Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Rich Hill–Dallas Keuchel competition for the Royals rotation and give José Ramírez his due, then (17:45) answer listener emails about when to fire a GM, an all-star spot for elite defenders, teams composed of clones of Aaron Judge, Daulton Varsho, or Zack Wheeler, moving the mound back unnoticeably, a rule-changing MLB concussion protocol, whether WAR is a counting stat, and unsuccessful surgeries, plus Stat Blasts (1:24:05) about four-team trades, lefty position-player pitchers, homer flubs, bases-loaded walks, and the cost of throwing a ball on purpose, plus (1:47:30) a cat PSA.

Audio intro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)”

Link to Keuchel signing
Link to Hill game log
Link to on-pace projections
Link to ASG WAR research
Link to Judge pitching stats
Link to Ben on PPP vs. pitcher hitters
Link to Derby participants
Link to 2024 CF arm strength
Link to 2025 RF arm strength
Link to Reds mound story 1
Link to Reds mound story 2
Link to Ben on moving the mound
Link to MLB courtesy runner
Link to concurrent surgery
Link to Jenks surgery
Link to Reimold story
Link to Segedin story
Link to 1991 death
Link to 2021 death
Link to % LH non-PPP
Link to % LH PPP
Link to LH PPP wOBA
Link to RH PPP wOBA
Link to Durant trade
Link to five blades satire
Link to Varsho play 1
Link to Varsho play 2
Link to two Tylers play
Link to Levine on Ortiz
Link to Ortiz ball rate
Link to strike/ball value
Link to FA $/WAR
Link to listener emails database
Link to Mains data
Link to HR thief story
Link to HR thief jersey

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Brandon Woodruff and the minor medical miracle of players returning from significant injuries to be big leaguers again, the likelihood of players becoming or repeating as all-stars, Clayton Kershaw as an honorary all-star, the end (for now) of the Pete Alonso Home Run Derby era and the Derby’s new blood, the Nationals firing their POBO and manager a week before picking first in the draft, new Statcast catcher-stance data, and the Blue Jays unseating the Yankees in the AL East, plus (1:29:38) postscript updates.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”
Audio outro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Woodruff’s return
Link to Neil’s new ASG research
Link to Neil’s old ASG research
Link to Alonso news
Link to Derby participants
Link to Smith Rule 5 story
Link to Kershaw selection
Link to Rizzo text
Link to Nats WAR leaders
Link to Nats prospect list
Link to FG on the Nats
Link to catcher stance data
Link to Petriello on stances
Link to Trueblood on stances
Link to Trueblood on throwing
Link to Swanson on EW
Link to FG on the Yankees
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to Kay kerfuffle 1
Link to Kay kerfuffle 2
Link to playoff odds changes
Link to team pitching clutch
Link to team pitching clutch
Link to batter tOPS+ w/RISP
Link to batter tOPS+ w/high lev
Link to pitcher tOPS+ w/RISP
Link to pitcher tOPS+ w/high lev
Link to Kaline book
Link to Scherzer on effort
Link to Opta Pirates stat
Link to Langs Pirates stat
Link to Stark on shutouts
Link to Mains on scoring
Link to EW YouTube playlist

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Paul Skenes’s new interest, Clayton Kershaw and the evolution of 3,000-strikeout celebrations, and the deepening deadball era in Japan. After that (24:37), frequent Stat Blast Correspondent Ryan Nelson joins to discuss why there have been so many team shutouts this season and then deliver several Stat Blasts, followed (1:02:56) by postscript updates.

Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Hiles tweet
Link to Reddit joke
Link to pitcher run support
Link to Kershaw’s 3000th K
Link to FG post on Kershaw
Link to Scherzer’s 3000th K
Link to 3000th-K montage
Link to 3000-K club wiki
Link to Facebook post
Link to 2025 Pacific League
Link to 2025 Central League
Link to team shutouts count
Link to shutout-rate data
Link to Posnanski on shutouts
Link to BP on blowouts
Link to 50-gun salute
Link to SP matchups data
Link to SP matchups leaders
Link to homer-matching data
Link to Roberts confession
Link to FG Parker obit
Link to Parker shirt info
Link to Parker smoking photo
Link to last-shutout data
Link to most younger PA list
Link to most younger BF list
Link to Woo tweet
Link to listener emails database
Link to EW YouTube playlist
Link to Pujols/Cabrera story
Link to Boyd video
Link to EW Episode 1735
Link to EW Episode 1736
Link to Independence Day post

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about how many members of the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game roster they have heard of, honorary all-stars, and velocity spikes preceding arm injuries, then discuss an investigation concerning possible pitch-fixing by Luis L. Ortiz, a federal civil rights complaint about the Dodgers’ DEI policies, and Rob Manfred’s pitch to players in advance of CBA discussions.

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

Link to Coachella formula
Link to the “celebrities”
Link to Simpsons clip
Link to influencer fame data
Link to MLBTR on honorary all-stars
Link to Atlanta pitchers story
Link to ESPN report on Ortiz
Link to Trueblood pitch videos
Link to Axios on Miller and L.A.
Link to The Athletic on Miller
Link to more on the complaint
Link to 2023 MLB complaint
Link to The Athletic on Manfred
Link to more from The Athletic
Link to the SBJ on Manfred
Link to Sheehan on Manfred
Link to MLBPA probe
Link to fan ban
Link to fan interview
Link to MLFAD data
Link to Waldron pitch usage

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the return of Richard Lovelady, the MLB season debut of knuckleballer Matt Waldron, the superlative Zack Wheeler, how other knuckleballers in baseball are faring, Rich Hill’s wait for a call-up, Shohei Ohtani vs. Vinnie Pasquantino, Jacob Misiorowski and the leaguewide rise in pitcher extension, James Wood’s four intentional walks in one game (and the Angels’ outlier IBB total), MLB’s strikeout plateau (or reversal), Luis Arraez’s pursuit of contact history, historic events involving Wilyer Abreu, Trevor Rogers, and Jack Leiter, a serial fan interferer, the biggest team attendance climbs and declines, and how MLB’s minor league parks have played.

Audio intro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Lovelady
Link to uniforms changes
Link to best pitchers in June
Link to Posnanski on Wheeler
Link to AARP patch
Link to Pasquantino tweet
Link to extension leaderboard
Link to leaguewide extension
Link to leaguewide four-seam extension
Link to leaguewide four-seam velo
Link to velo leaders
Link to perceived velo leaders
Link to extension mailbag
Link to Ben on pitching distance
Link to Whitley on Wood
Link to Andrews on Wood
Link to four-IBB club
Link to 2025 team IBB
Link to IBB difference spreadsheet
Link to Bonds/Rays IBB post
Link to Rays IBB
Link to 2025 K%+ keaders
Link to all-time K%+ spreadsheet
Link to Dan S. on Arraez
Link to Rob on strikeouts
Link to MLB K rate by year
Link to non-pitcher K rate by year
Link to Abreu fun fact
Link to Rogers/Leiter fun fact
Link to Arizona fan story
Link to Arizona fan story 2
Link to Arizona fan tweet
Link to Hang Up episode
Link to attendance changes
Link to park factors
Link to Severino story 1
Link to Severino story 2
Link to Manfred quotes
Link to leaguewide TTO%
Link to player TTO%
Link to Marte update

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Kutter Crawford’s mysterious wrist accident, then discuss Wander Franco’s conviction (14:58) and Walker Monfort’s promotion (19:57) before checking in (33:36) on the players and teams on pace to overperform or underperform their preseason projections the most at the precise halfway point of the season. Finally (1:12:44), they answer listener emails about “secret teams” in MLB, throwback, quiet games at the ballpark, and Denzel Clarke.

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”
Audio outro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WhatIfSports offer page

Link to Crawford story 1
Link to Crawford story 2
Link to Sale accident
Link to Barmes story 1
Link to Barmes story 2
Link to Kent story
Link to injury cover-ups
Link to Franco story 1
Link to Franco story 2
Link to Monfort story
Link to halfway point
Link to Rays playoffs story
Link to projections comparison spreadsheet
Link to preseason projections
Link to on-pace projections
Link to preseason playoff odds
Link to listener emails database
Link to Belanger club
Link to most PA with low OPS+

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Dicky, er, Richard Lovelady’s short tenure with the Mets, round one of Paul Skenes vs. Jacob Misiorowski, the nature of modern pitcher’s duels, a Jacob-related fun fact, updates on Juan Soto and Jo Adell, revisiting childhood favorites through the lens of advanced stats, and public funding for the Diamondbacks, then (47:14) discuss fans crossing the line, player reprisals, and (1:08:07) Fernando Tatis Jr. suing Big League Advance.

Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Lovelady
Link to Dietrich call-up
Link to Baumann on Skenes vs. Miz
Link to Jake/Jacob fact
Link to Opta interview
Link to Miz fact
Link to shutouts stat
Link to Wilson Fortnite story
Link to Diego Segui news
Link to David’s PED admission
Link to Diamondbacks funding story
Link to Field of Schemes on Arizona
Link to Marte story
Link to Santana story 1
Link to Santana story 2
Link to Santana story 3
Link to Duran story
Link to Hendriks story
Link to MLB harassment story
Link to NHL harassment story
Link to Francisco story
Link to Simpsons clip
Link to AP on BLA
Link to Calcaterra on BLA
Link to BLA EW interview
Link to FG post on BLA
Link to Taylor play 1
Link to Taylor play 2
Link to Taylor play 3

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Richard Lovelady’s qualified embrace of the nickname “Dicky,” the return of players named “Otto” to the major leagues, Denzel Clarke’s increasingly extreme offense-defense divide, Cal Raleigh’s records (and MVP) pursuit, Bryan Woo as Seattle’s starting stalwart, the underrated Eugenio Suárez, Byron Buxton’s success, the loudness of Yankee Stadium (and MLB ballparks in general), Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s shoeless sprint, the Phillies’ tandem slide, the demotion of Francisco Alvarez, catcher offense, and the Rockies’ reported interest in rehiring Bud Black, plus (1:23:53) postscript updates.

Audio intro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Lovelady article
Link to Lovelady tweets
Link to players named Otto
Link to baby-name data
Link to baby-name app
Link to Otto popularity
Link to FRV leaderboard
Link to Langs on Cal’s pace
Link to FG post on Cal
Link to B-Ref on Woo
Link to M’s WAR leaders
Link to team SP WAR
Link to team wRC+
Link to Players of the Week
Link to Suárez tweet
Link to Suárez career ranking
Link to Buxton surgery article
Link to Buxton recovery article
Link to plica syndrome wiki
Link to Jay on Yankee Stadium
Link to Jazz article
Link to Phillies slide article
Link to Phillies slide GIF
Link to Baumann comment
Link to Major League clip
Link to Phillies sprint speeds
Link to Alvarez demotion article
Link to MLBTR on Alvarez
Link to catcher offense
Link to shortstop offense
Link to Nightengale report
Link to Ben on ex-pitcher managers
Link to MLBTR on Brebbia
Link to team RP WAR
Link to Asensio article
Link to Myers play
Link to Angels Stathead query
Link to times on base wiki
Link to Colvin post
Link to Colvin article
Link to Colvin video
Link to NPR on broken bats
Link to maple vs. ash article
Link to Monrovians game info
Link to Kilroy was here wiki
Link to Sogard post
Link to Ben on long PAs

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Tommy Kahnle’s postgame shaving ritual, Hunter Bigge’s close call and danger from foul balls, Padres vs. Dodgers as baseball’s best rivalry, and a lost opportunity for a Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes matchup, then (58:23) answer listener emails about the most influential owner of the century, the definition of an inside pitch, full-count pickoff attempts with two outs, a possible sliding-mitt drawback, and real baseball with fantasy scoring.

Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WhatIfSports offer page

Link to “Tommy Can You Hear Me?”
Link to new Kahnle article
Link to tweet about Kahnle
Link to 2023 Kahnle article
Link to lowest pitcher ERAs
Link to Emma tweet
Link to Bigge article 1
Link to Bigge article 2
Link to on-deck-hitter fouls
Link to Sam on helmets
Link to Dodgers-Padres article 1
Link to Dodgers-Padres article 2
Link to Dodgers-Padres video
Link to Ohtani video
Link to Jazz article 1
Link to Jazz article 2
Link to Jazz article 3
Link to Jazz article 4
Link to staggered aces article 1
Link to staggered aces article 2
Link to staggered aces article 3
Link to Halvorsen throw
Link to Volpe slide article
Link to Volpe slide video
Link to listener emails database

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a possible Rays franchise sale, the latest on Elly De La Cruz, Oneil Cruz, Sandy Alcantara, and Aaron Judge, Andrew Benintendi as the current face of replacement level, Nats manager Dave Martinez’s comments about coaches, and Clayton Kershaw’s cap on Pride Night. Then (56:10) Ben brings back former guest, podcast host, and major leaguer Ross Stripling for an exit interview about his big league career, covering his greatest regrets and accomplishments, his historic debut, the evolution of the league, his swingman exploits, his future, and much more, followed by (2:04:11) a postscript.

Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”
Audio outro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”

Link to bold preseason predictions
Link to MLBTR on the Rays sale
Link to Sportico on the sale
Link to Pope’s baseball cap
Link to NYT on tax change
Link to Hang Up on tax change
Link to info on public land sales
Link to Forbes franchise valuations
Link to Sportico franchise valuations
Link to Davy on Cruz
Link to Judge slump stats
Link to BP on Judge vs. Crochet
Link to Posnanski on Judge vs. Crochet
Link to Judge vs. Crochet video
Link to 2023-25 hitter WAR
Link to Tango on Bloomquist
Link to Rockies HR record
Link to Martinez quotes
Link to Martinez video
Link to later Martinez quotes
Link to The Bandwagon on Martinez
Link to Rizzo on Martinez
Link to Kershaw cap story
Link to Bible verse
Link to 2023 Kershaw comments
Link to AP on Supreme Court decision
Link to NYT on the hotline
Link to L.A. Times on Dodgers silence
Link to Kiké Insta post
Link to story on Lakers sale
Link to EW Episode 859
Link to EW Episode 1397
Link to EW Episode 1997
Link to Stripling’s debut game
Link to Stripling’s debut game video
Link to swingman spreadsheet
Link to Ross’s podcast
Link to Ross’s “retirement” post
Link to Adrian Peterson story
Link to Stripling pitch usage
Link to story on Stripling and data
Link to Stripling’s salaries
Link to Stripling vs. batters
Link to Kiké crotch bump
Link to Stripling’s sprint
Link to Stripling on investing 1
Link to Stripling on investing 2
Link to Stripling on investing 3
Link to Stripling’s steal
Link to AP story on hustle
Link to Triple-A walk-off video
Link to Triple-A walk-off details
Link to Hill update
Link to Trevor Project info
Link to Trevor Project website

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