Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

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

Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary

  1. 2d ago

    Effectively Wild Episode 2524: Take This Cup From Me

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a baseball reference in summer sci-fi flick The End of Oak Street and new reporting on players’ unwillingness to wear cups, then (32:30) discuss career years for Pete Alonso and Gabriel Moreno, Mason Miller’s changeup, Cal Raleigh’s swing change, and whether MLB will follow other leagues’ leads in establishing a tournament or trophy apart from the playoffs, before Stat Blasting (1:17:47) about the worst/least-experienced lineups ever, the most prolifically .500 teams, and the hierarchy of double-play frequency. Audio intro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to The End of Oak Street wiki Link to David Robert Mitchell wiki Link to Detroit references in movie Link to Parrish 1982 gamelog Link to Doctor Strange Tigers reference Link to protective cups article Link to Luke 22:42-44 Link to Chisholm article Link to Forbes article on JKG Link to Time article on JKG Link to best hitters in August Link to on-pace leaderboard Link to pitch run values since 2025 Link to Miller’s changeup count Link to Cruz homer clip Link to Miller article 1 Link to Miller article 2 Link to game theory meme Link to Cal swing article Link to Neil on alternate champions Link to Neil on the NBA Cup Link to Knicks NBA Cup decision Link to regular-season-champion article Link to regular-season-champion episode Link to Yankees’ six-run win Link to Stat Blast wiki Link to Giants loss article 1 Link to Giants loss article 2 Link to Giants unfun fact Link to Sam post 1 Link to Sam post 2 Link to 2022 White Sox .500 records Link to Rochester Hop Bitters info Link to Preston’s FB post Link to “9 to 5” video Link to double-play data Link to Hembekides clip Link to Hembekides graph Link to Molina 3-2-8 double play Link to Nootbaar play  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. 3d ago

    Effectively Wild Episode 2523: Upon Further Review

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about takeaways from ESPN’s 30 for 30 podcast on Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara, disappointing parity (46:41), the latest public-funding ballpark boondoggles in Kansas City and Tampa (52:22), and which AL wild card contender most deserves to squeak into October (1:12:58). Audio intro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to The Betrayal of Shohei Ohtani Link to Passan video on the Dodgers Link to Passan tweets on the Dodgers Link to EW episode on Ippei Link to criminal complaint Link to Starz show update Link to 2024 Shohei/Ippei clip Link to deMause/Bradbury EW episode Link to KC ballpark update Link to Tampa ballpark update Link to more on Tampa ballpark Link to Field of Schemes book Link to Field of Schemes post 1 Link to Field of Schemes post 2 Link to Field of Schemes post 3 Link to TIF wiki Link to This One Will Be Different Link to deMause Bluesky post Link to Hurtak Bluesky post Link to Nippon Ham wiki Link to Fighters wiki Link to fruit of the poisonous tree Link to Chinese wall wiki Link to national debt news Link to Alou brothers game Link to all-Alou-outfield 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

  3. 5d ago

    Effectively Wild Episode 2522: The New Funnest Fact

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about baseball’s new reigning fun fact (courtesy of Pete Crow-Armstrong and Randy Arozarena), Kade Anderson’s debut and Dan Wilson’s slow hook, a Cal Raleigh rally, and the firing of Astros GM Dana Brown, then Stat Blast (41:51) about a Phillies comeback, a strange Yankees streak, an unusual double play, getting hit by both pitched and batted balls, and consecutive same names in lineups, before finishing by discussing (58:37) follow-ups and errata pertaining to the previous week’s podcasts and (1:18:02) a sign-stealing/unwritten-rules controversy courtesy of the Cubs and Diamondbacks. Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2” Audio outro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to PCA/Randy fun fact 1 Link to PCA/Randy fun fact 2 Link to FG post on Anderson Link to Sheehan on Wilson/Anderson Link to Cal homers video Link to Cal homers article 1 Link to Cal homers article 2 Link to Cal slump analysis Link to MLBTR on Brown 1 Link to MLBTR on Brown 2 Link to Nightengale on Brown Link to Clemens on Brown Link to Wells gear 1 Link to Wells gear 2 Link to Schwarber homer video Link to FG Phillies post Link to Twins comeback article Link to comebacks Stat Blast results Link to Yankees scoring data Link to Stanton injury update Link to Judge injury update Link to double-play data Link to triple-Brown name game Link to Gasper clip Link to HBP/batted ball instances Link to listener emails database Link to sign-stealing article 1 Link to sign-stealing article 2 Link to Sam on unwritten rules Link to sign-stealing EW episode Link to Ben on coaching/front offices Link to Miz/Sale article 1 Link to Miz/Sale article 2 Link to Miz/Sale box score Link to Randy Johnson EW interview Link to other case of Miz-taken identity Link to Kelly/Mikolas article Link to Mikolas article 1 Link to Mikolas article 2 Link to puck-tracking tech  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

  4. Aug 21

    Effectively Wild Episode 2521: Keep Your Eye on the Small Ball

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a Chris Sale vs. Jacob Misiorowski matchup and how often anticipated pitching duels live up to the hype, a controversial fair/foul call and ball-tracking tech in baseball compared to other sports, and what stadium decibel levels say about whom baseball belongs to, then (57:26) answer listener emails about the AL MVP race, Brayan Bello’s bullpen turnaround, the highest-scoring game in which each run was driven in by a different batter, the potential downside of a closer entrance spectacle, the oldest player who could go yard in a home run derby, the value of freezing time on the field, a game between players dressed as their teams’ mascots, and what makes players fun. Audio intro: PJ Harding, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Sale vs. Miz article Link to Miz zone rate by month Link to Miz velo by month Link to Miz/Sánchez close call Link to Miz/Skenes close call Link to pitching leaders since 4/12 Link to Sale jersey article Link to Ben on Sale in 2018 Link to LaRoche retrospective Link to Alonso call article Link to Yankees booth’s reaction Link to Petriello tweet Link to Tango tweet 1 Link to Tango tweet 2 Link to baseball exceptionalism wiki Link to Kepner on baseball usage Link to NFL measurement tech Link to goal-line tech wiki Link to hockey tech article Link to FoxTrax wiki Link to NBA tech article 1 Link to NBA tech article 2 Link to soccer connected ball info Link to Miller/Grogu video Link to hippo talk episode Link to latest loudness article Link to loudness article 2 Link to loudness article 3 Link to loudness article 4 Link to loudness article 5 Link to loudness prompt Link to “Nothing Night” origin Link to FG WAR leaderboard Link to Bello SP/RP split Link to biggest SP/RP splits Link to 1-RBI-guys games Link to urinalysis info Link to Mariners derby article Link to Ichiro derby video Link to Clair on Appling Link to Ben on Ichiro homers Link to list of MLB mascots Link to McCutchen “furries” lore Link to listener emails database Link to MLBTR on Anderson Link to leaguewide games per year Link to Small Axe Studios news Link to Batman/Superman comic Link to comic heroes roster Link to Benge article 1 Link to Benge article 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

  5. Aug 20

    Effectively Wild Episode 2520: Catch 22–0

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Brewers’ record-tying shutout/blowout of the Mariners (warning: profanity), Bryce Rainer and the continued absence of a post-Ohtani two-way wave, the latest manifestation of Paul Skenes’s protracted struggles, the tater turnaround of Fernando Tatis Jr., the reason(s) for the diminishing viewership of “MLB at Field of Dreams,” and which baseball figure (or feature) could extend the Vin Scully/Connie Mack fun fact. Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Mariners vs. Brewers box score Link to biggest blowouts Link to Julio mistake Link to Mount Rainier wiki Link to Laurila on Rainer Link to article on Rainer’s signing Link to The Board at FG Link to Sam on Ohtani’s two-way balance Link to best past two-way prospects Link to Olerud pitching retrospective Link to article on Jobe vs. Skenes game Link to Tigers vs. Pirates game data Link to Tigers vs. Pirates box score Link to Stumpf on Skenes Link to Sawchik on Skenes Link to Oler on Skenes Link to Verducci on Skenes 1 Link to Verducci on Skenes 2 Link to Skenes photos Link to Skenes gamelog Link to Ashcraft gamelog Link to P/IP leaders Link to Tatis before Link to Tatis after Link to BP on Tatis Link to MLB at Field of Dreams wiki Link to article on Hall of Famers Link to article on audience size Link to EW Field of Dreams episode Link to MLB Speedway Classic wiki Link to Sam’s Scully/Mack piece Link to Ben’s comment  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

  6. Aug 19

    Effectively Wild Episode 2519: The Secret Life of Walter

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the deepening monetary morass surrounding Mark Walter and whether it will eventually ensnare the Dodgers, the struggles of Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker, L.A.’s incentive to try for a bye, the Dodgers’ and Mets’ offseason oopsies, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s heroics, the hot hitting of Denae Benites and the WPBL’s offensive environment, Joshua Báez and MLB’s debutant ball, Colt Emerson’s hidden hurt, the AL’s wild card mid-off, a four-team whirlwind for Jake Rogers, the longest team trade droughts, and more. Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Walter Mitty wiki Link to Ben on Walter Link to Bloomberg on Walter Link to WSJ on Walter Link to Baker on Walter Link to Reuters on Walter Link to The Athletic on Walter Link to Chelsea shares story Link to Ohtani clause story Link to Walter tweet Link to more on Walter Link to Tucker/PCA tweet Link to one-day WAR Link to Opta/PCA fun fact Link to 1957 Power game Link to FG WAR leaderboard Link to Tucker miss 1 Link to Tucker miss 2 Link to Tucker home offense Link to Tucker road offense Link to Karros comment Link to BP on Tucker Link to Tucker in the dugout Link to Tucker and Ohtani Link to Tucker summary Link to Díaz IL story Link to Dodgers bye incentive Link to Sheehan on Stearns Link to Sam on Stearns Link to Ben on the Mets Link to WPBL leaderboard Link to WPBL RA9 Link to MLB RA9 Link to BP on WPBL offense Link to Benites wiki Link to BP on Benites Link to Benites MLB comps Link to Cade Skywalker Link to Simmons Mariners tweets Link to Emerson story 1 Link to Emerson story 2 Link to Nightengale on Wilson Link to Murphy’s hidden injury Link to Watchmen quote Link to Watchmen meme template Link to Ben on debutant batters Link to debutants spreadsheet Link to MLB Báez video Link to ESPN Báez video Link to Callahan triple video Link to Callahan triple story Link to Cobb/Irwin article Link to Paine on post-deadline confusion Link to FG playoff odds Link to post-deadline odds changes Link to wild card standings Link to Crizer on the AL standings Link to Rogers fun fact Link to Rogers feature Link to Rogers wedding story Link to trade droughts article Link to Atlanta-Philly trades Link to Cleveland-KC trades Link to Dodgers-Tigers trades Link to Red Sox-Yankees trades Link to fourth out wiki Link to Jaffe on John Link to Episode 1580 Stat Blast Link to Cubs-Cardinals game Link to Cubs-Nationals game Link to Hembekides clip Link to Hembekides graph Link to Wilson overturn Link to Yan tweet 1 Link to Yan tweet 2 Link to Burgos gamelogs Link to Burgos post  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

  7. Aug 14

    Effectively Wild Episode 2518: Dear John

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the latest apparent change in the baseball’s behavior (this time it seems to be deader) and, in a tribute to Tommy John (11:35), retrace the timeline of his trailblazing surgery and his return to a major league mound 50 years ago through contemporaneous accounts and quotes. Then (55:58) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Jamie Verbrugge to discuss his podcast and baseball backgrounds before answering listener emails (1:05:02) about the upper bounds of a cup of coffee, a really entertaining but trophy-less season vs. a really boring championship season, an undercover baseball robot, whether Jefry Yan would celebrate a strikeout on an overturned ball call, whether fans are suggestible enough to be fooled by fake home run distances, an ultimate frisbee-style integrity rule for baseball, the value of Ron Washington, and the advisability of bringing the infield in, followed by Stat Blasts (2:01:49) about Pete Crow-Armstrong leading his league in offense and defense, every team in a divison having the same recent record, team games with high matching run, hit, and walk totals, pitchers who got a win, a loss, and a save in a single three-game series, team games with streaks of the same start to each offensive inning, bullpens where one pitcher out-WARed all the others combined, and strikeout-free shutouts. Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Sheehan on the ball Link to Savant drag dashboard Link to earlier ball analysis 1 Link to earlier ball analysis 2 Link to John’s statement Link to MLB.com on John’s statement Link to Reuters on John’s illness Link to Tommy John wiki Link to Frank Jobe wiki Link to Jaffe on John Link to career IP leaders Link to Grant on Posey/Avila Link to NanoNeedle article Link to Maness repair article Link to TJ timeline links Link to TJS database Link to Strom surgery article Link to Bordley surgery article 1 Link to Bordley surgery article 2 Link to Ben’s baseball/America course Link to Ben C. on Skubal and Detroit Link to Dickson on “cup of coffee” Link to Asimov’s Robot series Link to Super Baseball 2020 Link to Baseball Highlights 2045 Link to Data smell Reddit thread Link to Skenes photos Link to Yan game video Link to Yan box score Link to Yan Savant search Link to ultimate’s integrity rule Link to Arraez/Washington article Link to article on Wash in 2027 Link to SIS infield-in study Link to Ben on shifting vs. RHB Link to Stirnweiss SABR bio Link to PCA/Snuffy Blast spreadsheet Link to AL Central streaks image Link to 13-13-13 Stathead query Link to win/loss/save spreadsheet Link to leadoff streaks info Link to 2026 Guardians relievers Link to bullpen WAR gaps spreadsheet Link to Tigers-Guardians gamer Link to zero-K, zero-run games Link to listener emails database Link to MLB All-Century Team Link to BNS Jays play podcast  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

  8. Aug 13

    Effectively Wild Episode 2517: You Can’t Give Them Extra Outs

    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB franchise appreciation, Stat Blast about what the resurgence of three-inning saves and the expanding distribution of saves say about pitcher usage, and learn about a new baseball injury. Then (43:28) they bring on Lindsay Imber of Close Call Sports and the official scorer behind the MLB Scoring Changes account to explain the “fourth-out” rule that confused fans and players this week and to pick nits with the MLB rulebook. Finally (1:30:50), Ben brings back former major leaguer John Poff to read from his new book, reflect on his use of “greenies” and players’ political differences, and share a new fundraising initiative for the Standing Rock Reservation, followed (2:13:45) by a few updates. Audio intro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Yankees “capital infusion” Link to story about Yankees valuation Link to story about Lakers sale Link to impending Padres sale Link to FIFA takeover attempt Link to Infantino wiki Link to Littleton save Link to save rule Link to pope hat giveaway Link to Latz stats Link to Atlanta’s three-out savers Link to data on three-out saves Link to data on save-getters by season Link to multi-inning RP outings data Link to Herfindahl–Hirschman index wiki Link to annual HHI data Link to HHI graph Link to Inverse Participation Ratio Link to THT on three-inning saves Link to SB Nation on three-inning saves Link to Medium post on three-inning saves Link to WSJ closers story Link to Ben on saves slipping in 2017 Link to Betteridge’s law wiki Link to parakeet bounceback news Link to Goodhart’s law wiki Link to league SP splits Link to league RP splits Link to FG post on Goodhart’s law Link to other FG post on Goodhart’s law Link to Arrigheti report Link to more on Arrigheti Link to Morton’s neuroma wiki Link to Morton’s neuroma causes Link to Mayo Clinic on Morton’s neuroma Link to more on Morton’s neuroma Link to even more on Morton’s neuroma Link to Ben on the 2015 ALDS game Link to Ben on confused counts Link to @ScoringChanges Link to @ScoringChanges fourth-out tweet Link to @CloseCallSports Link to Close Call Sports website Link to Close Call Sports YouTube channel Link to Lindsay wiki Link to Lindsay’s fourth-out video Link to Lindsay’s Sale video Link to Lindsay’s Wheeler video Link to fourth out wiki Link to fourth-out story 1 Link to fourth-out story 2 Link to SABR on fourth outs Link to The Athletic fourth-out explainer Link to Bois on balks Link to Sam on balks Link to xkcd comic Link to Schneider quote Link to 2016 Schneider game Link to Strike Four Link to Poff Stat Blast Link to first Poff appearance Link to second Poff appearance Link to Halls of Fame discussion Link to Poff’s first Hall of Fame Link to Poff’s second Hall of Fame Link to Poff’s book Link to Carlin routine Link to baseball exceptionalism wiki Link to greenies info Link to Ben on PEDs and the ball Link to “Buffalo Bill ‘s” poem Link to Standing Rock wiki Link to Gilbert Kills Pretty Enemy art Link to John’s fundraiser Link to Scherzer’s piano-playing Link to Kendrick cameo story Link to Skenes velo graph Link to Skenes game story Link to Liquid I.V. powder Link to Rocker pickle-juice game Link to Stanton yoga report Link to Foulke wife tweet Link to Foulke firing report  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

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2,620 Ratings

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