Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Charlie Culberson’s surprising staying power as a barely-playing big leaguer, then break down the first batch of trades preceding the trade deadline, including deals involving Max Scherzer, Jordan Montgomery, Chris Stratton, Jordan Hicks, Nicky Lopez, Randal Grichuk, and C.J. Cron. They also discuss the lack of impact hitters on the market, Matt Chapman dissing the Angels’ offense, how intentional walks affect Shohei Ohtani’s WAR, and how a misaligned strike-zone graphic may have angered Phil Nevin. Then (1:08:34) Ben brings on White Sox pitcher Declan Cronin, the first major leaguer from Ben’s alma mater, Regis High School, for an in-person Meet a Major Leaguer segment with a player promoted thanks to deadline deals. They talk about Declan’s underdog career path as a Regis Raider, Holy Cross Crusader, and 36th-round draftee, his call-up and debut, his data-driven development, his second job at Tread Athletics, and more, followed (1:52:33) by a Future Blast from 2040.

Audio intro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Petriello on Culberson
Link to MLBTR on Culberson
Link to Culberson/Swanson story
Link to Rany on the Lopez trade
Link to MLBTR on Lopez/Hearn
Link to FG post on Scherzer deal
Link to FG post on Cardinals trades
Link to FG post on Cardinals prospects
Link to FG post on Angels trade
Link to Eppler comments
Link to Rosenthal on the Mets trades
Link to defense behind pitcher
Link to Eovaldi IL news
Link to Ronald Acuña comments
Link to story on lack of hitters
Link to Sam on Grichuk/Trout
Link to Chapman video
Link to Chapman game story
Link to tweet about Chapman/Nevin
Link to story on Nevin suspension
Link to story on Nevin ejections
Link to Apple strike zone graphic
Link to EW Episode 2030
Link to Rob Arthur on umps
Link to Meet a Major Leaguer wiki
Link to Regis alma mater video
Link to Regis notable alumni
Link to Declan’s first out
Link to Passan tweet about Declan
Link to Declan velo video
Link to Declan sinker video
Link to EW on seam-shifted wake
Link to Declan stuff video
Link to Ramírez HR video
Link to Ramírez HR data
Link to Holy Cross call-up story
Link to Holy Cross roster page
Link to Declan’s LinkedIn page
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Future Blast wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a silly kerfuffle involving Miles Mikolas, Willson Contreras, and Ian Happ, Triston Casas’s hot streak and previous unwritten-rules run-in, Bullet Rogan vs. Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge’s return and the Yankees’ underlying issues, the Mets trading David Robertson to the Marlins and the White Sox sending Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Dodgers and Kendall Graveman to the Astros, White Sox historical franchise futility, which of this season’s most disappointing teams is most likely to bounce back in 2024, and Royals owner John Sherman’s claims about the economic impact of the team’s future ballpark, plus emails (1:19:45) about a homerless MVP and MLB ownership vs. NFL ownership, and a Future Blast (1:27:26) from 2039.

Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to story about Cardinals kerfuffle
Link to Cardinals broadcast commentary
Link to broadcaster ratings
Link to bottom-five broadcasters
Link to post on lizard incident
Link to Mikolas vs. Galvis
Link to Mikolas vs. Soto
Link to Ben on the Soto shuffle
Link to Casas/clubhouse article
Link to Cora on Casas
Link to best hitters since 6/7
Link to best hitters since 5/23
Link to FG combined WAR leaderboard
Link to FiveThirtyEight on Rogan
Link to Rogan wiki
Link to previous EW on Rogan
Link to B-Ref Negro Leagues stats
Link to FG Negro Leagues stats
Link to Kram on Judge
Link to Paine on Judge
Link to FG on Kelly/Lynn
Link to FG on the Graveman trade
Link to 2021 Graveman trade article
Link to White Sox playoff appearances
Link to FG on the Robertson trade
Link to FG post on the Cubs
Link to John Sherman’s letter
Link to BP on the Sherman letter
Link to FB thread on MLB vs. NFL owners
Link to EW emails database
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Twanisha Terry wiki
Link to MLBTR on Cronin

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about watching Shohei Ohtani play while they podcast, the Angels’ decision not to trade Ohtani and subsequent trade for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López, whether the Cubs should buy or sell, the Guardians’ and Dodgers’ perplexing Amed Rosario-for-Noah Syndergaard swap, the Brewers acquiring Carlos Santana, and Rob Manfred’s extension. Then (45:05) they answer emails about dugout punching bags and whether the ABS system could help umps (and players) learn the strike zone, react (59:44) to the rest of Ohtani’s doubleheader exploits, Stat Blast (1:06:55) about the Orioles’ sweepless streak, the most hits recorded by the fewest batters when that number of hits is the team’s total, first career hits that are also first career hits allowed, player homerless streaks, the high-scoring fifth game after the All-Star break, and players being traded together twice, plus a Future Blast (1:27:39) from 2038 and a few follow-ups.

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Verducci’s Ohtani report
Link to Minasian quote
Link to Ben C. on the Giolito trade
Link to FG staff Ohtani post
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to BP IL Ledger
Link to Britton on buy/sell decisions
Link to Shohei doubleheader story
Link to Shohei doubleheader fun facts
Link to Wise no-no
Link to Wise second homer
Link to FG on Dodgers-Guardians trade
Link to FG on Hernández trade
Link to team SS WAR leaders
Link to Dodgers SS WAR leaders
Link to Sheehan on the Cubs
Link to Brewers 1B leaders
Link to Manfred extension article
Link to Athletic article on ABS
Link to sweepless streaks tweet
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to most hits by fewest players
Link to first-career-hits data
Link to homerless streaks data
Link to trade pairs list
Link to 5th post-ASB game image
Link to 5th post-ASB game image 2
Link to Craig Wright on 1894
Link to Ben on moving the mound
Link to EW emails database
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to EW Ohtani trading game
Link to Ohtani trading game responses

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a J.P. France postgame quote and ballplayer clichés, the death of first overall pick Mike Ivie, and how Masataka Yoshida’s debut season stacks up to the MLB rookie years of other ex-NPB stars, answer emails (36:57) about Mike Trout’s and Shohei Ohtani’s futures, a Trout/Hunter Renfroe trade deadline scheme (with a bonus Meg movie pitch), undoing pre-pitch-clock time-saving measures, and batters catching pitches to knock pitchers out of games, plus Stat Blasts (1:19:13) about robot umps in Triple-A, the most top 100 prospects to debut for one team in a season (or a two-season span), and Immaculate Grid efficiency, followed by a Future Blast (1:47:08) from 2037.

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

Link to France quote
Link to Ivie obit
Link to other Ivie obit
Link to Louise Levy obit
Link to NYT on Levy
Link to Ivie wiki
Link to 1980 Ivie article
Link to Athletic mental health article
Link to more on mental health
Link to Laurila on Yoshida
Link to ex-NPB rookie batting leaders
Link to Renfroe/Renfrow article
Link to Seinfeld clip
Link to Realmuto catch
Link to EW emails database
Link to ABS splits
Link to ABS AP article
Link to ABS Athletic article
Link to Manfred on ABS
Link to pitcher thread on ABS
Link to one-season prospect debuts
Link to two-season prospect debuts
Link to Immaculate Grid
Link to Chris’s Immaculate Grid sheet
Link to travelling salesman problem
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Sasaki story
Link to Maggi EW episode
Link to MLBTR on Maggi
Link to SAG-AFTRA podcast info
Link to TV ratings info

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In a 21-guest salute to Shohei Ohtani trade hypotheticals, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley are joined by a multitude of friends for a role-playing exercise in convincing the Angels to trade Ohtani to the other 20 contending (or quasi-contending) teams. Ben and Meg begin by explaining how it will work, and then the game begins (14:22). After the resolution (1:09:04), Ben and Meg discuss the outcome, followed by a Future Blast from 2036 (1:23:41). Listeners: Please vote on the trade proposals!

Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to vote on trade proposals!
Link to first Morosi tweet
Link to second Morosi tweet
Link to Ben C.’s trade value ranking
Link to old BP Price piece
Link to Hannah on Perry/Brown/AA
Link to trading game roster
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Remember: Vote on trade proposals!

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s strategies for coping with record heat in Phoenix, revisit an earlier conversation about whether the pitch clock has boosted MLB attendance (and reminisce about when the cause of increased game times was still considered unclear), celebrate their recent wish about camera angles on broadcasts coming true, discuss the resurgences of Jason Heyward and Cody Bellinger, marvel at Mickey Moniak’s continued resistance to regression and the Orioles overtaking the Rays in the AL East, use Jarred Kelenic’s fractured foot to advocate for padded dugout surfaces, and try to determine whether Albert Pujols or Miguel Cabrera had the more surprising steep decline. Then (1:11:46) they answer listener emails about burnishing Shohei Ohtani’s legacy (and his likely career path), letting All-Star starters return to the game after being removed, Elly De La Cruz if he had to attempt steals, and the distance to bullpens, plus a Future Blast (1:42:20) from 2035 and a postscript on old-timer home run derbies.

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to info on Phoenix heat
Link to Russell on attendance
Link to earlier attendance convo
Link to Grant on game times
Link to attendance stats
Link to Ben on predictable times
Link to info on ticket-buyer age
Link to Rangers relay broadcast
Link to earlier episode on broadcasts
Link to Dodgers preview episode
Link to article on Heyward’s swing
Link to FG post about Bellinger
Link to Jay Jaffe on Moniak
Link to earlier Moniak convo
Link to info on Moniak’s name
Link to Moniak’s rolling zone rate
Link to ESPN RPI
Link to FG playoff odds
Link to Kelenic fracture article
Link to Cabrera’s hit
Link to FG post on Anderson
Link to Sam on Ruth and Ohtani
Link to Elly’s throw
Link to Elly throwing stats
Link to Elly’s earlier record throw
Link to Vroom Vroom Guy wiki
Link to info on Angels hammer
Link to Harper homer article
Link to Emma on bullpens/brawls
Link to EW emails database
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Draper/Roberts hockey fight
Link to Twins charity derby info
Link to ex-Twins pickup hockey article
Link to 2003 derby article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Christian Encarnacion-Strand and whether record compound names deserve an asterisk, the appeal of a Legends Home Run Derby, the origins of (and long-ago backlash to) the trade deadline, the greatness of NPB phenom Roki Sasaki, and the new balance of power among pitch types, then (1:03:41) answer listener emails about Shohei Ohtani trade returns, Ohtani’s 2024 salary if he signed a one-year contract, the Rays’ spending, and a change to All-Star Game player usage, plus a Future Blast (1:38:30) from 2034.

Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to longest-name records
Link to more on long names
Link to Lukas on Woods Richardson
Link to Lukas on Encarnacion-Strand
Link to Encarnacion-Strand call-up info
Link to original uni photo
Link to Stark on the HRD
Link to Weaver on the HRD
Link to story on Appling’s homer
Link to Home Run Derby X wiki
Link to SPBA wiki
Link to Craig Wright on the deadline
Link to Wright’s story series
Link to Ohtani bat flip
Link to Ohtani in trade value series
Link to Delta’s NPB stats
Link to Ben on DeltaGraphs
Link to info on Sasaki’s posting
Link to MLB SP velo leaders
Link to The Athletic on sliders
Link to Tango on sliders
Link to Justin Choi on sliders
Link to seasonal pitch type %
Link to vetoed Paul trade
Link to FG post on $/WAR
Link to Roster Resource payroll page
Link to Sam’s Rays tweet
Link to team wins since 2008
Link to team wins since 2019
Link to EW emails database
Link to Turn Ahead the Clock wiki
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Ward mix-ups wiki
Link to Mozeliak tweet
Link to article about STL and the shift

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the 2024 regular-season schedule, the baseball relevance of a study about humans’ hunger for useless information, and the storylines they’re most looking forward to following over the remainder of the season, then (35:58) answer emails about a total solar eclipse during a Guardians game, sliding into a base covered in dirt, why baseball broadcasts don’t do a better job of showing baserunners, same-named players playing the same position in the same game, defining a “comeback win,” the meaning of “retiring x in a row,” why pitchers are still listed as switch-hitters, a way to save time with pinch-hitter announcements, making it legal for multiple runners to occupy the same base, and going winless in extra-inning games, plus a Stat Blast (1:21:36) about managerial ejections, a Future Blast (1:51:20) from 2033, and a few follow-ups.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Pedantic Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Horny Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to 2024 schedule
Link to study about pain and info
Link to The Ringer’s MLB storylines
Link to Rosenthal on buyers/sellers
Link to MLBTR on Ohtani
Link to Minasian on Ohtani
Link to Hal Steinbrenner comments
Link to milk cartons wiki
Link to MLBTR on Mozeliak
Link to EW Episode 1354
Link to list of rival-team streaks
Link to Trent on “Billy runs”
Link to Trent on HUaL
Link to Rob Mains on the ALC
Link to Ben on the eclipse game
Link to EW volcano event
Link to EW eclipse episode
Link to Pickles sprinkler video
Link to Pickles lights-out video
Link to electron repulsion article
Link to Mets “ghost runner” clip
Link to The Bear transcript
Link to Jones vs. Jones game
Link to double-Gonzalez game
Link to first “comeback win” episode
Link to Robertson batting in 2022
Link to Stathead on winless extras teams
Link to winless extras starts
Link to EW emails database
Link to Hyde ejection story
Link to Ryan Nelson on Twitter
Link to ejections data
Link to 1998 Leyland article
Link to 2006 Guillen article
Link to other Guillen article
Link to third Guillen article
Link to 2008 La Russa article
Link to 1973 Mathews article
Link to 1974 Berra article
Link to article on longest games
Link to 1982 Lasorda article
Link to other Lasorda article
Link to ejection reasons 1
Link to ejection reasons 2
Link to Garver ejection article
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to Dahlen/Klem article
Link to Jay on Dahlen
Link to Dahlen SABR bio
Link to MLBTR on Bieber
Link to Judge-sighting story

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s spectator experience at the All-Star Game, whether it’s good or bad that the MVP was a player as obscure as Elias Díaz, the increase in the number of All-Stars per season, other All-Star highlights and lowlights, complaints about All-Star uniforms, perennial requests for a skills competition, Rob Manfred’s and Tony Clark’s comments about more lenient pitch clocks in the postseason and the ball-strike challenge system, more details about the Alabama baseball betting scandal, and more, plus a Future Blast from 2032. Then (59:10) they talk to Byron Motley, producer of the new Negro Leagues documentary The League, about the long road to making the movie, the recent increase in appreciation of the Negro Leagues, his father’s life and career as a Negro Leagues umpire, the challenge of finding archival footage of Negro Leagues games, meeting and interviewing former Negro Leagues stars, the Negro Leagues as a microcosm of 20th-century American history, the influence of Rube Foster, the film’s portrayal of Branch Rickey’s role in integration, and the legacy of the Negro Leagues.

Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild theme”
Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild theme”

Link to Ringer ASG recap
Link to Díaz dinger
Link to Jordan on Díaz
Link to number of All-Stars per game
Link to Gurriel foul
Link to Clark comments
Link to Manfred comments
Link to info on declining violations
Link to Manfred re-election article
Link to article on international games
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to gambling scandal article
Link to The League website
Link to Byron’s website
Link to the Motleys’ book
Link to NPR on Bob Motley
Link to NPR on The League
Link to The Athletic on The League
Link to EW episode on Effa
Link to Craig Wright on SB differences
Link to Wright on Paige’s drawing power
Link to Bananas catch
Link to EW Episode 1426
Link to Berkman’s career splits
Link to Stathead on switch-hitter splits
Link to Berkman’s switch-hitting origins
Link to 2003 article about Berkman
Link to Albies on switch-hitting

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s experiences at the Futures Game, the draft, and the Home Run Derby, Derby highlights, the Derby on TV vs. in person, Elly De La Cruz’s mad dash, and the Yankees switching hitting coaches, plus a Future Blast (49:12) from 2031. Then (54:25) Ben talks to FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about the draft and other topics, including the strength of the draft pool, the Pirates picking a pitcher (Paul Skenes) first, the effect of the top two picks being LSU players, the mostly predictable top of the draft, the draft’s two-way prospects and the potential for more two-way players, the wisdom of drafting for need, the teams that had the most commendable and perplexing drafts, the Marlins demoting Eury Pérez, the Rockies’ sparsely populated draft room, how visual machine learning and artificial intelligence are affecting scouting, and more.

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild theme”
Audio interstitial: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild theme”
Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild theme”

Link to article on Rutschman
Link to 1960 Derby article
Link to 1990 Derby retrospective
Link to Derby homer totals
Link to tweet about Derby spectating
Link to more on Derby spectating
Link to Elly’s steals
Link to tweets about Elly/Carew/Faber
Link to Elly’s Baseball Savant page
Link to MLBTR on the Casey hiring
Link to Jon Heyman on Casey
Link to Lawson quote
Link to Rick Wilber’s website
Link to MLB draft tracker
Link to Eric’s last mock
Link to Eric’s Day 1 recap
Link to CBS on draft winners/losers
Link to USA Today draft takeaways
Link to Baumann on Waldrep
Link to Ben on pitching prospects
Link to Schifman on pitcher workloads
Link to MLBTR on Pérez
Link to Joe Sheehan on Pérez
Link to Ben on draft rooms
Link to Kyle’s Rockies tweet
Link to KG on draft rooms
Link to Tommy John spreadsheet
Link to WSJ on scouting and AI
Link to The Athletic on tech spending
Link to BA on college offense
Link to Stanton’s long homer
Link to Stanton’s short homer

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