Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Dottie dropped the ball on purpose in the 1992 movie A League of Their Own, then (steering clear of spoilers) review and discuss the highs and lows of the new TV reboot, the first season of which debuted on Friday on Amazon Prime Video. After that (49:54), they answer listener emails about whether hard infield throws pose a danger to first basemen, Miguel Cabrera and the efficacy of “setting up” pitchers, announced attendance vs. actual attendance, the Braves’ notable lack of bunting, and what would happen if players had to wear their first uniform for their whole career, plus (1:23:41) a Past Blast from 1889 and a postscript (1:31:34) on Fernando Tatis Jr.’s PED suspension. Audio intro: The Cast of A League of Their Own, “AAGPBL Victory Song” Audio outro: Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra, “Suspended in Time” Link to info on Dottie debate 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 Alison Herman’s review Link to Michael Baumann’s review Link to info on AAGPBL’s queer history Link to A Secret Love 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 movie’s Black bystander scene Link to Katie Baker on the movie Link to Katie on EW Link to football helmet photo Link to info on setting up pitchers Link to article on Miggy Link to article on Manny Link to Bill Russell anecdote Link to Willie’s Time passage Link to article on reported attendance Link to fewest 2022 team bunts Link to fewest pre-2022 team bunts Link to Russell on the bunting decline Link to Russell on bunting in extras Link to 2022 bunt hits by team Link to 2022 sac bunts by team Link to Manfred quote about ASG unis Link to Outsports on Bates Link to “boner” etymology Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1889 story source 1 Link to 1889 story source 2 Link to listener emails database Link to Tatis statement Link to Union-Tribune on Tatis Link to MLBTR on Tatis  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 Mariners’ soaring playoff odds, a wild Mariners-Yankees game, the other greatest team gainers and losers in playoff probability over the past month, the difference between Baseball-Reference’s playoff odds and other sites’ versions, Keith Hernandez’s thoughts on the Phillies, how their own preseason predictions have held up, Steven Kwan and Triston McKenzie, the dominance of the Dodgers, a few significant injuries, the Tigers firing GM Al Avila (40:26) and the future of their franchise, Jason Heyward’s Cubs contract, Rodolfo Castro’s phone mishap, and more. Then (1:05:23) they share a Past Blast from 1888, Stat Blast (1:09:06) about Miles Mikolas and the worst start ever, Robinson Canó’s trio of releases, Jake Fishman and long gaps between a college’s alumni making the majors, the most homers in a day by players with the same first name, games where every pitcher recorded the same number of outs, the longest winning streaks by sub-.500 teams, and the youth of the Guardians, before ending with a quick, condensed cold call (1:35:26) with nearly-97-year-old Larry Miggins, who hit the most emotional home run Vin Scully ever called. Audio intro: The Soft Boys, “Lions and Tigers” Audio outro: The Fernweh, “Happy as Larry” Link to Yankees-Mariners game story Link to BP on the game Link to TOOTBLAN montage Link to FG odds changes Link to FG’s playoff odds page Link to B-Ref’s playoff odds page Link to Alex Speier on the Red Sox Link to Keith’s Phillies comment Link to The Ringer’s staff predictions Link to FG’s staff predictions Link to FG Kwan Q&A Link to Dan S. on the White Sox Link to Tigers statement on Avila Link to The Athletic on Avila Link to The Athletic on Avila again Link to Heyward news Link to Heyward’s FA value Link to story on Heyward’s speech Link to Joe Posnanski on Heyward’s deal Link to AP story on Castro Link to Castro video Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1888 story source 1 Link to 1888 story source 2 Link to Stathead Link to Kenny Jackelen on Twitter Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to worst 2022 starts Link to worst post-1947 starts Link to article on Oquist’s start Link to most releases sheet Link to college debut gaps sheet Link to sheet of same-out-count games Link to Garver game at B-Ref Link to Garver episode Link to list of longest sub-.500 W streaks Link to weighted team ages sheet Link to youngest/oldest teams sheet Link to Guardians/Mustard story Link to listener emails database Link to Pages from Baseball’s Past Link to Craig Wright on Miggins/Scully Link to Scully video Link to list of oldest living players Link to Miggins’ SABR bio Link to story on Miggins and Scully Link to story on Miggins and Jackie Link to 1946 story on Jackie’s debut  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 Dodgers’ and Mets’ “statement” series and the awe and anxiety inspired by Jacob deGrom, follow up on Vin Scully’s musical taste, retractable mounds, and Justin Verlander vs. Max Scherzer, and discuss a recent Rockies pickup and promotion and a hazardous mound visit, followed (33:00) by a Past Blast from 1887. Then (46:52) they talk to 95-year-old Ron Teasley, one of four living former Negro Leaguers from the MLB-designated 1920-1948 “major league” period, about his amateur and professional baseball career in Detroit, in the Dodgers’ minor league system, and with the New York Cubans, his memories of Minnie Miñoso, Buck O’Neil, and other Negro Leagues legends, breaking color barriers, the MLB reclassification and what else the league should do for former Negro Leaguers, his decades as a coach, the declining African-American presence in MLB, and more. Finally (1:23:50), they bring on author, editor, and historian Gary Gillette to discuss the restoration of one of the last surviving Negro Leagues ballparks, Hamtramck Stadium, as well as the ongoing efforts to preserve and uncover information about pre-integration Black baseball. Audio intro: J.J. Cale, “Slower Baby” Audio interstitial 1: Dick Haymes, “Little White Lies” Audio interstitial 2: Radiator Hospital, “Detroit Diamonds (Sacred Strays)” Audio outro: The Kinks, “Preservation” Link to Ben Clemens on deGrom Link to fastest sliders spreadsheet Link to Plaschke on Scully Link to Globe Life Field site Link to retractable mound image Link to retractable mound video Link to Verlander/Scherzer stat Link to all-time strikeout leaders Link to FG post on Lamet Link to article about Rockies hire Link to LinkedIn page Link to article about Rockies firing Link to Keith Law tweet Link to article about Nationals hire Link to pitching coach injury article Link to Teasley’s first EW appearance Link to Teasley bio Link to more Teasley info Link to 1945 article on Brown Dodgers Link to 1948 article on Teasley Link to second 1948 article on Teasley Link to third 1948 article on Teasley Link to 1989 article on Teasley Link to 1991 article on Teasley Link to 1999 article on Teasley Link to 2021 article on Teasley Link to info on the Mandak League Link to column about reparations Link to article about pensions Link to video about Hamtramck Link to video about Hamtramck unveiling Link to other video about unveiling Link to article on Hamtramck unveiling Link to The Biographical Encyclopedia Link to EW episode about 42 for 21 Link to Hamtramck website Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1887 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 a possible solution to the quandary of not enough slashes in “triple slash stats,” discuss the increasing excitement surrounding Aaron Judge’s home run record chase, and (20:00) share a Past Blast from 1886. Then (24:47) they welcome back singer-songwriter, baseball balladeer, and converted Dodgers fan Dan Bern to talk about his appreciation for the late Vin Scully and his song “The Golden Voice of Vin Scully,” followed by performances of “Golden Voice,” “Ballpark,” “Turns Out, Ohtani,” and “42.” Audio intro: Hot Chocolate, “Let Them Be the Judge” Audio interstitial: Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Radio” Audio outro: Dan Bern, “If the Dodgers Had Stayed in Brooklyn” Link to Zach Kram on Judge Link to Jay Jaffe on Judge Link to Mains on July offense Link to FG WAR leaderboard Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1886 story source Link to Dan’s first EW appearance Link to Dan’s website Link to Doubleheader Link to “Golden Voice” Link to “Ballpark” Link to “42” Link to Dan on Spotify Link to Scully’s farewell  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 Clayton Kershaw’s back, balky backs in general, some of the players traded at the deadline who made immediate impacts in their debuts, and the perhaps surprisingly small impacts that deadline moves make on playoff and World Series odds. Then (15:09) they answer listener emails about intentionally scuttling a trade for leverage in a future negotiation, what would have to happen to convince them that the Rockies were a well-run organization, penalizing slow-paced pitchers by gradually lowering the mound, how to design the perfect pitching hand, convincing MLB to cut ties with gambling sponsors by paying players to throw games, Gold Gloves for utility players, an ethical conundrum involving Shohei Ohtani, and why we call them “triple-slash stats” when there are only two slashes, plus a Past Blast from 1885 (1:30:15) and followups. Audio intro: The Smiths, “Stretch Out and Wait” Audio outro: Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello, “Twenty Fine Fingers” Link to article on Kershaw’s back Link to article on stretching research Link to article on the shortest day Link to Dan on deadline improvements Link to Merrifield article Link to post on Rockies pizza party Link to Sam Miller on the pit Link to Driveline post on generating spin Link to Driveline on finger/grip strength Link to Fielding Bible utility awards Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1885 story source Link to Angels tweet Link to Timber Rattlers mascot Link to Philadelphia Zoo mascot Link to high-scoring-game box score Link to 2014 Tigers rotation story Link to 1880s baseball story source Link to submarine softball story Link to North Pole baseball story  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

After a busy deadline day, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley react to all the trade activity, beginning with a high-level overview of the deadline, a recap of the Rockies’ inactivity (5:28), the Padres’ Juan Soto, Josh Hader, Brandon Drury, and Joe Musgrove moves (13:58) and the mad genius of A.J. Preller, the equally unprecedented nature of the Hader-Taylor Rogers swap (33:42), and the Nationals’ side of the Soto blockbuster (42:03). Then they pause to pay tribute to Vin Scully (53:37), whose death was announced during the recording. With heavier hearts, they return to the trade talk and discuss the Mariners and Luis Castillo (1:03:00), the completion of the Reds and A’s teardowns (1:15:43), the Yankees’ additions (1:20:50), the Astros’ upgrades (1:31:27), the Orioles’ decision to sell (1:36:01), the Twins’ activity in contast to the Guadians and White Sox (1:44:11), what the Cardinals did and didn’t do (1:47:51), the NL East’s moves (1:49:06), the Cubs keeping Willson Contreras and Ian Happ (1:52:56), and the Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays, Giants, and other teams (1:57:55), plus a Past Blast from 1884 (2:06:45). Audio intro: Minutemen, “No Exchange” Audio outro: Dan Bern, “The Golden Voice of Vin Scully” Link to FanGraphs’ trade coverage Link to CBS trade tracker Link to The Ringer’s winners/losers Link to Ben on Preller in 2020 Link to FG farm rankings Link to Schmidt’s Rockies quote Link to Nick Groke on the Bard deal Link to Dodgers’ Scully announcement Link to EW episode on Scully Link to Gallo’s quotes to The Athletic Link to later Gallo quotes Link to The Athletic on Mancini Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1884 story source 1 Link to 1884 story source 2 Link to 1884 story source 3 Link to Facebook post about the EW wiki Link to “How to Help” 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, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs writer Ben Clemens banter about a flummoxing fun fact, Justin Verlander’s career vs. Max Scherzer’s career, and Max Meyer’s Tommy John surgery, then (24:55) discuss the Andrew Benintendi trade, Joey Gallo’s struggles, and the biggest questions surrounding the trade deadline before (45:53) reviewing “other” Ben’s work on the annual FanGraphs Trade Value series, focusing on the list-making process, players who just missed the cut, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Oneil Cruz, the surprisingly underperforming top three, Julio Rodríguez, Yordan Alvarez, Mike Trout, the relative lack of pitchers, and more. After that, they end (1:30:57) with a Stat Blast about big leaguers on minor league rehab assignments, plus a Past Blast from 1883 and a postscript. Audio intro: Frank Sinatra, “(I Offer You the Moon) Señorita” Audio outro: The Bens, “Just Pretend” Link to first fun fact Link to cached second fun fact Link to Dan S. on the Benintendi trade Link to Boone’s “fake news” quote Link to Lindsey Adler on Gallo Link to Gallo Stathead query Link to Eric L. on the Naquin trade Link to Dan S. on the playoff format Link to Neil Paine on the deadline Link to Trade Value intro Link to Trade Value conclusion Link to Ohtani report Link to Ben on Harper’s defense Link to Emma on promotional jerseys Link to Stathead Link to Stat Blast data Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1883 story source Link to Evan on Manfred’s letter Link to article on Trout’s back Link to Facebook post about the EW wiki Link to “How to Help” 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 banter about Mike Trout’s rare back injury, Zac Veen and vaccines, the Rangers’ one-run record, interesting team trade rumors, and teams with tough deadline decisions, plus a Past Blast from 1882. Then (42:40) they talk to MLB.com’s Mike Petriello about Statcast’s newly public bat speed and swing path data, touching on how bat speed is calculated, the fastest swingers so far, how teams are already using bat-tracking tech, bat-tracking on broadcasts, the size of the sweet spot, the majors’ small margin for error, the pitcher-batter balance, scouting vs. developing swings, and what we still don’t know about bat-tracking. Audio intro: Queen, “Back Chat” Audio interstitial: Remember Sports, “No Going Back” Audio outro: Gillian Welch, “Back Turn and Swing” Link to Jeff Fletcher on Trout Link to Sam Blum on Trout Link to Trout’s comments Link to Zac Veen thread Link to Rosenthal on the Tigers Link to FG Playoff Odds Link to Joe Posnanski on the Rangers Link to Red Sox misplays montage Link to Tapia grand slam Link to Mike’s bat-tracking primer Link to Ethan Moore’s article Link to ESPN BatTrack broadcast Link to ESPN BatTrack data Link to Rob Arthur on pitch/exit speed Link to Tango’s Stanton post Link to Tango on swing speed Link to Tango on angular vs. linear speed Link to Tango’s swing model Link to Tango on bat collisions Link to Tango on swing explosiveness Link to Tango on bat position Link to Tango on bat position/swing speed Link to Tango on the Barrel zone Link to Tango on attack angles Link to Ballpark Dimensions pod Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1882 story source Link to Sir Parsifal’s spreadsheet Link to Facebook post about the EW wiki Link to “How to Help” 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 banter about a convoluted fun fact, the Cardinals’ anti-vaccination contingent, a historic Red Sox slump, an injury to top draftee Druw Jones, and a Willians Astudillo double-play pitch, Stat Blast (16:00) about Bryan Shaw and late-starting starters (plus an update on zero-RBI cleanup hitters), and share a Past Blast from 1881. Then (30:48) they talk to The Athletic senior writer Evan Drellich about what the end (for now) of negotiations over an international draft portends for the future of the concept and relations between MLB and the MLBPA, the latest legislative challenge to MLB’s antitrust exemption, a settlement in a class-action lawsuit over minor league pay, Rob Manfred’s comment about living wages for minor leaguers, MLB’s broadcasting and blackout plans, and more. Audio intro: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, “First to Finish, Last to Start” Audio interstitial: Television Personalities, “Evan Doesn’t Ring Me Anymore” Audio outro: The New Pornographers, “Chump Change” Link to fun fact tweet Link to Goldschmidt/Arenado comments Link to Mikolas comments Link to Red Sox slump story Link to Stathead Link to Ryan Nelson’s Twitter Link to first-start data Link to updated zero-RBI records Link to story about Shaw Link to Shaw game box score Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1881 story source 1 Link to 1881 story source 2 Link to story on Astudillo double play Link to Jones injury report Link to Evan on the international draft Link to Ken and Maria on the draft Link to James Wagner on the draft Link to Evan on the antitrust exemption Link to Evan on extended spring pay Link to Forbes on the lawsuit settlement Link to Hannah Keyser on MiLB pay Link to Facebook post about the EW wiki Link to “How to Help” 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 wrap up the podcast’s 10th anniversary week by doing a dozen listener-inspired Stat Blasts and then (51:53) talking to 42-year-old Red Sox starter and podcast legend Rich Hill about how the game and his game have evolved over his long career, plus (1:31:18) a Past Blast from 1880/postscript. Audio intro: Silk Sonic, “Blast Off” Audio interstitial 1: Levon Helm, “The Mountain” Audio interstitial 2: Esther Rose, “Mountaintop” Audio outro: This is the Kit, “Keep Going” Link to Stathead Link to Ryan Nelson’s Twitter Link to split doubleheaders sheet Link to zero-RBI records sheet Link to Ben on Joseph in 2016 Link to non-hit walkoffs sheet Link to bases-clearing PA sheet Link to most players managed sheet Link to no-LOB shutouts list Link to HR vs. same pitchers sheet Link to country debuts sheet Link to Madris story Link to saves vs. former teams sheet Link to Kimbrel vs. Jansen story Link to Dunn/Thome cycle leaders Link to Stat Blasts on the EW wiki Link to Hill on the EW wiki Link to article on Hill’s handedness Link to Rosenthal signing news Link to Walsh/Epstein saying Link to listener emails database Link to 10th anniversary shirt Link to all shirts Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1880 story source 1 Link to 1880 story source 2 Link to Facebook post about the EW wiki Link to “How to Help” 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