Effectively Wild Episode 2410: You Can Observe a Lot By Watching

by
December 5, 2025

EWFI
Ben Lindbergh, Sam Miller, and podcast scorekeeper Chris Hanel review the results of an under-25-pitchers draft Ben and Sam conducted a decade ago. Then (13:38) Ben and Sam banter about Ben’s physique, answer listener emails about doing a The Only Rule-style experiment 10 years later, discuss Sam’s revamped, unique approach to writing about baseball this year, and consider some possibilities for what we’ll remember about baseball in 2025. After that (1:05:57), Ben continues the sporadic “Baseball Jobs” series by interviewing 71-year-old John Yandle, the Giants’ left-handed batting-practice pitcher since 1985, about his transition from pitcher to BP pitcher, the keys to good BP, balancing his day job and his baseball side gig, anticipating starting-pitcher matchups, fending off advanced pitching machines, his incredible longevity, arm care in his 70s, the hitters who’ve complained the most, throwing BP to Barry Bonds, and more, followed by (2:01:20) a postscript.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Sam Miller, “Effectively Wild Theme (Ken Maeda’s Nice ‘n’ Easy Remix)”
Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to EW Episode 669
Link to competitions/drafts sheet
Link to EWStats site
Link to The Only Rule
Link to Ben’s Vince Gilligan video
Link to Pebble Hunting
Link to Sam on tripping
Link to Sam on non-highlight highlights
Link to Sam on the CI challenge
Link to Sam on dropped third strikes
Link to piece about first pitches
Link to How To with John Wilson
Link to Sam on remembering past years
Link to Sam on Ohtani in 2024
Link to Sam on the World Series
Link to Sam on the Hall
Link to titular Yogi-ism
Link to John’s B-Ref page
Link to John’s Newmark bio
Link to 2024 article on John
Link to 2012 article on John
Link to 2007 article on John
Link to Johnson’s first pitch
Link to Bonds TTO splits
Link to Giants Trajekt machine
Link to Cooney/Wharton
Link to Cooney’s LinkedIn
Link to Byrnes wiki
Link to Wrapped post
Link to Patreon gift subs
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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