Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley
  • 4.7 (2.6K)
  • Baseball
  • Updated Semiweekly

Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary

  1. 16h ago

    Effectively Wild Episode 2484: Buckle Up, It’s CBA Season

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss the initial CBA proposals by the MLBPA and MLB: some specific points of departure and alignment, whether we really learned anything about what each side wants or the likelihood of lost games, and what the rhetoric and rebuttals say about the PR battle to come. Then (50:08) they banter about whether baseball broadcasts could ever get good enough to endanger attendance, why ABS challenge rates haven’t closely correlated with batter quality, a difference between what fans and neutral spectators tend to enjoy about teams, whether ace-type starting-pitcher seasons are making a partial comeback, a threat to baserunners and bat-dog employment, and a mid-start stretching-related mishap. Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Drellich on franchise values Link to MLBPA proposals Link to Drellich on the MLBPA proposals Link to Normandin on the MLBPA proposals Link to Mains on the MLBPA proposals Link to Drellich on the MLB proposals Link to Meyer statement Link to Caplin statement Link to CBA math post 1 Link to CBA math post 2 Link to Episode 1542 Link to Passan’s CBA proposals breakdown Link to Ben’s bargaining primer Link to Hershberger’s 1876 post Link to Sam on challenge rates Link to challenge leaderboard Link to Andrews on Wood’s challenges Link to pitcher-pace leaderboard Link to batter-pace leaderboard Link to George injury article Link to bat-dog suspension article 1 Link to bat-dog suspension article 2 Link to “Pups in the Park” page Link to 2025 bat-dog call-up Link to Pérez injury article Link to Reddit comment about Ben Link to MLBTR on Brebbia Link to MLBTR on Jones  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 45m

  2. 2d ago

    Effectively Wild Episode 2483: Brush It Off

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Craig Kimbrel’s new home, Colton Cowser’s walk-offs, Chris Taylor’s rapid retirement, unretirement, and re-retirement, whether the Mets should sell (and whom they could deal), the relative improvement of MLB’s worst teams, the Blue Jays’ (and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s) punchless contact, the historic hitting of this season’s MLB debutants, Gage Jump and the best-ever early returns for a draft class, whether the Athletics’ and Pirates’ production has been as lopsided as expected, an Oneil Cruz update, a trio of teams that has benefited from stable rotations, the Astros’ combined no-hitter, the Cubs’ extreme streakiness (and nondescript roster), more Giants innovations in thrusting, and Bryce Harper’s toothpaste/toothbrush technique, plus postscript updates. Audio intro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Kimbrel Link to post on Kimbrel’s destinations Link to team RP over prior 14 days Link to team RP over prior 30 days Link to Diekman predictions pod Link to final Diekman stats update Link to Cowser post Link to Cowser gamer Link to MLB.com on Taylor Link to MLBTR on Taylor Link to FG playoff odds Link to Mets impending free agents Link to article about 2025 Blue Jays hitting Link to 2026 team wRC+ Link to 2025 team ISO and K% Link to 2026 team ISO and K% Link to 2025 team Barrels/BBE% Link to 2026 team Barrels/BBE% Link to 2025 team hard-hit % Link to 2026 team hard-hit % Link to MLB debutants spreadsheet Link to B-Ref’s new debuts Link to Nishida debut story Link to MLB rookie offense Link to Passan on Jump Link to 2024 first round Link to MLBTR on Jump Link to draft-class data Link to Ben on the Pirates and A’s Link to team hitter WAR Link to team pitcher WAR Link to on-pace leaderboard Link to single-season strikeouts leaders Link to combined no-hitter gamer Link to FG post on the no-hitter Link to BP post on the no-hitter Link to Bumpus SABR bio Link to SABR Bumpus no-no story Link to Langs on Bumpus/Santa Link to 2026 MLB RP stats Link to 2026 MLB SP stats Link to team SP leaderboard Link to Cubs WAR leaders Link to Sam on the 2016 Giants Link to streaky teams spreadsheet Link to McCringleberry sketch Link to McCringleberry homage 1 Link to McCringleberry homage 2 Link to Harper’s TikTok Link to Lindbergh burrito method Link to Nishida throw 1 Link to Nishida throw 2 Link to Cubs streak fact 1 Link to Cubs streak fact 2 Link to Rangers’ revenge stat Link to Sox scoring stat 1 Link to Sox scoring stat 2 Link to Marlins/Cardinals/Twins candidates Link to list of ballpark claimants  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

  3. 6d ago

    Effectively Wild Episode 2482: The Trade Not Taken

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Mason Miller’s recent “struggles,” whether the Tigers will trade Tarik Skubal, and how different baseball would be if the Angels had traded Shohei Ohtani, plus (44:05) more than a dozen Stat Blasts. Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: PJ Harding, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to previous Miller banter 1 Link to previous Miller banter 2 Link to Miller sample 1 Link to Miller sample 2 Link to article about Grogu promo Link to Grogu promo Link to Triton Ballpark wiki Link to Yaddle at Wookieepedia Link to Ben on The Mandalorian and Grogu Link to Kimbrel blog post Link to MLBTR on Kimbrel Link to Heyman on a Skubal trade Link to Murray on a Skubal trade Link to Olney on a Skubal trade Link to Skubal bullpen sessions article Link to trade deadline date article Link to playoff odds Link to Clark quote about “the pant” Link to Rosenthal on 2023 Ohtani talks Link to Rosenthal on 2022 Ohtani talks Link to Seidler wiki Link to MLBTR on Boras/Seidler/Soto Link to Blum post about Johnson Link to team pitcher development rankings Link to “If baseball were different” wiki Link to Mains on regular-season splits Link to reverse records Link to post about three-team combos Link to Marlins/Cardinals/Twins candidates Link to Marlins/Cardinals players Link to Marlins/Twins players Link to Cardinals/Twins players Link to 2025 Sánchez game Link to 2003 Clement game Link to 2023 Thompson game Link to 1968 Roseboro game Link to all-hits-after-oh-fers list Link to McGwire Simpsons clip Link to Hill homer Link to Hill PED admission Link to Hill transactions Link to post-trade improvers Link to 2024 Ray slam game Link to 2025 NL Cy voting Link to 2021 AL Cy voting Link to 2011 NL Cy voting Link to 1986 NL Cy voting Link to 1971 O’s rotation article Link to Maxwell defensive game Link to Sandberg defensive game Link to McAuliffe defensive game Link to team run differentials Link to team runs scored Link to team runs allowed Link to Mets extra-innings game Link to most blown saves in game Link to 2021 blown-saves game Link to 1995 blown-saves game Link to 1983 Rangers-A’s game Link to 1901 Bernhard game Link to Bernhard’s 1901 game log Link to Bernhard’s 1901 opponent splits Link to 2025 Pressly game Link to most hits by sub Link to 1902 Danny Murphy game Link to Murphy game info 1 Link to Murphy game info 2 Link to Murphy game info 3 Link to Clerks quote Link to listener emails database Link to 1991 Phillies game Link to Griffin video board fun fact Link to list of ballpark claimants Link to “Fever” song wiki Link to article about White Sox collision Link to article about Hawk’s call Link to video of collision/call Link to photo of collision Link to comment about Boone’s signals Link to Boone’s flapping signal  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

    32 min

  4. May 21

    Effectively Wild Episode 2481: Tarp Off the First

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the “tarps off” fan-shirtlessness trend sweeping MLB ballparks, early grand slams, inside-the-park home runs, and “little league home runs,” more sources of baseball embarrassment, Blake Snell’s bone spurs (and the Dodgers’ perennial pitcher-injury issues), Gerrit Cole’s return to the Yankees, Gio Urshela and other players who excelled for one team but struggled for others, updates on early-season sensation Joey Wiemer, John Brebbia, and this season’s class of rookie hitters, and the league’s trend toward catcher challenges. Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to shirtless Rockies fans Link to Rockies fan photos Link to shirtless Cardinals fans Link to shirtless Mariners fans Link to shirtlessness trendpiece Link to AP piece on the trend Link to latest Giants thrust Link to Snell surgery update Link to MLBTR on Cole Link to MLBTR on Fried Link to MLBTR on Westburg Link to MLBTR on Berríos Link to Wiemer option news Link to Brebbia update Link to MLB rookie offense Link to FG post on Padres timeliness Link to Arenado grand slam Link to Arenado game play log Link to previous Slam Blast Link to Wood ITPGS Link to Lee’s ITPHR Link to Clemens LLHR Link to Ohtani LLHR Link to Sam on the LLHR Link to “Yakety Sax” Link to “Yakety Sax” wiki Link to Urshela retirement post Link to Urshela wRC stats Link to Small retrospective Link to Chavez Stat Blast Link to Mariners game story Link to Wilson pinch-hitting complaints Link to Sheehan on ABS Link to Sheehan Bluesky post Link to Trueblood on ABS Link to Tap to Challenge Link to MLBTR on Crawford Link to 2025 Cortes article Link to Kimbrough wiki Link to Kimbrough SABR bio Link to Kimbrough book excerpt 1 Link to Kimbrough book excerpt 2  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

  5. May 19

    Effectively Wild Episode 2480: The Most Embarrassing Baseball Play

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether the Phillies’ surge would have happened the same way if Rob Thomson hadn’t been fired, discuss streaks that were snapped for the Mets and Rico Garcia, delight and dismay in John Kruk repeating a podcast talking point, try to determine the most embarrassing failure a player can suffer on the field, bemoan a missed opportunity for an ambidextrous pitching appearance, mark the promotion of Mariners prospect Colt Emerson, and then discuss which of this season’s most over- or underperforming teams will regress. Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to team records since 4/28 Link to team run differentials since 4/28 Link to team records since 4/26 Link to Dan S. on managerial firings Link to Neil P. on managerial firings Link to Mets comeback game story Link to past Mets streak discussion Link to Holmes injury story Link to Davis call story Link to Garcia hit Link to .000 BABIP streaks Link to mound-charge strategy discussion Link to Kruk clip 1 Link to Kruk clip 2 Link to Phillies vs. Pirates game Link to Adolis arms Link to Reds walk streak Link to Cortes pitching play log Link to Cortes profile Link to 2025 Cortes switch-throwing game Link to Venditte glove article Link to Cortes pitching tweet Link to FG post on Emerson Link to MLBTR on Emerson Link to Crawford fielding stats Link to preseason playoff odds Link to BaseRuns standings Link to team performance vs. projections Link to Sheehan on the Rays Link to Sheehan on the Cardinals Link to Ben on playoff velo Link to updated PR pickoff data Link to team positioning runs Link to MLB.com Walls article  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 46m

  6. May 15

    Effectively Wild Episode 2479: Batters Up!

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Ben cursed Shohei Ohtani’s bat by predicting that Ohtani would win the Cy Young award but not the MVP award, whether Bobby Witt Jr. could win his first MVP award this season, the defensive transformation of Luis Arraez, and more, then (33:16) further interrogate what homoerotic celebrations say about baseball culture, discuss the latest ABS challenge mishaps, answer listener emails (54:30) about an ABS double-or-nothing idea, trading challenges for runs, purchasing challenges midgame, an upside of umpire rotation, boosting offense with double-barreled batters, and a baseball equivalent to the Kelce brothers, plus Stat Blasts (1:28:21) about players with the most inning-ending at-bats in a game, swing rates in debut plate appearances, grand-slam merchants, teams with many MVP vote-getters, and picked-off pinch runners. Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to preseason predictions episode Link to Ohtani slump story 1 Link to Ohtani slump story 2 Link to Ohtani slump story 3 Link to Ohtani slump story 4 Link to Ohtani slump story 5 Link to FG WAR leaders Link to B-Ref WAR leaders Link to FG post on Arraez Link to MLB.com on Arraez Link to FRV leaders Link to Outsports post 1 Link to Outsports post 2 Link to Outsports post 3 Link to homosociality wiki Link to Ross memoir Link to Valentine/Baty incident Link to Torres challenge denials Link to Heim play Link to Ben on accidental challenges Link to Jake on accidental challenges Link to Gausman quote Link to batter challenge leaders Link to Rumsfeld quote wiki Link to catcher challenge leaders Link to team challenge leaders Link to Clemens on FA $/WAR Link to Ortiz ump injury Link to double-barreled BP article 1 Link to double-barreled BP article 2 Link to HUAL segment Link to ex-athlete pods article 1 Link to ex-athlete pods article 2 Link to Tkachuks pod Link to Harrisburg vs. Erie game Link to 1977 Jays-Yanks game Link to five-inning-ending players Link to 2003 NL MVP voting Link to teams with 8+ MVP vote-getters Link to SABR on WAR and awards Link to Baumann on WAR and awards Link to Sam on downballot MVP votes Link to debut-PA swing rates data Link to innings 1-3 swing rate Link to innings 4+ swing rate Link to grand slams data Link to listener emails database Link to highest PR pickoff rates data Link to Haggerty pickoff game Link to SABR on PR specialists Link to Wright on PR specialists 1 Link to Wright on PR specialists 2 Link to Langs Bell fun fact  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

    34 min

  7. May 14

    Effectively Wild Episode 2478: MLB’s New Main Characters

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the latest lima-bean-related revelations about Tarik Skubal’s elbow surgery, the Giants’ censored synchronized thrust and the history of homoerotic celebrations in baseball, Coby Mayo’s dog’s devotion, the Orioles’ rotation issues (and a Rico Garcia update), Atlanta’s unexpectedly productive DHs, Ben’s invisible baseball neighbor, and Konnor Griffin’s glow-up, plus (1:12:33) a check-in on the hitters and pitchers who’ve over- or underperformed their projections the most through the first quarter of the regular season, and the players who’ve made cases to become new MLB main characters. Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)” Audio outro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to The Athletic on Skubal’s surgery Link to Seinfeld squirrel surgery scene Link to Giants celebration clip Link to Key & Peele sketch Link to Baggarly post Link to Baggarly article Link to other article on the edict Link to JHL’s possible smooch attempt Link to new bow celebration Link to Gilbert GIF Link to Vitello thrust Link to Posey ownership story Link to Charles B. Johnson wiki Link to Johnson donations article Link to Mets outfield imitation Link to 2022 Mookie celebration Link to Mookie Twitch stream answer Link to Mookie Twitch clip Link to bukkake wiki Link to Mookie’s Ohtani comment Link to 2024 Dodgers crotch bump Link to 2016 Cubs crotch bump Link to 2014 Mariners celebration post 1 Link to 2014 Mariners celebration post 2 Link to 2019 Rangers crotch grab Link to Red Sox celebration info Link to Dodgers memorial announcement Link to Collins obit Link to MLBTR on Fried’s elbow Link to Mayo game story Link to Mayo quote clip Link to Mayo quote text Link to Argos wiki Link to mid-March team SP projections Link to team SP WAR to date Link to Orioles SP stats so far Link to team hitter WAR Link to Elias’s Eflin/Rodriguez quote Link to 2026 Elias SP quote 1 Link to 2026 Elias SP quote 2 Link to 2026 Elias SP quote 3 Link to team defense leaderboard Link to .000 BABIP streaks Link to MLB.com on Garcia Link to Profar DH article Link to team DH production Link to team LF production Link to 2026 Location+ leaders Link to Link to 2024-26 Location+ leaders Link to latest Skenes gem Link to BP on Griffin’s rookie eligibility Link to Griffin’s early-season sample Link to Griffin’s second sample Link to hitter leaderboard since Griffin’s birthday Link to “quarter pole” definition Link to preseason hitter projections Link to preseason pitcher projections Link to hitter pace leaderboard Link to pitcher pace leaderboard Link to hitter over/underperformers Link to pitcher over/underperformers Link to Hogg on Miz velo post Link to Hogg on Miz velo article Link to Jones on Miz velo Link to Miz vs. Jones velo fun fact Link to Crizer on April 2025 main characters Link to Clemens on Walker Link to Raleigh shower story Link to BP on Turang Link to Blue Jays IP leaders Link to Orioles shutout gamer Link to 2475 Podsednik Stat Blast wiki Link to 1879 Podsednik Stat Blast Link to 1885 Podsednik follow-up Link to Podsednik walk-off Link to corvids wiki Link to icterids wiki Link to Vandy video clip Link to Vandy controversy summary Link to Vandy-Mizzou gamer  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 47m

  8. May 12

    Effectively Wild Episode 2477: Can Cleveland Framemog the Majors?

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Spencer Jones facing an overclocked Jacob Misiorowski in Jones’s MLB debut, the distance from the mound to home plate when Ryan Waldschmidt is batting, Gage Workman’s middle name, and Tarik Skubal’s loose lima bean, then discuss the surprising Patrick Bailey trade—including takes on Bailey’s bat and framing value in the ABS era, the leadership of Buster Posey and Tony Vitello, Cleveland doubling down on the Austin Hedges catching model, and the virtues of Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson—plus thoughts on the bouncebacks of Bryce Harper and Michael Conforto, the Pirates’ rotation, iron man Matt Olson, a Craig Kimbrel meltdown, and the death of Bobby Cox. Audio intro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)” Link to “POV” meme Link to Jones debut Link to Jones stance tweet Link to Judge/Jones comparison Link to first Jones vs. Miz PA Link to 103 mph+ pitches Link to fastest pitches of 2026 Link to top SP seasons by K% Link to “Ballad of a Thin Man” Link to Miz velo upticks article Link to Miz Charizard pull Link to tallest outfield Link to Ben on big Yankees Link to Waldschmidt quote Link to Workman middle name info 1 Link to Workman middle name info 2 Link to “taters” Gollum clip Link to Boras on the “Skubal scope” Link to Boras/Olney podcast Link to last year’s Boras/Skubal quote Link to FG post on Bailey Link to Dubuque on Bailey Link to Baggarly on Bailey/Posey 1 Link to Baggarly on Bailey/Posey 2 Link to Rosenthal on Posey Link to Bailey’s framing at FG Link to 2026 FG framing leaders Link to 2025 FG framing leaders Link to Savant framing leaders Link to top players since Bailey’s call-up Link to top Giants since Bailey’s call-up Link to top catchers since Bailey’s call-up Link to Giants dugout pitch-calling article 1 Link to Giants dugout pitch-calling article 2 Link to Bailey wRC+ joke Link to story about Hedges the hitter Link to “framemog” at wiktionary Link to framemogging meme Link to NPR on framemogging Link to Vitello quote about effort Link to Vitello pitching change confusion Link to Kapler pitching change confusion Link to La Russa pitching change confusion Link to Nightengale on the trade deadline Link to MLBTR on the Giants’ outlook Link to team run differentials Link to Conforto wRC+ leaderboard Link to top team SP by WAR Link to Pirates SP production Link to FG MLB WAR leaders Link to longest consecutive games streaks Link to Freeman vs. Olson WAR post-2022 Link to worst RP WPAs Link to Kimbrel loss Link to Kimbrel grand slam story Link to Chavez’s Giants origin story Link to “OTP” explainer Link to Cox obit Link to Atlanta championship expectations Link to Cox research 1 Link to Cox research 2 Link to Cox research 3 Link to manager longevity article Link to data on ejection causes Link to CCS ejections posts Link to 2026 manager ejection count Link to 2025 manager ejections count Link to 2024 manager ejections count Link to manager ejections data over time Link to 2016 THT article on Cox DV Link to 1995 THT article on Cox DV Link to Clevinger report 1 Link to Clevinger report 2 Link to Tigers Triple-A manager firing Link to Mixtape wiki Link to “bro explaining” meme Link to Mixtape baseball quote 1 Link to Mixtape baseball quote 2 Link to Ben’s gaming podcast Link to article on foul ball increases Link to 2026 foul ball leaders Link to 1988 foul ball 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! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

    1h 53m
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