Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about baseball comps for the season-ending injury of quarterback Aaron Rodgers four snaps into his New York Jets career, the Rip Van Winkle-esque return of Orioles starter John Means after Tommy John surgery, the Mariners’ rough stretch, Meg’s pennant-race anxiety, and George Kirby’s comments about not being pulled earlier from a start, the Yankees’ unlikely extra-innings win and loss of Jasson Domínguez, the Mets finally hiring David Stearns to run their baseball operations department, the promotion of Pete Crow-Armstrong and why so many top prospects are coming up late in the season, what Mike Trout would bring back (if anything) on the trade market, and more, plus a few follow-ups from last week and a Future Blast (1:36:43) from 2058. Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to The Ringer on Rodgers Link to The Ringer on Rodgers again Link to FB thread of baseball comps Link to MLBTR on Means Link to 30/30 fun fact Link to Kirby video Link to story on Kirby Link to Divish tweet about Kirby Link to Clemens tweet about Kirby Link to Mulder tweet about Kirby Link to McCarthy tweet about Kirby Link to Weaver tweet about Kirby Link to 2014 Weaver story Link to Rob Mains on the TTOP Link to Mains on the TTOP again Link to Jay on Domínguez Link to story on Yankees’ 13-inning win Link to MLBTR on Stearns Link to Crow-Armstrong call-up piece Link to Sheehan on prospect promotions Link to aging-curves research Link to Nightengale on Trout Link to Yamamoto no-hitter story Link to Ben Clemens on Suzuki Link to Lee Maye wiki Link to Scott Radinsky wiki Link to Edman story Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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 NL wild card race and Dodgers starting pitching, then (17:24) answer listener emails about league-sanctioned spies, the best second jobs for an MLB player, a clairvoyant catcher, celebrating obscure records, switch-hitters and pitchers with reverse splits, existential fandom crises, selective fun-fact framing, oddly aligned MLB logos on a Dairy Queen cup, and an incredibly durable but otherwise unremarkable player, plus Stat Blasts (1:22:00) about quantifying “compilers,” superlative power-speed seasons, and long streaks of different team WAR leaders, a Future Blast (1:41:48) from 2057, and follow-ups. Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG playoff odds Link to story on Lawlar’s debut Link to MLBTR on Alcantara/Soler Link to MLBTR on Buehler Link to Jay on Gonsolin and TJ Link to report about Urías Link to Ben on MLB trade secrets Link to Cronin podcast interview Link to Loutos podcast interview Link to story on mound visits Link to story on Stallings record Link to story about Maddon and splits Link to more on Maddon and splits Link to THT on pitcher-split forecasts Link to FG info on splits Link to Ben on matchup decisions Link to Jay Cuda tweet Link to Dairy Queen photo 1 Link to DQ photo 2 Link to MLB/DQ partnership Link to Votto’s tweet Link to Sam on Votto’s tweet Link to listener emails database Link to compilers spreadsheet Link to Kenny Jackelen on Twitter Link to power/speed spreadsheet Link to Power/Speed Number wiki Link to post on team WAR leaders Link to team WAR leaders sheet Link to Shantz EW interview Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki Link to Machado throw  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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 discuss listener responses to their banter about surprising Statcast throwing speeds, then (12:42) discuss Nick Ahmed’s unsung great glovework, the A’s turning out to be (slightly) less historically terrible than they initially seemed, the AL West race, and how the Rangers missing the playoffs would reinforce conflicting narratives about baseball. After that (57:24), they answer listener emails about Mookie Betts overtaking Mike Trout in career WAR, how to tell when a team gets good at player development, and where it would be easiest to hide a smaller base among bigger bases, plus a Future Blast (1:32:26) from 2056. Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to just-noticeable difference Link to Ahmed DFA story Link to FG WAR change post Link to Lawlar call-up story Link to study on Gold Gloves Link to DRS leaderboard Link to OAA leaderboard Link to Fielding RV leaderboard Link to Nichols’ Law Link to Dan S. on the A’s in May Link to Tango on the A’s in May Link to EW on the A’s in May Link to The Athletic on the Tigers Link to CBS Sports on the Tigers Link to worst run differentials Link to BaseRuns records Link to Fisher interview Link to Fisher’s notepad Link to FG playoff odds Link to Kram on the AL West Link to Astros HR fact 1 Link to Astros HR fact 2 Link to FG payroll ranking Link to Ben on spending and wins Link to highest WARs through 30 Link to those players post-30 Link to Driveline dev study 1 Link to Driveline dev study 2 Link to story on Benoit’s slider Link to pitching lab story 1 Link to pitching lab story 2 Link to pitching lab story 3 Link to pitching lab story 4 Link to listener emails database Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki Link to visual acuity research Link to Sam on Hamilton  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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 Statcast-standout throw by Brenton Doyle, a Statcast-standout homer by Ronald Acuña Jr., and how closely Statcast data matches the eye test in various aspects of performance, the surges or resurgences of Cole Ragans, Blake Snell, and Trea Turner, a Julio Rodríguez fun fact, Royce Lewis’s grand slam streak, David Fry’s ironman position-player-pitching appearance, Kodai Senga’s strong season and Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s free agency, the second arrest (and possible second suspension) of Julio Urías (55:43), updates on Jake Diekman and Kolten Wong (1:06:06), a name for Gunnar Henderson’s non-cycle, the end of a Terrance Gore era, a study on the decreasing durability of pitchers, and more, plus (1:27:05) a Future Blast from 2055. Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic Version)” Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to story on Doyle’s throw Link to García throw Link to story on Acuña’s homer Link to FG post on Ragans Link to MLB Network video on Ragans Link to best pitchers since 7/15 Link to Eno on Ragans Link to best pitchers since 5/25 Link to Joe Sheehan on Snell Link to highest single-season LOB% Link to best hitters since 8/5 Link to pitch-type performance since 8/5 Link to BP on Turner’s fan reception Link to ESPN on Turner’s leave Link to story on 25-25 Julio Link to BP on Lewis’s slams Link to MLB.com on Lewis’s slams Link to Lewis fun fact 1 Link to Lewis fun fact 2 Link to Lewis fun fact 3 Link to story on Fry’s outing Link to FG post on the rookie class Link to rookie pitcher WAR leaders Link to MLBTR on Urías Link to story on Wong’s changes Link to Wong’s Triple-A homer Link to Wong’s MLB homer Link to Gore’s EW interview Link to Rays signing Hamilton Link to BJOL closing announcement Link to Bill James pitching study Link to FG post on Hendricks Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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

The hosts banter about a new baseball game, trash talk in sports, load management, and updates to the strike zone. They talk to Eric Longenhagen about top prospects making their MLB debut. They analyze recent call-ups and discuss Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison. They also mention the MLB filtering process and becoming a Patreon supporter.

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s voice and the potential for an ambidextrous superstar who blends the skill sets of Shohei Ohtani and Pat Venditte, then discuss all the implications of the Angels (and a few other teams) placing prominent players on outright waivers right before the deadline for postseason eligibility. After that (44:43), they talk to Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service frontman Ben Gibbard about his beloved Mariners’ surge into first place, his relationship with this Mariners team, his thoughts on the postseason field and the new rules, his upcoming two-way-player tour featuring full performances of Transatlanticism and Give Up, and more, plus (1:31:29) a Future Blast from 2053. Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Jon Becker’s waiver FAQ Link to Ben Clemens on the Angels Link to Zach Kram on the Angels Link to outright waivers explainer Link to The Athletic on the waiver moves Link to The Athletic on waivers again Link to MLBTR on the Angels Link to Craig Goldstein on the Angels Link to FG handedness filter Link to “Ichiro’s Theme” Link to Death Cabby for Cutie Day Link to “An Arrow in the Wall” Link to period/quarter mix-up Link to Larry Stone article Link to Transatlanticism Link to Give Up Link to Asphalt Meadows Link to Gibbard’s album ranking Link to “Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand” Link to Gibbard’s two-way tour Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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 classifying throws by infielders that are actually made in the outfield, imagine a multi-sport two-way Shohei Ohtani, and belatedly acknowledge Scott Cooper’s singular cycle, discuss Kyle Schwarber’s possible sub-replacement-level 40-homer season, break down the NL MVP race featuring Ronald Acuña Jr., Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, pat Kyle Barraclough on the back for wearing one, note that regression has come for Mickey Moniak, and offer another hosana to Julio Rodríguez. Then they follow up on the previous episode’s mystery about why wild pitches and passed balls have declined, first (1:06:51) by interviewing Yankees quality control and catching coach Tanner Swanson about improvements in catching technique and the evolution of catcher defense, and then (1:37:13) by presenting additional data and theorizing, followed by (1:47:29) a Future Blast from 2052. Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Elly’s 99.8 mph throw Link to Elly’s 99.7 mph throw Link to Elly’s 97.9 mph throw Link to infield-throws leaderboard Link to infield-throwers leaderboard Link to Winn’s 100.5 mph throw Link to Winn’s 99.9 mph throw Link to arm strength leaderboard Link to Haberstroh on two-sport players Link to post on Cooper’s cycle Link to Cooper’s cycle game Link to Cooper’s cycle video Link to Schwarber tweet Link to sub-replacement sluggers Link to Eli Ben-Porat on batting average Link to Tom Tango on batting average Link to Tango on batting average again Link to Ben Clemens on batting average Link to FG WAR leaders Link to B-Ref WAR leaders Link to Mike Petriello on MVP Mookie Link to SB leaderboard Link to FG post on Freeman’s baserunning Link to story on fans and Acuña Link to video of fans and Acuña Link to Moniak slump stretch Link to Posnanski on the Stargell Award Link to MVPs w/multiple teams Link to Mearns on Barraclough Link to Stathead on Barraclough Link to EW Stat Blast about WP/PB Link to team catcher defense Link to story on Swanson and Garver Link to story about catching’s future Link to Swanson MVP Machine reference Link to story on Swanson and the Yankees Link to Ben on Flowers Link to Franke/Rogers catcher slides Link to Kai Franke on Twitter Link to Jack Rogers on Twitter Link to team CI leaderboard Link to EW on the CI surge Link to Tango on interference and framing Link to WP/PB totals Link to Cooper on one-knee catching Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 2 Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 3 Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki Link to Tango on errors/hits Link to Cooper on errors/hits  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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 how late it is in the season and a fan’s exuberant reaction to the only known unassisted outfield triple play in major or minor league history, answer listener emails (15:17) about Shohei Ohtani 2.0 and whether “bulk guys” could stave off extinction for 300-game winners, Stat Blast (38:11) about standings-related fun facts, precedents for the Mariners rapidly erasing a 10-game deficit in the AL West, team droughts in back-to-back-to-belly homers, non-All-Star MVPs, bunting by count, this season’s uptick in balks, Gunnar Henderson and the passing-up-the-cycle club, and a wild pitch/passed ball mystery, plus a Future Blast from 2051 (1:49:48) and a few follow-ups (1:52:30). Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Brentz Link to Craig on the triple play Link to Pages From Baseball’s Past Link to ITYSL Link to Ringer ITYSL ranking Link to listener emails database Link to Sam on Ruth/Ohtani Link to story on Ohtani MRI Link to Ben on Yarbrough Link to “bulk guy” origin story Link to story on Verlander and 300 Link to Evan’s team streaks data Link to last-place NYY/NYM Link to thread on Yanks 10-loss streak Link to Ben on competitive balance Link to EW Episode 1354 Link to ALW division odds graph Link to 1982 Braves doc Link to team HR streaks data Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to Marlins 3-HR game Link to team 4-HR streaks Link to Ben on Padres stars Link to non-All-Star MVPs Link to bunt data Link to Belt bunt attempt Link to McGuire bunt Link to Grisham bunt attempt Link to Rojas bunt Link to team balk leaders Link to league balk totals Link to WP/PB/balks data Link to Rob Mains on ’88 balks Link to ’88 article on balks Link to 2023 article on balks Link to skipped cycles data Link to Henderson post Link to Henderson video Link to Henderson game story Link to story on Fuld Link to list of Gunnar games Link to 2001 Frye story Link to Frye tweet Link to Foxx’s cycle game Link to 1933 cycle citation Link to Ben on sticky stuff Link to WP/PB totals Link to Cooper on one-knee catching Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 2 Link to Cooper on one-knee catching 3 Link to WaPo on the 2022 ball Link to game-reenactment EW email Link to Russ Hodges call Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki Link to Strasburg salary report Link to Passan violations tweet  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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 lament and discuss Shohei Ohtani’s UCL injury and its ramifications for the rest of his season, his two-way future, his free agency, the Angels, and the continued happiness of baseball fans and podcast co-hosts, followed by conversations about Stephen Strasburg’s retirement (59:17), Wander Franco’s placement on administrative leave (1:11:30), and whether players are required to wear pants (1:21:06), plus a Future Blast from 2050 (1:31:37). Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Ben’s Ohtani article Link to Evan Drellich on Ohtani Link to Jay Jaffe on the Angels Link to Sam on the Angels Link to FA class Link to Ohtani and Elly Link to TJS study Link to Stat Blast on max-effort pitching Link to Ben on pitcher roster limits Link to WaPo report on Strasburg Link to Drellich on Franco Link to Jeff Passan on Franco Link to Jay Cuda pants tweet Link to CBA Link to high-socks study Link to Rick Wilber’s website Link to Future Blast wiki  Sponsor Us on Patreon  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 discuss a variety of interesting topics, including the Seattle Mariners' recent success, sponsored ads in baseball broadcasts, trusting baseball over Google searches, the similar seasons of J.D. Martinez and Justin Turner, a chain purchase and concerns for Eduardo Escobar, a trade involving Ruiz and Contreras, controversial comments from Angelo of the Orioles, and the challenges faced by left-handed catchers.