Archive for Effectively Wild

Effectively Wild Episode 196: The New Scott Kazmir/The Future of the Angels

Ben and Sam discuss Scott Kazmir’s win over the weekend, then talk about the Angels’ outlook for the rest of this season and beyond.


Effectively Wild Episode 195: Bad Body Language/Upgrading Bullpens/Steroids and the Children/BABIP and Bad Luck

Ben and Sam discuss whether a pitcher’s body language can cost him strikes, whether it’s worth trading for relievers early in the season, a study about perceptions of steroid use, and whether a low BABIP is always unlucky.


Effectively Wild Episode 194: Outlawing Endless Games/Would Baseball Be Better Without Playoffs?

Ben and Sam discuss whether the league will ever take steps to prevent extremely long games, then talk about what baseball would be like without playoffs.


Effectively Wild Episode 193: AAA Teams vs. the Marlins and Astros/The Braves and Strikeouts/Pickoffs and Pitch Counts/John Farrell and the Jays/Non-Superstar HOFers

Ben and Sam answer listener emails about whether good minor-league teams could beat bad major-league teams, the Braves and Ks, whether the Jays should regret letting John Farrell go, and more.


Effectively Wild Episode 192: Stephen Strasburg’s New Injury Scare/The Underhyped Manny Machado

Ben and Sam discuss the news about Stephen Strasburg’s forearm and talk about why Manny Machado’s performance this season hasn’t gotten more attention.


Effectively Wild Episode 191: The Significance of the Blue Jays’ Slow Start/Justin Upton and Internet Gloating

Ben and Sam discuss how deep a hole the Blue Jays have dug, then talk about whether it’s fair for people to gloat about the Diamondbacks’ decision to trade Justin Upton based on what’s happened so far this season.


Effectively Wild Episode 190: The Ike Davis Enigma/Trading Prospects Straight Up for Stanton

Ben and Will discuss the confusing career of Ike Davis, then talk about whether there are any prospects teams wouldn’t trade straight up for Giancarlo Stanton.


Effectively Wild Episode 189: Should Chad Billingsley Have Had Surgery Sooner?/Brendan Ryan, Robert Andino, and the Mariners

Ben and Paul talk to Corey Dawkins about Chad Billingsley’s elbow, then discuss the Mariners’ decision to start Robert Andino over Brendan Ryan and the state of Seattle’s organization.


Effectively Wild Episode 188: The Yankees and PECOTA/Earned Run Ratio/Least Likely MVP Candidates/When to Trust 2013 Stats

Ben and Sam answer listener emails about whether PECOTA underestimates the Yankees, how to improve ERA, Coco Crisp the MVP candidate, and in-season stats vs. projections.


Effectively Wild Episode 187: More About Velocity Loss/Baseball Players and Appendectomies

Ben and Sam discuss the velocity losses of some of baseball’s best starters, then talk about whether players should have prophylactic appendectomies.