Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Jacob deGrom’s latest injury, the White Sox-Dodgers trade involving Craig Kimbrel and AJ Pollock, umpires explaining replay reviews, “Home Run Derby X,” a lousy likeness of Derek Jeter, Yankees games on Amazon Prime and the continued splintering of baseball broadcasts, and an update about MLB’s official cerveza and official beer, then (39:43) bring on listener and Patreon supporter Stefan Lund to discuss his podcast-listening and baseball-loving origin stories and a confusing Shohei Ohtani reference on Billions and answer listener emails about the lack of captains in baseball, whether a reliever could still win a Cy Young or MVP award, how innings totals are displayed, what to call players who bat left-handed and throw right-handed, the Guardians’ new theme song, and how different baseball would be if the pitching rubber extended from foul line to foul line, plus a Stat Blast (1:41:51) about Albert Pujols, Oliver Marmol, and players who are older than their managers.

Audio intro: Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, “Go Cry on Somebody Else’s Shoulder”
Audio interstitial: Girlpool, “Emily”
Audio outro: Colin Blunstone, “This is Your Captain Calling”

Link to MLBTR on Pollock and Kimbrel
Link to Ben Clemens on the CBA/CBT change
Link to La Russa quote
Link to umpires and replay story
Link to Home Run Derby X video
Link to Home Run Derby X explainer
Link to Sam on home run derby
Link to Jeter giveaway
Link to Jeter’s HoF plaque
Link to Ronaldo statue story
Link to fresco restoration story
Link to story about Yankees broadcasts
Link to Ohtani/Trout/Watt photo
Link to Bourcard Nesin on Twitter
Link to Liquid Assets podcast
Link to SBJ story on splitting sponsorships
Link to 2015 story on US/Canada MLB sponsors
Link to 2018 story on US/Canada MLB sponsors
Link to 0-9 Twins/Braves EW episode
Link to The Billions Companion on Doyle
Ben on Billions dialogue
Link to baseball captains wiki
Link to hockey captains wiki
Link to story about Belt being captain
Link to THT story on L/R players
Link to WSJ story on R/L players
Link to THT story on R/L players
Link to story about Guardians theme song
Link to “We Are Cleveland” song
Link to Twins fight song
Link to “Get Metsmerized!”
Link to manager/player-age Stat Blast data
Link to Stefan’s Radke article
Link to Sam on Radke
Link to Aaron Gleeman on Radke
Link to Russell on hitting and defense
Link to AP story about minor leaguers

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Fox Sports national writer Pedro Moura discuss Pedro’s new book How to Beat a Broken Game: The Rise of the Dodgers in a League on the Brink, then (18:54) preview the 2022 season in the American League West, team by team.

Audio intro: Jim White, “Book of Angels”
Audio outro: Dire Straits, “Wild West End”

Link to Pedro’s book
Link to 2021 Gurriel story
Link to 2022 Gurriel story
Link to Ben on Ohtani
Link to Ken Rosenthal on the Angels
Link to Corey Brock on Gilbert
Link to Ken Rosenthal on Kelenic

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs writer Ben Clemens banter about an MLB beer/cerveza sponsorship, upcoming updates to sticky stuff inspections, the position of second base, and humidor use, the Twins signing Chris Archer and the Diamondbacks extending Ketel Marte, Dave Roberts guaranteeing a Dodgers championship, and Andrew Miller’s retirement, then (36:50) preview the 2022 season in the National League Central, team by team (plus a closing Stat Blast note).

Audio intro: Boogie Down Productions, “Word From Our Sponsor”
Audio outro: Guided By Voices, “Time Remains in Central Position”

Link to MLB’s cerveza press release
Link to Rob Arthur on the spin resurgence
Link to Tom Verducci on sticky stuff inspections
Link to Jayson Stark on moving second base
Link to Tom Shieber on second base
Link to Eno’s thread on humidors
Link to article on humidor physics
Link to Aaron Gleeman on the Archer signing
Link to Ben Clemens on the Archer signing
Link to Ben on the Marte extension
Link to Roberts guarantee
Link to Ben Lindbergh on spring predictions
Link to Ben on spring predictions again
Link to Ben on spring chemistry
Link to Ben on Miller in 2016
Link to Ben on Miller copycats in 2017
Link to FanGraphs playoff odds
Link to FanGraphs second base PPRs
Link to FanGraphs catcher PPRs
Link to article on Cardinals closing plans
Link to Dan on consistent Cards projections
Link to David Stearns contract details
Link to Brandon Williamson footage
Link to Eno’s bold predictions
Link to Verducci on Votto’s revival
Link to Votto’s Instagram
Link to Votto’s TikTok
Link to latest Castellanos clip
Link to Dan on projecting Suzuki
Link to thread on anti-sign-stealing rules
Link to Shinjo first pitch video
Link to Shinjo entrance video
Link to Boras puns study
Link to Stat Blast game log

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Baseball Prospectus editor-in-chief Craig Goldstein banter about a contentious Baseball Prospectus headline and an overlooked Scott Boras quote, then preview the 2022 season in the National League West, team by team (plus closing banter about the Baseball Prospectus annual).

Audio intro: Big Star, “Way Out West”
Audio outro: The New Pornographers, “The Fake Headlines”

Link to BP zombie runner story
Link to Boras quote about Correa
Link to Ben’s old ouroBoras tweet
Link to Snell on sandwiches
Link to Trout on cutting sandwiches
Link to Craig on the Dodgers
Link to BP playoff odds
Link to FanGraphs playoff odds
Link to R.J.’s breakout picks
Link to Jarrín’s retirement story
Link to Michael Ajeto on Heaney
Link to Gore spring training story
Link to Jeff Passan on Story
Link to Ajeto on Gallen
Link to buy the BP annual
Link to Votto’s Instagram post
Link to Ben’s Ohtani article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the beginning of the 2022 division series preview series, rant about the reinstitution of the zombie runner, applaud the advent of the Ohtani Rule, follow up on a previous Stat Blast by recounting the most consecutive defensive plays a fielder has ever been involved in, and relate an unforgivable Scott Boras pun, then (35:59) bring on R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports to preview the 2022 season in the American League Central, team by team.

Audio intro: Yo La Tengo, “Automatic Doom”
Audio interstitial: Fruit Bats, “My Sweet Midwest”
Audio outro: Kevin Morby, “Don’t Underestimate Midwest American Sun”

Link to news about rules
Link to Ohtani Rule story
Link to study on zombie runner effects
Link to Stanky Draft episode
Link to longest fielder streaks
Link to first Boras quote
Link to second Boras quote
Link to Correa signing story
Link to Guardians sale story
Link to R.J.’s breakout picks
Link to FanGraphs playoff odds
Link to RosterResource payroll page
Link to Greinke photo tweet

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a Reddit description of the podcast, the pleasures of watching spring training games, and the possibly excessive coffee consumption of White Sox DH Gavin Sheets, before discussing the last burst of big free-agent signings, including Carlos Correa’s shocking contract with the Twins, Trevor Story to the Red Sox, Nick Castellanos to the Phillies, Jorge Soler to the Marlins, and Kenley Jansen to the Braves, plus musings on Michael Conforto as the last highly rated free agent remaining, the results of Effectively Wild’s seventh annual free-agent-contract over/under draft, and more.

Audio intro: The Courtneys, “Minnesota”
Audio outro: The White Stripes, “One More Cup of Coffee”

Link to Reddit podcast comment
Link to Sheets/coffee story
Link to Russell Carleton on the DH penalty
Link to Emma’s Red Bull tweet
Link to Ben on the Correa signing
Link to Ben Clemens on Correa
Link to Lindsey Adler on the Yankees and Correa
Link to Justin Choi on Story
Link to Mike Petriello on the Coors hangover
Link to Purple Row on the Coors hangover
Link to Michael Ajeto on Story
Link to Russell on changing positions
Link to Dan Szymborski on Castellanos
Link to Matt Gelb on Castellanos
Link to Jayson Stark on Philly’s defense
Link to Philly spring training clip
Link to Dan on Soler
Link to Jay Jaffe on Jansen
Link to Jay on Pineda
Link to FanGraphs top 50 free agents
Link to Conforto extension story
Link to contract over/under draft results
Link to FanGraphs playoff odds
Link to FanGraphs transaction roundup
Link to gender-inclusive MLB rules

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about new details about Freddie Freeman and Kris Bryant’s contracts, Stat Blast about players not touching the ball, and then (18:59) bring on Effectively Wild listener and Patreon supporter Kevin Brotzman to discuss being an Orioles fan and season-ticket holder and answer listener emails about whether Goodhart’s law will apply to WAR figures used in the new CBA, updating baseball terminology to be more inclusive, fans bragging about their teams’ titles, abandoning A’s fandom, and adjusting stats for the universal DH.

Audio intro: Jim White, “Fighting My Ghosts Again”
Audio outro: The Bees, “These Are the Ghosts”

Link to ESPN on Freeman’s deal
Link to story about Bryant’s introduction
Link to Stat Blast data
Link to Kevin’s Orioles numbers site
Link to Kevin’s Orioles cards site
Link to Rosenthal on Correa
Link to Camden Chat on Correa
Link to Trezza tweet
Link to Apstein tweets
Link to Goodhart’s law wiki
Link to Ben on pitcher deception
Link to “manager” etymology
Link to ICC “batter” story
Link to Ben on league quality
Link to cosmic distance ladder wiki
Link to Russell on DH penalties
Link to Suzuki video
Link to FanGraphs transaction roundup

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley continue to break down a busy, chaotic week in MLB by bantering about which was wilder, this week or the week leading up to the lockout, then breaking down the Rockies signing Kris Bryant, the Dodgers signing Freddie Freeman, the Blue Jays trading for Matt Chapman and the new AL East hierarchy, the Yankees re-signing Anthony Rizzo and largely confounding their fans, the Red Sox staying idle, Kyle Schwarber going to Philly and Zack Greinke returning to K.C., the Cubs signing Seiya Suzuki (and others) and seemingly not Nutting after all(?), assorted Giants and Braves moves, and more, plus closing banter about new/old minor league names, a milestone decision in a court case about minor league pay, and a rule reversion intended to cut down on rampant roster reshuffling.

Audio intro: Spoon, “Wild”
Audio outro: Michael Nesmith, “Keep On”

Link to The Athletic report about Bryant
Link to FanGraphs post about Bryant
Link to Van Lenten hiring report
Link to Van Lenten firing report
Link to Ben on the Freeman saga
Link to Ben Clemens on Freeman
Link to Chapman trade post
Link to Rizzo signing post
Link to Lindsey Adler on the Yankees
Link to Sale injury news
Link to The Athletic on Schwarber
Link to FanGraphs on Schwarber
Link to Greinke signing post
Link to Suzuki signing post
Link to Suzuki projections post
Link to Villar signing post
Link to Giants signings post
Link to Braves signings post
Link to league names news
Link to minor league pay ruling
Link to Baseball America on the ruling
Link to California bill story
Link to news about roster-churn rules
Link to BP on options use
Link to FanGraphs playoff odds
Link to FanGraphs transaction roundup

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a packed few days of post-lockout action, including news about the zombie runner and a ball-strike challenge system, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s fractured wrist and motorcycle mayhem, Pete Alonso‘s close call, Mike Trout’s vetoed position change, the Yankees and Mets potentially losing unvaxxed players in home games, and how nice it is to talk about non-lockout-related news. Then they discuss transactions, including the Braves’ bittersweet decision to move on from Freddie Freeman by acquiring and extending Matt Olson, the prospects the A’s got back, why Freeman’s departure isn’t like the Mookie Betts trade, the Reds’ trades with the Twins and Mariners, the difference (if any) between the Athletics’ and Reds’ teardowns, the Twins-Yankees trade involving Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ben Rortvedt, Gary Sánchez, and Gio Urshela, a taxonomy of Yankees Beef Boys, and what the Twins are doing, as well as moves involving Chris Bassitt, Yusei Kikuchi, Nelson Cruz, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Rodón, Clayton Kershaw, Kurt Suzuki, and Willians Astudillo.

Audio intro: Ozzy Osbourne, “Zombie Stomp”
Audio outro: The Bats, “Busy”

Link to report about zombie runner
Link to Tatis news
Link to Alonso truck video
Link to story on pickup accidents
Link to Trout’s position story
Link to NYC vaccination story
Link to Judge video
Link to daylight saving time story
Link to Olson trade post
Link to Oakland prospects post
Link to story about Olson’s strikeouts
Link to Olson extension post
Link to data on Freeman comps
Link to WS winner roster research
Link to Mariners-Reds trade post
Link to BP on the Mariners-Reds trade
Link to Yankees-Twins trade post
Link to Rortvedt muscles story
Link to Cole-Donaldson beef story
Link to Rob Liefeld drawings
Link to Gray trade post
Link to Gleeman on the Twins trades
Link to Dan on 12-team-playoff odds
Link to current FanGraphs playoff odds
Link to Cruz signing post
Link to McCutchen signing post
Link to Kikuchi signing post
Link to Bassitt trade post
Link to Kershaw signing post
Link to Suzuki signing post
Link to FanGraphs trade posts
Link to FanGraphs FA signing posts

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Cardinals breaking the post-lockout free-agent signing seal, what the pre-Opening Day market will look like, day-after reflections on the new CBA (including an alternative term for tanking), the benefits and drawbacks of MLB broadcasts on streaming services, how Canadian vaccination policies could affect the Blue Jays, the advent of WARdle, weather splits at FanGraphs, the podcast’s season preview plans, why the international draft is subject to collective bargaining, and more, followed by a conversation (50:05) with The Athletic staff writer Maria Torres about the ongoing discussions between MLB and the MLBPA about the international draft, the many problems with the international free agent market, MLB’s culpability, alternatives to a draft, and more.

Audio intro: Crosby, Stills & Nash, “After the Storm”
Audio interstitial: Steppenwolf, “Draft Resister”
Audio outro: Spector, “Local International”

Link to Eric on VerHagen
Link to study on late-offseason signings
Link to Evan Drellich on the CBA
Link to Joe Sheehan on the CBA
Link to article on broadcast deals
Link to news about Peacock deal
Link to thread about the Blue Jays
Link to WARdle
Link to FanGraphs weather splits
Link to Ben Clemens on qualifying offers
Link to Freedman thread
Link to news on draft negotiations
Link to Maria’s feature story
Link to Lindor statement
Link to story on Puerto Rico and the draft
Link to second story on P.R. and the draft
Link to third story on P.R. and the draft
Link to ESPN on the international draft
Link to Durbin tweet
Link to Sanders statement

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