Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

In the first of two themed episodes, Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan review one aspect of each American League team’s year that they overlooked on earlier episodes, touching on stories involving Mike Scioscia, Myles Straw, Stephen Piscotty, Rowdy Tellez, Jose Ramirez, Mike Marjama, Richard Bleier, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a stathead in uniform, Tony Renda, Brad Keller, a fight between broadcasters, Byron Buxton, Yolmer Sanchez, Gary Sanchez, and more. Audio intro: John Cale, "You Know More Than I Know" Audio outro: Neko Case, "I Missed the Point" Link to Straw article Link to Straw spray chart Link to Piscotty post Link to Ramirez Mario Kart article Link to Bleier post Link to Erlichman article Link to innovative walkoffs Link to wild pitch caught stealing  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about the Daniel Murphy, Trevor Cahill, Anibal Sanchez, and Andrew Miller signings, react in real time to the three-team Jurickson Profar trade, and answer listener emails about signing Bryce Harper for one year, signing Harper as a catcher, choosing between watching games and having access to all other information, rebuilding by collecting exorbitant contracts, an NBA case of mistaken identity, and the offseason if teams were in the dark about transactions, plus a Stat Blast about one-year wonders. Then (54:38) Ben talks to The Ringer’s Katie Baker about the greatness of the late Penny Marshall’s A League of Their Own, its casting and most quotable lines, the best what-ifs from the film, what the movie missed, and what it means to many women. Lastly (1:21:36), Ben brings on another Ringer colleague, Zach Kram, to talk about the Dodgers-Reds blockbuster involving Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, and Alex Wood, the Mariners’ trade for Domingo Santana, and his research about why trading for prospects often doesn’t pan out. Audio intro: Willie Nelson, "So Much to Do" Audio interstitial 1: Guided By Voices, "The Littlest League Possible" Audio interstitial 2: Koufax, "Work Will Never End" Audio outro: Pixies, "The Holiday Song" Link to Travis on the slow free-agent market Link to Jeff on the Murphy signing Link to Jeff on Cahill Link to Russell on the defense of emergency catchers Link to Katie on A League of Their Own Link to Britni on A League of Their Own Link to Zach on trading top prospects  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about the Royals signing Terrance Gore and turning themselves into a bad-but-entertaining team of stolen-base threats, the Angels signing Matt Harvey and how they stack up, the renaming of Safeco Field, and the new posting system for Cuban players. Then (28:18) they talk to left-hander Rick Teasley about becoming the first pitcher ever to strike out Willians Astudillo twice in one pro game, the significance of getting big leaguers out, his itinerant career, staying safe in Venezuela and the deaths of Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo, why fan participation in other countries kicks MLB’s butt, how he weighs where (and whether) to keep pitching, his time as a Tampa Bay farmhand, and more, followed by a few outro updates. Audio intro: Elliott Smith, "Speed Trials" Audio interstitial: Bob Marley, "Do it Twice" Audio outro: The Flashing Lights, "Same Thing Twice" Link to Ringer Royals article Link to Jeff’s Harvey post Link to Gore episode Link to Octavio’s brawl video Link to closeup video of brawl Link to summary of latest Russell revelations  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about the Astros’ signing of Michael Brantley, the curious cases of blocked prospects Kyle Tucker and Alex Verdugo, the Mets’ signing of Wilson Ramos, and the unique career of globe-trotting Trey Hillman. Then (20:49) they talk to Charlie Olson, co-founder and CEO of Pando Pooling, about his company’s plan to provide a security net for poorly paid minor-league players by pooling their future earnings, how they approach players and whether the service is an easy sell, how it works and where the concept came from, what type of players tend to take the company up on its offer, how Pando ensures that the terms are upheld, what might change in the future, other industries where pooling might make sense, and more. Audio intro: Tonedeff, "Safety First" Audio interstitial: Real Estate, "Pool Swimmers" Audio outro: Camera Obscura, "Swimming Pool" Link to Ben’s article about Hillman Link to Pando site Link to SI piece about Pando Link to Big League Advance episode Link to Agostinelli episode  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about why there have been so many Noah Syndergaard trade rumors, then answer listener emails about whether Giancarlo Stanton would be better if he raised his launch angle, how and when a manager who kept intentionally walking hitters would be stopped, how and whether to debate saber skeptics (about Harold Baines, or anything else), Bryce Harper pulling a LeBron, how to identify pitches, and the definitions of “gas” and “inning,” plus a Stat Blast about J.T. Realmuto and the biggest career home/road splits. Audio intro: T. Rex, "Life’s a Gas" Audio outro: Saturday Looks Good to Me, "Keep Walking" Link to Ben’s article about Baines Link to guide to identifying pitches  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about Jeff’s sartorial choice during his MLB Network appearance at the Winter Meetings, Willians Astudillo striking out twice against the same pitcher in a pro game for (possibly) the first time, Scott Boras and Brian Cashman metaphors, big-picture takeaways from the Winter Meetings, the Phillies signing Andrew McCutchen, the Blue Jays releasing Troy Tulowitzki, Jerry Dipoto‘s hospital heroics and the three-way trade involving Yandy Diaz, Jake Bauers, Cole Sulser, Edwin Encarnacion, and Carlos Santana, the Jeurys Familia and Joe Kelly signings and the Alex Claudio trade, the Charlie Morton, Lance Lynn, and J.A. Happ signings, Justin Bour and Albert Pujols, Kaleb Cowart and Michael Lorenzen as two-way players, and Matt Harvey’s facial mask. Audio intro: Weezer, "Undone – The Sweater Song" Audio outro: Yo La Tengo, "Autumn Sweater" Link to video of Jeff on MLB Network Link to Jeff on the McCutchen signing Link to Jeff on the Morton move Link to Jeff on the three-way trade Link to Harvey’s Instagram photo  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about expected activity at the Winter Meetings, the pointlessness of the Winter Meetings, and the Hall of Fame elections of Lee Smith and Harold Baines (yes, that Harold Baines). Then (23:04) they talk to FanGraphs prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about the baseball and multi-sport future of Heisman Trophy winner and A’s first-round draftee Kyler Murray. Lastly (38:38), they bring on baseball executive and former journalist Octavio Hernández to discuss the killings of Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo, how Venezuelan Winter League teams arrange travel and security, how major leaguers deal with unrest at home, the state of baseball in Venezuela, the state of life in Venezuela, and why Octavio fled the country. Audio intro: Yes, "Harold Land" Audio interstitial 1: Dr. Dog, "Both Sides of the Line" Audio interstitial 2: Parquet Courts, "Violence" Audio outro: The Thrills, "Your Love is Like Las Vegas" Link to right field JAWS leaders Link to Jay’s pre-election post on Baines Link to Jay’s post-election post on Baines Link to Ben’s Hall of Baines Link to Eric’s post on Murray Link to Murray’s recreation of the Jackson photo Link to Kiley’s Murray video Link to story about Venezuelan MLB players who won’t go home Link to story about Venezuelan players speaking out Link to episode on Mexican League sabermetrics  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about Willians Astudillo and discuss Nathan Eovaldi re-signing with the Red Sox, the Cardinals-Diamondbacks trade involving Paul Goldschmidt, Luke Weaver, and Carson Kelly, and the significance of good teams trading away great players. Then (36:03) they bring on free-agent outfielder and probable fastest man in baseball Terrance Gore to talk about when he first knew he was fast, his football career and non-track career, whether he actually likes running, improving his base-stealing technique, racing teammates, how he ever gets caught, the difficulty of bunting, getting his first big-league hit and home run, whether he can be an everyday big leaguer, how he’ll pick a team, staying healthy before he gets called up, the 2014 AL wild card game and 2018 NL wild card game, the excitement of stealing, and more. Audio intro: Buzzcocks, "What Do I Get?" Audio interstitial 1: Lorde, "Glory and Gore" Audio interstitial 2: The Posies, "Everyone Moves Away" Audio outro: Big Thief, "Paul" Link to 2014 Gore feature Link to Gore’s first hit Link to Gore’s 2018-wild-card-game strikeout Link to Gore’s minor-league homer Link to Gore’s steal in the 2014 AL wild-card game Link to Gore’s favorite baserunning play  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about Willians Astudillo’s Venezuelan Winter League MVP chances, the latest scuttlebutt about banning the shift (and why it reflects the right impulse but the wrong solution), and the Nationals’ Patrick Corbin signing, the suddenly scary NL East, and the offseason market so far. Then (25:44) they bring on just-retired, 13-year major-league pitcher Brandon McCarthy to talk about his transition to civilian life, a hug from Frank Thomas, the pace of play, his (and players’) opinions on the shift, stats, technology, and player reinventions, his interest in broadcasting and thoughts on tweeting, watching his former team in the World Series, the players’ economic predicament, baseball’s youth movement, why fastballs are faster, the demise of the starter, clubhouse leadership, the up-and-coming Braves, framing and Tyler Flowers, dealing with politics and bad behavior in baseball, preventing pitchers from getting hit in the head, and more. Audio intro: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, "Banned (By the Man)" Audio interstitial: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" Audio outro: R.E.M., "Exhuming McCarthy" Link to Jayson Stark on the shift Link to Jeff on the shift Link to Ben on the shift in 2015 Link to Ben on moving the mound back Link to Ben on Flowers  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 Jeff Sullivan banter about the nomadic Andy Wilkins, revisit the Mariners-Mets trade and Robinson Cano’s graceful decline so far, discuss the Mariners-Phillies trade, the career of Jean Segura, the Mariners’ rebuild, Jerry Dipoto’s flip-flop about tearing down the team, and the status of the investigation into allegations of racism among Mariners brass, and reflect on the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts extension. Then (34:57) they talk to Blue Jays pitcher Oliver Drake about the record-setting experience of pitching for five major-league teams in one season, the demands that switching teams six times placed on him and his wife, his unusual baseball origin story, the logistics of changing teams, the differences between certain teams and clubhouses, whether he feels wanted or unwanted, his outlook for 2019, and more. Lastly (1:06:23), Ben brings on Baseball Prospectus’s Jonathan Judge to explain the site’s new, comprehensive hitting stat, Deserved Runs Created Plus, how to assess a new stat, the positives and the negatives of changing evaluations, BP being purchased by members of its staff, and more. Audio intro: Mac DeMarco, "Another One" Audio interstitial 1: Tennis, "Traveling" Audio interstitial 2: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, "People Don’t Get What They Deserve" Audio outro: The Tragically Hip, "You’re Everywhere" Link to Ben on Cano Link to Jeff on the Mariners-Mets trade Link to Jeff on the Mariners-Phillies trade Link to DRC+ introduction Link to first Judge DRC+ piece Link to second Judge DRC+ piece Link to Trout/Cabrera DRC+ piece Link to DRC+ run values  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