Author Archive: Ben Lindbergh

Effectively Wild Episode 868: Jake Arrieta is Reaganing

Ben and Sam banter about this spring’s Tommy John toll, tanking, Barry Bonds, closer erosion, and a replay wrinkle, then discuss the dominance of Cubs starter Jake Arrieta.


Effectively Wild Episode 867: Embracing the Harper-Trout Temptation

Ben and Sam reopen the great debate about who’s better, Bryce Harper or Mike Trout.


Effectively Wild Episode 866: Noah Syndergaard, Right Now

Ben and Sam banter about Noah Syndergaard, then answer listener emails about 1-2-3 innings, what David Ortiz could do to replicate Kobe, conservative replay reviewing, and more.


Effectively Wild Episode 865: 2016 Trend Watch (Reliever Evolution Edition)

Ben and Sam banter about Walt Weiss and Nolan Arenado, then continue their discussion of potential 2016 trends with multiple investigations into pitcher usage.


Effectively Wild Episode 864: A Too-Soon Search for 2016 Trends

Ben and Sam banter about Rich Hill, Jon Lester, and the no-longer-winless Braves and Twins, then discuss some possibly premature evidence that the game has changed since last season.


Effectively Wild Episode 863: The 0-9-Off: A Battle for Baseball’s Most Soul-Crushing Start

With help from Twins fan Aaron Gleeman and Braves fan Alex Remington, Ben and Sam attempt to determine which of MLB’s two winless teams has had the more demoralizing start to the season.


Effectively Wild Episode 862: Jeff Sullivan on This Season’s Noteworthy Novelties

Ben, Sam, and FanGraphs writer Jeff Sullivan banter about ballplayer humor, then talk about players (including Garrett Richards, Starlin Castro, and Stephen Strasburg) who are doing something notably different so far this season.


Effectively Wild Episode 861: Murder, Remorse, and Major League Games

Ben and Sam answer listener emails about whether they would want to play in a major league game, un-fun facts, chyron decisions, GM hypotheticals, robot pitchers, and more.


Effectively Wild Episode 860: Week One in Baseball Confirmation Bias

Ben and Sam banter about the most popular picks in BP’s “Beat PECOTA” game, then discuss Rich Hill, the Cubs’ strong start, Ray Searage’s promising pupils, and more.


Effectively Wild Episode 859: Ross Stripling and Trevor Story

Ben and Sam discuss two surprise stars of week one, debuting Dodgers starter Ross Stripling and Rockies rookie slugger Trevor Story.