Author Archive: Ben Lindbergh

It’s the World Series preview pod! Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a few intriguing factors that could affect the Fall Classic and then bring on two expert reporters to break down each team’s advantages, vulnerabilities, and overlooked storylines. Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins first (19:59) to talk about the Brewers, followed by (1:04:49) Adam Berry of MLB.com on the Rays.

Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to missing Miz whiffs
Link to Baumann on Miz
Link to 2026 EW team goals
Link to Brewers preview pod
Link to Rays preview pod
Link to Ben C.’s preview
Link to FG on lefty batters
Link to MLB.com on lefty batters
Link to ZiPS odds
Link to Petriello on challenging
Link to Sheehan on rest
Link to Murphy gamers/Famers quote
Link to Curt on Bauers
Link to Brewers anthem
Link to article on anthem
Link to Timeless Ticket apology
Link to EW Episode 599
Link to Curt on traveling Brewers fans
Link to Curt’s first pod
Link to Curt’s second pod
Link to September article on Baker
Link to Adam on Baker
Link to Rasmussen’s 2026 splits
Link to Rasmussen’s career splits
Link to Walls defensive stats
Link to Adam on Walls
Link to Pham on defensive stats
Link to Tango on DRS vs. FRV
Link to Blum on ticket pricing
Link to Rosenthal report

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley tease their next playoff livestream and discuss “Chalktober,” the end of the ALCS, Chandler Simpson’s (and Ben’s) calves, Ben’s quickly defused feud with FanGraphs, and hirings/non-firings. Then (1:00:53) they bring back fan-favorite (and host-favorite) guest Adrian Chiles—BBC host, Guardian columnist, and Effectively Wild UK correspondent—to talk about his beloved Rays’ run to the World Series, how he’s followed their exploits despite a several-hour time difference, his musings about the excitement/misery of playoff baseball, and more.

Audio intro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to “chalk” definition
Link to Palpatine clip
Link to Seinfeld clip
Link to Yandy clip
Link to Smith quote
Link to Langs on Caminero
Link to other Caminero fact
Link to Vogt on Bibee
Link to Yandy non-challenge
Link to Rays postseason history
Link to Petriello appearance
Link to Family Guy clip
Link to horse gait wiki
Link to Clemens on ALCS G6
Link to Andrews on Simpson
Link to Meg on Lind
Link to Vogt/Arnerich article
Link to MLBTR on Boone
Link to MLBTR on Banner
Link to MLBTR on Smith
Link to Hogg on Bauers
Link to FG zombie graphic
Link to FG ghost graphic
Link to Adrian’s first EW spot
Link to Adrian on the Rays
Link to Adrian on Wikipedia
Link to @TBRaysUK
Link to “place hitter” definition
Link to “hit ’em where they ain’t”
Link to Adrian on golf
Link to Adrian’s Guardian archive
Link to Adrian’s The Tablet archive
Link to Adrian’s BBC archive

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon.

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley talk primarily (though not exclusively) about the Brewers’ NLCS sweep of the Dodgers: how it happened, the highs and lows, and what the outcome of the rematch does and doesn’t mean for the perception of the sport, the reality of the league and its labor outlook, the future of the Dodgers, and more.

Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to NLCS stats
Link to Ben on the sweep
Link to Ben on predicting sweeps
Link to Ringer art
Link to Caravaggio original
Link to Bobblehead character
Link to Bobblehead article
Link to Dol Guldur wiki
Link to Ohtani homer
Link to Ohtani on 2027
Link to gamers quote
Link to roster breakdowns
Link to BP on Snell’s command
Link to Baumann on Snell and Cash
Link to three-inning-save query
Link to Pages double
Link to market-size ranking
Link to Lucas quote
Link to Andrew Norton site

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about ALCS Game 2, nominate (13:52) the five Rays-iest players on the current Rays roster, discuss the Dodgers’ decision to start Shohei Ohtani in NLCS Game 3 (and the matchup between the Brewers and Blake Snell), react (57:00) to news about the Phillies’, Astros’, and (maybe?) Mariners’ managers, and pick (1:10:51) the likeliest 2026 non-playoff teams to be 2027 playoff teams and the likeliest 2026 playoff teams to be 2027 non-playoff teams.

Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG ALCS G3 gamer
Link to ZiPS odds
Link to Peralta pitch usage
Link to G3 pitch usage
Link to ticket sales article
Link to gametime changes
Link to Rays roster
Link to Booser wiki
Link to EW Episode 2262
Link to EW Episode 2308
Link to Mesa wiki
Link to Mesa’s brother wiki
Link to Vilade wiki
Link to Rasmussen wiki
Link to BP on Rays conversions
Link to Baker wiki
Link to Baker trade article
Link to Baker fun fact
Link to Ohtani update
Link to Locke Lost clip
Link to Ohtani ad
Link to September Ohtani article
Link to Brewers splits post-ASB
Link to team P/PA
Link to pitcher P/BF
Link to team chase rate
Link to pitcher zone rate
Link to The Athletic on Mattingly
Link to MLBTR on Mattingly
Link to MLBTR on Espada
Link to MLBTR on his interview
Link to MLBTR on Dombrowski
Link to manager turnover article
Link to FG AFL preview
Link to FG AFL notes
Link to Falvey hire
Link to Shane McKeon’s site

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the end of the all-AL-Central ALDS, what the future holds for the White Sox, the ALCS opener, the Brewers’ 2-0 NLCS lead, the contrast between postseason Shohei Ohtani and José Ramírez, the difference between the Rays and Guardians, and more, plus postscript follow-ups.

Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Sox strikeouts fact
Link to team batting ages
Link to Clemens on Venable
Link to Ramírez fun fact 1
Link to Ramírez fun fact 2
Link to Ramírez fun fact 3
Link to Sheehan on the CSes
Link to Rays influence story
Link to Turang fact
Link to AP challenges story
Link to Dodgers challenges story
Link to Clemens on clean innings
Link to Bailey splits
Link to Patty Barrels nickname
Link to Little John wiki
Link to Picard monologue
Link to John Locke clip
Link to Brewers bullpen stat
Link to Espino wiki
Link to Salazar wiki
Link to De Paula and Soto
Link to ZiPS NLCS odds
Link to ZiPS ALCS odds
Link to RR payrolls page
Link to RR roster breakdown
Link to Sam’s Rays tweet
Link to Sam on Rays trades
Link to Sam on NLCS G1
Link to Ohtani article 1
Link to Ohtani article 2
Link to Torre/A-Rod article
Link to Episode 2030 wiki
Link to Pope Leo diagnosis
Link to exemptions update

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Game 4 of the White Sox-Guardians ALDS, playoff pitching chaos, and “rest vs. rust” revisited, then preview the Dodgers-Brewers NLCS rematch, react to MLB’s proposed changes to the regular season and postseason, consider an athletic tournament with stakes that extend beyond baseball, and return to the topic of how leagues decide which treatments are legal.

Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to G4 box score
Link to Cleveland pitching plan
Link to Sheehan on G4
Link to home clincher story
Link to X-Men wiki
Link to X-Men scene
Link to X-Men still
Link to Neil on R vs. R
Link to Ben C. on bye layoffs
Link to Neil on the rematch
Link to Neil on playoff heroes
Link to Ditka obit
Link to team offense vs. LHP
Link to team offense vs. RHP
Link to Shoreline School District
Link to MLB proposals
Link to MLBPA response
Link to Drellich on MLB proposals
Link to 2020 report
Link to more on 2020 report
Link to Rendon comment
Link to JND wiki
Link to ESG on MLB rights
Link to ESG on NBA rights
Link to FDR letter
Link to Kim wiki
Link to Kim’s FG page
Link to KBO batting leaders
Link to Kim’s hit
Link to Asian Games wiki
Link to Asian Games gamer
Link to Korea Herald on exemptions
Link to The Athletic on exemptions
Link to blood doping FAQ
Link to Baumann on cycling
Link to Pettitte comments
Link to McGwire comments
Link to TUE exemptions
Link to Gattaca wiki
Link to Vlad Jr. post
Link to laser-surgery impact

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a few days’ worth of Division Series action, including three series outcomes. Among other topics, they discuss clutchness, low scoring, scant starting pitching, paternity timing, pant tightness, fan interference, Yankees-fan frustration, postgame-panelist star power, Championship Series sympathy points, and MLB’s experiment in restricting outfielder positioning.

Audio intro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to postseason bracket
Link to carbon copy wiki
Link to Miller quote
Link to Miller usage article
Link to Lewis leave
Link to Vesia video
Link to playoff offense
Link to Ben on bullpenning
Link to Sam on bullpenning
Link to Dave on bullpenning
Link to SP% sheet
Link to Manny non-homers
Link to Hernández fun fact
Link to Hernández ADHD clip
Link to Paine on Yoshi/Hernández
Link to “acromioclavicular”
Link to “debridement”
Link to Apstein on Verducci
Link to Verducci author archive
Link to fan interference play
Link to fan ejection
Link to Latin phrase
Link to “clean hands” wiki
Link to Yankees offense stat
Link to Baumann post
Link to Boone’s record
Link to 2026 Yankees coaches
Link to Pedro tweet
Link to Atlanta RISP stat
Link to Machado/Verlander clip
Link to Contreras benching
Link to Ben on banning the shift
Link to Ben on pitcher limits
Link to Ben on foul lines
Link to EW episode on foul lines
Link to Eric’s OF report
Link to BA on OF positioning
Link to 2024 OF report
Link to EW Episode 2174
Link to Russell on OF defense
Link to Rob on playing deeper
Link to Rob on OF defense
Link to 1907 Unglaub arc article
Link to Bayesian umps article
Link to Sam on autostrikes 1
Link to Sam on autostrikes 2
Link to EW Episode 2097
Link to EW Episode 2532
Link to 2024 count splits
Link to 2025 count splits
Link to 2026 count splits

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor and whether end-of-season surgeries for disappointing players are encouraging or frustrating, then share their takeaways from the first six Division Series games, including thoughts on Drew Rasmussen, an Austin Wells mistake, Rays crowds, Aaron Judge’s role in Rich Platelet, Poor Platelet, Grant Taylor (and whether postseason teams are pushing high-leverage relievers too far), the Blake Snell spectator experience, the upside and drawback of Chris Sale, two tantalizing fly balls (and a Ty France roof-related “what if”), how to tackle Jacob Misiorowski and Mason Miller, the Padres’ star scrubs, Jackson Chourio, and much more.

Audio intro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on M’s injuries
Link to FG on Rasmussen
Link to RHP SP velo
Link to Rasmussen leaderboard
Link to Wells article
Link to Wells clip
Link to Wells quote
Link to Wells math 1
Link to Wells math 2
Link to Wells math 3
Link to stop sign
Link to Apes movie clip
Link to Ben C. on 3B outs
Link to Judge taunt
Link to Schlittler comment
Link to Rays attendance article
Link to PH penalty info
Link to Somehow, Tellez returned
Link to Judge therapy info
Link to PPP study
Link to BP on Taylor
Link to Taylor as SP note
Link to Langs Taylor note
Link to Ben on not enough pitchers
Link to Pham comment 1
Link to Pham comment 2
Link to post on Pham
Link to Pham fly article
Link to Pham and Manfred
Link to Ben on October 2019 balls
Link to Sam on October 2019 balls
Link to Miz fouls fact
Link to Cleveland tourism videos
Link to Ben L. on Sale in 2018
Link to Ben C. on Sale
Link to Pages ABS ban
Link to FG Atlanta-LA preview
Link to Miller tipping story
Link to Erickson comment
Link to Langston pitch article
Link to France fly clip
Link to Tango on France’s fly
Link to Pelletier on France’s fly
Link to Leighton on France’s fly
Link to Sheehan on France’s fly
Link to Eno on France’s fly
Link to France fly data
Link to FG Brewers-Padres G1 recap
Link to FG Brewers-Padres G2 recap
Link to Chourio hit clip
Link to MLBTR on France
Link to AC joint info
Link to AC joint debridement info
Link to TFCC tear info
Link to wOBA-xwOBA leaderboard
Link to Harris transactions
Link to Salas history
Link to Merrill catch
Link to Díaz mechanical change

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley tease their first playoff livestream and banter about a listener suggestion for how to refer to a postseason that spans multiple months, Jason Benetti’s relationship with Liberty Biberty (including a real-time text exchange), the true alcohol intoxication levels of Munetaka Murakami and other players in clubhouse clinching celebrations (BAC Blast?), and whether MLB should schedule overlapping playoff games, then (35:21) recap the end of the wild card round, opine on the futures of the eliminated teams, lament the latest recurrence of the annual anti-analytics October backlash, preview the various Division Series (1:13:07), discuss the World Series matchups they most want to see, and much more.

Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”

Link to long 19 century wiki
Link to Bluey Long Dog
Link to “Dog Park” ad
Link to Biberty background
Link to Biberty/Benetti spot 1
Link to Biberty/Benetti spot 2
Link to Biberty/Benetti spot 3
Link to Benetti text exchange
Link to Vasil clip 1
Link to Murakami clip 1
Link to Murakami clip 2
Link to Murakami clip 3
Link to Murakami clip 4
Link to ABV by beverage
Link to Ben’s 2009 photos
Link to A-Rod/Hudson relationship
Link to Hudson family history
Link to attendance news
Link to wild card attendance
Link to The Simpsons clip
Link to anemoia definition
Link to My Fair Lady scene
Link to Gray comments
Link to Contreras comments
Link to Stark on the Phillies
Link to Sale update
Link to Judge quote
Link to Burke quote
Link to Burke follow-up
Link to Burke’s Insta
Link to Yankees fits
Link to Volpe suit
Link to Trueblood on the Cubs
Link to ZiPS probabilities
Link to roster breakdowns
Link to BP NLDS 1 preview
Link to FG NLDS 1 preview
Link to FG NLDS 2 preview
Link to FG ALDS 1 preview
Link to FG ALDS 2 preview
Link to MLBTR on Lovullo
Link to Grand Teton news 1
Link to Grand Teton news 2

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about “October” as a (somewhat imprecise) metonym for the playoffs and the popularity of postseason coverage, praise the Yankees’ pitcher-averse roster construction, recap the highlights and lowlights from the first wild card games, ponder the possibility of pushing relievers too far, answer a listener email about the impact of managers, sympathize with and criticize the Astros for complaining about being booed by their fans, and discuss MLB’s petition to play a game in a national park, Zack Gelof’s lawsuit against the Tigers, and more.

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

Link to Episode 1753
Link to new MLB tagline
Link to Appelman post
Link to play-in tournament
Link to Baumann on the Yankees
Link to packing post
Link to Sheehan WC G1 recaps
Link to Riley homer
Link to Posnanski on Riley
Link to Turner non-play
Link to Miller AFL news
Link to Taylor outing
Link to Pope blessing
Link to Ben on innings shortfalls
Link to Tracy RP explanation
Link to Anthony update
Link to Musgrove fun fact 1
Link to Musgrove fun fact 2
Link to shutouts fun fact
Link to Astros booing story 1
Link to Astros booing story 2
Link to Astros booing story 3
Link to Burke quote
Link to Grand Teton story
Link to public lands story
Link to Craig on Gelof
Link to Greene quote
Link to lawyer explanation
Link to Ruf story
Link to Fowler story
Link to FG on Phillies-Braves G2
Link to Harper article
Link to Realmuto challenge
Link to Ruth exhibition
Link to Dihigo episode

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