Episodes

  • Effectively Wild Episode 2501: Stay on Target

    Effectively Wild Episode 2501: Stay on Target
    Jul 7 2026
    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about two significant MLB debuts on NBC’s “Star-Spangled Sunday” (by Eddy Yean and Eliezer Alfonzo), the fallout from the Marlins pulling Eury Pérez mid-perfecto, a rare fog delay, the All-Star Game rosters (featuring a very normal number of Blue Jays, and also Rob Manfred’s good buddy Bryce Harper), whether the league set a target home-run rate (and whether that would be a bad thing), and the rotation durability of the Cards and Guards. Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: PJ Harding, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to “Star-Spangled Sunday” explainer Link to minor league draft scoreboard Link to Yean’s cart clip Link to Yean debut article Link to bullpen cart driver episode Link to team RP WAR Link to Alfonzo article 1 Link to Alfonzo article 2 Link to Contreras apology Link to B-Ref’s new debuts Link to Pérez article Link to Sheehan on pulling Pérez Link to Ben on Marlins play-by-play Link to 2016 Hill article Link to 2022 Kershaw article Link to 2022 Scherzer article Link to Stripling on his debut Link to Bachar’s Instagram Link to fog game article 1 Link to fog game article 2 Link to BP on the fog game Link to foggy ABS clip Link to Fog Bowl wiki Link to Statcast Hawk-Eye explainer Link to All-Star rosters announcement Link to Vladito back injury info Link to Harper All-Star story Link to 2025 Harper/Manfred story Link to recent episode on baseball behavior Link to MLB statement Link to Baseball Savant drag dashboard Link to 2026 Athletic ball article Link to 2025 Athletic ball article Link to 2022 ball article 1 Link to 2022 ball article 2 Link to 2022 humidor article Link to 2021 ball-deadening article Link to eyeblack ball report Link to NPB ball scandal article Link to NPB ball scandal outcome Link to Strange-Gordon farming info Link to NBA deflation scandals Link to Sheehan on the Cards/Guards Link to BP IL Ledger Link to SP used per team Link to team SP FB velo Link to team SP WAR Link to Pitcher List on Guardians SP stuff Link to Thress Pérez/Bachar post Link to RE24 explainer Link to SP/RP RE24 data Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • Effectively Wild Episode 2500: Yet Another “Things We Like About Baseball” Draft

    Effectively Wild Episode 2500: Yet Another “Things We Like About Baseball” Draft
    Jul 4 2026
    In the fifth incarnation of a time-honored tradition that recurs every 500-ish episodes, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley are joined by ex-co-host Sam Miller and The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee to draft assorted things that they like about baseball. Audio intro: Sam Miller, “Effectively Wild Theme (Ken Maeda’s Nice ‘n’ Easy Remix)” Audio outro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to EW wiki page for things drafts Link to Episode 500 wiki Link to Episode 996 wiki Link to Episode 1500 wiki Link to Episode 2000 wiki Link to U.S. semiquincentennial wiki Link to Pebble Hunting Link to Grant at The Athletic Link to Ben on pre-WAR value estimates Link to spaghetti policy research Link to article on spaghetti research Link to Devil Rays food policy article Link to The Roundtable cancellation Link to O’Neil on bat cracks clip Link to O’Neil on Bo article 1 Link to O’Neil on Bo article 2 Link to Tracy quote about Harris Link to Kershaw on McKinstry Link to Tito Translator post Link to Murphy on Vargas Link to Space Jam sound clip Link to Space Jam video clip Link to Space Jam quote 2 Link to Space Jam clip 2 Link to Franzke on Stott Link to Martinez comment Link to Schneider on Lukes Link to Kemp quote 1 Link to Kemp quote 2 Link to Baldelli on Vázquez Link to Cora on Mayer Link to Roberts on DeLuca Link to Maddon on Fletcher Link to Campbell on Andrews Link to Snitker on Acuña Jr. Link to Roberts on Betts Link to Stark on Rollins Link to supposed Tabler quote Link to Malone on Counsell Link to Sandberg quote Link to Royko on Sandberg Link to Royko on Kruk Link to Royko wiki Link to Kruk and Koch Link to 1978 Willoughby article Link to Tomlinson Father’s Day bit Link to Can’t Hardly Wait scene Link to Everybody Wants Some!! clip Link to Sam on sound outside ballpark Link to Sam on K-strutting Link to Sam on Brewers challenging Link to Leeroy Jenkins wiki Link to The Athletic on Ruiz Link to best-hitting catchers Link to 2015 Cozart article Link to 2015 FG post on Cozart Link to 2016 FG post on Cozart Link to 2017 Cozart article Link to 2017 FG post on Cozart Link to The Athletic on Cozart Link to Wong/Chapman story Link to Sam on “drawing interest” Link to Sam on SP strike rates Link to Bill James strike zone quote Link to Cansecos switcheroo story Link to Cansecos switcheroo conspiracy Link to Jolly article Link to Ben on Twins.com Link to MLB trademark application Link to Niekro-on-Niekro homer Link to Perry home run story Link to Gameday 3D explainer Link to previous Gameday 3D banter Link to Defector on Gameday 3D glitches Link to other glitch 1 Link to other glitch 2 Link to other glitch 3 Link to other glitch 4 Link to other glitch 5 Link to other glitch 6 Link to other glitch 7 Link to other glitch 8 Link to other glitch 9 Link to Grubb on Gameday glitches Link to deleted Gameday 3D post Link to possible source of deleted clip Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    1 hr and 55 mins
  • Effectively Wild Episode 2499: Sit-Down Meeting

    Effectively Wild Episode 2499: Sit-Down Meeting
    Jul 3 2026
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about tough times for a few EW favorites and Ben’s pre-podcast injury, then (15:00) discuss the response to Cade Cavalli telling Willson Contreras to “Sit down, boy.” After that (38:10), they cover the MLBPA’s proposals to limit certain types of transactions, a continued tightening of the leashes on starting pitchers, Paul Skenes’s recent struggles, the unlikely win-loss records of Tanner Bibee and Aaron Ashby (and an embarrassing Cooper Ingle error), Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong hot streaks and PCA’s newfound patience, recent swoons by the Braves and Yankees and surges by the Marlins and Rangers, what the Red Sox and Tigers should do at the deadline, and more. Audio intro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Brebbia Link to MLBTR on Rooker Link to Rooker/Pasquantino pod Link to MLBTR on Lin Link to MLBTR on Lasko Link to Brussels sprouts episode Link to Venezuela earthquakes story Link to MLB/MLBPA Venezuela donation Link to Cavalli/Contreras video Link to story on first Contreras ejection Link to ump’s ejection explanation Link to story about Contreras/Cavalli incident Link to Cavalli apology Link to Toboni comments Link to Bixby census data Link to The Athletic on Cavalli Link to punishments for players Link to MLBTR on the suspensions Link to Contreras Instagram comment Link to Contreras Instagram report Link to The Athletic on player proposals Link to MLBTR on player proposals Link to Ben on pitcher roster restrictions Link to BP on rampant DFAing Link to BP on rampant optioning Link to MLBPA prop-bet proposal Link to Crizer on Skenes, etc. Link to Skenes Big Glizzy ad Link to McClanahan game Link to Sam on starter usage Link to Snell no-hitter Link to familiarity vs. fatigue research Link to Ingle error Link to MLB wins leaders Link to Ashby quotes Link to RP IP leaders Link to RP leverage leaders Link to 23-3 game Link to Littleton save Link to Corbin save tweet Link to PCA fun fact Link to Swanson fun fact 1 Link to Swanson fun fact 2 Link to fun-fact-finding interview Link to Woodrum on PCA Link to NL East playoff odds graph Link to Defector on the Marlins Link to Sheehan on the Rangers Link to Jay on bad defenses Link to Temecula incident Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    40 mins
  • Effectively Wild Episode 2498: MLB’s Bully Pulpit

    Effectively Wild Episode 2498: MLB’s Bully Pulpit
    Jul 1 2026
    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the firing of Perry Minasian and the Angels’ outlook under John Mozeliak, Molly Jolly, and Arte Moreno, how MLB is using official channels to publicly promote its position in labor bargaining, whether the Mets’ disappointing season will influence other teams’ approaches to roster construction, the popularity (or lack thereof) of Josh Naylor, Jacob Misiorowski and the imprecise nature of pitch-speed records, and the delightful debut of the Diamondbacks’ Mitch Bratt, plus a postscript about MLB’s ball-drag statement. Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Blum on Minasian Link to Blum on Minasian 2 Link to Dubuque on Minasian Link to Rosenthal on Mozeliak Link to Nightengale’s Angels report Link to Jolly article Link to MLB labor videos Link to MLB Instagram labor post Link to Ozempic ad 1 Link to Ozempic ad 2 Link to MLB.com column 1 Link to MLB.com column 2 Link to Baumann on draft prospect opinions Link to bully pulpit wiki Link to 2026 Mets clubhouse story Link to 2025 Mets clubhouse story Link to 2023 Mets clubhouse story Link to Stearns clip Link to Meisel on Naylor Link to Hedges clip Link to Garrett comment Link to Naylor on Pawol Link to Miz 105.5 mph story Link to Miz postgame comment Link to Miz postgame clip Link to 105+ MPH pitches Link to 107+ perceived MPH pitches Link to Pitch Info website Link to Chapman max MPH at BB Link to Hicks max MPH at BB Link to Joyce max MPH at BB Link to Miz max MPH at BB Link to PITCHf/x calibration article 1 Link to PITCHf/x calibration article 2 Link to PITCHf/x calibration article 3 Link to PITCHf/x calibration article 4 Link to PITCHf/x calibration article 5 Link to Bratt delivery 1 Link to Bratt delivery 2 Link to Bratt last year Link to Walden/Capps story Link to Seinfeld clip Link to Bratt extension rank Link to “fall on my ass” tweet Link to Savant drag dashboard Link to MLB statement to Ben Link to Acuña comparing balls Link to MLB trademark application Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    1 hr and 45 mins
  • Effectively Wild Episode 2497: Follow the Bouncing Ball

    Effectively Wild Episode 2497: Follow the Bouncing Ball
    Jun 27 2026
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Ben Clemens banter about some suspicious variability in the ball’s behavior and whether the low-drag, high-home-run-rate times of the late 2010s have returned, Carlos Mendoza’s “departure” from the Mets, the Blue Jays’ dominance of “Phase 1” of All-Star voting, the hitters and pitchers who have most overperformed and underperformed their projections through the halfway point of the regular season, forsaking single-team fandom, platoon god Paul Goldschmidt, Dalton Rushing’s clash with Shohei Ohtani, the Pope’s audience with A.J. Pierzynski, MLB’s economic proposals, and more, plus Stat Blasts about an unusual homestand and the Nationals’ latest, not-so-greatest bullpen blowup(s). Audio intro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLFAD scoreboard Link to bouncing ball wiki Link to Savant drag dashboard Link to ball carry analysis Link to Nathan post 1 Link to Nathan post 2 Link to Nathan post 3 Link to Nathan post 4 Link to March/April scoring Link to May scoring Link to story about May offense Link to June scoring Link to MLB/Rawlings story Link to scoring/attendance research 1 Link to scoring/attendance research 2 Link to scoring/attendance research 3 Link to scoring/attendance research 4 Link to Mets announcement tweet Link to Mets announcement post Link to MLBTR on Mendoza Link to MLBTR on Green Link to Rosenthal on Mendoza/Stearns Link to Ben L. on team turnover Link to FG playoff odds Link to Phase 1 ASG voting results Link to Sogard contest post Link to FG combined WAR leaderboard Link to 2025 trade value series Link to Dan S. on batter ZiPS movers Link to Dan S. on pitcher ZiPS movers Link to batter preseason projections Link to batter pace leaders Link to batter paces vs. projections Link to pitcher preseason projections Link to pitcher pace leaders Link to pitcher paces vs. projections Link to MLBTR on Ragans Link to Cashman on running back the roster Link to Goldschmidt tOPS+ query Link to Goldschmidt sOPS+ query Link to 1B JAWS leaders Link to Petriello on Goldschmidt Link to Other Ben’s VEB archive Link to Jensen HR off of Kimbrel Link to Rushing/Ohtani video Link to Rushing quotes Link to Rushing postgame video Link to Ohtani postgame video Link to Roberts postgame video Link to contested challenge clip Link to dugout conferences clip Link to mound conference clip Link to costly missed catch Link to Rushing bench reaction Link to Ohtani’s Smith/Rushing splits Link to Rosenthal on Pope/Pierzynski Link to Papal infallibility wiki Link to MLB proposals article Link to MLB proposals tweet Link to MLBPA response Link to article on player aging Link to aging curve research 1 Link to aging curve research 2 Link to late homestands spreadsheet Link to BP on the Phillies comebacks Link to Langs on the Phillies comebacks Link to 2026 team RP WAR Link to worst-ever team RP WAR Link to Phillies comeback gamer Link to last-strike-comebacks data Link to non-Einstein quote investigation Link to The Athletic on the Nats’ pen Link to The Athletic on the Nats’ pen again Link to Rockies comeback gamer Link to Other Ben on inherited runners Link to Stat Blast on inherited runners Link to listener emails database Link to SCG Con Link to MLBTR on Minasian/Mozeliak Link to Miz 105.5 mph story Link to fastest tracked pitches Link to Miz postgame comment Link to Miz postgame clip Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    25 mins
  • Effectively Wild Episode 2496: Our Daily Breb

    Effectively Wild Episode 2496: Our Daily Breb
    Jun 26 2026
    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the rise and fall of Ildemaro Vargas, the Mets’ and Cubs’ David Peterson swap, Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s refusal to wear a cup, the Giants’ response to Pride Night fallout, and the owners’ CBA strategy. Then (56:41) Ben brings back John Brebbia to discuss the Rockies reliever’s return to the majors, how he’s handling the journeyman phase of his career, when to opt out of a contract, Colorado’s player-dev improvements, Triple-A attitudes, how the minors have changed, the greatest major league luxury, dugout pitch-calling, challenging, his entrance song, how he and other players are following the labor talks, and more. Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)” Link to Lennon song Link to MLFAD Link to “Train Daddy” article Link to “Railroad Daddy” article Link to Brebbia’s first appearance Link to Vargas hot streak Link to Vargas cold streak Link to Voros’s Law Link to gambler’s fallacy Link to Vargas collision Link to Flowers for Algernon adaptations Link to Charly Link to TV movie Link to Awakenings Link to “Snakes alive” slogan Link to Nora Morse wiki Link to FG post on the Cubs Link to MLBTR on Peterson Link to Gary Cohen quote Link to Mets’ six errors Link to Chisholm clip Link to Chisholm story Link to Mariners testicle injury thread Link to Haniger story Link to risk compensation wiki Link to catcher helmets interview Link to lollipop story Link to Davitt interview Link to Posey clip Link to SF Chronicle on the Giants Link to The Athletic on the Giants Link to KNBR interview story Link to Devers apology story Link to Vitello’s The Town reference Link to Manfred letter Link to The Athletic on MLB’s proposals Link to MLBTR on MLB’s proposals Link to Play Sun Smart initiative Link to Rockies team attitude story Link to Senzatela pitch mix Link to Bull Durham scene Link to Collins quote Link to dugout pitch-calling story Link to dugout pitch-calling story 2 Link to Ben on dugout pitch-calling Link to Wham! song Link to story about Brebbia’s song Link to Zoolander scene Link to Meyer quote Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    2 hrs
  • Effectively Wild Episode 2495: Rank Amateurs

    Effectively Wild Episode 2495: Rank Amateurs
    Jun 23 2026
    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Joey Meneses and John Brebbia being back in the big leagues, Mike Trout’s hamstring strain, Dillon Dingler’s dominance, a Blue Jays All-Star voting update, the latest Home Run Derby format change, MLB’s radical amateur drafts proposal, the DOJ’s MLB investigation and the York Revolution’s Pride event, Rafael Devers vs. Tony Vitello, and the struggle-bus swan songs of Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, plus (1:40:06) a postscript. Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLB.com on Meneses Link to MLBTR on Meneses Link to MLBTR on Brebbia Link to Ben on Meneses Link to Brebbia on EW Link to “Cecilia” Link to MLB.com on Trout Link to latest All-Star tallies Link to AL “as 2B” leaders Link to “primary 2B” leaders Link to team OF rankings Link to AL WAR leaders Link to FG framing leaders Link to Savant framing leaders Link to on-pace leaders Link to catcher batting leaders Link to Derby report Link to Derby format wiki Link to The Athletic on MLB’s proposal Link to ESPN on MLB’s proposal Link to Cohen tweet Link to BA on MLB’s proposal Link to Dan S. on MLB’s proposal Link to DOJ investigation story Link to DOJ investigation story 2 Link to player reaction to investigation Link to York Revolution statement Link to York Revolution news story Link to York Revolution wiki Link to York Revolution news segment Link to Teter clip Link to story on Treinen Link to Manfred letter Link to York County voting results Link to York County voting story Link to Devers/Vitello interaction Link to Devers/Vitello story 1 Link to Devers/Vitello story 2 Link to MLB.com on Scherzer Link to Verlander quotes Link to Verlander’s 25 things Link to Upton story Link to Verlander’s pitching splits Link to Fleisig paper Link to “tree of liberty” quote Link to “rigor mortis” quote Link to Worthington obit Link to Episode 1505 Link to Shreiber obit Link to Draft No. 4 Link to One Writer’s Beginnings Link to Red McDermott at B-Ref Link to Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    1 hr and 53 mins
  • Effectively Wild Episode 2494: Culture WAR

    Effectively Wild Episode 2494: Culture WAR
    Jun 18 2026
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss the backlash to MLB’s initial statement about the Giants’ objectors to Pride Night, the league’s subsequent expanded statement, and the facts about the policies and punishments (or the lack thereof) pertaining to uniform alterations. Then (37:10) they banter about the Blue Jays’ ballot dominance in early All-Star voting, the history of teams being overrepresented on All-Star rosters, the Mariners’ piggyback pitching plan, and Curtis Washington Jr. as the ultimate phantom ballplayer, answer emails (1:19:28) about where the next two-way player might come from and whether Pete Crow-Armstrong’s defensive value is underrated, and Stat Blast (1:31:56) about where franchise scoring records tend to be set, the biggest run differentials in games with equivalent times on base, days when one team outscored many other teams combined, Boston’s lack of late comebacks, and teams whose win totals did or didn’t match their WAR totals. Audio intro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to wisdom teeth etymology Link to Domínguez tooth news Link to Ohtani gamer Link to MLB’s initial statement Link to assorted bad tweets Link to MLB’s second statement Link to story about statements Link to Hawley letter story Link to story about backlash Link to CBA Link to Josh Hawley fleeing footage Link to Noah Hawley wiki Link to Vesia tribute story Link to California Post story Link to All-Star vote totals Link to AL 2B WAR leaders Link to Blue Jays voting story 1 Link to Blue Jays voting story 2 Link to Blue Jays WAR leaders Link to team All-Star records Link to 2015 Royals voting story Link to 2015 Royals All-Stars Link to 2026 YoY attendance Link to 2015 YoY attendance Link to 2023 Braves All-Stars story Link to Mariners piggyback plan Link to Ben on the ’93 A’s Link to Washington call-up story 1 Link to Washington call-up story 2 Link to Washington call-up story 3 Link to Washington scouting report Link to Washington demotion story Link to Rob Mains on roster limits Link to Ben on Padres Rule 5 guys Link to phantom ballplayers wiki Link to Ben on Ohtani’s origin story Link to Las Vegas stats Link to Rockies record score Link to scoring differentials data Link to 9/2/01 scoreboard Link to ninth-inning scoring splits Link to FG mailbag answer Link to team WAR/wins data Link to listener emails database Link to HRD format report Link to HRD format history Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! Source
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    38 mins