Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the unexpected power of Meg’s Mariners (and Jorge Polanco, specifically), in contrast to the Rangers’ unexpectedly light-hitting lineup. They also discuss a Jackson Chourio comment about Julio Rodríguez, the long-awaited comeback of Lance McCullers Jr. and the thus-far-deflating comeback of Sandy Alcantara, the literally diminished Mookie Betts, Jose Altuve’s self-knowledge, a Rockies theory, and the existence of Maverick Handley. Then (38:11) Meg gives Ben some alone time with Tigers reliever John Brebbia, who talks about iPhones vs. Androids, social media, the prospect of becoming Ben’s friend, indy ball, beards, spreadsheets, pitching for the 2024 White Sox, going from worst-to-first in the AL Central, being the new guy in a tightly bonded bullpen, pitch-calling, adapting, Brebbia’s alma mater as a pitching powerhouse, whether baseball players (other than Brebbia) are funny, his post-playing future, a potential new nickname, and more, plus a postscript (1:49:21).

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

Link to Ella Black series
Link to Ella Black event details
Link to Dodgers bidets article
Link to FG post on Polanco
Link to Chourio video
Link to Mookie’s Savant page
Link to Altuve story
Link to Ben on MLB talent level
Link to Tigers Brebbia video
Link to first EW Brebbia banter
Link to second EW on Brebbia
Link to Step Brothers scene
Link to collected Brebbia clips
Link to Players’ Weekend video
Link to Brebbia pitch-type splits
Link to Brebbia’s Wikipedia page
Link to Elon major leaguers
Link to Bunny Hearn info
Link to TLOU scene

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Roki Sasaki and the Dodgers’ bidets, baseball in The Last of Us, The Simpsons, and the (future) work of Lin-Manuel Miranda, walk-off groundouts, two possibly botched calls, Jesús Luzardo and how skilled teams are at evaluating medicals, a four-homer effort in a loss, the unexpectedly exciting NL West race, and Rob Manfred and Pete Rose, plus follow-ups on towering bat flips, players kissing, unequal leg lengths, and more.

Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ella Black series
Link to Ella Black event details
Link to Dodgers bidets article
Link to Ben’s bidet article
Link to Greinke quote
Link to Sam on TLOU
Link to 2003 Tigers on TLOU
Link to 2003 Tigers in Doctor Strange
Link to Simpsons episode
Link to Lin-Manuel story 1
Link to Lin-Manuel story 2
Link to Laurila on ground-offs
Link to Judge non-HR
Link to triple play
Link to triple play story
Link to Luzardo story
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to Jay on the four-homer game
Link to Rangers-Giants walk-off play
Link to Contreras flip
Link to Twins Insta post
Link to one Correa kiss
Link to latest Correa kiss
Link to Dodgers depth chart
Link to Manfred comments

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a new contender for the highest bat flip, meet major leaguers (14:28) Ryan Johnson and Alan Roden, and (48:35) answer listener emails about how different baseball would be if losses were free for fans and wins cost extra, whether the Rockies will finish in first before the Dodgers finish in last, whether umpires would stand somewhere else in a full-ABS situation, the record for career games pitched without a decision, catcher’s gear designed for a one-knee-down stance, why more Japanese catchers haven’t joined MLB, and more.

Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WhatIfSports (coupon code “EFFECTIVELYWILD”)

Link to Ella Black series
Link to Ella Black event details
Link to Lugo bat flip
Link to Caminero bat flip
Link to Caminero article
Link to tallest buildings wiki
Link to Meet a Major Leaguer
Link to Angels prospect list
Link to Blum on Johnson 1
Link to Blum on Johnson 2
Link to Johnson pitch face
Link to Ben on DBU
Link to Blue Jays prospect list
Link to MLB.com on Roden
Link to Sportsnet on Roden
Link to Laurila on Roden 1
Link to Laurila on Roden 2
Link to BA on Roden
Link to Brian May wiki
Link to The Bachelor Australia wiki
Link to Ben on international Bachelor
Link to Quasar wiki
Link to Sagittarius A* wiki
Link to B-Ref new debuts
Link to Dan S. on Rockies vs. Sox
Link to relocated ump image
Link to career G w/o decision
Link to single-season G w/o decision
Link to consecutive G w/o decision
Link to G w/o decision to start career
Link to Díaz legs quote
Link to tall-catchers episode
Link to Opening Day catcher video
Link to catcher gear 1
Link to catcher gear 2
Link to catcher gear 3
Link to Opening Day catcher video
Link to short catchers
Link to Allen on NPB catchers
Link to 2009 Johjima story
Link to FG NPB data
Link to Mori’s player page
Link to listener emails database
Link to Andy’s angles sketch

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about old-pitcher comebacks (or dropoffs), James Wood’s inefficient excellence, Aaron Judge’s potentially unparalleled peak, whether pitching to contact pays, a possible Paul Skenes change, a base-stealing update, private equity’s MLB plans, and Rob Manfred’s feelings on fandom.

Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ella Black series
Link to Ella Black event details
Link to MLBTR on Hill
Link to MLBTR on Chavez
Link to team SP WAR
Link to projected SP WAR
Link to MLB.com on Wood
Link to pulled air balls
Link to Wood’s Savant page
Link to Jay on Judge
Link to The Bandwagon on Judge
Link to strikeouts study
Link to Sam on Skenes
Link to Skenes max velos
Link to Clemens on steals
Link to CNBC salary cap piece
Link to CNBC private equity piece
Link to latest Manfred comment
Link to earlier Manfred comment
Link to BP on Manfred and fandom
Link to cricket popularity piece
Link to Rogers statue story
Link to Curse of the Colonel

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about EW’s Ella Black series and catch up on topics they missed during the week away from regular episodes, including: some struggling teams (including the Orioles and Braves), Cal Raleigh’s (and David Rubenstein’s) bobbleheads, an Atlanta kerfuffle involving Brian Snitker, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Jarred Kelenic, recent pitcher injuries, Pete Alonso’s slugging and running, Juan Soto’s lineup protection, a Dodgers trade rumor, hitters tapping their helmets, Mike Trout’s fan-interference epiphany and odd batting line, Patrick Corbin’s venomous encounter, MLB’s approach to Jackie Robinson Day, Aaron Judge’s WBC captaincy, a talent differential between leagues, and more, plus Shohei Ohtani the dad, the Comerica keyhole, and other postscript updates.

Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ella Black series
Link to Ella Black event details
Link to Hoffman report
Link to Elias quote
Link to playoff odds changes
Link to bobbleheads database
Link to Raleigh bobblehead
Link to tweet about Diaz
Link to Elias quote
Link to Snitker article
Link to MLBTR on Steele
Link to Strider story
Link to McKenzie story
Link to 2024 Cortes story
Link to Cortes update
Link to MLBTR on Siri
Link to Soto on lineup protection
Link to FG on Soto’s comments
Link to Alonso running
Link to Roberts rumor
Link to Bohm helmet tap
Link to Lee exchange article
Link to Trout on fan interference
Link to Corbin news
Link to latest Jackie release
Link to Jackie language changes
Link to Jackie language story
Link to Trump/Manfred story
Link to Judge/WBC story
Link to Olney leagues tweet
Link to AL logo
Link to NL logo
Link to Ohtani birth announcement
Link to Ward call-up
Link to Canadiens story
Link to “burn the ships” wiki
Link to keyhole story
Link to The Clubhouse precedents

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Ella Black was the first woman to write about baseball for a national publication—if her name was Ella Black, and if she was a woman. On Ella Black: Lost and Found, a three-part scripted series from Effectively Wild, Ben Lindbergh explores what we know about the enigmatic trailblazer and tries to solve some of the mysteries that have surrounded her ever since she debuted—and, just as suddenly, disappeared—in 1890. On Part 3, “Ella’s Legacy,” Ben reveals what he’s learned (and what we may never know) about Ella, connects her story to today, and pays his respects in person.

Link to Ella’s writing
Link to headstone photo
Link to gravesite photo
Link to family photos
Link to possible Ella photo
Link to Nancy/possible Ella photo
Link to Ella’s signature
Link to voice cast
Link to guest list
Link to period music
Link to pianist’s website
Link to “The Journalist” poem
Link to “Only a Newspaper” excerpt

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Ella Black was the first woman to write about baseball for a national publication—if her name was Ella Black, and if she was a woman. On Ella Black: Lost and Found, a three-part scripted series from Effectively Wild, Ben Lindbergh explores what we know about the enigmatic trailblazer and tries to solve some of the mysteries that have surrounded her ever since she debuted—and, just as suddenly, disappeared—in 1890. On Part 2, “Ella’s Season,” Ben chronicles Ella’s coverage of baseball’s civil war, explores her own disputes with skeptics, and explains how both conflicts ended.

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Ella Black was the first woman to write about baseball for a national publication—if her name was Ella Black, and if she was a woman. On Ella Black: Lost and Found, a three-part scripted series from Effectively Wild, Ben Lindbergh explores what we know about the enigmatic trailblazer and tries to solve some of the mysteries that have surrounded her ever since she debuted—and, just as suddenly, disappeared—in 1890. On Part 1, “Ella’s Legend,” Ben introduces Ella, explains the circumstances that made her so extraordinary, and sets up the stakes of the 1890 baseball civil war.

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the acceptable circumstances (if any) for a bobblehead of a team owner, the Grand Junction Jackalopes belatedly embracing their destiny as the “Chubs,” and more, then (29:35) review and discuss the Netflix documentary The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, followed by a tease for an upcoming Effectively Wild scripted series and (1:26:37) follow-ups.

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

Link to Orioles bobblehead
Link to O’s promotions page
Link to Rubenstein wiki
Link to Rubenstein video
Link to Chubs story 1
Link to Chubs story 2
Link to Chubs story 3
Link to EW Episode 1396
Link to Jackalopes wiki
Link to Spartanburgers wiki
Link to Spartanburg wiki
Link to Netflix doc
Link to Cora quote
Link to budget issues
Link to Duran story 1
Link to Duran story 2
Link to Casas clip
Link to 2024 Sox playoff odds
Link to Ripperger scorecoard
Link to Hammerheads gamer
Link to Hammerheads box score
Link to Tavares taxes story
Link to Paris box position
Link to Paris side view
Link to Mahomes pants story
Link to extension deadlines list
Link to The Pitt thread
Link to Wade/Ward wiki
Link to EW Episode 1890

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s big bonus, Edmundo Sosa’s beginner’s home run robbery, how much of a difference depth makes, and the relative levels of alarm about the shoulder injuries of Reynaldo López, Victor Robles, and Blake Snell. Then (49:14) they talk to MLB.com’s Michael Clair about what it was like to attend the amateur baseball event of the year: the Division III showdown between Yeshiva and Lehman, who entered their Wednesday doubleheader on the two longest active losing streaks in college baseball.

Audio intro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Rosenthal on Vlad
Link to Sosa play
Link to Clemens on depth
Link to Clemens on depth on EW
Link to MLBTR on López
Link to team SP projections
Link to MLBTR on Snell
Link to MLBTR on Robles
Link to Petriello on Robles
Link to Robles batting change
Link to Michael on the game
Link to original Reddit post
Link to postgame Reddit post
Link to Caltech story
Link to Yeshiva team stats
Link to Yeshiva vs. Lehman stats
Link to Game 2 video
Link to Ben on Salina
Link to Michael’s manuscript
Link to Michael on the Czech team

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