Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Fernando Tatis Jr.’s “grand slam cycle,” the most exciting cycle sequence, unwritten rules, how to interpret reports of rising TV ratings, why umpires call more strikes when they work with the same catchers, historical precedents for the Cardinals’ overstuffed schedule, a confounding Clayton Kershaw commercial, and Jeff Frye’s controversial cycle. Then (41:24) they talk to Baseball Prospectus associate editor Ginny Searle about Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman using a homophobic slur on a hot mic, Brennaman’s apologies and the responses to his slur and suspension, baseball’s history of homophobic comments, the careers of Glenn Burke and Bill Bean, diversity in broadcasting, the prospect of a player coming out, and what MLB and the Reds should do to make LGBT fans feel more welcome. Finally (1:05:29), FanGraphs author Craig Edwards joins to discuss how he handled the site’s annual trade value rankings in an uncertain season, how he thinks teams will approach the trade deadline, where public and private perceptions of trade value diverge, where he placed Mike Trout, and how he ranked Tatis, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Juan Soto. Audio intro: Peter Matthew Bauer, "Transhistoric Cycles of Time" Audio interstitial 1: The Tragically Hip, "Hot Mic" Audio interstitial 2: Willie Nelson, "I’d Trade All of My Tomorrows (For Just One Yesterday)" Audio outro: Peter Bjorn and John, "Weekend" Link to “grand slam cycle” tweet Link to Ben on Tatis and unwritten rules Link to The Athletic’s MLB ratings story Link to Rob Arthur on catchers and umpires Link to article about the Cardinals’ schedule Link to May 1, 1975 article about the Twins’ schedule Link to Pages from Baseball’s Past Link to Kershaw commercial Link to Griffey Jr. commercial Link to article about Frye’s cycle Link to Ginny on Brennaman Link to Brennaman’s on-air apology Link to Brennaman’s written apology Link to Dale Scott interview episode Link to Bean interview episode Link to Christina Kahrl interview episode Link to Craig’s trade value series intro Link to Craig’s trade value series top 10 Link to Ben Clemens on trading high-value players  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about the three-year anniversary of the Effectively Wild outing to see the total solar eclipse at a minor league game in Oregon and whether the backlash to the kerfuffle over Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 3-0 grand slam made this week a watershed for MLB’s unwritten rules, then answer listener emails about whether a pitcher will (or should) start both ends of a doubleheader this season, what percentage of hit by pitches are intentional and how good we are at distinguishing those that are from those that aren’t, and whether any managers will be fired in 2020, plus a trio of listener-inspired Stat Blasts on a statistical quirk of the top of the Mariners’ career ERA leaderboard, the most pitches thrown in a 1-2-3 inning, and games with “half no-hitters” thrown by both teams. Audio intro: Neil Young, "Just Singing a Song" Audio outro: The Moody Blues, "Meet Me Halfway" Link to Ben on the eclipse game Link to Ben on Tatis Jr. and unwritten rules Link to Ringer MLB Show on Tatis Jr. and unwritten rules Link to Bill James on home runs and hit batters Link to Eric Gallipo’s Stat Blast Song cover Link to Mariners career pitching leaderboards Link to episode with discussion about defining 1-2-3 innings Link to list of 1-2-3 innings with most pitches thrown Link to list of games with “half no-hitters” by both teams Link to Ben on the strike zone at the end of no-hitter attempts Link to Ben on umpire perfect games  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB’s BABIP bouncing back from its unusually low early level, the Tigers calling up a trio of top prospects in an attempted playoff push, and Cardinals rookie Roel Ramirez’s unprecedented debut, then answer a listener email with a Stat Blast about the longest regular-season and postseason team vs. team losing streaks (inspired by Cleveland’s current 20-game streak against Detroit). Then they draft their favorite small-sample player seasons so far, focusing on strange stat lines, surprising breakouts, and unlikely comebacks (plus a postscript on Fernando Tatis Jr.’s unwritten-rules-violating grand slam). Audio intro: The Orange Peels, "So Far" Audio outro: Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, "Surprise" Link to video of Ramirez’s debut Link to Robert Au’s Stat Blast Song cover Link to Adam Ott’s team vs. team streak research Link to MLB.com article on team vs. team streaks Link to Andy McCullough on Hosmer Link to Ben Clemens on Santana Link to Tony Wolfe on Bundy Link to Dan Szymborski on Bauer Link to Ben on foreign substance use Link to article about Yastrzemski’s surge Link to article about Tatis’s 3-0 grand slam Link to list of 3-0 grand slams  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Cardinals finally returning to play and attempting to complete their overstuffed schedule, the teams with the most movement in playoff odds since the start of the season, Cleveland’s clubhouse problems with protocol-defying pitchers Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger, the joy of watching Mookie Betts and Betts’s proclivity for three-homer games, amusing Astros-related comments by Ramón Laureano and Joe Kelly, the hundredth anniversary of the death of Ray Chapman, and a listener-email-inspired, overdue development in the Negro Leagues’ official classification as major leagues. Audio intro: The Muffs, "No Action" Audio outro: Pavement, "Major Leagues" Link to Jay Jaffe on the Cardinals Link to article about Plesac’s video Link to article about Plesac and Clevinger being optioned Link to Ben Clemens on Mookie Link to Joe Kelly’s comments Link to Laureano’s comments Link to Craig Wright on Ray Chapman Link to Pages from Baseball’s Past Link to Ben on Negro Leagues reclassification  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about whether the idea of sports as a distraction from the pandemic has panned out, whether unexpectedly hot-starting teams like the Rockies and Tigers should “go for it” (and what that would entail), and what, if anything, MLB should do to address the curious case of Trevor Bauer’s spiking spin rates, then answer listener emails about the ideal balance between chaos and predictability, why lower pitch counts haven’t kept pitchers healthy, a clever solution for preserving extra-long games in the era of the automatic-runner rule, and pitchers calling their own pitches, plus a Stat Blast about how many more homers some of history’s greatest sluggers would have hit if they’d batted higher in the order. Audio intro: L.E.O., "Distracted" Audio outro: The Go-Betweens, "Your Turn My Turn" Link to Will Leitch on how it feels to watch sports now Link to story about streaking Tigers Link to Ben Clemens on the hot Rockies Link to playoff odds changes since Opening Day Link to Ben on foreign substances and Bauer’s spin rates Link to Jeff Passan on foreign substances and Bauer’s spin rates Link to article about projections and the 2015 season Link to Phil Birnbaum on the limits of predictions Link to Ben on 2020’s injured pitchers Link to Neil Paine on the unsolved injured-pitcher problem Link to Russ Hull’s Stat Blast Song cover Link to Michael Baumann on the odds of anyone reaching 700 homers Link to Aaron Gleeman on the new no. 2 hitter Link to video of Greinke calling his own pitches Link to story about Maddux calling his own pitches Link to Ben Gibbard’s “Centerfield”  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about a realization about fake crowd noise discomfort, a disastrous start to a Derek Holland outing that recalled an earlier podcast discussion, whether Fernando Tatís Jr. will ever have a moment as remarkable as Fernando Tatís’s two-grand-slam inning, outfielders showing up pitchers, and more, then bring back the “Is This Guy Good?” Game, in which they attempt to guess whether randomly drawn relievers are having good seasons so far. Audio intro: Boat, "Be As Good As You Want to Be" Audio outro: The Hold Steady, "You Did Good Kid" Link to Adell video Link to episode with interview about fake crowd noise Link to story about drone delay Link to episode with home runs hypothetical Link to Holland game play-by-play Link to Tatís’s two-grand-slam inning Link to Bumgarner/Tatís home run video Link to first “Is This Guy Good?” Game episode Link to Is This Guy Good? website Link to Ben on the low BABIP mystery  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a bad fun fact on a baseball broadcast, a case of copycat pitching involving Jake Diekman and Chaz Roe, how MLB may amend eligibility for the Rookie of the Year award in 2021, a Wade LeBlanc balk and why balks remain mystifying and debatable, plus a Stat Blast on the longest hitless innings. Then (36:52) they talk to FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about what he learns about prospects after they’re promoted, how teams are approaching prospect promotions in a shortened, pandemic-endangered season, why prospect evaluators missed on Shane Bieber, what to watch for with Luis Robert, Jo Adell, Nate Pearson, and several other top prospects who’ve made their MLB debuts, 2019 rookie arrivals who are having impressive sophomore seasons, how shorthanded teams like the Astros and Marlins are restocking their rosters, how teams might handle information deficits at the trade deadline, and how prospect evaluators are doing their jobs in the absence of minor league games. Audio intro: The Posies, "It’s Great to Be Here Again" Audio interstitial: The Rutles, "We’ve Arrived (And to Prove it We’re Here)" Audio outro: The Weakerthans, "A New Name for Everything" Link to Marlins broadcast “fun” fact Link to Diekman/Roe story Link to Stark on rookie eligibility Link to LeBlanc balk tweet Link to Sam on balk rules Link to Jon Bois’s balk rules Link to real balk rules Link to Facebook group discussion of LeBlanc balk Link to Mariners balk commercial Link to Budweiser balk commercial Link to Zach Nahlik’s Stat Blast song cover Link to Stat Blast spreadsheet Link to 1962 Mets-Dodgers play-by-play Link to 2008 A’s-Orioles play-by-play Link to 1994 Mariners-Yankees play-by-play Link to Bois’s Mariners Dorktown documentary Link to Ben Clemens on Bieber’s new pitch Link to Craig Edwards on Luis Robert Link to FanGraphs prospect rankings board Link to Baseball Prospectus “Call-Up” posts Link to Future Value Link to Rob Arthur on the 2020 baseball  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about their minor league free agent draft results so far and whether this season has helped or hurt minor league free agents gain playing time, the continued watchability of revamped extra innings and the possibility of bringing back traditional extra innings for one week a year, and whether this season’s early big BABIP dip indicates that players are fielding better without fans, then answer listener emails about whether players should retain their rookie eligibility in the event of a shortened season, whether giving up in-person attendance forever would be worth guaranteeing a winning team, how the 2021 amateur draft order should be determined, and whether the lineup should reset in extra innings, plus a Stat Blast about quasi-walk-off hits in rain-delayed games. Audio intro: Paul McCartney, "Distractions" Audio outro: Beck, "No Distraction" Link to minor league free agent draftees Link to Sam on the automatic-runner rule Link to Tango tweet about fielding performance Link to article about basketball/soccer player improvements Link to Lucas Apostoleris’s Stat Blast song cover Link to Lucas’s Bandcamp page  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Shohei Ohtani’s arm injury and his short- and long-term prospects as a two-way player, Mike Soroka and the ongoing pitcher-injury epidemic, the latest positive tests and player opt outs, Tigers reliever Tyler Alexander’s record-setting nine consecutive strikeouts, Clayton Kershaw’s comeback and other heartening news, MLB’s uptick in TV ratings, the strangeness of the standings, how long the regular season would have to last for MLB to give a green light to the playoffs, and robot umps coming to the KBO Futures League. Then (37:34) they talk to Senior Director of Seattle Mariners Productions Ben Mertens about how the Mariners manage fake crowd noise at T-Mobile Park, balancing boos and cheers, taunting opponents, the level of noise the players prefer, the construction of cardboard cutouts, the ballpark uncanny valley effect, and more. Audio intro: Budgie, "Forearm Smash" Audio interstitial: Death Cab for Cutie, "Fake Frowns" Audio outro: Ernest Tubb, "I’m With a Crowd but So Alone" Link to Ben on injured pitchers Link to Tony Wolfe on Alexander Link to article about TV ratings Link to article about KBO robot umps Link to Mariners Seat Fleet Link to article on MLB’s cheering app  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss the coronavirus spreading to the NL Central, the difficulties MLB faces compared to other sports leagues, the dramatic changes that the pandemic has imposed on the sport, why robot umps aren’t part of the pandemic makeover, the jarring visuals of virtual fans, the promotion of Nick Madrigal and the overlap of good and bad baseball news, the latest vexing comments by Astros owner Jim Crane, the power of pitcher deception and the potential to quantify it, and reports that the season could soon cease if conditions don’t improve, plus a follow-up addendum about why the automatic-runner rule shortens games. Audio intro: John Lennon, "Borrowed Time" Audio outro: Dr. Feelgood, "One Weekend" Link to Jay Jaffe on the latest positive tests Link to Ben Clemens on a baseball bubble Link to GIF of Nelson Cruz and virtual fans Link to Jim Crane article Link to Josh Flowerman on reliever sequencing Link to Hareeb al-Saq on reliever sequencing Link to Ben on the knuckleball hangover effect Link to Ben on perceived velocity Link to Jon Anderson on quantifying pitcher deception Link to Jeff Long on pitcher deception Link to Eno Sarris on pitcher deception Link to Eno on Yusmeiro Petit’s invisiball Link to Johnny Cueto Statcast wireframe shimmy Link to Passan report Link to Ben Clemens on Passan’s report Link to Ben on Nick Madrigal  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source