Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley
  • 4.7 (2.6K)
  • BASEBALL
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary

  1. 11H AGO

    Effectively Wild Episode 2440: Season Preview Series: Orioles and Padres

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about hamate fractures and other deflating spring training injury announcements, Zack Wheeler’s preserved rib, Chris Getz and Luisangel Acuña, a profusion of salary cap coverage, and more, and then preview the 2026 Baltimore Orioles (38:50) with The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka, and the 2026 San Diego Padres (1:27:28) with MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell. 2026 EW Season Preview Series AL BALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NL ATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG .intro-team, .intro-team td { font-family: lato, Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .intro-team .intro-header { /*display: none;*/ text-align: center; } .team-lg { text-align: center; width: 100%; } /* [class^="team-box-"] > div { display: inline-block; width: 48%; } [class^="team-box-"] > div table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; } [class^="team-box-"] > div td { background-color: #efefef; border: 1px solid #ccc; line-height: 2; text-align: center; cursor: default; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a { color: #000; text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 100% } [class^="team-box-"] > div a:hover { color: #50ae26; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a.link-inactive { color: #aaa; } */ Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to hamate injuries story Link to “bird bones” wiki Link to hamate research 1 Link to hamate research 2 Link to Walcott news Link to Acuña 200% story Link to >100% wiki entry Link to Casas “dry swings” story Link to rib story Link to Castellanos post Link to Gelb on Castellanos Link to Castellanos release news Link to Craig on Castellanos Link to Stubbs milk post Link to Kimbrel photo Link to Kimbrel photo thread Link to Tong photo Link to Getz/Acuña montage Link to Getz/Acuña story Link to Sam on Getz/Acuña Link to Murakami misspelling Link to prediction markets story Link to Passan cap story Link to previous Passan cap story Link to Drellich cap story Link to previous Drellich cap story Link to Rubenstein/Epstein story Link to team payrolls page Link to Orioles offseason tracker Link to Orioles depth chart Link to team SP projections Link to team RP projections Link to team offseason spending Link to Elias quote Link to O’s catchers Link to Andy’s author archive Link to Padres offseason tracker Link to Padres depth chart Link to AJ’s last 2025 post Link to AJ’s first 2026 post Link to Padres sale story 1 Link to Padres sale story 2 Link to Padres sale story 3 Link to Manfred quote Link to team RP WAR Link to team ISO Link to ESPN farm rankings Link to BP farm rankings Link to BA on Padres prospects Link to Shildt story Link to AJ on Preller Link to AJ’s author archive Link to Stathead query 1 Link to Stathead query 2 Link to Stathead query 3  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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    2h 20m

  2. 2D AGO

    Effectively Wild Episode 2439: Season Preview Series: Brewers and Rangers

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about new (and encouraging) details about MLB.TV registration, Justin Verlander returning to the Tigers, the rites of spring training, and the Rafael Devers trade in retrospect, before previewing the 2026 Milwaukee Brewers (20:50) with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Curt Hogg, and the 2026 Texas Rangers (1:08:28) with MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry. 2026 EW Season Preview Series AL BALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NL ATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG .intro-team, .intro-team td { font-family: lato, Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .intro-team .intro-header { /*display: none;*/ text-align: center; } .team-lg { text-align: center; width: 100%; } /* [class^="team-box-"] > div { display: inline-block; width: 48%; } [class^="team-box-"] > div table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; } [class^="team-box-"] > div td { background-color: #efefef; border: 1px solid #ccc; line-height: 2; text-align: center; cursor: default; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a { color: #000; text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 100% } [class^="team-box-"] > div a:hover { color: #50ae26; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a.link-inactive { color: #aaa; } */ Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLB.TV sign-up details Link to in-market streaming details Link to MLBTR on Verlander Link to over/under draft Link to EWStats post 1 Link to EWStats post 2 Link to late-signing pitchers post Link to Casas post Link to Lindor injury story Link to Schwellenbach injury story Link to Jays injuries story Link to Ben on spring injuries Link to Crochet announcement Link to FG post on Durbin deal Link to FG projected standings Link to BP projected standings Link to team payrolls Link to Brewers offseason tracker Link to Brewers depth chart Link to team SS projections Link to team 3B projections Link to MLBTR on Contreras surgery Link to 2025 catcher WAR leaderboard Link to 2025 catcher IP leaderboard Link to Sam on Brewers grounders Link to NL RotY voting Link to Curt’s author archive Link to Curt’s podcast Link to Rangers offseason tracker Link to Rangers depth chart Link to SP depth charts Link to RP depth charts Link to Burger article Link to 2025 team batting age Link to 2025 team pitching age Link to Kennedi’s author archive  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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    1h 49m

  3. 3D AGO

    Effectively Wild Episode 2438: Season Preview Series: Pirates and Twins

    Meg Rowley shares her euphoric reaction to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win, while Ben Lindbergh largely listens and occasionally interjects with bits of baseball commentary. Then (29:14) they discuss Buck Martinez’s retirement, Terrance Gore’s untimely death, and a purported catching super-prospect, before previewing the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates (44:23) with Roundtable Sports’ John Perrotto, and the 2026 Minnesota Twins (1:25:07) with The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman. 2026 EW Season Preview Series AL BALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NL ATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG .intro-team, .intro-team td { font-family: lato, Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .intro-team .intro-header { /*display: none;*/ text-align: center; } .team-lg { text-align: center; width: 100%; } /* [class^="team-box-"] > div { display: inline-block; width: 48%; } [class^="team-box-"] > div table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; } [class^="team-box-"] > div td { background-color: #efefef; border: 1px solid #ccc; line-height: 2; text-align: center; cursor: default; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a { color: #000; text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 100% } [class^="team-box-"] > div a:hover { color: #50ae26; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a.link-inactive { color: #aaa; } */ Audio intro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to HUAL Super Bowl episode Link to Acuña Jr. at the halftime show Link to Mercy wiki Link to Pratt article Link to Bad Bunny insurance article Link to Ben on the KC OF Link to Buck announcement Link to Buck saying Schlittler Link to Andy on Gore Link to Woodrum on Gore Link to Gore on EW Link to catching prospect video Link to scout quote about Robert Link to baserunning leaderboard Link to team payrolls Link to Pirates offseason tracker Link to Pirates depth chart Link to FG playoff odds Link to Post-Gazette closure Link to MLB.com layoffs Link to John’s author archive Link to Twins offseason tracker Link to Twins depth chart Link to Trueblood on Bell Link to Pohlad political comments Link to player political comments Link to Aaron’s author archive Link to Aaron’s podcast Link to Witherspoon post 1 Link to Witherspoon post 2 Link to Teasley obit Link to Teasley on EW  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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    2h 8m

  4. 6D AGO

    Effectively Wild Episode 2437: Season Preview Series: Giants and Royals

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the new, ESPN-ified process for signing up for MLB.TV, Stat Blast (12:28) about the long-sought, newfound pitching prowess of the WBC’s Team USA superteam, and then (34:31) preview the 2026 San Francisco Giants with The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee, and the 2026 Kansas City Royals (1:20:20) with MLB.com’s Anne Rogers. 2026 EW Season Preview Series AL BALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NL ATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG .intro-team, .intro-team td { font-family: lato, Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .intro-team .intro-header { /*display: none;*/ text-align: center; } .team-lg { text-align: center; width: 100%; } /* [class^="team-box-"] > div { display: inline-block; width: 48%; } [class^="team-box-"] > div table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; } [class^="team-box-"] > div td { background-color: #efefef; border: 1px solid #ccc; line-height: 2; text-align: center; cursor: default; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a { color: #000; text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 100% } [class^="team-box-"] > div a:hover { color: #50ae26; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a.link-inactive { color: #aaa; } */ Audio intro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Labuza Bluesky post Link to resulting Reddit thread Link to Labuza web post Link to Ben on the WBC Link to team payrolls Link to Giants offseason tracker Link to Giants depth chart Link to Grant on Vitello Link to Grant on the Giants offseason Link to Grant’s records account Link to Grant on the “Posey Rule” Link to last year’s Giants preview Link to Bonds curses article Link to Flores call article Link to Bogaerts call article Link to Grant’s author archive Link to Omnibus podcast Link to Royals offseason tracker Link to Royals depth chart Link to Vinnie on EW Link to Anne on outfield fences Link to team OF WAR Link to Anne on Garcia’s extension Link to Anne on Quatraro’s extension Link to Anne on hitting coach changes Link to Chiefs stadium move Link to Royals move article Link to Anne on Royals TV distribution  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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    1h 57m

  5. FEB 6

    Effectively Wild Episode 2436: Season Preview Series: Astros and Diamondbacks

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB player chatbots, an Addison Barger giveaway, Tarik Skubal’s big arbitration win, the Tigers signing Framber Valdez, and a rough week for sports media, then (36:29) begin the 14th annual EW season preview series by discussing the 2026 Houston Astros with The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, and the 2026 Arizona Diamondbacks (1:25:35) with The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro, followed (1:54:53) by a postscript. 2026 EW Season Preview Series AL BALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX NL ATLCHCARIMIACINCOLNYMMILLADPHIPITSDPWSNSTLSFG .intro-team, .intro-team td { font-family: lato, Arial, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .intro-team .intro-header { /*display: none;*/ text-align: center; } .team-lg { text-align: center; width: 100%; } /* [class^="team-box-"] > div { display: inline-block; width: 48%; } [class^="team-box-"] > div table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; } [class^="team-box-"] > div td { background-color: #efefef; border: 1px solid #ccc; line-height: 2; text-align: center; cursor: default; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a { color: #000; text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 100% } [class^="team-box-"] > div a:hover { color: #50ae26; } [class^="team-box-"] > div a.link-inactive { color: #aaa; } */ Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 1: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial 2: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to chatbots story Link to Barger story Link to season preview series wiki Link to Passan on Skubal Link to Baumann on Skubal Link to Dan S. on Framber Link to Rosenthal on the Pirates Link to Rosenthal on the Tigers Link to Chandler on the cross-up Link to team SP projections Link to NPR on WaPo Link to NYT on WaPo sports Link to The Ringer on WaPo sports Link to The New Yorker on WaPo Link to The Atlantic on WaPo Link to Silver on WaPo Link to MLB.com layoffs Link to Grant post Link to team payrolls Link to Astros offseason tracker Link to Astros depth chart Link to BP IL Ledger Link to Dan S. on team injuries Link to Chandler on Correa Link to Chandler on Imai Link to Chandler on the infield Link to Chandler on Espada/Brown Link to Trueblood on Peña Link to Chandler’s author archive Link to Crush City Territory Link to Diamondbacks offseason tracker Link to Diamondbacks depth chart Link to team RP WAR Link to team RP WPA Link to ballpark funding deal info Link to more funding deal info Link to funding deal opinion piece Link to renovations preview Link to Nick on the Alexander trade Link to FG post on Santana Link to Nick’s author archive Link to Boehly/Epstein article Link to ESPN’s Clase report Link to Ben on Clase Link to EW episode on Clase Link to SABR awards voting Link to Wood/Lolich IP leaderboard Link to Lolich obit  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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    2 hr

  6. FEB 4

    Effectively Wild Episode 2435: Oddsball Ideas

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB owners avoiding the Epstein files, preview the season preview series, bemoan the insurance issues preventing some stars from playing in the WBC, and break down the Luis Arraez and Eugenio Suárez signings, the Brendan Donovan trade, the latest White Sox moves, and their major takeaways from the release of the 2026 playoff odds. Then (1:22:00) Ben brings on historian Richard Hershberger to discuss the 150th anniversary of the National League’s founding, followed by (1:41:02) a postscript. Audio intro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Epstein files sports roundup Link to season preview series wiki Link to insurance article Link to Ben on WBC injuries Link to Arraez signing FG post Link to Dan S. on Arraez Link to Sam on Arraez Link to team 2B projections Link to Arraez offers report Link to Arraez defensive stats Link to Moneyball quote Link to Washington hiring Link to Ben on Arraez Link to “gotta hand it to them” tweet Link to “It’s Been Awhile” Link to Suárez signing FG post Link to over/under draft tracker Link to palindrome post Link to Donovan trade post Link to Dipoto trade story Link to “WWJDD?” Link to Dipoto hospital story Link to Cijntje specialization story Link to Cijntje splits Link to Becker on three-team trades Link to Rays ballpark funding info Link to Sam’s trade post Link to Sam’s original Rays post Link to “White Soxer” post Link to FG offseason tracker Link to Baumann on the White Sox Link to BP on the White Sox Link to Slater “top target” quote Link to Murakami bidets story Link to Sasaki bidets story Link to Mamdani bidets story Link to Ben on bidets Link to team payrolls Link to Dan S. on beating the Dodgers Link to Dan on the Pirates/A’s Link to the playoff odds Link to Clemens on the playoff odds Link to projected team WAR Link to Strike Four Link to Richard’s SABR work Link to projected team WAR Link to Past Blast wiki Link to Richard’s NL post 1 Link to Richard’s NL post 2 Link to Richard’s NL post 3 Link to 1876 NL Link to prediction markets update Link to team broadcasts update Link to 2025 player earnings data Link to original Stat Blast Link to new Stat Blast data Link to $/WAR by year  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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    1h 52m

  7. JAN 31

    Effectively Wild Episode 2434: Hold Your Dark Horses

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the oddly timed end of Derek Falvey’s rein as POBOth for the Twins, Jacob Wilson’s extension and the promising but lopsided A’s, pillow contracts vs. trampoline contracts, which teams have had the most frustrating offseasons, dark-horse-candidate teams for 2026, and listener responses to their previous discussion of a Fellowship of the Ring baseball team. Audio intro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to The Athletic on Falvey Link to Favley Zoom meeting detail Link to FG payrolls page Link to MLBTR on Wilson Link to 2025 team batting WAR Link to 2025 team pitching WAR Link to team WAR projections Link to sowing/reaping meme Link to team offseason spending Link to FG offseason tracker Link to Rooker on aliens Link to Robertson retirement news Link to Crizer on opt-outs Link to EW wiki on trampolines Link to BP on inactive teams Link to Sheehan on inactive teams Link to The Athletic on trying tiers Link to projected team WAR Link to “dark horse” wiki Link to MLBTR on Evans Link to Mount Doom scene Link to Pasquantino news  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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    1h 37m

  8. JAN 29

    Effectively Wild Episode 2433: Off the Dome

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about their coming deliverance from a slow baseball news period, spring training as a spectator experience, and how the prelude to Opening Day has changed, then (12:43) answer emails about the many meanings of “back end” in baseball, an outfielder who repels batted balls, whether all rule violations constitute cheating, a playoff team composed of spoilers, and which positions the members of the Fellowship of the Ring would play, followed (1:16:01) by a Stat Blast about the Mets’ roster reconstruction and the history of high turnover. Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2” Link to back end definitions Link to Magneto wiki Link to Magnetokinesis wiki Link to X-Men baseball history Link to Ben’s Mets article Link to Stat Blast data 1 Link to Stat Blast data 2 Link to Ben on turnover history Link to more on turnover history Link to Clemens on the Mets Link to Sherman on the Mets Link to Mets offseason history Link to Mets depth chart Link to projected pitcher playing time Link to projected hitter playing time Link to projected team WAR Link to Ben on team complacency Link to BaseRuns records Link to listener emails database Link to cloud seeding wiki Link to weekend weather info Link to “And my axe!” clip Link to “One does not” 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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    1h 41m
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