Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about good news and bad news for Ben’s recent Meet a Major Leaguer subject Christian Montes De Oca, Craig Kimbrel’s short-lived return to Atlanta, the promotions of Roman Anthony and Jacob Misiorowski and a proposal for automatic call-ups, Denzel Clarke’s incredible catch and extreme stat line (and the nature of quantifying defense), Jhonkensy Noel’s offensive outage, two uncommon occurrences involving baseballs in strange places, Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s mic’ed-up error, Clayton Kershaw’s payback against the Cardinals, and (1:10:26) “Hometown Hero,” a baseball-themed episode of Poker Face.

Audio intro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MaML episode
Link to Montes De Oca debut
Link to MLBTR on Montes De Oca
Link to The Athletic on Kimbrel
Link to BP on Kimbrel
Link to MLBTR on Kimbrel
Link to Orioles/Braves episode
Link to O’s/Braves since 5/6
Link to Anthony homer
Link to Misiorowski pitch
Link to Clarke catch
Link to Arneson posts
Link to A’s sprint speed leaderboard
Link to FRV leaderboard
Link to Clarke on-pace projection
Link to Sam on Clarke
Link to 2015 Trout robbery
Link to GMJ robbery
Link to White robbery
Link to JBJ robbery
Link to Pillar robbery
Link to Schanuel bat training
Link to worst wRC+ ranking
Link to Weathers story
Link to Weathers clip
Link to fan-thrown-ball story
Link to fan-thrown-ball clip
Link to Jazz error
Link to Ben on in-game interviews
Link to Kershaw story
Link to Kershaw clip
Link to Kershaw velo
Link to Panthers/Oilers fights
Link to Bing Bong explainer
Link to Hang Up and Listen
Link to recent reinstatements
Link to “Hometown Hero” wiki
Link to “Hometown Hero” IMDb

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Spencer Strider’s concerning performance, how he and Sandy Alcantara remind us that comebacks from elbow surgery aren’t automatic, and whether things are lookng up for the White Sox on and off the field. Then (32:23) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter John Thomas to banter about his background as an EW listener and baseball fan, answer listener emails (42:34) about the future of baseball’s historic cathedrals, whether sabermetrics inevitably promotes efficiency and specialization, whether Mariano Rivera delayed the reimagining of bullpen roles, the evolution (or devolution) of framing, and a rotation of Paul Skenes clones, and then Stat Blast (1:38:33) about the Rockies and the best-ever infield defenses, Devin Williams and the worst holds, and notable matchups between minor leaguers and rehabbing big leaguers.

Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WhatIfSports offer page

Link to Davy on Strider
Link to TJ return study
Link to White Sox TV info
Link to MLBTR on Ishbia
Link to Ishbia wiki
Link to story on Ishbia’s home
Link to story on the Suns
Link to Ishbia letter
Link to Sheehan on the Sox
Link to Vargas leaderboard
Link to team SP WAR
Link to Veres on the Rockies
Link to Dubuque article
Link to Scout School series intro
Link to Scout School series conclusion
Link to Ben on no-hitter defense
Link to Ben’s gaming pod
Link to John Thomas slang
Link to Russell on shortening up
Link to article on historical TTOP
Link to Rob on TTOP over time
Link to Molina framing montage
Link to Ben on framing in 2013
Link to Ben on framing technique
Link to Skenes TTOP splits
Link to Russell on SP handedness
Link to Ben on SP playoff familiarity
Link to Ben on RP playoff familiarity
Link to Monfort on defense
Link to all-time infield defense
Link to 2025 infield defense
Link to infielder definition
Link to infield definition
Link to rulebook on infielders
Link to Ben on Piazza
Link to hold definition
Link to Williams game
Link to worst 2025 holds by WPA
Link to McDaniels game
Link to worst-ever holds by WPA
Link to Cascarella game
Link to worst 2025 holds by RE24
Link to Maton game
Link to worst-ever holds by RE24
Link to Cox game
Link to Kershaw game story
Link to Kershaw box score
Link to Reds prospect list
Link to rehabbing pitchers sheet
Link to rehabbing batters sheet
Link to Ryan Nelson
Link to Robert Au
Link to listener emails database
Link to Excellius
Link to La Colaborativa
Link to Dotson/Farrell article
Link to SNL Goulet clip

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Pete Alonso’s performance since they marveled at his hot start, the return of Craig Kimbrel, Max Muncy’s tale of two seasons, how hitters fare after LASIK, the Mets’ “secret sauce” against Shohei Ohtani, whether the Dodgers’ injury woes will hurt their capacity to recruit pitchers, Brandon Pfaadt’s “yes hitter,” the latest step toward the challenge system, Eric Anthony’s dad discovery and nature and nurture in player development, the underrated Willie Davis and Reggie Smith, and more, plus a combined Meet a Major Leaguer/Stat Blast segment (1:19:39) on Nic Enright and Christian Montes De Oca (and the rule-altering signing of the 13-year-old Jimy Kelly).

Audio intro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to previous Pete banter
Link to Pete before
Link to Pete after
Link to Muncy before
Link to Muncy after
Link to Muncy article
Link to MLB LASIK study
Link to secret sauce article
Link to Spahn quote
Link to Cup of Coffee
Link to FG on Casparius
Link to “yes hitter” post
Link to “yes hitter” Stathead
Link to Ben on no-hitters 1
Link to Ben on no-hitters 2
Link to challenge system news
Link to Anthony and Davis story
Link to B-Ref new debuts
Link to The Athletic on Enright
Link to Guardians prospects list
Link to phantom player wiki
Link to 1972 scouting article
Link to Montes de Oca wiki
Link to Montes de Oca name
Link to Diamondbacks prospects
Link to MDO article 1
Link to MDO article 2
Link to MDO article 3
Link to MDO article 4
Link to Kelly at B-Ref
Link to MiLB.com on Kelly
Link to SI on Kelly
Link to EW Stanky draft
Link to Mexican League article
Link to Koo video
Link to Bois on Koo
Link to Kenny Jackelen
Link to player signings spreadsheet

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Taylor Walls fulfilling a preseason podcast prediction by being ejected after tapping his helmet following a questionable call (and the many notifications Ben and Meg received from EW listeners), Luke Weaver’s stretching injury, the Rockies’ purported improvement, the decline of the closer as bullpen protagonist, a miraculous softball-delivery dirt clod, an unfortunate instance of replay review, the LSU Shreveport Pilots’ undefeated college season, Jac Caglianone’s call-up, Corbin Burnes’s bum elbow, Mookie Betts’s improved defense, the death of Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima, and more.

Audio intro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Walls story
Link to Reddit comments
Link to @EWStats ruling
Link to Walls and Trump
Link to Walls and DeSantis
Link to Revere ride info
Link to Weaver stretching story
Link to Dan S. on Weaver
Link to carrots myth
Link to Rockies quotes
Link to Rockies 10-day offense
Link to Rockies 10-day pitching
Link to Denver Post story
Link to The Athletic on Kenley
Link to Ben on saves
Link to Ben on SP protagonists
Link to softball clip
Link to softball story
Link to Ben on Capps
Link to Springer clip
Link to Springer story
Link to Dave on slides 1
Link to Dave on slides 2
Link to Shreveport story
Link to Wake Forest story
Link to Hill Triple-A game
Link to MLBTR on Burnes
Link to CBS on Mookie
Link to Ohtani Nagashima post
Link to Nagashima obit
Link to Whiting quote
Link to Nagashima NPB Stats page
Link to Oh NPB Stats page

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the most exciting prospects who haven’t yet made the majors but should soon (including Jac Caglianone, Roman Anthony, Bubba Chandler, and Andrew Painter), the struggles of once-ballyhooed trade targets Sandy Alcantara and Luis Robert Jr., the recent rebounds of Emmanuel Clase and Devin Williams, the returns of Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Spencer Strider, the differing trajectories of former Reds relievers Fernando Cruz and Alexis Díaz, the surprisingly successful and homegrown Yankees, the looming specter of Craig Kimbrel, watching Paul Skenes, what baseball would be like with man defense, not zone, and teams whose playoff odds have increased or decreased the most in the season’s first two months.

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

Link to WhatIfSports offer page

Link to Passan on prospects
Link to MLBTR on Caglianone
Link to MiLB leaderboard
Link to FG prospect rankings
Link to Pipeline rankings
Link to team OF WAR
Link to FG Royals prospects
Link to Dan S. on Jac
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to team SP WAR
Link to SB leaders
Link to team wRC+
Link to FIP since 4/26
Link to MLBTR on Jobe
Link to MLBTR on Díaz
Link to ERA-FIP gap
Link to Kimbrel contract info
Link to Tobias clip
Link to playoff odds changes
Link to Contreras article 1
Link to Contreras article 2
Link to Maldonado article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Rockies’ historic series losing streak and their rest-of-season projections, an Orioles fan’s decision to get the name of Trevor Rogers tattooed on his butt, a Patrick Corbin innings-eating update, draft prospect Jace LaViolette’s dedication to staying in the lineup, the late-career struggles of Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer, the Yankees’ shame about their rings commemorating their 2024 pennant, and more.

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

Link to Rockies stat
Link to Opta interview
Link to Kamka tweet
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to ESPN SoS
Link to Baltimore Banner article
Link to Rogers tweet
Link to Kjerstad tweet
Link to best Orioles starts
Link to Rangers IP leaders
Link to LaViolette article 1
Link to LaViolette article 2
Link to LaViolette article 3
Link to LaViolette homers
Link to Kershaw article 1
Link to Kershaw article 2
Link to Yankees rings article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the new hardest-hit ball of the Statcast era, exit speeds across eras, Oneil Cruz vs. Elly De La Cruz, whether Tarik Skubal has gotten too good, Aaron Judge not feeling great at the plate, whether Rockies fans should boycott the team, how the (first) Juan Soto trade is working out for the Nationals, a Clay Holmes rotation conversion progress report, Jake Burger’s minor league reset, a threat to Shea Langeliers’ A’s sprint speed lead, a dominant DH in Division III, and a new show trying to claim the podcast’s corner.

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

Link to Cruz homer
Link to 120+ mph balls
Link to Clemens on Skubal
Link to Cooper stat
Link to Passan Skubal tweet
Link to ESPN on Skubal
Link to Skubal splits
Link to Misiorowski story
Link to Misiorowski clip
Link to Misiorowski video
Link to new Judge quotes
Link to 2024 Judge quote 1
Link to 2024 Judge quote 2
Link to Kyle Clark commentary
Link to year-over-year attendance
Link to Nats prospects
Link to Nats WAR leaders
Link to Rule of 17 explainer
Link to Burger game log
Link to MLB.com on Burger
Link to A’s speed leaders
Link to A’s prospects post
Link to A’s shakeup article
Link to CBS Mazzone post
Link to Mazzone player page
Link to Mazzone at TBC
Link to Mazzone article
Link to clip of the other EW
Link to Brault wiki
Link to Brault on EW
Link to Simpsons clip

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Rockies being so bad that mostly innocuous stories about them now seem like examples of organizational incompetence, a wild loss by a Rockies affiliate, and why recent terrible teams have been so bad, then (36:56) answer listener emails about catchers framing poorly on purpose, penalizing hitters when their bats make contact with catchers, whether the draft should be helping the worst teams more, and a potential sac-fly tactic in a walk-off situation, plus a Stat Blast (1:17:59) about runners making up for bad baserunning plays, pinch running too late, failed team attempts to reach .500 for the first time, and a piece of baseball wall art, followed (1:43:28) by postscript updates.

Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WhatIfSports offer page

Link to worst 50-game starts
Link to Dollander call-up story
Link to Dollander IL stint
Link to Gelb tweet
Link to Soto story
Link to lawsuit story
Link to “the baseball rule”
Link to @ScoringChanges tweet
Link to walk-off story 1
Link to walk-off story 2
Link to Aces call
Link to box score
Link to PCL standings
Link to Kirk/Bassitt story
Link to Stick It wiki
Link to strikes called balls
Link to balls called strikes
Link to FG post on Wilson
Link to pinch-runners spreadsheet
Link to Grichuk walk-off video
Link to baseball wall art
Link to FARTSLAM post 1
Link to FARTSLAM post 2
Link to listener emails database
Link to MiLB FAD tracking
Link to Hanel’s predictions post
Link to Stranger Things Night
Link to Victoria Day wiki
Link to Victoria Day Jays post

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Rich Hill’s latest perfect game bid, whether the Tigers are as good as they’ve looked, Jared Jones’ elbow surgery and the Pirates’ offensive outage, Paul Skenes and whether lower arm slots will protect pitchers’ arms, Pete Crow-Armstrong and the players who’ve ascended to “main character” status this season, and more listener suggestions for what to call tandem home run robberies and homers that clear the fence due to defensive miscues.

Audio intro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to latest Hill game
Link to Hill footage
Link to 2016 Hill game
Link to Hill on EW
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to Sheehan on Detroit
Link to projected RoS SP WAR
Link to Jones note
Link to Passan on Skenes
Link to Heyman on Skenes
Link to Skenes slot video
Link to Pirates unfun fact
Link to team offense since 4/23
Link to VAA explainer
Link to arm-slot injury study
Link to Russell on n=1
Link to The Bandwagon on Brown
Link to last-year pitcher WAR
Link to BP on Brown
Link to 2025 EW bold predictions
Link to 2025 FG bold predictions
Link to combined WAR leaderboard
Link to chase rate leaderboard
Link to story on PCA moving back
Link to PCA on his mom
Link to The Bandwagon on main characters
Link to free month of The Bandwagon
Link to Paine on the Cardinals
Link to Passan on the Cardinals
Link to team defense leaderboard
Link to Meg on farting
Link to Carpenter retirement
Link to Carpenter leaderboard 1
Link to Carpenter leaderboard 2

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Elly De La Cruz’s unspectacular start to the season, the firing of Brandon Hyde and what it would take for them to blame a manager for a team’s disappointing season, the hubbub about Juan Soto’s hustle, MLB’s announcement about Rivalry Weekend’s success, Kyle Schwarber and the lineage of non-Hall-of-Fame hitters who’ve appeared to have a chance at “magic number” milestones, MLB’s attempt to define the swing, the overwhelming array of Statcast stats, the latest call for Shohei Ohtani to specialize, and more.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes 2, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG on the O’s
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to Girardi firing article
Link to ESPN on Valentine
Link to FG on the Twins
Link to Soto flight confusion
Link to Ben on Jeter vs. Cano
Link to Soto in-game interview info
Link to Ben on in-game interviews
Link to Soto plays
Link to Mendoza quote
Link to MLB press release
Link to Vedder Cup story
Link to Schwarber HR stat
Link to Stathead query
Link to most HR since 2022
Link to swings article 1
Link to swings article 2
Link to new Savant leaderboard
Link to article on new metrics
Link to FG on Royals pitching
Link to Ohtani strikeout
Link to Pereda ball
Link to Ohtani article
Link to Sam on Ohtani

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 Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com
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