Effectively Wild Episode 1548: MLB’s Blown Save

May 30, 2020

EWFI
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the results of a survey of sports fans about fake crowd noise on telecasts, then discuss a difficult, frustrating week for baseball, touching on ownership overreach and intransigence, widespread releases of minor league players, teams and players that have made more commendable choices, baseball’s lost opportunity to lead, the disaster scenario the sport is facing, and who baseball is for. Then (51:12) they talk to labor lawyer Eugene Freedman about the ongoing negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA, how he expects the talks to play out, why MLB players aren’t engaging with ownership’s financial proposal, the role of Scott Boras, the obstacles in the way of a minor league player union, and more.

Audio intro: The Lone Ghosts, "Bad Week"
Audio interstitial: Willie Nelson, "A Little Unfair"
Audio outro: Hazel English, "Make it Better"

Link to Morning Consult survey
Link to ESPN report about minor league releases
Link to Baseball America report about minor league releases
Link to Eric Nusbaum on the owners’ actions
Link to Craig Edwards on the owners’ economic proposal
Link to report about leaked lawyer email
Link to report about Boras letter
Link to Ohtani’s Instagram account
Link to Foley’s farewell message