Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the state of the wild cards and whether the pennant races have been more exciting than forecasted despite the lack of actual changes in the playoff field, Cal Raleigh’s latest exploits, Geraldo Perdomo’s quiet excellence, the Orioles’ 2026 outlook, the Dodgers’ rotation and bullpen, Shohei Ohtani’s playoff role(s), the bouncebacks of Mookie Betts and George Springer, Yordan Alvarez’s ankle, James Wood and Spencer Jones slumps, season-ending schedules, and whether teams playing spoiler is satisfying for fans.

Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG playoff odds
Link to Clemens on the playoff odds
Link to Paine on the Mets
Link to Clemens on Raleigh
Link to FG WAR leaderboard
Link to Orioles report
Link to Dodgers rotation ranking
Link to Dodgers reliever ranking
Link to team SP projections
Link to Dodgers rotation story
Link to Ohtani starting story
Link to Ohtani outfield story
Link to Perdomo/Betts leaderboard
Link to Craig on the Dodgers
Link to Rob on the zombie runner
Link to Petriello on Jones
Link to Apple TV+ baseball doc
Link to Astudillo 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s reaction to the Mariners moving into first place in the AL West (at least temporarily), Jac Caglianone and the Royals’ woeful corner-outfield offense, whether major leaguers have gotten better at sliding, and an unjust byproduct of the zombie runner. Then (50:43) they bring on baseball researcher and Sports Reference designer Adam Darowski to discuss Robinson Canó’s 4000th professional hit and Adam’s work on the 4000 hits club.

Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Alonso quote
Link to mustache/witch article
Link to more on the witch
Link to even more on the witch
Link to 2021 Stat Blast
Link to M’s pitching query
Link to B-Ref newsletter
Link to Langs M’s note
Link to team travel
Link to team extra innings pitched
Link to 2025 worst team LF/RF
Link to worst team LF/RF since 2002
Link to Royals LF
Link to Royals RF
Link to playoff odds
Link to Jac’s leading xwOBA-wOBA
Link to Moniak slide
Link to Moniak slide close-up
Link to Crizer on slides
Link to Cameron on slides
Link to Cameron on slides 2
Link to Treinen game
Link to previous Treinen-type losses
Link to Treinen nickname article
Link to @PitchingNinja tweet
Link to Treinen conspiracy posts
Link to Canó video
Link to Canó video 2
Link to Canó article
Link to Canó article 2
Link to Adam’s Canó post
Link to Canó Insta post
Link to Canó Insta post 2
Link to Canó Insta post 3
Link to Canó Insta post 4
Link to Canó Insta post 5
Link to Canó cards story
Link to Adam’s presentation
Link to Simkus SABR article
Link to BP 4K club article
Link to Adam’s website
Link to underarm serve article 1
Link to underarm serve article 2
Link to eephus pitch wiki

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the deepening twilight of Mike Trout, then (21:19) discuss why the so-called “death of expertise” sweeping society hasn’t swept sports in the same way, before answering listener emails (1:04:01) about whether the Rangers are good, how the count can be “quickly 0-2,” what makes a righty seem like a lefty, whether a player can be unclutch, the Rockies’ run differential, and the other kind of pitch clock, plus (1:37:58) a postscript.

Audio intro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to The Athletic on Trout
Link to Woodrum on velo
Link to hitter pitch speeds
Link to previous Trout talk
Link to The Death of Expertise
Link to the WSJ on physics
Link to the New Yorker article
Link to Manfred analytics quote
Link to politics WAR
Link to Democracy at the Ballpark
Link to the Hard Knocks reference
Link to Paine on the Rangers
Link to Dubuque on Helman
Link to previous Burger banter
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to playoff odds
Link to Brebbia report
Link to leaguewide late & close
Link to Alvarez late & close
Link to worst run differentials
Link to illustrated pitch movement
Link to Statcast spin direction
Link to clock-reading survey
Link to listener emails database
Link to Baseball Reliquary interview
Link to Buehler comments

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss and speculate about the percentage of major leaguers who’ve been inducted into some hall of fame and banter about Elly De La Cruz’s extended slump, Sean Murphy’s hip-to-be-tear revelation, and the perils of playing through injury, then assess where the line is when publicly shaming fans for ballpark behavior, and a pattern of Tigers executive misconduct (plus a postscript).

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”
Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Poff induction
Link to Poff pod 1
Link to Poff pod 2
Link to Jones HoF comment
Link to Little League Hall
Link to Reds WAR leaders
Link to Elly 2025 splits
Link to Murphy 2023 splits
Link to Murphy story 1
Link to Murphy story 2
Link to Phillies fan summary
Link to dad interview
Link to Phillies fan video
Link to Phillies fan article
Link to Bader bat story
Link to US Open CEO apology
Link to CEO fake apology
Link to The Athletic Tigers report
Link to Ella Black series
Link to immaculate inning list
Link to Pereda vs. Ohtani
Link to Pereda pitches
Link to Kahle pitches
Link to sports-sounds doc

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s near no-hitter, the Effectively Wild bump, and the Orioles’ incredible comeback), then banter (and quasi-Stat Blast) about four subjects: whether Shohei Ohtani has been more or less valuable as a DH only or as a two-way player this season; whether Cal Raleigh hits a disproporionate number of homers in garbage time (compared to the league and to Aaron Judge); whether position-player pitchers are better when they throw very fast pitches than when they throw very slow ones; and why left-handed pitchers are having a historically strong season, plus (1:23:05) several postscript follow-ups.

Audio intro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to YamamotO’s video
Link to FG win expectancy
Link to B-Ref gamelog
Link to Pages robbery story
Link to Mussina vs. Everett video
Link to near no-nos
Link to Ben on no-no umps
Link to Ohtani two-homer game
Link to one-way Ohtani Dodgers W-L
Link to two-way Ohtani Dodgers W-L
Link to one-way Ohtani WAR
Link to two-way Ohtani batter WAR
Link to two-way Ohtani pitcher WAR
Link to publication bias wiki
Link to file drawer problem
Link to MLBTR on Brebbia
Link to Cal >4 runs split
Link to league >4 runs split
Link to Judge >4 runs split
Link to Cal leverage split
Link to league leverage split
Link to Judge leverage split
Link to clutch comparison
Link to WPA leaderboard
Link to mistake hitting article
Link to most catcher HR
Link to Kingery vs. Kurtz
Link to exit velo responsibility
Link to Kingery vs. Kurtz pitches
Link to Mains on PPP
Link to slowest possible pitches
Link to average PPP velo
Link to slowest PPP pitch
Link to fasest PPP pitches
Link to PPP 45 and under wOBA
Link to PPP 80 and up wOBA
Link to PPP 79 and up wOBA
Link to PPP 45 and under RV/100
Link to PPP 80 and over RV/100
Link to PPP 79 and over RV/100
Link to LHP ERA- leaderboard
Link to LHP FIP- leaderboard
Link to 2025 RHP ERA
Link to 2025 LHP ERA
Link to Sawchik on LHP
Link to Crizer on LHP
Link to Crizer on LHP 2
Link to Nesbitt on LHP
Link to LHP horizontal release
Link to pitching fWAR leaders
Link to LHP pitch types
Link to LHP velo
Link to RHP velo
Link to wRC+ vs. LHP
Link to LHP TBH% by year
Link to LHP Stuff+
Link to LHP familiarity advantage
Link to Soto pitcher article
Link to Soto BP pitcher video
Link to Trammell bat update
Link to pitch-tipping article
Link to Whitecaps article
Link to HUAL episode

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Trent Grisham’s 30-homer season is more or less surprising than Juan Soto’s almost-30-steal season, Colson Montgomery’s dinger spree, why there hasn’t been a no-hitter this season, and the exciting-but-boring AL/NL West races. Then (26:47) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Ashton Moss to banter about his baseball background and answer listener emails about the value of crowds, minor leaguers and strikeouts, WAR and pitcher value, the effect of funk on familiarity, double switches, automatic doubles, missing bats, rounding bases, and BP with fielders, plus (1:46:18) a postscript.

Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Trammell bat story
Link to FB% leaders
Link to Montgomery leaderboard
Link to no no-nos article
Link to no-hit-starts query
Link to team records since 8/1
Link to Ballers story
Link to Carter story
Link to Hang Up
Link to Day’s non-piercing
Link to Clippers Wall
Link to Clippers logo
Link to PTFO podcast
Link to S-JAWS
Link to Lincecum splits
Link to double switch wiki
Link to dictionary definition
Link to ground rule double wiki
Link to pitch types penalty
Link to “My Oh My”
Link to “speedball” reference
Link to “2-3 count”
Link to listener emails database
Link to MuniciPals Golf Podcast
Link to listener emails
Link to Data Golf
Link to Data Golf interview
Link to bomb and gouge info

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about broadcasters’ anxiety about saying “Cam Schlittler,” whether the Mets’ pitching-prospect trio of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat will produce more WAR than “Generation K,” a protracted trot by Rafael Devers, whether Framber Valdez intentionally crossed up his catcher, how a lockout looming in late 2026 could affect the coming offseason, Mason Miller’s extra-special immaculate inning, and the team that’s surprisingly pitched the most shutouts, plus a postscript (with Mets-SP projections).

Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Schlittler article
Link to Ruocco clip
Link to Generation K wiki
Link to Sproat call-up
Link to Devers trot article
Link to The Athletic on Framber
Link to agent’s comments
Link to Passan’s preview
Link to Langs on Miller
Link to Miller video
Link to team shutouts leaderboard
Link to team goose-egg leaderboard
Link to team pitching WAR
Link to team SP WAR
Link to Foley artist wiki
Link to latest HUAL episode

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley talk about not talking about the Cardinals, then banter about Sandy Alcantara’s resurgence, whether Walker Buehler will have his own bounceback for the Phillies, Ha-Seong Kim’s reunion with Jurickson Profar, the concept of “adversarial location,” Aroldis Chapman and Taj Bradley‘s discoveries of inside/outside and scouting reports, respectively, Chapman’s extension, whether Luis Arraez’s strikeout avoidance is still fun, a notable FARTBAT, switch-thrower Carlos Cortes, and Meg’s Mariners anxiety.

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

Link to Cardinals odds graph
Link to Cardinals WAR leaders
Link to team attendance changes
Link to preseason team projections
Link to Glaser bobblehead
Link to Alcantara leaderboard
Link to team SP projections
Link to team RP projections
Link to Judge article
Link to Olney video
Link to Olney pitch-type splits
Link to Dan S. on Chapman
Link to Chapman on DV
Link to Bradley article
Link to K%+ leaderboard
Link to Dan S. on Arraez
Link to Sam on Arraez
Link to Goodhart’s Law
Link to FARTBAT episode
Link to Story HR video
Link to Story HR article
Link to Cortes 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about John Brebbia’s return to the big leagues, Kyle Schwarber’s four-homer game, the potential for a position-player-pitcher-assisted five-homer game, Heliot Ramos and dingers on extremely slow pitches, an interminable inning, whether the playoff race is over and, if so, whether that’s an indictment of the 12-team format, and the profusion of recently promoted pitchers potentially in line for postseason starts, then (55:50) answer listener emails about season-ending injuries, accounting for player intention in WAR, “rounding home,” giving pitchers tall shoes, making baseball less random, the worst on-field feeling, pitcher aesthetics, and mid-PA pitching changes, plus (1:36:34) follow-ups.

Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Brebbia
Link to The Onion headline
Link to four-homer-games query
Link to Schwarber’s dingers
Link to article on Suárez game
Link to Ramos homer
Link to slowest HR pitches
Link to Rob Arthur on exit speed
Link to pitch-count tweet
Link to Nats-Yanks game
Link to pitch-count query
Link to Keyser on the playoff race
Link to Sheehan on the playoff race
Link to Baumann on the playoff race
Link to Andrews on the playoff race
Link to the AP on strikeouts
Link to McLean info
Link to Tong info
Link to Tolle info
Link to Baumann on Rodriguez
Link to Marucci email
Link to Seinfeld clip
Link to possessions info
Link to Ben on mid-PA pitching changes
Link to listener emails database
Link to Rounding Home book
Link to Rounding for Home book
Link to Rounding Home movie
Link to “Rounding Home” headline
Link to Berkson’s paradox
Link to Berkson and baseball

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the semi-resurgence of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw, Nathan Eovaldi’s injury and Patrick Corbin’s climb to the top of the Rangers innings leaderboard, the great-but-forgotten Steve Rogers, the end of Andrew Heaney’s Pirates tenure, Royce Lewis’s focus on his stats, whether MLB’s strikeout rate has declined because teams are targeting higher-contact hitters, the promotion of whiff artist Jonah Tong, why hitters aren’t swinging less, and a minor league attendance drop.

Audio intro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”

Link to SP trio WAR before
Link to SP trio WAR after
Link to Kershaw fun fact
Link to Eovaldi news
Link to Rangers IP leaders
Link to Laurila’s post
Link to Rogers leaderboard
Link to Rogers at BR Bullpen
Link to Rogers SABR bio
Link to Captain America wiki
Link to MLBTR on Heaney
Link to Heaney laggardboard
Link to owners Reddit research
Link to Tellez story
Link to Tellez quotes
Link to Lewis quotes
Link to leaguewide K rate
Link to DotF K research
Link to Mains on strikeouts
Link to Baumann on the K paradox
Link to BtB on the K paradox
Link to MLBTR on Tong
Link to MLB SP K% leaders
Link to MiLB SP K% leaders
Link to Foundation wiki
Link to Tango on taking
Link to Eno on taking
Link to swing run values
Link to take run values
Link to leaguewide plate discipline
Link to BA on MiLB attendance
Link to MLB YoY attendance
Link to Carville quote
Link to Meg’s MiLB research
Link to other Ben on streaks

 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!

Podcast (effectively-wild): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS