Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast
2,149 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 2.5K ratingsDaily baseball statistical analysis and commentary
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Episodes
Effectively Wild Episode 1998: Congrats on the Paternity Leave
April 26, 2023 04:50 - 1 hour - 106 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a good time to be a Pirates fan, whether the red-hot Rays or the ice-cold A’s will regress more toward the mean over the rest of the season, Rob Manfred’s comments about A’s fans, Logan O’Hoppe’s injury and Brandon Marsh’s hot streak, whether Bryce Harper has Wolverine’s healing […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1997: This Time it Pitch Counts
April 23, 2023 01:12 - 1 hour - 91.2 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the podcast’s semi-official new nickname for Yandy Díaz, what Mookie Betts playing shortstop says about the Dodgers, and Andrew McCutchen’s hot start, then (15:29) answer emails about the Reds’ many mascots, why we stop at “Quadruple-A,” how good today’s 26th men would be if they traveled back in […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1996: Sticky-Sniffing Dogs
April 21, 2023 00:47 - 1 hour - 85.3 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the continued Yandy Díaz breakout and listeners’ suggestions for his new beef-related nickname, the greatness of post-peak Clayton Kershaw and the end of Diamondbacks Madison Bumgarner, the Oakland A’s (almost) officially leaving for Las Vegas, a Scott Boras metaphor about Juan Soto, Max Scherzer’s sticky suspension, the return […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1995: Stink or Swim
April 19, 2023 03:24 - 1 hour - 109 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether a remedy for former Yankees slugger Moose Skowron might help current Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger’s rebound and ovation violation, Domingo Germán’s sticky start, Juan Soto’s pitch-clock problem, Bryce Harper, hitting machines, and the future of minor-league rehab stints, whether Yandy Díaz’s “Ground Beef” nickname no […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1994: Down Goes Dinger
April 15, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 109 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about an NPB matchup between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki, those aces’ current talent levels and MLB futures, how velocity has climbed in NPB compared to MLB, and how stealing bases seems to be the one thing Shohei Ohtani (and, for that matter, Mike Trout) can’t do. Then (18:52) […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1993: Break(out) the Cycle
April 14, 2023 07:12 - 1 hour - 87.3 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the hot start by Jarred Kelenic and when to believe in a breakout, Jo Adell and the mystery of quadruple-A players, the odds of no Marlin hitting for the cycle until Luis Arraez did it this week, the Rays’ record-tying 13th straight win, new reports about new rules, […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1992: Hot or Hurt
April 12, 2023 07:29 - 1 hour - 94.6 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a wave of injuries around MLB, affecting Oneil Cruz, Adam Duvall, Ian Anderson, and several other players, the Rays’ undefeated start, the hot starts of James Outman, Miguel Vargas, and Jason Heyward, the sensual stance of J.D. Davis, silly team celebrations, the Rocket City Trash Pandas’ no-hit loss, […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1991: Mascot Moment
April 08, 2023 09:01 - 1 hour - 99.6 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a Star Wars emergency and (5:17) an nVenue Apple odds update, then (8:57) answer listener emails about how good a team has to be to convince people that it’s cheating, a hypothetical Mike Trout ultimatum about Shohei Ohtani, whether MLB would ban a real-life Sidd Finch, whether not […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1990: Week 1 Non-Overreactions
April 07, 2023 02:28 - 1 hour - 80.5 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Ben should apply for a full-time job covering Shohei Ohtani, MLB seeking a pitch-clock sponsor, the brilliance of Sandy Alcantara, clock violations leading to ejections, post-Opening Day call-ups for top prospects (most notably Grayson Rodriguez), Alcantara compared to Jacob deGrom, the feud between Tyler O’Neill and Oli […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1989: Baseball Goes Back to the ’80s
April 04, 2023 06:35 - 1 hour - 109 MBBen Lindbergh and Noah Woodward of the newsletter The Advance Scout discuss Noah’s front-office career, the impact of the MLB rules changes on pace/time of game, the running game, and hitting and defense so far, how players may adapt, the questions Ben and Noah still have about the rules’ long-term effects, Rob Manfred’s characterization of […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1988: The 2023 Team Fun Draft
April 01, 2023 01:33 - 2 hours - 118 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the joy of Opening Day and other news, including early reactions to the new rules, Rob Manfred’s comments about the ball-strike challenge system, Aaron Judge’s first homer, the Angels’ Tungsten Arm game, a good/bad Hunter Renfroe no-look catch, a Taylor Ward name mix-up, the Giants’ latest new left […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1987: The 2023 Preseason Predictions Game
March 29, 2023 04:15 - 1 hour - 101 MBBen Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs authors Michael Baumann and Ben Clemens play “SEC Baseball Player vs. Figure Involved in the Lincoln Assassination,” banter about two umpire faux pas (3:45) and MLB’s tweaks to replay reviewing (9:45), and then (17:32) each make 10 predictions about baseball in 2023 to be voted on by listeners, followed […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1986: Season Preview Series: Braves and Rockies
March 28, 2023 04:16 - 1 hour - 99.5 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about prospects who have (Jordan Walker, Anthony Volpe) and haven’t (Grayson Rodriguez, Brett Baty) made Opening Day rosters and MLB’s player-centric PSAs about the new rules, then complete their 2023 season preview series by discussing the Atlanta Braves (15:07) with Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game, and the Colorado […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1985: Season Preview Series: Padres and Reds
March 24, 2023 06:26 - 5 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the advisability of suspending the pitch clock in certain high-stakes situations, some last-minute spring-training tweaks to the clock’s operation, and MLB’s marketing campaign about the new rules, then continue their 2023 season preview series by discussing the San Diego Padres (30:15) with AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, and the […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1984: Perfect Pitch
March 23, 2023 06:42 - 1 hour - 92.3 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter euphorically about the unbelievable ending of the World Baseball Classic, from Japan’s semifinal game against Mexico, to the climactic showdown between Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in the USA-Japan final, to what made the whole WBC such a success. Then (52:02) they close the book on meeting major leaguers […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1983: Season Preview Series: Yankees and Nationals
March 21, 2023 04:34 - 1 hour - 109 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Team USA’s WBC quarterfinal and semifinal victories and Jose Altuve’s injury, then continue their 2023 season preview series by discussing the New York Yankees (28:17) with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, and the Washington Nationals (1:06:41) with Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post, plus a Past Blast from […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1982: Season Preview Series: Mets and Athletics
March 18, 2023 05:04 - 1 hour - 107 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the WBC’s TV ratings in Japan and (8:56) possible consequences of MLB’s RSN shake-up, then continue their 2023 season preview series by discussing the New York Mets (21:08) with Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports, and the Oakland Athletics (1:00:11) with Matt Kawahara of The SF Chronicle, plus a […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1981: An Arrow in the Knee at the WBC
March 17, 2023 05:54 - 1 hour - 106 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Edwin Díaz’s season-ending injury at the WBC and the anti-WBC sentiment it engendered, then (20:39) bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Michael Eisen to discuss his history with Effectively Wild and baseball and how his scientific research is analogous to baseball research, before answering listener emails (31:29) about the […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1980: Season Preview Series: Rays and Tigers
March 15, 2023 05:15 - 2 hours - 114 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about recent WBC highlights, whether the WBC should be held more often (7:44), extensions for Corbin Carroll and Keibert Ruiz (19:50), MLB preparing to take over streaming for some teams amid the Diamond Sports bankruptcy (21:22), Trevor Bauer departing for Japan (31:17), and an Effectively Wild theme song contest […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1979: Season Preview Series: Astros and Pirates
March 10, 2023 00:40 - 1 hour - 95.2 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the exciting beginning of the WBC, early indications in spring training that MLB’s rules changes are having the intended effects, and a classic unprecedented occurrence in a baseball game, then continue their 2023 season preview series by discussing the Houston Astros (17:49) with Chandler Rome of The Houston […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1978: Sam’s Back, on Substack
March 09, 2023 03:35 - 2 hours - 111 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley welcome back former co-host Sam Miller to banter about his return to public baseball writing, his current relationship with baseball, and his new Substack, Pebble Hunting. Then (17:10) Ben, Meg, and Sam talk about a 1913 article about unprecedented events at the ballpark, the cliché about seeing something new at […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1977: Season Preview Series: Blue Jays and Royals
March 07, 2023 01:11 - 1 hour - 92.9 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about catcher Grayson Greiner’s height, Shohei Ohtani’s titanic homers, tight t-shirt, and pepper-grinding in WBC exhibitions, and a few preview-related trivia questions, then continue their 2023 season preview series by discussing the Toronto Blue Jays (15:02) with Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic, and the Kansas City Royals (55:25) with […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1976: Season Preview Series: Dodgers and Cubs
March 04, 2023 03:17 - 2 hours - 128 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Kenta Maeda pitching well despite PitchCom giving away his signs, spring training injuries (5:26), the upsides and downsides of pitchers beginning to call their own pitches with PitchCom (9:03), and the reasons why hitters collectively seem to swing more often than they should (20:18). Then they continue (and […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1975: Backdoor Curve
March 03, 2023 05:51 - 2 hours - 118 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley begin with a little loose talk about Kiké Hernández’s revelation that he sharted during the 2020 NLDS, and pin down the precise instant of the accident with audio evidence. Then (23:59) they banter about whether it’s oxymoronic for MLB to have multiple “co-exclusive” official betting partners, MLB hiring local media […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1974: Season Preview Series: Cardinals and Diamondbacks
February 27, 2023 23:41 - 1 hour - 106 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Manny Machado’s extension, whether the Padres have spending constraints, and what the team’s future might look like, then (18:51) discuss their impressions of the pitch clock in spring training so far and offer a brief update on their podcast editor search (30:42). After that, they continue their 2023 […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1973: Season Preview Series: Phillies and Orioles
February 25, 2023 02:29 - 2 hours - 125 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley announce that they’re hiring a new podcast editor and solicit applications for the position, then (9:40) banter about another zombie-runner-related update to dictionary.com, MLB’s latest crackdown on sticky stuff, displaying the pitch clock on broadcast score bugs, Albert Pujols’s 10-year personal services contract with the Angels, and Rays pitcher Ryan […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1972: The Prospects for the Prospects
February 23, 2023 01:59 - 2 hours - 119 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Prospect Week at FanGraphs, a misleading email, and Ben’s daughter’s cold, then discuss Alex Rodriguez as a budding book author, social-media maven, and flawed (anti)hero (9:19), non-revelatory news about Shohei Ohtani’s future (24:07), a secret Mets spring training drill (32:07), and Ben’s reviews of two baseball books that […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1971: Season Preview Series: Brewers and Marlins
February 20, 2023 21:48 - 2 hours - 122 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the USA World Baseball Classic roster’s so-so starting pitching, the difficulty of recruiting top pitchers for the tournament, and Japan’s staff, Meg’s college baseball weekend and Juan Soto sighting, Orioles owner John Angelos’s latest comments, and MLB’s new Economic Reform Committee, plus a Stat Blast (31:56) about the […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1970: Season Preview Series: Mariners and White Sox
February 17, 2023 03:29 - 1 hour - 108 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the release of FanGraphs’ playoff odds and the biggest differences between the FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus playoff and World Series odds, then continue their 2023 season preview series by discussing the Seattle Mariners (18:28) with Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times and the Chicago White Sox (1:03:48) with […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1969: Winning Ugly
February 16, 2023 06:08 - 1 hour - 97 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the temperature in Phoenix, writers taking photos of bases, and Meg taking photos of the writers, then discuss Meg’s takeaways from MLB’s presentation to media members about this season’s new rules, MLB.TV adding minor league games, the Padres signing Michael Wacha (and changing their revenue-sharing classification), and early […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1968: Season Preview Series: Guardians and Rangers
February 14, 2023 07:22 - 2 hours - 118 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley lament the newly codified permanence of the zombie runner, rededicate themselves to “ghost runner” reeducation, and banter about a new position-player-pitching limitation, Andrew Chafin’s surprisingly modest contract, Derek Jeter joining Fox Sports, baseball’s leading newsbreakers vs. the leading newsbreakers in other sports, baseball officiating vs. football officiating, the schedule for […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1967: Season Preview Series: Angels and Red Sox (Plus Joe West)
February 10, 2023 03:27 - 2 hours - 126 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Yu Darvish’s extension, then continue their 2023 season preview series by discussing the Los Angeles Angels (10:11) with The Athletic’s Sam Blum and the Boston Red Sox (59:32) with The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, plus a Past Blast (1:47:29) from 1967, an impromptu chat between Ben and former […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1966: Joe West, Young Man
February 09, 2023 03:16 - 1 hour - 110 MBBen Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Effectively Wild listener/Patreon supporter Alana Crockett banter about Alana’s baseball background, pitcher representation in the MLB and MLBPA logos, and former umpire Joe West allegedly editing his own Wikipedia page, then (26:44) answer listener emails about a “cheap team tax” in trades, a pitching coach superpower, trading for the Rays’ […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1965: Season Preview Series: Giants and Twins
February 07, 2023 00:11 - 1 hour - 96.4 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley introduce the 11th annual Effectively Wild season preview series, then kick things off by previewing the 2023 San Francisco Giants (13:03) with The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee and the 2023 Minnesota Twins (55:48) with The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman, plus a Past Blast (1:33:43) from 1965. Audio intro: The Bevis Frond, “And Away […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1964: Our Favorite Transactions
February 03, 2023 21:45 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about pre-Opening Day milestones and the upcoming EW season preview series, then (7:59) draft and discuss their favorite offseason transactions (and non-transactions), followed by a Past Blast from 1964 (1:16:19) and a Stat Blast addendum (1:21:18) about Pinky Higgins, Roxie Lawson, and hits-related records. Audio intro: Marshall Crenshaw, “You’re My […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1963: Was the Greink There?
February 02, 2023 00:02 - 1 hour - 98.1 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley issue a sexiness-comment correction and banter about Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s MLB: The Show cover-model credentials, the 2023 Opening Day schedule, more ways in which baseball is and isn’t different from other sports (14:35), Chad Green’s convoluted contract (31:35), and their appreciation of Zack Greinke. Then (43:49) Ben chats with former […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1962: Championship Core
January 31, 2023 04:59 - 2 hours - 123 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about players being in the sexiest shape of their lives, Rockies owner Dick Monfort’s comments about the Padres’ spending, and how Diamond Sports Group’s bankruptcy might affect the future of baseball broadcasting, then (28:09) discuss more ways in which baseball stands out from other sports. After that (35:35), they […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1961: Hallternative Energy
January 28, 2023 01:35 - 1 hour - 97.4 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Orioles owner John Angelos reneging on his offer to show reporters the team’s financial information, the O’s acquiring Cole Irvin, the Astros hiring the Braves’ Dana Brown as their new GM, and the Twins trading for Michael A. Taylor to be Byron Buxton’s backup, plus more ways in […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1960: Seventy-Six Percent Led the Big Parade
January 26, 2023 01:48 - 1 hour - 94 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Scott Rolen’s election to the Hall of Fame, Billy Wagner, Andy Pettitte, and relievers vs. starters as Cooperstown candidates, the Adalberto Mondesi trade (and a wager about Mondesi and Shohei Ohtani), and (32:40) more ways in which baseball stands out from other sports. Then (45:00) they talk to […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1959: A Tale of Two Broadcasts
January 24, 2023 01:37 - 1 hour - 82.2 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the yips, more ways in which baseball is different from other sports, big leaguers playing against kids, and Rogers Centre’s new dimensions, plus a Past Blast (36:49) from 1959. Then (41:54) they talk to Sam Blum and Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic and Pedro Moura of Fox Sports […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1958: I Can Be Center Field?
January 21, 2023 02:24 - 1 hour - 109 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about 53-year-old Dae-Sung Koo 구대성 pitching in Australia, provide a final(?) update on Brandon Belt’s beloved Toronto chicken tenders, discuss the invisible strike zone as a feature that sets baseball apart from other sports (along with listener responses to other differentiating factors), bemoan the results of a Reddit poll […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1957: Owners’ Groaners
January 19, 2023 02:15 - 1 hour - 89 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about passing the halfway point of the offseason, another way in which baseball is unusual among team sports, a few minor transactions, and (11:15) recent PR missteps by the Reds and Orioles owners’ respective sons. Then (39:16) they talk to writer Dan Moore about his reporting on public stadium […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1956: Jock and Bull Stories
January 18, 2023 03:46 - 2 hours - 110 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about players snacking on the field and a baseball equivalent of the EGOT before (23:01) Ben brings on Ron Shelton, the Oscar-nominated writer and director of Bull Durham and the author of The Church of Baseball: The Making of Bull Durham, to reminisce about Shelton’s minor league career, how […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1955: Upshift, Downshift
January 14, 2023 01:17 - 2 hours - 111 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a “Dear Abby” baseball column, Andrew McCutchen’s return to Pittsburgh, Nelson Cruz signing with San Diego, the Dodgers reacquiring Miguel Rojas, catcher deking and the ball-strike challenge system, and inaccurate outfield-fence distances, follow up on Toronto chicken tenders (and how a new Canadian law could affect the Blue […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1954: ’Los Got Physical
January 12, 2023 03:21 - 1 hour - 97.3 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley recap the conclusion of the Carlos Correa free agency saga, breaking down his new, actually finalized contract with the Twins, reviewing his offseason odyssey, and trying to anticipate his future. Then (28:20) they banter about Trevor Story’s elbow surgery, the Blue Jays’ and Marlins’ signings of Brandon Belt and Johnny […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1953: The Weakest Links Left
January 10, 2023 01:29 - 1 hour - 89.8 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a Roger Angell-identified way in which baseball is different from other sports, discuss the Mariners signing AJ Pollock and the Phillies trading for Gregory Soto, and respond to the Dodgers cutting ties with Trevor Bauer, MLB reinstating former Braves GM John Coppolella, and KBO ace An Woo-jin not […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1952: Slash Diction
January 07, 2023 01:53 - 1 hour - 105 MBBen Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and longtime listener and Patreon supporter Jacob Barak banter about Jacob’s baseball-fan background, EW origin story, and much-discussed post about a Shohei Ohtani conundrum in the podcast’s Facebook group, then (10:35) answer listener emails about why we use dashes instead of slashes in displaying hitter’s hits and at-bats, unorthodox infield designs, […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1951: The Pod Heard ’Round the World
January 06, 2023 01:23 - 1 hour - 76 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss the Red Sox signing Rafael Devers to a lengthy extension, the state of the Sox, the next two free-agent classes, and Carlos Baerga the newsbreaker, then banter about bad news for Charles Leblanc, a Congressional baseball analogy, the Sears/Willis Tower, a painful slide by a broadcaster, the Dodgers’ offseason, […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1950: Well, We Tried
January 04, 2023 00:57 - 1 hour - 83.5 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Hall of Famer Jim Palmer‘s endorsement of Netflix series Emily in Paris, a questionable Cubs-related baseball scene in the EiP series premiere, a Royals rookie record and a follow-up on Harold Ramírez’s hair, Ben’s latest former major leaguer Facebook friend recommendations, another way in which baseball is unique […]
Effectively Wild Episode 1949: The Stories We Missed in 2022 (AL Edition)
December 31, 2022 01:08 - 1 hour - 103 MBBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley close the book on 2022 by bantering about the year in Effectively Wild, the Marlins signing Jean Segura, the heretofore-unsuspected existence of Charles Leblanc, and the pitch-calling accuracy of 10 retiring umpires, plus followups on how the zombie runner affects plate appearance totals, Lars Nootbaar’s pepper grinder, the year-to-year consistency […]