Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Jacob deGrom dialing down the velo, the Cardinals signing their first free agent of the offseason, David Robertson still being available, the underrated career of Yasmani Grandal, the latest New Era cap confusion, follow-ups on several recent topics, and the newly jacked Mr. Met. Then (57:22) they talk to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports and Thomas Nestico of TJStats about their podcast-approved approaches to picking breakout candidates, their methodologies and success rates, their breakout picks for 2025, and more.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)”
Audio interstitial: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Passan on deGrom
Link to MLBTR on Maton
Link to MLBTR on Grandal
Link to latest caps
Link to more on the caps
Link to FG post on caps
Link to old EW on caps
Link to slambio article
Link to Rob on walk-off reversals
Link to Patrick on 3B coaches
Link to Keke Palmer meme
Link to jacked Mr. Met
Link to Grizz
Link to R.J.’s breakout picks
Link to Thomas’s breakout picks
Link to R.J.’s 2024 breakouts review
Link to xkcd comic
Link to sickos meme
Link to Devers article
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a surprising amount of Mo Vaughn content, a rash of spring injuries (including Gerrit Cole‘s Tommy John surgery and other Yankees ailments), the latest A’s and Rays woes, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers (26:11) with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and the 2025 Colorado Rockies (1:34:00) with The Rockies Insider’s Patrick Lyons.

Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes 2, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Vaughn story 1
Link to Vaughn story 2
Link to Enhanced Games wiki
Link to Hang Up episode
Link to FG post on Cole
Link to Ben on spring injuries
Link to Rays report
Link to A’s report
Link to A’s report 2
Link to A’s feature
Link to Russell on rep. level
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Dodgers depth chart
Link to Dodgers offseason tracker
Link to Sasaki signing info
Link to “Lettuce” digital short
Link to EW TJ research
Link to “Are We the Baddies?”
Link to cherry blossoms info
Link to prank war article
Link to prank war video
Link to Fabian’s author archive
Link to Rockies depth chart
Link to Rockies offseason tracker
Link to Rock Talk 1
Link to Rock Talk 2
Link to Colorado pronunciation
Link to hangover effect info
Link to Freeland on EW
Link to Ben on Freeland in 2018
Link to Sheehan on Bud Black
Link to Monfort prediction
Link to Patrick’s work
Link to Patrick’s podcast
Link to trademark article 1
Link to trademark article 2
Link to trademark article 3
Link to trademark renewal
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a baseball flub in medical procedural The Pitt, Lawrence Butler’s extension, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s lofty contract target, how the ball moves differently in the Cactus League, and the value of variety in pitch selection, followed by Stat Blasts (49:20) about the WAR values of letters in player names, the best one-and-done pitcher/batter seasons in each franchise’s history, and the longest-tenured groups of players on pennant winners. Then (1:08:20) they talk to Carson Lund, director and co-writer of newly debuted baseball movie Eephus, about his celebrated contribution to the beleaguered genre.

Audio intro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Gagnes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to slider explainer
Link to The Pitt episode
Link to Inglourious Basterds scene
Link to Bluesky post
Link to Passan tweet about Butler
Link to MLBTR on Butler
Link to Vlad contract info
Link to Ortiz comments
Link to Baumann on Vlad
Link to Dan S. on Vlad
Link to Trueblood on Vlad
Link to Rosen on movement
Link to Rosen on variety
Link to Down on the Farm study
Link to Oyster Analytics
Link to Stat Blast 1 spreadsheet
Link to Cocaína García wiki
Link to Stat Blast 2 request
Link to Stat Blast 2 spreadsheet
Link to Stat Blast 3 request
Link to Stat Blast 3 spreadsheet
Link to Carson’s IMDb
Link to Eephus website
Link to Eephus trailer
Link to Eephus Rotten Tomatoes
Link to Eephus AP review
Link to list of baseball movies
Link to Filmmaker Magazine
Link to Jacques Barzun quote
Link to Barzun essay
Link to Soldiers Field game
Link to Soldiers Field photos
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a fresh wave of “breakout candidate” crimes, Jerry Dipoto’s latest Meg-maddening comments, the rise of the “kick change,” how ball/strike calls differ from other boundary calls, Barry Bonds’s comments about Shohei Ohtani, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Atlanta Braves (50:56) with 92.9 The Game’s Grant McAuley, and the 2025 Miami Marlins (1:35:27) with Fish on First’s Kevin Barral.

Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Passan article
Link to breakout screenshot 1
Link to breakout screenshot 2
Link to breakout screenshot 3
Link to Dipoto article
Link to kick change info 1
Link to kick change info 2
Link to kick change info 3
Link to kick change info 4
Link to kick change info 5
Link to “new hotness” tweet
Link to Naquin article
Link to Ishbia article
Link to MASN update
Link to Jay on Iglesias
Link to Hang Up and Listen
Link to James quote
Link to latest Bonds comments
Link to earlier Bonds comments
Link to Bonds armor
Link to Sam on retaliation
Link to Rob on retaliation
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Braves depth chart
Link to Braves offseason tracker
Link to Baumann on Braves SP
Link to team SP projections
Link to team RP projections
Link to Grant’s author archive
Link to Grant’s podcast
Link to Marlins depth chart
Link to Marlins offseason tracker
Link to Sherman article
Link to Sheehan on breakouts
Link to 2024 attendance
Link to grievance article
Link to Kevin’s author archive
Link to Kevin’s podcast
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether the challenge system will inevitably pave the way for full ABS, the degrees of difficulty for two-way Travis Hunter vs. two-way Shohei Ohtani, and (very briefly) reinstating Pete Rose. Then they preview the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies (36:58) with The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, and the 2025 Cleveland Guardians (1:19:49) with The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.

Audio intro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”
Audio interstitial 2: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to post on the two zones
Link to Hunter clip
Link to Hunter article
Link to Colorado pronunciation
Link to Ben on goalie goals
Link to Manfred/Rose report
Link to Ben on Rose
Link to EW on Rose
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Phillies depth chart
Link to Phillies offseason tracker
Link to Harper/milk post
Link to hydrogen water explainer
Link to team WAR projections
Link to team SP projections
Link to team RP projections
Link to Matt’s author archive
Link to Matt’s podcast
Link to Guardians depth chart
Link to Guardians offseason tracker
Link to BaseRuns standings
Link to Mario Kart article
Link to Thomas trade quote
Link to 20-homer OF article
Link to Zack’s author archive
Link to Zack’s podcast
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the balletic strikeout celebrations of Rockies reliever Jefry Yan, Terry Francona’s selective opposition to ABS this spring, how frequently potential game-ending strikeouts will get challenged, and baseball in Season 2 of Poker Face. Then they preview the 2025 Arizona Diamondbacks (36:00) with The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro, and the 2025 Washington Nationals (1:24:35) with The Washington Post’s Andrew Golden.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Yan article
Link to Yan montage (Yantage?)
Link to more Yan clips
Link to Francona article
Link to challenge strategy research
Link to Oyster Analytics
Link to 2024 Stripers game
Link to Poker Face teaser
Link to trumpet mute info
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Nationals depth chart
Link to Nationals offseason tracker
Link to losses leaderboard
Link to Lerner quote
Link to MLBTR on MASN
Link to Andrew’s author archive
Link to Diamondbacks depth chart
Link to Diamondbacks offseason tracker
Link to bill passage
Link to Nick’s author archive
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about some members of last year’s Yankees and Dodgers still sniping about the World Series, Max Scherzer’s objection to the challenge system, how ABS has broadly been received so far, and assorted tactical considerations concerning when to challenge. Then they preview the 2025 New York Mets (29:08) with The Athletic’s Tim Britton, and the 2025 Los Angeles Angels (1:20:24) with The Athletic’s Sam Blum.

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to 2024 WS stats
Link to Nestor comments
Link to Boone comments
Link to latest Kelly comments
Link to November comments
Link to Ben on WS Game 1
Link to WS Game 5 recap
Link to ABS permutations
Link to Scherzer challenges
Link to Scherzer on ABS
Link to catcher dekes episode
Link to challenge strategy research
Link to Oyster Analytics
Link to replay review analysis
Link to replay review episode
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Mets depth chart
Link to Mets offseason tracker
Link to M&M Boys wiki
Link to Tim’s author archive
Link to Angels depth chart
Link to Angels offseason tracker
Link to Angels-inspired Stat Blast
Link to Bender EW episode
Link to Sam’s Bender article
Link to Sam’s author archive
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether certain injuries can improve players, old-but-good guys not getting gigs, the offensive disparity between the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, and Bryce Harper’s Phanatic tattoo. Then they preview the 2025 Boston Red Sox (31:16) with The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, and the 2025 Sacramento Athletics (1:25:13) with Jason Burke of Inside the A’s.

Audio intro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Keaschall article
Link to Mets camp count
Link to MLBTR on Iglesias
Link to Belt article
Link to aging curve 1
Link to aging curve 2
Link to Verlander article
Link to spring training parks
Link to homers/humidity
Link to 2024 FL ST wOBA
Link to FL teams’ RS wOBA
Link to 2024 AZ ST wOBA
Link to Link to AZ teams’ RS wOBA
Link to overall ST wOBA
Link to overall RS wOBA
Link to Phanatic tattoo story
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Red Sox depth chart
Link to Red Sox offseason tracker
Link to Netflix series story
Link to Werner quote
Link to Alex’s book
Link to Alex’s author archive
Link to Athletics depth chart
Link to Athletics offseason tracker
Link to Jason’s author archive
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the end of the Yankees’ beard ban, the potential end of MLB’s business relationship with ESPN, and whether the World Baseball Classic should imitate the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off. Then they preview the 2025 Texas Rangers (50:07) with MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry, and the 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates (1:27:23) with Pittsburgh Baseball Now’s John Perrotto, plus a postscript (2:03:57) about Ben’s growing affection for Tigers righty John Brebbia.

Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Yankees announcement
Link to story on policy change
Link to story on policy origins
Link to Simpsons clip
Link to Gleyber photo
Link to Castillo hair story
Link to Castro hair story
Link to McCutchen hair story
Link to Vlad/Yankees story
Link to Williams reaction
Link to ESPN opt-out story 1
Link to ESPN opt-out story 2
Link to Ben on the WBC
Link to Ben on Hang Up
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Rangers depth chart
Link to Rangers offseason tracker
Link to Kennedi’s author archive
Link to Pirates depth chart
Link to Pirates offseason tracker
Link to John’s author archive
Link to Brebbia links
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the start of spring training games, the charms of Tigers reliever John Brebbia, whether MLB’s uniform pants were always semi-transparent, and Shohei Ohtani’s parallel parking skills. Then they preview the 2025 Seattle Mariners (27:37) with Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, and the 2025 Cincinnati Reds (1:12:53) with The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans.

Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Brebbia video
Link to Buffalo/buffalo sentence
Link to Brebbia’s college page
Link to Brebbia article 1
Link to Brebbia article 2
Link to Mandela effect wiki
Link to Ohtani video
Link to offseason spending
Link to FG payrolls page
Link to Mariners depth chart
Link to Mariners offseason tracker
Link to Ryan’s author archive
Link to Petriello on T-Mobile
Link to Reds depth chart
Link to Reds offseason tracker
Link to C. Trent’s author archive
Link to EW gift subscriptions

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