Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s voice, the arrival of Elly De La Cruz, the similarities between the up-and-coming Reds and Pirates, whether we need a “super-error,” Aaron Judge’s ball- and wall-smashing abilities, the plights of Alek Manoah and Stephen Strasburg, the wonder of Luis Arraez, whether this year’s trade deadline will be dead, follow-ups on the Angels’ catchers, Ben Joyce’s fastball, and Albert Pujols’s employment, how the pitch clock could affect players’ stamina in the second half, and more, plus a Past Blast from 2016 (1:34:00) and a few updates (1:38:25), including thoughts on Jacob deGrom’s diagnosis.

Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Eichler, “Wild Shift”

Link to MLBTR on Elly
Link to Rosenthal/Judge interview
Link to Red Sox/Rays play
Link to Sox errors montage
Link to FARTSLAM post
Link to Knoblauch FARTSLAM
Link to Stark on Judge
Link to story on Judge and the wall
Link to McCray catch video
Link to Judge dachshund video
Link to Judge/Rizzo doxie article
Link to Judge/Rizzo doxie shirt tweet
Link to Judge/Rizzo doxie shirt photo
Link to Manoah gamer
Link to MLBTR on Manoah
Link to Dan S. on Manoah
Link to Halladay’s rebuild
Link to Strasburg article
Link to Baumann on Arraez
Link to B-Ref baserunning page
Link to xWOBA overperformers
Link to xBA overperformers
Link to Arraez’s 2019-22 BA-xBA
Link to Arraez fun fact 1
Link to Arraez fun fact 2
Link to Arraez fun fact 3
Link to Arraez fun fact 4
Link to Young on the deadline
Link to MLB.com on the deadline
Link to team catcher offense
Link to highest-FA% pitchers
Link to BP on Joyce
Link to MLBTR on Pujols
Link to Blum on Pujols
Link to 2016 Past Blast source
Link to MLB committee report
Link to early-2016 Ben article
Link to mid-2016 Ben article
Link to baseball drag values
Link to De La Cruz gamer
Link to Clemens on HFA
Link to Judge fence article
Link to MLBTR on deGrom
Link to deGrom interview video

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Shohei Ohtani is throwing too many sweepers to opposite-handed hitters, the MLB debut of flamethrowing Ben Joyce, the extreme walk/strikeout stylings of George Kirby and Spencer Strider, the states of the Central divisions, the offense and defense of Ke’Bryan Hayes, the return of Jon Singleton, whether the pitch clock is responsible for this season’s uptick in attendance, and the taken-for-granted greatness of Mookie Betts, answer listener emails about baseball’s version of a hockey goon, players singing during the seventh-inning stretch, and whether it would make umpires more accurate to give them a PitchCom device, plus a Past Blast (1:18:33) from 2015.

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ohtani sweeper RV vs. RHB
Link to Ohtani sweeper RV vs. LHB
Link to sweeper leaderboard
Link to Ohtani pitch usage
Link to SP sweeper usage
Link to Ben C. on sweepers
Link to Ohtani sweeper HR vs. LHB
Link to Joyce’s debut
Link to Joyce pitch speeds
Link to story on Joyce’s record pitch
Link to Strider/Kirby spreadsheet
Link to Kirby command plot
Link to Kirby fun fact
Link to Strider fun fact
Link to Herbstreit Reds Twitter war
Link to Hayes’s defensive ratings
Link to MLBTR on Singleton
Link to annual attendance
Link to 2023 team attendance
Link to spring ratings story
Link to early-season ratings story
Link to Ben on the pitch clock
Link to Mookie gamer
Link to FG WAR leaderboard
Link to hockey enforcer wiki
Link to Brault EW episode
Link to Jeff on Brault
Link to Brault’s album
Link to Brault’s OF conversion
Link to Alberto singing
Link to EW emails database
Link to 2015 Past Blast source
Link to other 2015 source
Link to TORIIHTW book website
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to Dan S. on pitcher zStats

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s 500th EW episode, the architectural concept of the “Thomasson,” a forthcoming HBO documentary about Barry Bonds, the rebound of Juan Soto, common misconceptions about WAR, the declines of Noah Syndergaard and Kris Bryant, the NL West, MLB broadcasting Padres games, an MLB-MLBPA ad deal, a rules update, Francisco Álvarez’s defense, the return of Jordan Walker, Shohei Ohtani’s bat grip, a slowdown in injuries, and a D-III team that wins with HBPs, plus a Past Blast from 2014 (1:32:52), player responses to the Dodgers’ Pride Night, and follow-ups.

Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Thomasson thread
Link to Thomasson wiki
Link to Thomasson at B-Ref Bullpen
Link to Thomasson podcast episode
Link to Bonds doc info
Link to A-Rod doc story
Link to A-Rod gum disease segment
Link to Trout/Griffey FB thread
Link to FG’s WAR explainer
Link to Syndergaard quote
Link to Syndergaard hypnosis story
Link to December Syndergaard story
Link to FG on Syndergaard’s 2022
Link to Rumpelstiltskin wiki
Link to MLBTR on Bryant
Link to Ben C. on MLB/DSG
Link to Sheehan on MLB/DSG
Link to Ginny Searle on MLB/DSG
Link to MLB-MLBPA partnership
Link to more info on partnership
Link to Ben C. on new rules
Link to Sheehan on new rules
Link to Jay on Álvarez
Link to MLBTR on Walker
Link to Ohtani tweet
Link to injuries tweet
Link to Jake on Misericordia
Link to 2014 Past Blast source
Link to other 2014 source
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to story about Pride Night
Link to story about player comments
Link to Buckley column
Link to “allies” lineup
Link to Abreu/Acton tweet
Link to hot mic video

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Pete Alonso‘s, um, emergency swing, the activations (6:25) of four players (Liam Hendriks, Michael Soroka, Paul Blackburn, and Royce Lewis), the small leads in most divisions (12:03) and the leveling out of the league (A’s aside), José Abreu‘s first homer “trot” of the season, and an umpire comment caught on a hot mic. Then (40:15) they answer a listener email about the ball’s liveliness and follow up on a few other email answers, bring on Rob Mains (57:35) of Baseball Prospectus to Stat Blast about the zombie runner’s impact on home field advantage and discuss the origins of the DL’s rechristening to “injured list” (1:18:45), and follow a Past Blast from 2013 (1:27:27) with banter about Andrew McCutchen’s request for a new rule, plus a postscript (1:37:58).

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

Link to Alonso clip
Link to Meg on Bradley
Link to Meg on Lind
Link to EW on Hernández
Link to Passan on Hendriks
Link to MLBTR on McCullers
Link to Rob Mains on 2022 inequality
Link to Rob Arthur on 2022 balance
Link to story on the Reds
Link to EW Wiki on the Reds
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to preseason predictions pod
Link to Abreu’s “trot”
Link to ump video
Link to ump post
Link to Marte’s homer
Link to HR/Contact graph
Link to ball-drag dashboard
Link to last email show
Link to Lemon on “prime”
Link to listener emails database
Link to Topps Now cards
Link to Rob on HFA
Link to HFA across sports
Link to HFA research
Link to more HFA research
Link to Ben on HFA
Link to Rob on the DL/IL
Link to 2013 Past Blast source
Link to another 2013 source
Link to Grant on catcher collisions
Link to EW Stanky Draft
Link to McCutchen article
Link to positional aging curves
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to 2016 sliding changes
Link to Hendriks gamer
Link to Soroka gamer
Link to Lewis gamer
Link to EW on TV exit speeds
Link to Fatsis on Wambsgans(s)
Link to Sam on Succession

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s prediction concerning the Padres’ and Rangers’ rest-of-season performance with runners in scoring position, then (14:08) answer listener emails about the ultimate Quadruple-A player, leaving runners on base for the opposing team, immaculate-inning edge cases, tanking for Shohei Ohtani, setting up a lifelong Google Alert for a player, the 2020 season’s impact on Hall of Fame cases, and Barry Bonds with an extra-short bat, followed by (1:12:43) Stat Blasts about the frequency of in-game position switches and the most players on a team who had previously played on the same former team, plus (1:40:06) a Past Blast from 2012 and a few follow-ups.

Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to lowest tOPS+ w/RISP
Link to lowest OPS w/RISP
Link to highest tOPS+ w/RISP
Link to highest OPS w/RISP
Link to OPS w/bases empty
Link to Petriello on the Rangers
Link to Odor HR
Link to preseason predictions pod
Link to latest MiLB FA draft
Link to Gonny Jomes wiki
Link to old EW on immaculate innings
Link to Oviedo’s inning
Link to info on Mavs tanking
Link to article on Wemby tanking
Link to Waddell SABR bio
Link to McLaughlin wiki
Link to McLaughlin feature
Link to Posnanski on DiMaggio
Link to Jay on missed time
Link to Jay on missed time again
Link to Bois on Bonds
Link to listener emails database
Link to Topps Now cards
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to positional permutations
Link to position-switch sheet
Link to second Stat Blast doc
Link to 2012 Past Blast source
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to America Magazine article
Link to other Dodgers/SPI links
Link to Calcaterra newsletter
Link to Alonso clip
Link to Sabathia periods source
Link to more on C.C./CC

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the major leagues’ sudden influx of 24-year-old right-handed pitchers with the surname “Miller,” the Rays’ surprisingly precarious position in the AL East (7:48), and the Cubs, the Brewers, and the state of the NL Central (12:45), before focusing their bat-resuscitating powers on Trea Turner (17:22), with almost immediate effect. Then they talk to David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic performer, Gritty co-conceiver, frequent team mascot consultant, and founder of the Mascot Boot Camp and Mascot Hall of Fame, about all of their mascot questions, the mascot design process, and what it’s like to be inside a mascot costume, plus updates and a Past Blast from 2011 (1:26:54).

Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG preseason top prospects
Link to The Board
Link to article about Bryce Miller
Link to LPGA naming convention
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to BP on the Rays-Jays blowout
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to high-leverage pitching splits
Link to FG pitching clutch
Link to pitching LOB%
Link to Turner quote
Link to Meg’s mascot rant
Link to NYTM on Raymond
Link to Gritty on Twitter
Link to info on Slider
Link to Dinger assault story
Link to Dandy wiki
Link to Mascot HoF wiki
Link to Mascot HoF ballot
Link to Raymond Entertainment site
Link to David’s speaking site
Link to David’s book
Link to 2011 Past Blast source
Link to 2012 HS bat change
Link to more info on bat change
Link to latest college HR uptick
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to Turner’s homer

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Yordan Alvarez kissing Martín Maldonado, Will Brennan’s birdslaughter (12:33), the Guardians’ slow start (23:12), Madison Bumgarner’s reported reluctance to alter his pitching approach (32:49), Mike Trout passing Ken Griffey Jr. in career Baseball-Reference WAR (45:56), whether the A’s will end up historically bad or rebound to being merely abysmal (1:03:38), the firing of A’s broadcaster Glen Kuiper (1:21:17), and the Dodgers’ Pride Night debacle (1:40:34), plus a Past Blast from 2010 (1:48:05).

Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Yordan kiss image
Link to Yordan kiss video
Link to Pudge kiss image
Link to Brennan bird video
Link to other Brennan bird clip
Link to Brennan tweet
Link to baby pigeons info
Link to Gomes story
Link to playoff odds changes
Link to Buchanan on Bumgarner
Link to Mason Saunders story
Link to Trout/Griffey thread
Link to B-Ref career WAR leaders
Link to Dan S. on the A’s
Link to Tango on the A’s
Link to Sheehan on the A’s
Link to tremendous content meme
Link to Kuiper firing story
Link to other Kuiper story
Link to 2023 Kuiper clip
Link to 2020 Kuiper clip
Link to first Kuiper apology
Link to Braden explanation
Link to Pride Night story
Link to 2010 Past Blast source
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to Mets lasagna story
Link to Brennan’s bird gesture
Link to Brennan press conference
Link to A’s stadium update

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley follow up with additional details about the Cardinals’ cheeseburger phone, banter about the hot hitting of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Aaron Judge, answer listener emails (31:13) about home run rituals and the unwritten rules, a prophylactic procedure to prevent Tommy John surgery, whether a runner could be safe because of his beard, the percentage of players who could be on the same statistical list as a Hall of Famer, whether pitchers fan batters or vice versa, a rapid player promotion, and making fan interference part of the game, react to a Luke Voit “beef” reference, meet Major Leaguers Josh Walker and Garrett Acton (1:13:46), Stat Blast about entire divisions being better than entire other divisions, players batting without a position, and streaks of starting pitchers with the same handedness (1:27:39), plus follow-ups and a Past Blast from 2009 (1:42:22).

Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Goold on phone details
Link to burger image
Link to burger GIF
Link to home run rituals
Link to Lawless bat flip
Link to “beanball” wiki
Link to FG WAR leaderboard
Link to xWOBA leaderboard
Link to other Ben on Acuña
Link to Sheehan on Acuña/Judge
Link to story about prophylactic TJ
Link to more on TJ
Link to even more on TJ
Link to bearded Napoli slide
Link to Speier tweet
Link to Episode 1426
Link to spirit week explainer
Link to listener emails database
Link to story on Walker
Link to more on Walker
Link to even more on Walker
Link to MLBTR on Walker
Link to Walker interview
Link to Acton debut story
Link to Acton’s first K
Link to BA on Acton
Link to FG on Acton
Link to background on Acton
Link to Ben on pitcher deception
Link to new MLB debuts
Link to Voit video
Link to Topps Now cards
Link to ALE/ALC standings
Link to tweet about “nothings”
Link to SABR on “nothings”
Link to most “nothing” PA
Link to most “nothing” runs created
Link to Russell on SP handedness
Link to 2009 Past Blast source
Link to more on Ripken’s site
Link to even more on the site
Link to video on the site
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to long hair article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the sesame-seer Cardinals using a cheeseburger phone to predict home buns (er, runs) by hitters who are dialed in, the varying fortunes of three offseason big spenders (the Mets, Padres, and Rangers) and the stakes of their success, Kumar Rocker’s Tommy John surgery, Dustin May’s flexor strain, the proliferation of ranked prospects, Jackson Holliday, the Orioles’ infield future, and what it takes for tanking to be justified, the need for a Lab League to test the pre-tacked ball, José Abreu’s power outage, Zac Gallen’s bird omen, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:38:22) from 2008 and a few follow-ups.

Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Wainwright interview
Link to burger image
Link to burger GIF
Link to home run rituals
Link to Mets celebration article
Link to Mets comeback homers
Link to Machado injury info
Link to FG post on Heim
Link to Rocker Pipeline thread
Link to SAL leaderboard
Link to article on pre-tacked ball
Link to Bird Bath Splash Zone info
Link to Gallen bird video
Link to asterisk-ball display
Link to 2008 Past Blast source
Link to MLB replay wiki
Link to article on David’s catch
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to competitions/drafts sheet
Link to Episode 201 draft
Link to Modesto game box score
Link to Modesto game thread

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Shohei Ohtani’s near-cycle and newly hot hitting on days when he’s pitched, the Cardinals reinstating Willson Contreras at catcher (and Zac Gallen’s comments on the Cardinals Way), the Sean Murphy/William Contreras/Esteury Ruiz trade revisited, post-peak Christian Yelich and the breakout of Brent Rooker, the dominant Rays’ possible vulnerability, Aaron Judge peeking while at the plate, the verdict on the shift restrictions so far, the confounding seasons of the Red Sox, Cubs, and Padres, MLB app notifications about old games, mini-reviews of two new documentaries about Yankees icons, and more, plus a Past Blast (1:26:36) from 2007 and follow-ups.

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

Link to Ohtani quotes
Link to Ohtani homer
Link to Ohtani’s yearly splits
Link to Ohtani’s career splits
Link to Ohtani Stat Blast
Link to post on Chisholm’s defense
Link to news on Chisholm’s injury
Link to Marmol’s Contreras quote
Link to Post-Dispatch on Contreras
Link to The Athletic on Contreras
Link to Nightengale on Contreras
Link to Woodward on Contreras
Link to Gallen comments
Link to FG on William Contreras
Link to Rooker story
Link to Rooker interview
Link to Jay on the Rays
Link to Judge story
Link to Judge video
Link to Tango on the shift
Link to Ben on the Red Sox
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to story about Pint promotion
Link to Reggie
Link to It Ain’t Over
Link to 2015 greatest players
Link to Crane lawsuits info
Link to Mays doc episode
Link to 2007 Past Blast source
Link to article about 756 sale
Link to asterisk info
Link to article about 762 ball
Link to Hample incident info
Link to Hample banning tweet
Link to David Lewis’s Twitter
Link to David Lewis’s Substack
Link to Jays-Yanks story
Link to Rosenthal on tipping
Link to Casas clip

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