Archive for Effectively Wild

Effectively Wild Episode 72: How Many Members of the Angels’ Rotation Will Be Back?/Predicting the First- and Last-Place Teams of 2013

Ben and Sam discuss the decisions the Angels are about to make concerning Dan Haren and Ervin Santana and talk about what their 2013 rotation will look like, then predict 2013’s division/World Series winners and last-place teams.


Effectively Wild Episode 71: The Giants Win the World Series/Assessing Brian Sabean

Ben and Sam discuss the start of the offseason and what the Giants’ second World Series win in three seasons says about GM Brian Sabean.


Effectively Wild Episode 70: World Series Game Two/Protective Gear for Pitchers

Ben and Sam discuss all the notable events from World Series Game Two, including Madison Bumgarner’s impressive outing, the line drive off of Doug Fister’s head, and Jim Leyland’s decision to play the infield back in the seventh, then assess the odds of a comeback by the Tigers.


Effectively Wild Episode 69: The Weirdness of World Series Game One/Delmon Young’s Surprising Career

Ben and Sam discuss the unpredictable outcome of World Series Game One and observe that Delmon Young is starting to look a lot like Stanley from The Office.


Effectively Wild Episode 68: The Obligatory World Series Preview Episode

Ben and Sam discuss the most interesting angles heading into the series and succumb to the pressure to make their picks.


Effectively Wild Episode 67: Did Our Opinions of Players Change in the NLCS?

Ben and Sam discuss whether the NLCS performances of several players affected how they think about them or changed the narratives that followed them into the series.


Effectively Wild Episode 66: Performing a Post-Mortem on the Yankees

Ben and Sam discuss the deeper significance, if any, of the Yankees getting swept.


Effectively Wild Episode 65: The Impact of the ALCS Rainout/The Strange Appearance of Hunter Pence/Do We Dislike Any Players or Teams?

Ben and Sam discuss how the postponement of Game Four hurt the Yankees, talk about how terrible at baseball Hunter Pence appears to be and whether he’s always looked like that, and conclude by revisiting the widespread anti-Cardinals sentiment among baseball fans and examining their own emotional allegiances.


Effectively Wild Episode 64: Should Joe Girardi Have Pinch-Hit in Game Three?

Ben and Sam discuss Joe Girardi’s decision(s) not to pinch-hit for any of his left-handed hitters late in Game Three of the ALCS.


Effectively Wild Episode 63: The Slide Heard ‘Round the World/Why Does Everyone Hate the Cardinals?/Ryan Vogelsong Rewards Bruce Bochy

Ben and Sam discuss whether Matt Holliday’s takeout slide at second was against the rules and why the Cardinals are so widely disliked, then talk about how Ryan Vogelsong has rewarded the Giants for their faith during a string of bad starts.