Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the number of Opening Days/Nights at the start of the regular-season schedule and how long they think the challenge system will last, review some of their favorite offseason transactions, and do their annual draft of all 30 MLB teams in order of how fun they’ll be to follow this season.

Audio intro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Craig on Opening Days/Nights
Link to broadcast dilemma
Link to Ben on the challenge system
Link to Ben on the labor situation
Link to champing/chomping
Link to Rogers tattoo story
Link to Langs Giants stat
Link to pod duration calculator
Link to Adames challenge reaction
Link to EWStats site
Link to freemium model announcement
Link to written explanation

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Randy Arozarena making up with Cal Raleigh, the response to their announcement of the podcast’s new freemium model, whether they would try to issue the official first ball/strike challenge in MLB history, the challenge system vs. the pitch clock, several straggling WBC topics (the Team Italy espresso machine auction results, great TV ratings, a Team USA strawman, reframing the hierarchy of high-level baseball competition, projecting future WBCs, and a non-called shot, plus NPB “ghost wins”), how Ben’s anti on-field-front-office-meddling rant resonated with readers, why Kevin McGonigle and JJ Wetherholt made Opening Day rosters and Konnor Griffin (and John Brebbia) didn’t, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cristopher Sánchez extensions, and how politicians should talk about sports fandom if they want to sound authentic.

Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to “hierarchy of power” supercut
Link to Arozarena statement
Link to freemium model announcement
Link to written explanation
Link to EWStats site
Link to espresso auction
Link to Jac jersey auction
Link to WBC TV ratings
Link to Rosenthal comments
Link to Webb quote
Link to Acuña quote
Link to Kay comments
Link to McLean/Holmes story
Link to NPB “ghost win” story
Link to NPB “ghost win” tweet
Link to NHL overtime rules
Link to Ben on front-office meddling
Link to Ben on the foul lines
Link to The Athletic on Griffin
Link to Pirates hitter projections
Link to MLBTR on Brebbia
Link to FG post on PCA
Link to profane PCA profile
Link to FG post on Sánchez
Link to FG post on Strider
Link to Mamdani quote
Link to Adams cap
Link to de Blasio cap
Link to Hillary caps story 1
Link to Hillary caps story 1
Link to “trash revolution” story
Link to HUAL on Mamdani
Link to statue prizes
Link to MLFAD picks
Link to Meg on HUAL
Link to observer effect wiki
Link to four playoff teams article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley announce a new freemium model for the podcast: From now on, one of their three episodes a week will be available only to Patreon supporters. In this PSA, they lay out their reasons for making the change and explain how it will work. You can also read a written explanation here.

Link to subscribe via Patreon
Link to written announcement

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs authors Michael Baumann and Ben Clemens (accompanied by podcast scorekeeper Chris Hanel) play “College Baseball Player or Driver in a Formula 1 Support Series” (5:07), banter about an auction for Team Italy’s WBC espresso machine (10:09), explain the fourth annual preseason predictions game (19:20), and then make 10 bold predictions apiece (22:20) about baseball in 2026, to be voted on by listeners.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)”
Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to vote on predictions
Link to preseason predictions game wiki
Link to Anton’s mash-up song
Link to original song
Link to EW Episode 2383
Link to “College Baseball Player or” games
Link to Baumann on Herta
Link to espresso machine auction
Link to other Team Italy items
Link to Ohtani Cy Young story
Link to Ohtani email episode
Link to Sam on Gsellman
Link to For All Mankind
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to Artemis II story
Link to Perry/moon landing story
Link to Neckzilla
Link to Schulte’s SABR bio
Link to Manfred/Harper/DeRosa story
Link to AO3
Link to new managers story
Link to team WAR projections
Link to 2024 2B innings leaders
Link to active postseason droughts
Link to 2025 Royals WAR leaders
Link to Garcia breakout comment
Link to old-SP leaders
Link to Quinn’s SABR bio
Link to Verlander outing article
Link to young, homegrown SP leaders
Link to Pirates SP article
Link to Baumann on Mlodzinski
Link to MLB partnership announcement
Link to MLB partnership announcement info 1
Link to MLB partnership announcement info 2
Link to MLB partnership announcement info 3
Link to vote on predictions (do it!)

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs contributor Kiri Oler wrap up the World Baseball Classic, covering Venezuela’s triumph, Team USA’s slump and vibes, and the overall success of the tournament, plus thoughts on Mark DeRosa’s managing and Team USA’s future, the semifinal matchups, the bad calls against the Dominican Republic, the challenge system and pitches that are “too close to take,” the WBC vs. the World Series, when the next WBC should be, and much more.

Audio intro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”

Link to Defector on Venezuela
Link to Harper on the outcome
Link to Posnanski on Team USA
Link to Manfred on WBC timing
Link to data on US-DR game
Link to data on Perdomo take
Link to Ben on fouling off pitches
Link to Harper on the Olympics
Link to McLean start story
Link to top SP projections
Link to USA anthem answers
Link to DeRosa on SEAL speaker
Link to Fox Rogers mix-up
Link to Julio’s WBC quote
Link to Judge’s WBC quote
Link to Hernández’s WBC quote
Link to Jeter on the WBC
Link to DeRosa/López relievers story
Link to next WBC timing
Link to Ben on more WBCs
Link to story on DeRosa’s future
Link to Charbonnet play
Link to Ben on “Strategy”

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB’s new experimental minor league rules, and the potential downsides of trying to skip straight to a desired on-field result, then complete the 14th annual season preview series by previewing the 2026 Los Angeles Dodgers (35:35) with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and the 2026 Colorado Rockies (1:30:13) with Rockies Insider’s Patrick Lyons.

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ward article 1
Link to Longenhagen on the new rules
Link to Stark on the new rules
Link to Stark on second base
Link to disengagement rules
Link to Bois on balks
Link to team payrolls page
Link to Dodgers offseason tracker
Link to Dodgers depth chart
Link to Baumann on Roki
Link to Fabian on Roki
Link to Dodgers first-rounders
Link to field-sponsorship story
Link to Fabian’s author archive
Link to Rockies offseason tracker
Link to Rockies depth chart
Link to Rockies team wRC+ by year
Link to article on Bryant’s back
Link to article on Vodnik’s family
Link to article on Vodnik at the WBC
Link to Brebbia on EW
Link to Patrick’s work

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about speedster Braiden Ward’s record spring, whether there’s a baseball equivalent of Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game, and Paradise being a baseball show, then preview the 2026 Atlanta Braves (38:00) with From the Diamond’s Grant McAuley, and the 2026 Chicago White Sox (1:29:45) with Sox Machine’s James Fegan.

Audio intro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ward article 1
Link to Ward article 2
Link to Ward video
Link to Adebayo article 1
Link to Adebayo article 2
Link to Adebayo article 3
Link to Adebayo article 4
Link to SGA record article
Link to Adebayo Facebook thread
Link to stream Paradise
Link to Paradise clip
Link to Ben on the Castellanos meme
Link to Minor’s 200th K article
Link to Minor’s 200th K video
Link to team payrolls page
Link to Braves offseason tracker
Link to Braves depth chart
Link to spring standings
Link to Strider velo article
Link to 2025 team SS WAR
Link to BravesVision wiki
Link to From the Diamond site
Link to From the Diamond podcast
Link to Wax Packing Nostalgic
Link to White Sox offseason tracker
Link to White Sox depth chart
Link to 2025 team RP stats
Link to Reinsford/Ishbia article
Link to James at Sox Machine
Link to James at FanGraphs
Link to James at Baseball America
Link to Sox Machine podcast

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Team Italy’s triumphs (and good vibes) at the WBC, a tumultuous week for Team USA and Mark DeRosa, and where the tournament stands entering the quarterfinals, then preview the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies (39:21) with The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, and the 2026 Los Angeles Angels (1:21:00) with The Athletic’s Sam Blum, plus a postscript (2:09:08).

Audio intro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”
Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WBC standings
Link to WBC bracket
Link to “caffeine and kisses” story
Link to Pasquantino homers
Link to “beaned up” article
Link to “beaned up” clip
Link to DeRosa clip 1
Link to DeRosa clip 2
Link to DeRosa clip 3
Link to latest DeRosa comments
Link to clip removal
Link to article on DeRosa’s mistake
Link to Ghiroli on DeRosa
Link to Rosenthal on DeRosa 1
Link to Rosenthal on DeRosa 2
Link to article on DeRosa/Harper
Link to Disgrace of Gijón
Link to roster reconfigurations
Link to Raleigh shirt
Link to Team USA chemistry article
Link to Sopranos clip
Link to team payrolls page
Link to Phillies offseason tracker
Link to Phillies depth chart
Link to Harper EBOO article
Link to Matt on Harper
Link to Matt on Harper/Dombrowski
Link to Matt on Castellanos
Link to Castellanos Insta post
Link to Matt on Kerkering
Link to Phillies himbo article 1
Link to Phillies himbo article 2
Link to Stark on Phillies continuity
Link to Matt on Strahm
Link to Girl With a Pearl Earring
Link to team SP projections
Link to team RP projections
Link to Matt’s author archive
Link to Matt’s podcast
Link to TB12 update
Link to Angels offseason tracker
Link to Angels depth chart
Link to Sam’s Angels beat farewell
Link to Sam on Netflix in Japan
Link to Sam on Rendon
Link to Angels TV network story
Link to Trout sprint speed story
Link to article on fastest human
Link to pitching development survey
Link to Sam’s author archive
Link to Paxton/pitch limits article
Link to WBC rules
Link to Ben on “Strategy”
Link to Laureano post 1
Link to Laureano post 2

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena, and WBC handshake etiquette, whether a mercy-rule-inducing dinger qualifies as a walk-off, whether a winning home team could voluntarily play the bottom of the ninth, MLB’s ban of the Brewers’ challenge-system system, why the MLBPA should defend Jurickson Profar and other players with positive PED tests, and Joe Sewell’s indestructible bat, then preview the 2026 New York Mets (56:35) with The Athletic’s Tim Britton, and the 2026 Washington Nationals (1:40:27) with The Athletic’s Spencer Nusbaum, plus several postscript updates (2:27:10).

Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Ian Philllips, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to espresso shots
Link to WBC standings
Link to Skubal update
Link to handshake beef summary
Link to handshake beef precedent
Link to video of failed handshake
Link to Arozarena’s comments
Link to translation
Link to De Rosa response
Link to Raleigh response
Link to Soto homer
Link to “walk-off” etymology
Link to baseball dictionary definition
Link to Albies homer (and call)
Link to A Game of Inches excerpt
Link to MLB rulebook
Link to 2023 ump-less half-inning
Link to Brewers signs article
Link to Brewers signs update
Link to Ghiroli column
Link to listener emails database
Link to Pages from Baseball’s Past
Link to Sewell article
Link to EW wiki on bat boning
Link to MLBTR on Luzardo
Link to MLBTR on Wentz
Link to MLBTR on Greene
Link to team payrolls page
Link to Mets offseason tracker
Link to Mets depth chart
Link to Lambert eggs article
Link to Tim on the Mets’ collapse
Link to Soto/Lindor discord update
Link to Ben on Mets turnover
Link to Alvarez resurgence article
Link to Tim’s author archive
Link to Nationals offseason tracker
Link to Nationals depth chart
Link to WaPo discussion on HUAL
Link to The Athletic’s WaPo hirings
Link to Rizzo mantra
Link to Littell on EW
Link to Spencer’s WaPo author archive
Link to Spencer’s The Athletic archive
Link to Italy/USA game story
Link to tiebreak scenarios
Link to Ben on Ellen’s podcast
Link to Ella Black series
Link to Ball’s post about mornings
Link to Schaeffer clip
Link to R.J.’s farewell thread
Link to R.J.’s last EW appearance
Link to Crizer’s breakout terminology
Link to Tarkin quote

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a Shohei Ohtani survey, early WBC action, Andrew McCutchen’s new team, Payton Tolle’s triple-digits t-shirt, ABS-driven changes to Alex Bregman’s and Bo Naylor’s listed heights, wonky player cards, why teams start spring training days so early, Dodgers pitching problems, and the prevalence of inventive slides, then preview the 2026 Seattle Mariners (50:22) with The Seattle Times’ Ryan Divish, and the 2026 Miami Marlins (1:34:43) with MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola, plus a few postscript updates (2:17:42).

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to YouGov survey
Link to Team USA vs. Rockies recap
Link to WBC soundtrack story
Link to MLBTR on McCutchen
Link to Speier on Tolle
Link to Tolle max velos
Link to in-season velo data 1
Link to in-season velo data 2
Link to in-season velo article
Link to 2025 info on height changes
Link to 2025 Naylor page
Link to 2026 Naylor page
Link to 2024 Bregman page
Link to 2025 Bregman page
Link to 2026 Bregman page
Link to 2024 Lux page
Link to 2025 Lux page
Link to wonky Ohtani card
Link to wonky Judge card
Link to wonky Bregman card
Link to wonky Naylor card
Link to email about giant player
Link to early starts post
Link to Baumann on Sasaki
Link to FG World Series odds
Link to Crizer on slides
Link to Sam on slides
Link to Naylor’s inclusiveness comments
Link to team payrolls page
Link to Mariners offseason tracker
Link to Mariners depth chart
Link to “Boys Podcast” SNL skit
Link to Ryan’s author archive
Link to Marlins offseason tracker
Link to Marlins depth chart
Link to Christina on Marlins’ elimination
Link to Christina on Alcantara’s outing
Link to “catcher’s balk”
Link to Christina on pitch-calling
Link to 2025 Marlins Pythag/BaseRuns
Link to 2025 team RP WAR
Link to 2025 team RP WPA
Link to Pérez nickname article
Link to grievance avoidance article
Link to Lauren’s NL East post
Link to Christina’s author archive
Link to ball/strike ejections article
Link to Brewers challenges tweet
Link to Tango’s challenges tweet
Link to Brewers challenges article

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