Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Ha-Seong Kim, Adrian Houser, and Foster Griffin signings, a prospect-for-prospect Red Sox and Nationals trade, and the Twins’ partial sale, then (34:00) answer emails about saying “pitchoff” instead of “first pitch,” the value of a cool nickname, a Hall of Fame reference in The Wizard of Oz, whether teams value batter performance against elite pitching, protesting ball/strike calls from the dugout, keeping Pete Rose out of the Hall, a running start for pitchers, and moving the catcher back instead of the mound.

Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG post on Kim
Link to Anthopoulos comments on Kim
Link to MLBTR on Houser
Link to MLBTR on Griffin
Link to FG post on pitching prospects trade
Link to Twins sale story
Link to $/WAR analysis
Link to $/WAR analysis 2
Link to ceremonial first puck wiki
Link to “baseball exceptionalism” series
Link to Sam’s hockey quote
Link to Raleigh “Beef Boys” story
Link to Sam on Trout in 2012
Link to The Wizard of Oz song
Link to halls of fame wiki
Link to Hall of Fame for Great Americans
Link to Schwarber’s postseason stats
Link to pitcher quality adjustment post
Link to Capps hop post
Link to Ben on moving the mound
Link to listener emails database

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a smattering of transactions, featuring (among others) Jorge Polanco, Tyler Rogers, Kenley Jansen, Isaac Collins, Angel Zerpa, Merrill Kelly, Josh Bell, and Adolis García. Then (49:03) they talk about MLB’s move to regulate and standardize the use of in-game technology across the minor leagues, baseball content (sans spoilers!) in new Netflix films Wake Up Dead Man and A House of Dynamite (1:04:50), and MLB players who could come out of retirement after long layoffs, à la Colts QB Philip Rivers (1:15:20).

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG post on Polanco
Link to Petriello on Polanco
Link to FG post on Rogers
Link to team RP projections
Link to FG post on Brewers/Royals trade
Link to 2025 team OF stats
Link to FG post on Kelly
Link to FG post on Kenley
Link to R-JAWS leaders
Link to Ben on the Lester trade
Link to MLBTR on Bell
Link to Trueblood on Bell
Link to MLBTR on García
Link to new MLB regulations
Link to 2023 report on team spending
Link to report on Monfort’s spending
Link to EW Episode 1489
Link to EW Episode 1490
Link to Ben on Elementary
Link to baseball in Knives Out
Link to blog about baseball in WUDM
Link to Reddit on baseball in WUDM
Link 2 to Reddit on baseball in WUDM
Link to Lindor references
Link to Vonn’s win
Link to Rivers post in FB group
Link to Rivers game story
Link to Seahawks tweet
Link to Gainwell wiki
Link to EW Episode 1928

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Garrett Stubbs and the latest example of eyebrow-raising off-the-field Phillies behavior (content warning: adult breast milk consumption), then (14:58) discuss the Pete Alonso signing from the Orioles’ and Mets’ perspectives, Stat Blast (47:09) about teams losing long-tenured/productive players and rapid roster turnover among title winners, and recap (1:05:25) a smattering of transactions to put a bow on the week of Winter Meetings.

Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to cursed Stubbs TikTok
Link to info on breast milk drinking
Link to bodybuilders and breast milk
Link to Stubbs on EW
Link to Phillies himbo article 1
Link to Phillies himbo article 2
Link to FG post on Alonso
Link to Alonso’s career splits
Link to O’s vs. LHP
Link to Sheehan on the O’s
Link to O’s offense sim
Link to team SP projections
Link to Post cover 1
Link to Post cover 2
Link to “Headless Body in Topless Bar”
Link to Stat Blast spreadsheet
Link to FG post on Suarez
Link to FG post on Yastrzemski
Link to FG post on Finnegan
Link to FG post on Thomas
Link to over/under draft results
Link to MLBTR on Garcia
Link to MLBTR on Rogers
Link to Hughes/Fitzy story

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley break down Scott Boras’s Winter Meetings wordplay and discuss the Kyle Schwarber and Edwin Díaz deals, a smattering of starting-pitcher signings, the Pirates as supposed spenders, the latest on the Ippei Mizuhara TV series, a Lane Kiffin canine conspiracy, and a Johanfran Garcia nickname.

Audio intro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Boras on EW
Link to Boras on Imai
Link to Boras on Suárez
Link to Boras on Bregman
Link to Boras on Alonso
Link to more on Alonso
Link to “Wood” song
Link to Boras on Gallen
Link to Boras on Skubal
Link to Boras on Bellinger
Link to Bellinger quote transcription
Link to quote about news timing
Link to FG post on Schwarber
Link to NL fWAR leaders
Link to FG post on Díaz
Link to Friedman’s “heavy lifting” quote
Link to over/under draft results
Link to Pirates offer story
Link to Boras on the Pirates
Link to Pirates/Marlins spending story
Link to Ippei show update
Link to FG post on Matz
Link to MLBTR on Grissom
Link to MLBTR on Ponce
Link to MLBTR on Weiss
Link to MLBTR on Kay
Link to MLBTR on Anderson
Link to HUAL on Kiffin
Link to Kiffin dog story 1
Link to Kiffin dog story 2
Link to report on Juice
Link to post on Juice’s account
Link to Cruella de Vil wiki
Link to Garcia brothers story
Link to Patreon gift subs
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley deliver a correction to the preceding episode’s draft results, ponder the mystery of a bigger John Brebbia fan than Ben, remind listeners to sign up for EW Secret Santa, and banter about Sonny Gray, Brian Cashman, and gloriously nonsensical sports beefs, Bryce Harper’s ozone therapy, two trades centered on blocked prospects, and Jeff Kent’s Cooperstown induction.

Audio intro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to EWStats thread
Link to competitions/drafts sheet
Link to EWStats site
Link to FanGraphs Walk-Off
Link to Gray article 1
Link to Gray article 2
Link to Dobbins dad story
Link to Schlittler article 1
Link to Schlittler article 2
Link to Cashman on Stanton
Link to Harper Insta post
Link to Baumann post about Harper
Link to Baumann’s cycling newsletter
Link to Redd post about Harper
Link to Harper photo 1
Link to Harper photo 2
Link to Redd’s site
Link to Ozone therapy wiki
Link to Bastyr U wiki
Link to FG post on Ford trade
Link to FG post on Password trade
Link to Pirates/Marlins spending story
Link to 2025 team catcher WAR
Link to team SP projections
Link to Jay on Kent
Link to Sheffield’s explanation
Link to 2B JAWS
Link to 2000 NL fWAR leaders
Link to 2000 NL bWAR leaders
Link to “C’mon, do something” meme
Link to MLBTR on Wade
Link to Patreon gift subs
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben Lindbergh, Sam Miller, and podcast scorekeeper Chris Hanel review the results of an under-25-pitchers draft Ben and Sam conducted a decade ago. Then (13:38) Ben and Sam banter about Ben’s physique, answer listener emails about doing a The Only Rule-style experiment 10 years later, discuss Sam’s revamped, unique approach to writing about baseball this year, and consider some possibilities for what we’ll remember about baseball in 2025. After that (1:05:57), Ben continues the sporadic “Baseball Jobs” series by interviewing 71-year-old John Yandle, the Giants’ left-handed batting-practice pitcher since 1985, about his transition from pitcher to BP pitcher, the keys to good BP, balancing his day job and his baseball side gig, anticipating starting-pitcher matchups, fending off advanced pitching machines, his incredible longevity, arm care in his 70s, the hitters who’ve complained the most, throwing BP to Barry Bonds, and more, followed by (2:01:20) a postscript.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Sam Miller, “Effectively Wild Theme (Ken Maeda’s Nice ‘n’ Easy Remix)”
Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to EW Episode 669
Link to competitions/drafts sheet
Link to EWStats site
Link to The Only Rule
Link to Ben’s Vince Gilligan video
Link to Pebble Hunting
Link to Sam on tripping
Link to Sam on non-highlight highlights
Link to Sam on the CI challenge
Link to Sam on dropped third strikes
Link to piece about first pitches
Link to How To with John Wilson
Link to Sam on remembering past years
Link to Sam on Ohtani in 2024
Link to Sam on the World Series
Link to Sam on the Hall
Link to titular Yogi-ism
Link to John’s B-Ref page
Link to John’s Newmark bio
Link to 2024 article on John
Link to 2012 article on John
Link to 2007 article on John
Link to Johnson’s first pitch
Link to Bonds TTO splits
Link to Giants Trajekt machine
Link to Cooney/Wharton
Link to Cooney’s LinkedIn
Link to Byrnes wiki
Link to Wrapped post
Link to Patreon gift subs
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the John Brebbia and Devin Williams signings (in that order, obviously), share a few follow-ups, and (31:33) assess whether each team satisfied its season preview guest’s conditions for a successful year. Then (58:18) they answer emails about the origins of the concept of the “opposite field,” the meaning of the word “whiff,” how to refer to offseasons, whether umpires practice throwing, how much stock to place in regular-season wins without an accompanying championship, and two takes on the challenge system.

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

Link to MLBTR on Brebbia
Link to Brebbia on EW
Link to minor league FA
Link to FG post on Williams
Link to present-value calc
Link to Petriello on Williams
Link to biggest 2025 ERA-FIP gaps
Link to contracts draft
Link to team SP projections
Link to Canadian currency details
Link to Metrodome demolition
Link to preseason team goals
Link to Dickson on “corner”
Link to Dickson on “opposite field”
Link to Dickson on “whiff”
Link to FG top 50 FA
Link to team wins since 2000
Link to Andrews on ABS and catchers
Link to Tango on ABS and catchers
Link to listener emails database
Link to MLBTR on Manoah
Link to MLBTR on Ponce
Link to Patreon gift subs
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley respond to the responses to their response to a recent listener email, discuss (14:38) the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease deal (including a Stat Blast about pitchers with big ERA-FIP gaps at 34:11), Anthony Rendon’s potential retirement (47:23), and the Orioles’ Ryan Helsley signing (1:05:37), before scrutinizing ESPN’s annual offseason survey of MLB executives (1:15:53).

Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to EW Episode 2407
Link to T20 cricket
Link to Baumann on Cease
Link to team SP projections
Link to contracts draft results
Link to Canadian currency wiki
Link to ERA-FIP gap findings
Link to ERA estimators study
Link to “IPA” drug report
Link to Rendon report
Link to Rendon EW episode
Link to The Force Awakens scene
Link to Helsley starting post
Link to Helsley signing post
Link to Helsley BP player card
Link to BP pitching leaderboards
Link to Ben on Alcantara in 2022
Link to Trueblood on predictability
Link to Sam on the Crasnicks
Link to new ESPN survey
Link to Giants/Imai report
Link to Patreon gift subs
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Becca Balton to banter about Becca’s baseball background, her origins as a listener, and the Nationals’ new direction, then (17:51) answer emails about a team WAR cap, an extra-innings variant in which the team to score fastest wins, manager close-ups on postseason broadcasts, citing the stats of a particular pitch, a pitch-based skills competition, and the “corners” of the strike zone, followed (1:09:33) by Stat Blasts about postseason series MVPs with negative (c)WPAs, pitchers who earned their first save in their final appearance, the oldest/most-experienced pitchers to push their career records over .500 for the first time, and teams that swept the major awards in the shortest spans, plus a postscript on the Dylan Cease signing and more.

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Yesavage splitter stats
Link to Babe Ruth Award wiki
Link to Kershaw/Stafford backstory
Link to xkcd “Ten Thousand” comic
Link to Stafford stat
Link to Stafford’s season
Link to QB wins leaders
Link to Nightengale column
Link to BP on MLB’s “losses”
Link to MaML on Karcher
Link to listener emails database
Link to Jesser’s YouTube channel
Link to Rendon report
Link to MLBTR on Cease
Link to Baumann on Cease
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Red Sox-Cardinals trade involving Sonny Gray and take Hal Steinbrenner to task for his comments about the Yankees not being profitable, then (37:00) talk to Jay Jaffe about the big issues surrounding this year’s (and upcoming years’) BBWAA and Era Committee Hall of Fame ballots.

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

Link to MLBTR on Gray
Link to Baumann on Gray
Link to Breslow quote
Link to Steinbrenner’s comments
Link to Rob on Steinbrenner
Link to Rob on Atlanta
Link to Beeston quote
Link to Forbes estimates
Link to 2026 BBWAA ballot
Link to Jay on the ballot
Link to Jay’s profiles schedule
Link to ballot tracker
Link to ballot tracker site
Link to S-JAWS info
Link to Jay on the contemporary ballot
Link to Posnanski post
Link to The Cooperstown Casebook
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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