Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about team/player option/opt-out decisions involving Gerrit Cole, Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell, and Eugenio Suárez, the Royals re-signing Michael Wacha, the players who received qualifying offers, the Minasian brothers as rival GMs (and potential PoBros), Carlos Santana’s historic Gold Glove, an international signing scandal (on multiple levels), evidence of racial bias in player development, a Japan Series upset, and more, plus a postscript.

Audio intro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”

cole-triggers-opt-out-in-deal-with-yankees.html">Link to MLBTR on Cole 1 cole-to-reportedly-return-to-yankees.html">Link to MLBTR on Cole 2 Link to pitcher WAR since 2020 Link to P RA-9 WAR since 2020 snell-opts-out-of-deal-with-giants.html">Link to MLBTR on Snell Link to Snell leaderboard bellinger-exercises-player-option-with-cubs-for-2025-season.html">Link to MLBTR on Bellinger backs-to-exercise-option-on-eugenio-suarez.html">Link to MLBTR on Suárez Link to Suárez leaderboard Link to Suárez Stathead search sign-michael-wacha-to-three-year-deal.html">Link to MLBTR on Wacha Link to FG on Wacha players-receive-qualifying-offers.html">Link to qualifying offer list Link to FG top 50 FA Link to Rob Arthur article Link to Rob on racial bias in 2020 Link to Rob on Black catchers in 2020 Link to Ringer scouting reports series to-name-zack-minasian-general-manager.html">Link to MLBTR on Minasian Link to LAT on the Minasians Link to USA Today on the Minasians Link to Langs Santana stat Link to ESPN on signing scandal investigation-discovers-prospect-linked-to-padres-falsified-age.html">Link to MLBTR on signing scandal Link to Rob Arthur article Link to Rob on racial bias in 2020 Link to Rob on Black catchers in 2020 Link to Ringer scouting reports series Link to Climax Series wiki Link to Climax Series bracket Link to BayStars win 1 Link to BayStars win 2 Link to Jim Allen tweet Link to Ben on the BayStars Link to Hank Hill promo

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about offseason EW, Tommy Kahnle’s love affair with changeups, the Yankees’ preparation and fundamentals, Aaron Boone’s managing, the Dodgers as a dynasty, the White Sox hiring Will Venable, Alex Kirilloff’s retirement, two prediction anecdotes, glove flips as the new bat flips, the check-swing challenge system, the Premier12 tournament, the Women’s Pro Baseball League, Eric Adams and the World Series, a Yankees executive keeping things in perspective, a record sum for a historic baseball, Shohei Ohtani trumping One Piece, Dodgers parade comments, a no-show for NPB’s Sawamura Award, and more.

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to story on Kahnle’s changeups Link to Kahnle pitch types Link to pitch types Stat Blast Link to Boone report 1 planning-to-bring-back-aaron-boone-make-competitive-offer-for-juan-soto-klapisch.html">Link to Boone report 2 Link to Sherman on the Yankees Link to 2015 Royals scouting story Link to Ben on the Dodgers Link to Dodgers dynasty story Link to dynasty system sox-to-hire-will-venable-as-manager.html">Link to MLBTR on Venable kirilloff-announces-retirement.html">Link to MLBTR on Kiriloff Link to Kiriloff’s announcement Link to Gleeman tweet Link to elephants/mice info Link to Fernando prediction tweet Link to Fernando prediction story Link to Vientos prediction tweet Link to Vientos prediction story Link to glove flip clip Link to 2012 Chapman story Link to Baseball for All tweet Link to WPBL story Link to WPBL interview Link to Siegal EW episode Link to Premier12 roster Link to Premier12 wiki Link to challenge system story Link to challenge system video Link to Afterman comments Link to Adams attendance story Link to Ohtani ball auction Link to Ohtani ball auction 2 Link to Fat Joe comments Link to Ohtani shirt response Link to One Piece story Link to Sawamura Award story Link to Sawamura EW episode Link to Petriello on catching Link to “Something’s Coming”

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Games 4 and 5 of the World Series, with an emphasis on Game 5’s error-plagued fifth inning, managerial moves and bullpen performance, the significance of the Dodgers’ victory and the future of the franchise, puzzling stats about sweeps and teams that fall behind 3-0 in best-of-seven series, cluttered fun facts, fan interference mishegoss, and much more.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Daniel Lewis, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG playoff coverage Link to Ben on the Dodgers’ win Link to Game 5 fun facts Link to Kram on the fifth inning Link to Will Smiths story Link to Rogers tweet Link to fan ban Link to facial recognition story Link to Gronk tweet Link to 3-0 leads story Link to Ben on predicting sweeps Link to Paine on sweeps 1 Link to Paine on sweeps 2 Link to fun fact 1 Link to fun fact 2

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about and break down the lopsided first three games of the World Series: what went as expected, what was surprising, Aaron Judge’s postseason struggles, Freddie Freeman’s heroics, Shohei Ohtani’s injury, pivotal plays, Aaron Boone and Nestor Cortes, TV ratings, and much more, followed by (1:06:47) a brief, a not-about baseball voting PSA.

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG playoff coverage Link to Sterling call 1 Link to Sterling call 2 Link to Judge interview clip Link to Stanton play Link to Boone on the 2004 Red Sox Link to Ben on Boone and Cortes Link to Ben on team health Link to Will Carroll on Ohtani Link to Jeff Passan on Ohtani Link to TV ratings info Link to Langs slams stat Link to Langs 3-0 stat Link to Ice Cube video Link to Fat Joe video Link to Vote.gov

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Meg Rowley and guest co-host Craig Goldstein, editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus, discuss the passing of Fernando Valenzuela, and his importance to both the Dodgers and baseball more generally. Then they preview the 2024 World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees. They detail the relative strengths and weaknesses of both teams, breaking down the lineups, rotations, and bullpens, and discuss the players who might make the difference, from big stars like Ohtani, Betts, Judge and Soto, to lesser-known arms like Luke Weaver and Brent Honeywell.

Audio intro: Benny and A Million Shetland Ponies, “Benny and A Million Shetland Ponies – Horny EW Theme” Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FanGraphs’ postseason coverage Link to Eric Nusbaum’s book “Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between” Link to Andy McCullough on Fernando Valenzuela Link to Craig on how the Dodgers should bullpen Game 1 Link to Craig’s podcast, Five and Dive Link to Rob Arthur on Ohtani’s effect on attendance Link to Ben Clemens’ World Series Preview Link to Mike Petriello on the reliever familiarity effectLink to Michael Baumann on Giancarlo Stanton Link to Davy Andrews on Aaron Judge Link to Dan Szymborski on home field advantage in the playoffs Link to Davy Andrews on the stars of the World Series Link to Michael Baumann on postseason relievers Link to Judge and Ohtani in the postseason

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Meg Rowley and guest co-host Eric Longenhagen, FanGraphs’ lead prospect analyst, discuss some of the eliminated playoff teams, Meg’s grand unified theory of Grimace, and a few of the things they are looking forward to in the coming Dodgers-Yankees World Series. Then they discuss what Eric does and doesn’t look for in his Arizona Fall League looks, and how things are going for a few of the Fall League’s big prospects, including Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter, Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Dodgers outfielder Zyhir Hope, and Padres catcher Ethan Salas. Plus, Eric offers a few tips for those hoping to visit the AFL this year.

Audio intro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG playoff coverage Link to Eric’s first Fall League dispatch (Andrew Painter, Ethan Salas, Zyhir Hope) Link to Eric’s second Fall League dispatch (Tre’ Morgan, Kemp Alderman) Link to the Fall League section of The Board Link to Jay Jaffe on Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in the postseason Link to Jay Jaffe on starting pitching in the postseason Link to FanGraphs 2024 staff predictions FanGraphs 2024 staff playoff predictions Link to ZiPS game-by-game World Series Odds Link to the FanGraphs Playoff Odds Link to the FanGraphs Playoff Batting and Pitching Leaderboards

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s surprise presence and PitchCom conspiracies, recap the big moments (and big swings) from the end of the ALCS and NLCS, compare and contrast Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton, consider the 2025 outlooks for the Guardians and Mets, discuss the implications of a World Series matchup between big spenders, preview the Series, and share stats about Emmanuel Clase’s postseason implosion, the meeting of Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, and the star-studded-ness of the Yankees’ and Dodgers’ rosters.

Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG playoff coverage Link to Clerks montage Link to Ben on SP playoff familiarity Link to Soto at-bat breakdown Link to Stanton at-bat Link to Soto at-bat Link to Soto quote Link to BaseRuns standings Link to Clase query data Link to listener emails database Link to Verducci on Dodgers-Yankees Link to ZiPS WS projections Link to Sterling clip Link to Langs stat 1 Link to Langs stat 2 Link to Langs stat 3 Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter opener-freeman-front-office-hires-mets.html">Link to MLBTR on the Mets Link to series star data

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Game 3 of the ALCS and Game 4 of the NLCS, follow up (39:05) on replay review, fly-ball classifications, and executive titles, answer listener emails (53:22) about retiring numbers for both home and road teams and correctly labeling bat “flips,” and Stat Blast (1:03:46) about postseason despair, ball behavior, and roster turnover, plus (1:50:49) a postscript.

Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”

Link to FG playoff coverage Link to Noel HR call Link to triple HR prediction Link to Giménez play Link to 2016 NBA Finals wiki Link to Jaffe on Smith Link to Johansson hat Link to xkcd comic Link to listener emails database Link to Bautista bat flip Link to Playoff Despair Index data excerpt-october-17-2024-hunt.html">Link to Sheehan on October offense Link to Ben on the 2019 ball Link to postseason SLG-xSLG Link to lowest postseason SLGs Link to Tango on re-centering 1 Link to Tango on re-centering 2 Link to Smith flyout sheehan-newsletter-october-10-2024.html">Link to Sheehan on roster turnover Link to Ben on roster turnover Link to roster turnover data Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter Link to Episode 1771 Stat Blast Link to Episode 1586 Stat Blast Link to hard-hit FB out % Link to hard-hit LD out % Link to Garcia nickname Link to Sportico on sports betting Link to Jeter clip

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a report that Jerry Reinsdorf might be willing to sell the White Sox, then (13:22) discuss the tactics and storylines of ALCS and NLCS Game 2, including controversial Vogt decisions, how Yankees fans would perceive a pennant or championship, the importance of Max Muncy, visualizing success, Shohei Ohtani’s small-sample splits and playoff history, and more. After that (1:08:02), they answer listener emails about people who don’t know Ohtani can pitch, why some plays aren’t reviewable via replay, expanding the three-batter-minimum rule, and pedantry concerning squaring up foul balls, “taking a souvenir away” when robbing a homer, flying out sharply, and Canadian baseball-executive titles, plus a postscript featuring Ben’s daughter’s Effectively Wild debut (1:39:06).

Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes 2, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Reinsdorf report reinsdorf-reportedly-discussing-sale-of-white-sox.html">Link to MLBTR on Reinsdorf Link to Clemens on Vogt Link to recent franchise sales Link to more on recent sales Link to playoff batting leaders Link to Baumann on Ohtani splits Link to Ohtani on the postseason story Link to Ohtani on the postseason video Link to Ohtani NPB postseason stats Link to Ohtani New Balance ad 1 Link to Ohtani New Balance ad 2 Link to xkcd comic Link to Buehler game story Link to neighborhood play explainer Link to replay review explainer Link to McTaggart tweet Link to squared-up-barrels rate Link to squared-up-rate explainer Link to Greene robbery video Link to listener emails database

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a mayoral Yankees/Mets cap and the history of politicians flubbing comments about baseball, tease their next playoff livestream, and discuss when it’s acceptable to call a game “winner take all,” the conclusion of the Division Series round, José Ramírez the motivator, the Tigers’ 2025 outlook, nobody believing in the Dodgers (supposedly), how Dave Roberts is doing, injury-compromised players, the first games of the NLCS and ALCS, the clutch hitting of Kiké Hernández, Giancarlo Stanton, and…Clayton Kershaw, misconceptions about one-knee-down catching, the 2025 Dodgers rotation, an uptick in October TV ratings, and the significance of the CS matchups.

Audio intro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Adams cap article adams-mets-yankees-hat.html">Link to NYT on the Adams cap Link to Adams Mets fandom Link to Adams 9/11 comment clinton-takes-middle-ground-she-roots-for-subway-series.html">Link to Clinton story 1 Link to Clinton story 2 Link to Clinton story 3 Link to Clinton New Yorker cover Link to Giuliani story Link to de Blasio story Link to Obama story 1 Link to Obama story 2 Link to politicians story Link to “no cap” definition Link to Ramírez report Link to Ramírez and Mario Kart Link to Trueblood tweet Link to Muncy clip Link to Muncy/Hernández quotes Link to Curtis on doubters Link to Roberts confession dodgers-manager-dave-roberts-020328963.html">Link to original Roberts quote Link to Dodgers streak story Link to updated playoff hitting data Link to postseason hitters, min. 50 PA Link to FG payroll page Link to one-knee-down story reference.com/leagues/majors/field.shtml">Link to PB/WP rates Link to Cooper thread Link to Swanson EW episode Link to BP fielding data on Naylor Link to FG fielding data on Naylor Link to MLB.com on Kershaw kershaw-intends-to-pitch-in-2025.html">Link to MLBTR on Kershaw stone-likely-to-miss-2025-season-following-shoulder-surgery.html">Link to MLBTR on Stone Link to Maldonado surgery story raleigh-underwent-offseason-thumb-surgery.html">Link to Raleigh surgery story sheehan-newsletter-november-3-2023.html">Link to Sheehan on second chances Link to Jay on the Yankees’ pen Link to Langs on slams Link to “must-win” quote Link to Trop update Link to Strike Four

 Sponsor Us on Patreon  Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Spotify Feed  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  Bluesky Account  Get Our Merch!

Source