Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about a small way in which Willians Astudillo made the world better, baseball as a conversational icebreaker, Cody Bellinger’s incredible WAR pace, whether Bellinger is overshadowing the rest of the Dodgers (and Clay Bellinger), and a few of 2019’s other breakout batters, present a Stat Blast about Statcast no-hitters (and Statcast hitting streaks), then answer listener emails about whether playoff odds are fair to teams that appear out of the race and why we don’t see more pitchers pulled in the middle of plate appearances. Audio intro: The Flying Burrito Brothers, "Cody, Cody" Audio outro: Stephen Malkmus, "The Hook" Link to Petriello on Bellinger’s possibly best-ever season Link to Sam on Bellinger’s possibly best-ever season Link to Sam on Statcast no-hitters Link to MLB.com on Statcast hitting streaks Link to Sam on alternate timelines Link to Sam on season simulations Link to Sam on season simulations again Link to Sam on out-of-contention teams Link to Nate on FiveThirtyEight forecast calibration Link to FiveThirtyEight forecast calibration interactive tool Link to Ben on matchup decisions Link to article about Girardi pitching change Link to 2015 podcast conversation about Girardi pitching change Link to Foley’s book-signing event Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 Rays’ four-man outfield against Cavan Biggio and the gradual ascendance of four-man outfields across the league, Sam’s belated thoughts on the Mets and baseball in Avengers: Endgame, a few underappreciated aspects of the late Bill Buckner’s career, and the record number of MLB debuts this decade by sons of former big leaguers (including the return of star-caliber sons), then discuss the origins and sustainability of the Minnesota Twins’ best-in-baseball start to the season, what makes the Twins an entertaining team, Cleveland’s comparatively disastrous first two months, and more. Audio intro: Garcia Peoples, "Four Walls" Audio outro: Weezer, "Trampoline" Link to picture of four-man outfield against Biggio Link to article about Biggio’s swing change Link to four-man-outfield instances per season Link to Ben on the history of four-man outfields Link to Buckner on the Fielding Runs leaderboard Link to Buckner on the Defensive WAR leaderboard Link to examples of the Mets in post-apocalyptic movies Link to Travis on MLB fathers and sons Link to Stubbs interview episode Link to Foley’s book-signing event Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 snow in Colorado, the Rockies and the decline of Kyle Freeland, and the new-look Lucas Giolito and the White Sox rebuild, then discuss the state of the standings and the number of teams out of contention, touching on how the bad teams got that way, the impact of losing on attendance, the merits of rebuilding, the struggles of the Indians and Nationals (and the success of the Twins), the frequency of blowouts, Mike Trout leading the league in WAR, and consuming the season via players instead of via teams, and more. Audio intro: Vampire Weekend, "Spring Snow" Audio outro: The Proper Ornaments, "Who Thought" Link to THT piece on Coors Field Link to Freeland interview episode Link to Devan on Giolito Link to video of Giolito mechanics Link to Eaton-Frazier feud explainer Link to Rob Arthur on bad teams being out of the race Link to Rob Arthur on losing and attendance Link to Rob Mains on the decline of comebacks Link to Jay on Cleveland’s offense Link to Devan on the Memorial Day checkpoint Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 Robinson Cano hurting himself hustling, Chris Carter dominating the Mexican League, the incredible continuing career of Ruben Rivera, pop-up dekes, a possible fun fact involving Orioles homers, the return of Ryan Feierabend (and an uncommon complete game), multiple improvements for instant replay review, and the significance of Carter Stewart signing with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the NPB, then answer listener emails about using Statcast for fair/foul calls, the most unique lineups in a single season (and league-wide unique-lineup creep, plus the most painful thing ever to happen in baseball history), and a shift in which the pitcher covers first, plus a Stat Blast about the gradual disappearance of games with more walks than strikeouts. Audio intro: Run-DMC, "Hit it Run" Audio outro: Jenny Lewis, "On the Line" Link to Ben on the cost of Cano not hustling Link to GIF of Cano’s injury Link to video of Carter Link to Mexican League leaderboard Link to Rivera’s bottomless B-Ref page Link to Passan on the Mexican League Link to Jay on Feierabend’s knuckleball Link to Kiley on Stewart and Boras Link to Passan on Stewart Link to KG on Boras loopholes Link to lineups data Link to info on teams maximizing minor-league options Link to video of Colon vs. Gordon Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 Sean Doolittle’s delivery and Steve Pearce’s even/odd-year pattern, then discuss current record chases (involving Cody Bellinger, Christian Yelich, and the Orioles’ pitching staff), whether it’s possible to have exciting record chases based on Statcast stats, the significance of five-tool players (and scouting tools) in 2019, and more, plus a bit of one-sided banter about the Mets. Audio intro: Dinosaur Jr., "Stick a Toe In" Audio outro: Said The Whale, "Record Shop" Link to story on Cubs’ Doolittle protest Link to Doolittle vs. Edwards GIF Link to Sam on .400 hitters Link to story on .300 hitters Link to Jeff on Raburn Link to Ben on five-tool players Link to Ben on Cano’s hustle Link to Dan on Orioles homers allowed Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 bounceback of Chris Davis, which Statcast stats they would most want to have for the entirety of baseball history, which aspect of instant replay review most dramatically changes the game, and the new-look Josh Bell and Tommy La Stella, then (28:36) talk to FanGraphs prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about the recent wave of MLB debuts by top prospects (including the Angels’ new two-way player Jared Walsh, Cole Tucker, Nicky Lopez, Nick Senzel, Keston Hiura, Carter Kieboom, Austin Riley, Griffin Canning, Shed Long and, soon, Brendan Rodgers), why we’ve seen so many prospect promotions, Boston’s bullpen duo of Darwinzon Hernandez and Travis Lakins, the contrasting seasons of Justus Sheffield and Casey Mize, the impending return of Luis Urias, how the new Triple-A ball has affected scouting and player development, and more, plus a preview of the best players, overall talent level, and teams with the biggest opportunities in the upcoming amateur draft. Audio intro: Sharon Van Etten, "Comeback Kid" Audio interstitial: Filthy Friends, "The Arrival" Audio outro: The Replacements, "Talent Show" Link to Petriello on Davis Link to Jay on La Stella Link to news about TrackMan and Hawk-Eye Link to Rob Arthur on the transition to Hawk-Eye Link to replay-review data Link to Ben on today’s players being the best Link to FanGraphs’ preseason top prospects list Link to FanGraphs’ preason 2019 impact prospects list Link to Eric on Hiura Link to Eric on Rodgers Link to Kiley on Riley Link to Kiley on Senzel Link to Rob on Triple-A homers Link to latest mock draft Link to FanGraphs prospect board Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 Chris Sale’s seven-inning, 17-strikeout game and the Marlins’ ineptitude, then answer listener emails about differences in home-run distance, rooting for run differential, reimagining errors (and quality starts), whether catchers would still squat after robot umpires were implemented, when relief innings will surpass starter innings, no-hitters as team accomplishments, and the most runs scored in a game by one player who accounted for all of his team’s runs, plus a Stat Blast about hustle doubles. Audio intro: Elton John, "Between Seventeen and Twenty" Audio outro: Chip Taylor, "Michael’s Song" Link to Craig’s post on Sale Link to David Kagan’s site Link to Pederson homer Link to Acuña homer Link to tall-catchers episode Link to Ben on the opener and the 1993 A’s Link to Sam on walk-off triples Link to Mike’s tribute post Link to Mike’s memorial page Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 inside-the-park homers versus over-the-fence homers, the gratifying rise of home-run robberies, and the unique career of Edwin Jackson (who’s about to have played for the most-ever MLB teams and with the most-ever MLB teammates), then discuss the convergence of starting pitching and relief pitching and play a game to guess whether randomly selected relievers are having good or bad seasons (plus some closing banter about bobblehead dolls). Audio intro: Al Green, "Have You Been Making Out O.K." Audio outro: Paul McCartney, "Nod Your Head" Sam on deep flyouts Ben on HR robberies Link to Rob Arthur on bullpen roles Link to Ben on saves distribution Link to Ben on bullpenning Link to Sam on reliever roles and performance Link to Rob Mains on bullpens Link to Sam’s bobblehead video Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 dogs, nieces, and nephews, their ambivalence about gambling and the future of gambling and real/fantasy baseball, the on-field and off-field excellence of Chris Paddack, the significance of Sinclair Broadcasting’s acquisition of 21 regional sports networks, the divisive Red Sox visit to the White House, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s slow start and the paucity of strikes he’s seeing, the new and improved Joey Gallo, the latter-day Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera (and lineup protection), and baseball in Avengers: Endgame. Audio intro: Jellyfish, "I Wanna Stay Home" Audio outro: Tonedeff, "Politics" Link to Craig on Sinclair Link to Sinclair interview Link to Jay on Paddack Link to James Holzhauer article Link to article about the history of White House visits Link to Craig on Vlad Link to Ben on Trout’s 2011 Link to video of Bell’s dinger Link to Ben on Gallo Link to Eno on Gallo Link to Jay on the Nats Link to Dan on Cleveland vs. Minnesota Link to pitcher inside-the-parker Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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 Shohei Ohtani’s return, Mike Fiers’ no-hitter, and the hard-luck Reds, do a Stat Blast and banter about True Wins vs. no-hitters and other standout starts, and answer listener emails about baseball and the gambler’s fallacy, umpires estimating the outcome of every batted ball (and whether pitchers, hitters, or fielders are the most dispensable players on the field from an entertainment standpoint), why we measure pitch speeds in mph rather than ft/s (and whether we should adjust the way we present spin rate), whether NL managers have it harder than AL managers, the long-term stylistic evolution of baseball, and more (plus, Lenny Harris sends his regards to Jeff). Audio intro: Jason Falkner, "Say it’s True" Audio outro: Wilco, "Tried and True" Link to Simmons catch Link to Sam on Simmons Link to Sam on Simmons again Link to Syndergaard bobblehead Link to FG post about mph vs. ft/s Link to explanation of why Sprint Speed is measured in ft/s Link to Ben on today’s players being the best Link to Harris video Link to preorder The MVP Machine  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