaguers who’ve lost more games in their lives than they’ve won, and at which level a team would be unable to win even one game in a season were it promoted to the majors, followed by a Meet a Major Leaguer segment (51:08) on the Rockies’ Wynton Bernard, the Mariners’ Brennan Bernardino, and the Diamondbacks’ Stone Garrett, Stat Blasts (1:08:49) about the most first-round picks in a team game (and a starting lineup), streaks of team games with identical scores, and the highest WAR by a player with a negative WPA, plus a Past Blast (1:25:20) from 1892 (including a surprising Ed Delahanty comp) and (1:31:51) multiple Taylor Ward broadcaster mistakes. Audio intro: Biz Markie, “The Dragon” Audio outro: The Baseball Project, “The Death of Big Ed Delahanty” Link to Dan S. on the Harris extension Link to Dan on the Albies extension Link to Craig Edwards on Albies Link to MLBTR on the Sox signing Andrus Link to Ben Clemens on the Abreu deal Link to Abreu’s pre-MLB stats Link to Dan S. on Kim’s projection Link to Grant on Little League Link to replacement level explainer Link to Clay’s league strength post Link to B-Ref’s new debuts page Link to MLB.com on Bernard Link to Bernard call-up video Link to MLB.com on Garrett Link to Garrett call-up video Link to Bernardino announcement Link to story on Bernardino and Rossman Link to story on Bernardino’s debut Link to Stathead Link to Stathead addition post Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to first-rounders-in-game data Link to first-rounders-in-lineup data Link to high WARs with negative WPA Link to Beltré’s pivotal 2010 plays Link to Delahanty comp article Link to Phillies LF article Link to Delahanty’s SABR bio Link to RIP Baseball on Delahanty Link to article on 1900 Phillies Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1892 story source 1 Link to 1892 story source 2 Link to Harry Stevens article Link to Wade/Ward EW wiki page  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 follow up on Tony La Russa’s suspicious pinch-runner call, banter about Joey Gallo on the Dodgers and Andrew Benintendi on the Yankees, the utility of booing, and the parochial concept of being unable to play in New York, the curious timing of the Rangers’ firing of long-tenured executive Jon Daniels, the Athletics’ curious release of Elvis Andrus, the Braves extending Michael Harris II and the domino theory of extensions, and Joey Votto’s season-ending injury, then answer listener emails about which ownership group they would most want to compel to open its books and an MLB vs. NPB/KBO All-Star Game, plus (1:06:38) a Past Blast from 1891 and a bonus question about recursive caps. Audio intro: Ryan Oxford, “Fa Fa Fa Fired” Audio outro: Roland Roberts, “All About the Timing” Link to La Russa video Link to La Russa response Link to Gallo’s quotes to The Athletic Link to later Gallo quotes Link to Updike’s New York quote Link to MLBTR on the Daniels firing Link to Levi Weaver on the Daniels firing Link to press release about Daniels Link to longest-tenured team execs Link to FG farm rankings Link to MLBTR on the Andrus release Link to A’s WAR leaders Link to MLBTR on the Harris extension Link to Passan tweet about Braves core Link to MLBTR on the Votto injury Link to biblical losses quote Link to KBO ASG story Link to Team USA WBC roster Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1891 story source 1 Link to article on 1900 Phillies Link to 1891 story source 2 Link to 1891 story source 3 Link to Orioles cap  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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 a bit more about whether Dottie dropped the ball on purpose in the movie version of A League of Their Own, then discuss an Angels defensive meltdown, a vomiting Oakland Athletic, a Javier Báez bad-ball batted ball, Tony La Russa (and Bill Veeck) taking suggestions from the stands, the Mets’ promotion of Brett Baty, Francisco Lindor, Andrés Giménez, and the Lindor trade revisited, Walker Buehler’s Tommy John surgery, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s suspension, and the Rangers firing Chris Woodward and the dubious utility of one-run records in evaluating managers, then Stat Blast (51:34) about Drew Rasmussen and almost-perfect games versus nine-inning no-hitters and a Max Scherzer/Bryson Stott fun fact, share a Past Blast (1:04:01) from 1890, and talk (1:10:02) to Dr. Justine Siegal, trailblazing baseball coach, founder of Baseball For All, and Baseball Coordinator for the A League of Their Own TV reboot, about her work on the baseball scenes in the series and the progress of women in baseball. Audio intro: Tommy Roe, “Dottie I Like It” Audio interstitial: Neil Young, “Field of Opportunity” Audio outro: Tami Neilson, “Green Peaches” Link to info on Dottie debate Link to show creators’ comments Link to Dottie/Kit scene Link to A League of Their Own movie Link to A League of Their Own show Link to A League of Their Own trailer Link to video of Ohtani’s new pitch Link to thread of Angels plays Link to article on Angels plays Link to Angels fan reaction GIF Link to Julio’s almost-homer Link to Santana’s sunflower seeds Link to Ben on broken counts Link to Bois on broken counts Link to article on Bolt vomiting Link to Báez batted ball Link to La Russa video Link to info on Veeck’s stunt Link to MLBTR on Baty Link to Fabian Ardaya on Buehler Link to Dan S. on Tatis Link to Tatis Sr. tweet Link to other Tatis Sr. tweet Link to Tatis bobblehead tweet Link to Levi Weaver on Woodward Link to worst one-run records Link to Bill James on one-run records Link to Rob Mains on one-run records Link to Chris Jaffe’s managers book Link to Ben Clemens on Rasmussen Link to thread on perfectos vs. no-nos Link to Stathead Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to Scherzer fun fact tweet Link to Stathead on fourth time through Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1890 story source 1 Link to 1890 story source 2 Link to Atlas Obscura story Link to EW review of League Link to Justine’s website Link to Justine’s wiki Link to Baseball For All’s website Link to Maybelle Blair video Link to Outsports on Blair Link to The L.A. Times on Blair Link to MLB.com on Blair Link to Pitch coordinator episode Link to Twilight coordinator episode Link to watch party link  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  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