With Meg Rowley on vacation, Ben Lindbergh brings a few dearly departed baseball podcasts (briefly) back to life. First up: The Roundtable, featuring EW cofounder (and Pebble Hunting author) Sam Miller and The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee and Andy McCullough. Ben, Sam, Grant, and Andy discuss the worst and best ballpark promotions, Doug Eddings’s cap decree and bid to become MLB’s new infamous umpire, what 2026 taught us about ump importance, whether umps uphold unwritten rules, future revelations about the Astros’ banging scheme, a trivia question in a new movie about the number of ways to reach base, Ketel Marte and the mountains teams try to climb, Sam’s recent writing about the boundaries of baseball performance, Andy’s ace updates, and Shohei Ohtani’s pitching outlook.

Audio intro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to The Roundtable archive
Link to Roundtable cancellation post
Link to Pebble Hunting
Link to Grant’s author archive
Link to Andy’s author archive
Link to Jelly Roll wiki
Link to Ben on baseball pizza discounts
Link to Taco Bell promotion wiki
Link to Jessica Simpson quote
Link to Zoolander clip
Link to Eddings wiki
Link to Eddings article 1
Link to Eddings article 2
Link to Eddings article 3
Link to Eddings article 4
Link to umpire retirements
Link to Ben on ABS
Link to Gattis on Kershaw
Link to banging-scheme site
Link to banging-scheme research 1
Link to banging-scheme research 2
Link to banging-scheme research 3
Link to banging-scheme research 4
Link to Noggin Boss
Link to MLB Isoblox cap
Link to “dadhat” definition
Link to The Sun Never Sets wiki
Link to Joe Swanberg wiki
Link to mumblecore wiki
Link to Fennessey on mumblecore
Link to automatic double wiki
Link to Snapple on reaching base
Link to SABR on reaching base
Link to Enders on reaching base
Link to Marte article 1
Link to Marte article 2
Link to Marte article 3
Link to Marte article 4
Link to double summit wiki
Link to Sam on bad challenges
Link to Sam on pitcher mistakes
Link to Sam on strike rates
Link to Tango on miss distance
Link to Sam on Kershaw mistakes
Link to Rob Arthur on ball variation
Link to Andy on aces
Link to Ohtani pitching update
Link to Sam on two-way Ohtani
Link to Beyond the Scrum
Link to Sportswriters Blues
Link to “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about duplicate episode titles and the Angels being slightly less bad than previously indicated, Stat Blast about extended team droughts between multi-hit MLB debuts, and discuss the arrival and role of Padres prospect Ethan Salas, a (deep breath) Cubs-produced, TikTok-based, baseball-themed, microdrama rom-com, whether they have any interest in VR baseball broadcasts, and an apparent change in Minor League Baseball’s ball, followed by additional Blasting about a Jordan Walker fact that may or may not be fun, catcher hot-swaps, center fielders on the mound, and all-win/loss days for divisions.

Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to duplicate episode titles
Link to Episode 1240
Link to Episode 1573
Link to Paine on Moreno/Kroenke
Link to Kroenke’s land ownership
Link to Langs post 1
Link to Langs post 2
Link to debutant dingers article
Link to gaps between debuts
Link to Close Encounters scene
Link to Montes debut article
Link to Ichiro rookie hits record
Link to Ichiro video
Link to Montes video
Link to Ben on debutant batters
Link to proj. strength of schedule
Link to M’s rookie batting WAR
Link to BP on Jenkins
Link to BP on Salas
Link to ESPN on Salas
Link to New Yorker on microdramas
Link to Quibi wiki
Link to Variety on Nine Innings to Love
Link to Nine Innings to Love trailer
Link to The Notebook scene
Link to VR broadcasts article
Link to Jake/Jordan broadcast info
Link to Ben’s plot hole video
Link to Cooper on the MiLB ball
Link to Cooper on college homers
Link to Ben on the MiLB-to-MLB gap
Link to Clay on the MiLB-to-MLB gap
Link to FG on MiLB ball construction
Link to Walker alleged fun fact
Link to ITYSL meme
Link to Williams vs. Wood post
Link to catchers data
Link to The Onion on Gillette
Link to wild 1902 game
Link to Garver EW episode
Link to all-loss division days
Link to all-win division days
Link to listener emails database

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley announce an upcoming livestream and then react to the semi-surprising sale of the Angels by Arte Moreno to Stan Kroenke, considering the significance of the sale price, the outlook for the franchise, the legacies of Moreno and Mike Trout, and what the sale might portend for CBA talks. Then (43:14), in the wake of recent reporting and discussion about the volume level at games, they talk to stadium acoustics expert Jack Wrightson of design firm WJHW about how stadium sound systems are simulated and constructed, how they’ve evolved, the sonic environments of baseball and other sports, how team preferences and practices vary, fan noise vs. PA noise, sound on the field vs. sound in the stands, why ballparks are sometimes too loud, and much more, plus (1:37:57) a few postscript follow-ups.

Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Patreon registration
Link to FG on the Angels sale
Link to The Athletic sale article 1
Link to The Athletic sale article 2
Link to Trout quotes
Link to mayor quotes
Link to 2023 attendance
Link to 2026 attendance
Link to Moreno on fan preferences
Link to Kroenke wiki
Link to Moreno wiki
Link to Paine on Moreno
Link to new Angels park item
Link to froyo fraud article
Link to sale-price bubble analysis
Link to WJHW “about” page
Link to WJHW ballparks page
Link to Jack’s WJHW bio
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 sound level meter wiki
Link to loudness wars wiki
Link to SIS on Cowser
Link to Langs post 1
Link to Langs post 2
Link to EW on Yandy and ABS
Link to Tango on Yandy
Link to Tango on the Rays
Link to more Tango on the Rays
Link to Jade on Skubal
Link to new Plot Hole or Not Hole

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the research Meg saw on her trip to Saber Seminar, a vintage Max Scherzer start, Tarik Skubal’s espresso-machine maneuver, a Kevin McGonigle double and rule 9.06(f), an international signing scandal (or in truth, two), MLB’s proposals for reworking offseason signings and roster rules, legal wrangling regarding prediction markets, WPBL difficulties, a Chris Sale gem, a costly FARTBAT, outfield additions, whether Shohei Ohtani will pitch again, the first team eliminated from division-title contention, and more.

Audio intro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Saber Seminar site
Link to Scherzer start
Link to espresso article 1
Link to espresso article 2
Link to article on player frugality
Link to McGonigle hit article
Link to @ScoringChanges explanation
Link to Posnanski post
Link to old EW on automatic singles
Link to ESPN report on signing scandal
Link to MLB proposal article 1
Link to MLB proposal article 2
Link to Baumann on MLB proposals
Link to NHL holiday roster freeze
Link to MLB prediction-market deals
Link to latest legal decision
Link to prediction-markets piece 1
Link to prediction-markets piece 2
Link to WPBL standings
Link to WPBL article 1
Link to WPBL article 2
Link to Sale article 1
Link to Sale article 2
Link to Sale game page
Link to Baldwin game precedents
Link to FARTBAT article
Link to FARTBAT wiki
Link to MLBTR on Pham
Link to Pham vs. Myers spat
Link to MLBTR on Cave
Link to MLBTR on Robert Jr.
Link to Ohtani update
Link to Reddit Rockies post
Link to Curt’s Bluesky post
Link to Cowser catch clip
Link to Cowser catch article
Link to The Sun Never Sets

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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