Effectively Wild Episode 2383: How to Call a Collapse

EWFI
Ben Lindbergh brings on Michael Baumann, who immediately makes Ben regret it by subjecting him to a lyrical ode to Effectively Wild inspired by the Taylor Swift song “Wood.” Then they play “College Baseball Player or Make and Model of Car?” before recapping the three decisive Game 3s of the wild card round (with an emphasis on the absurdity of the Guardians’ immediate elimination after their historic AL Central comeback, a bad call on Xander Bogaerts, the heroics of Cam Schlittler and Ryan McMahon, and converting from Red Sox fandom to Yankees fandom) and ranking the four division series matchups. Then (1:15:44) Ben talks to Tigers TV broadcaster Jason Benetti about calling the team’s 2024 comeback and 2025 collapse, how to process their reprieve from elimination after a historic blown lead, players to pay attention to in the ALDS, and naturally, John Brebbia.

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

Link to “Wood” lyrics
Link to reliever familiarity effect
Link to call on Bogaerts
Link to Padres postgame video
Link to Padres frustration
Link to ump scoreboard
Link to Schlittler fun facts
Link to Schlittler pitches piece
Link to Jeter catch
Link to McMahon catch
Link to Schlittler’s mom’s account 1
Link to Schlittler’s mom’s account 2
Link to article about Schlittler’s family
Link to Ben on first-year pitchers
Link to Ben on the Brewers and Jays
Link to 2024 Benetti appearance
Link to Brebbia EW episode
Link to Benetti’s podcast
Link to Cal award

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Cheesesteaks vs. French Dips: Dodgers vs. Phillies NLDS Preview

Bill Streicher and Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Meat + bread + mess are one of the most iconic food combinations known to humanity. Two of my favorites are classics of Philadelphia and Los Angeles, wonderful amalgamations that make a sloppy mess of whiz or jus go down my chin and, too often, the shirt that I’m wearing. I’ve always lived in the eastern part of the United States, so I have more practical experience with cheesesteak locations (I’m partial to Dalessandro’s and John’s Roast Pork). But the French dip is wonderful as well — I have at least gotten to try it at Philippe the Original — and I also love its cousin, quesabirria. Whichever you prefer, you’re choosing from two of the heavy hitters in good, casual food.

I’m not talking about deliciousness because I’m hungry, even though it’s almost dinnertime, but because the Dodgers and Phillies play a similar role in baseball: They’re not everyone’s favorites, but they’re two of the most successful franchises of the last 15 years, and if you’re an NL team, there’s a good chance you’ll have to go through one or both of these teams en route to a championship. Read the rest of this entry »


Another AL East Clash: Yankees vs. Blue Jays ALDS Preview

Ron Chenoy and Brad Penner-Imagn Images

On Thursday, the New York Yankees became the first team to win a Wild Card Series after losing the first game of the best-of-three since the new playoff format was introduced in 2022. After dispatching the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card, the Yanks have a matchup against another AL East foe lined up for the ALDS. For their part, the Toronto Blue Jays desperately needed their first-round bye to get their roster healthy after a breakneck final month of the season. These two teams finished 2025 with identical 94-68 records. The division race came down to the regular season’s final day, and the Jays only took the AL East crown thanks to a 8-5 head-to-head record against New York.

These division rivals are well acquainted with each other, though this will be the first time the two teams have met in the playoffs. (That’s pretty wild considering the Yankees’ long postseason history. There are now just three teams they haven’t faced in the playoffs: the White Sox, Nationals, and Rockies.) Their identical win totals during the regular season provide the primary storyline in this series: These are two evenly matched clubs battling for a spot in the ALCS.

ALDS Preview: Blue Jays vs. Yankees
Overview Blue Jays Yankees Edge
Batting (wRC+) 112 (3rd in AL) 119 (1st in AL) Yankees
Fielding (FRV) 44 (1st) 8 (7th) Blue Jays
Starting Pitching (FIP-) 105 (11th) 92 (3rd) Yankees
Bullpen (FIP-) 94 (5th) 97 (9th) Blue Jays

Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: Cincinnati Reds – Multiple Openings

Direct links to applications (please see job details below):

Baseball Operations Trainee
Baseball Analytics Trainee


Baseball Operations Trainee

Department: Baseball Operations – Front Office
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Hourly

Job Summary: Provide support to all members of the Baseball Operations Department in a wide range of both administrative and baseball-related tasks and projects.

This posting will be used to recruit both full-year and summer-start candidates.

Minimum Requirements

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree or pursuit of degree or equivalent experience in a quantitative and/or human science field such as statistics, mathematics, engineering, economics, exercise science or kinesiology, sport or developmental psychology, and/or human development preferred.

Skills:

  • Independent judgment and ability to multitask is required to plan, prioritize, and organize diversified workload.
  • Strong work ethic and willingness to work long, flexible hours including weekends and holidays.
  • High level of attention to detail.
  • Must be trustworthy and comfortable with managing sensitive information.
  • High level of interpersonal skills and be able to effectively communicate with wide range of departments, seniority levels and personalities.
  • Understanding of typical baseball data structures, plus knowledge of current baseball research and traditional baseball statistics and strategy.
  • Demonstrated experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Other:

  • Spoken and written fluency in English.
  • Ability to travel within the United States and internationally.
  • Willing to relocate. This position is based in Cincinnati, OH.

Desired Requirements

Experience

  • Experience playing/working in college and/or professional baseball/softball preferred.

Skills

  • Understanding of human physiology, skill acquisition, programming to facilitate both physical and mental performance adaptations, and both progressive and traditional Player Development philosophies.
  • Demonstrated experience and proficiency with:
    • Database querying (e.g., SQL) and statistical software (e.g., R, Python) preferred.
    • BATS video system preferred.
    • On-Field and Off-Field Physical- and Ball-Tracking Technologies (e.g., TrackMan, HawkEye, Edgertronic, VALD Suite) preferred.
    • Creative tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite) preferred.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Research & Analysis – 40%
Perform qualitative and quantitative research and analysis in support of salary arbitration, roster management, player evaluation (professional, domestic, and international), player development (on- and off-field), first-year player draft, and trade deadline efforts.

Player Evaluation – 15%
Introductory level player evaluation, including scouting and writing reports on assignment.

Administrative – 40%
Assist in preparation of advance scouting documents and video for players and coaches during season.

Other – 5%
Other duties as assigned.

Reports To
Coordinator, Baseball Operations

Physical Requirements

  • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods throughout the day.
  • Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 40 pounds (supplies, catering, etc.).
  • Ability to bend, squat, reach, and climb stairs regularly in the course of daily duties.
  • Comfortable working in varying conditions (heat, humidity, cold, outdoors, confined spaces like office/cubicles and locker rooms).
  • Ability to handle repetitive tasks such as updating roster boards, watching video and games, workouts, etc.
  • Sufficient hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for tasks like computer work, note-taking, etc.
  • Ability to remain on feet for long shifts and to work long and variable hours, including weekends and holidays.

Expectations:

  • Adhere to Cincinnati Reds Organization Policies and Procedures.
  • Act as a role model within and outside the Cincinnati Reds Organization.
  • Perform duties as workload necessitates.
  • Demonstrate flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
  • Meet department productivity standards.
  • Willingness to learn. Open to new methodologies.

Equal Opportunity Statement:
The Cincinnati Reds are an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Cincinnati Reds to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion or creed, sex, age, military or veteran status, disability, citizenship status, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

Disclaimer:
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. The above description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. Additional duties, as assigned, may become part of the job function. The duties listed above is, therefore, a partial representation not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

To Apply
To apply, please follow this link.


Baseball Analytics Trainee

Department: Baseball Operations – Baseball Analytics
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Hourly

Job Summary: Assist Baseball Operations decision-making through the analysis of various sources of baseball information. The specific day-to-day responsibilities of this position will vary depending on current stakeholder needs and the baseball calendar, but will primarily involve analyzing various sources of baseball data.

Minimum Requirements

Education:
Bachelor’s degree or pursuit of degree or equivalent experience in a quantitative field that emphasizes technical and analytical problem-solving skills such as statistics, mathematics, engineering, and/or economics preferred.

Skills:

  • Independent judgment and ability to multitask.
  • Strong work ethic and willingness to work long, flexible hours including weekends and holidays.
  • High level of attention to detail.
  • Creative approach to problem solving
  • High level of interpersonal skills to effectively communicate baseball analytic concepts with a wide range of departments, seniority levels, and personalities.
  • Knowledge of current baseball research, data, and technology.
  • Strong technical and statistical acumen.
  • Passion for the game of baseball.

Other:

  • Spoken and written fluency in English.
  • Ability to travel within the United States and internationally.
  • Willing to relocate to Cincinnati, OH during the summer/baseball season.

Desired Requirements

Experience
Specifically seeking diverse candidates who bring a unique perspective and thoughtful, creative problem solving.

Skills

  • Understanding of advanced statistical techniques is strongly preferred
  • Demonstrated experience and proficiency with Database querying (e.g., SQL) and statistical software (e.g., R, Python) is strongly preferred.
  • Ability to learn other programming languages as needed.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Research & Project Contribution – 90%

  • Learn and communicate analytical products across departments.
  • Build upon analytic initiatives by creating new statistical models, applications, and reports.
  • Iterate on existing products and processes already established by the Baseball Analytics Department.
  • Present analysis and research results to stakeholders with various levels of analytic knowledge.
  • Conduct ad-hoc research projects when requested.

Player Evaluation – 5%
Introductory level player evaluation, including scouting and writing reports on assignment.

Other – 5%
Other duties as assigned.

Reports To:

  • Assistant Director, Baseball Analytics OR Manager, Baseball Analytics

Physical Requirements:

  • Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods throughout the day.
  • Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 25 pounds (supplies, machinery, etc.).
  • Ability to bend, squat, reach, and climb stairs regularly in the course of daily duties
  • Comfortable working in varying conditions (heat, humidity, cold, outdoors, confined spaces like office/cubicles, and locker rooms). Work is primarily performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
  • Ability to handle repetitive tasks at a computer.
  • Sufficient hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity for tasks like computer work, note-taking, etc.
  • Ability to work long shifts with long and variable hours, including weekends and holidays.
  • Ability to drive and/or fly short and long distances, day or night in various conditions.

Expectations:

  • Adhere to Cincinnati Reds Organization Policies and Procedures. 
  • Act as a role model within and outside the Cincinnati Reds Organization.
  • Perform duties as workload necessitates.
  • Demonstrate flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
  • Meet department productivity standards.
  • Willingness to learn. Open to new methodologies.

Equal Opportunity Statement:
The Cincinnati Reds are an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Cincinnati Reds to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, national origin, religion or creed, sex, age, military or veteran status, disability, citizenship status, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

Disclaimer:
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. The above description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. Additional duties, as assigned, may become part of the job function. The duties listed above is, therefore, a partial representation not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

To Apply
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Cincinnati Reds.


Life of Pi: Tigers vs. Mariners ALDS Preview

Rick Osentoski and Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Did you know that Tarik Skubal attended Seattle University? What’s that? You knew it already? Oh. Well, that’s great. Kudos to you for doing the research. I hope you are prepared to have that one fact bludgeoned so deeply into your brain over the next week that decades hence, when all the other thoughts start falling out of your aged skull, it will be all that remains. “Seattle Redhawks, only D-I program to offer him a scholarship,” you’ll mutter over and over like a protective spell as you putter through the halls of the nursing home. After defeating the Cleveland Guardians in the Wild Card round, the Detroit Tigers are headed to Seattle for the American League Divisional series. Tarik Skubal is coming home. Let’s get to the preview.

With the second-best record in the American League, the rested Seattle Mariners certainly look to be the clear favorite. They’ve got three (or maybe four) great starters lined up. They’ve got a top-10 bullpen by both ERA and FIP. Their team 113 wRC+ gives them the third-best offense in baseball. They finished the season by winning 17 of their last 21 games. On the other hand, it’s worth noting that all 17 of those wins came against non-playoff teams. Before that 21-game stretch started, the Mariners lost four straight, also to non-playoff teams. Their final act of the regular season was getting swept at home by the Dodgers. The Mariners finished the season with just three more wins than the Tigers and a run differential advantage of just five runs. Their Pythagorean records are identical. These teams are not as different as you may think.

During the Wild Card round, the Tigers were forced to empty their bag of tricks in order to hold off a Guardians team that stole the AL Central crown from under their noses. They relied on their ace, they coaxed just enough great relief performances out of a less-than-great bullpen, they played small ball, they induced errors, they bafflingly pinch-hit for their best hitter. During Game 3, they even got desperate enough to try scoring some runs. Will they come into the ALDS depleted, or will they finally regain the swagger they had when they went into the All-Star break with the best record in baseball? Read the rest of this entry »


2025 End-of-Season Top 100 Prospects Update

Greg Wohlford/ERIE TIMES-NEWS-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Image

Today’s postseason off day provides a nice opportunity to push an update to my Top 100 Prospects list. This is a “low-hanging fruit” update, more of a polishing and augmentation of the current list than an omnibus analysis of the entirety of the minor leagues. I mainly focused on the players who are closest to graduation, players who got a cup of coffee in the big leagues (sometimes a big cup, close to the maximum roster days without losing 2026 rookie eligibility) and who we basically can’t know any more about than we currently do before they graduate next year. I took a pass at the guys who were already on the Top 100 in a variety of ways; the cement is dry on their season-long stats and their underlying performance data, so everyone got a checkup in this regard, as well as via a TrackMan data check-in. I also watched all of these players swing and play defense at least a little bit just to re-establish an end-of-season visual understanding of their look.

Immediately below, you’ll see the updated list along with trend arrows indicating if a player’s FV grade has changed on this update, and then below that my thoughts on the clusters of players that formed throughout this process. The number of players on whom I have a grade of 50 or better is currently a little below 100, and the number of healthy players is even lower than that. As the offseason list-making process gets underway, there will probably be more players added to this tier, and any player’s grade is potentially subject to change as the down time allows for deeper analysis. Read the rest of this entry »


Eric Longenhagen Prospects Chat: 10/3/25

12:21
Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from Tempe, where we’ll hit 100 degrees again today, hopefully for the final time this calendar year.

12:22
Eric A Longenhagen: I did an end of year update to the Top 100 Prospects list. The piece with all the writing is still with editing and will be published at some point today, but for now you can view the fresh list over on The Board.

12:22
Eric A Longenhagen: The Board | FanGraphs Baseball

12:24
Eric A Longenhagen: Today is Fall League Media Day and also one of the last days remaining on the instructional league calendar, so this will likely be more of a 45 minute chat today so I have the option of hitting both.

12:24
Rube: What happens in an expansion draft and what excites you about it?

12:27
Eric A Longenhagen: It probable the rules would be different from the last time MLB had one (like ’96 ish I wanna say?) but essentially teams got to protect 15 players on their roster from selection. The expansion team(s) gets to take a player from each other club in “round one”, and then those clubs get to protect a few more of their players before round two (I think it was three more guys)…

Read the rest of this entry »


Must Be the Season of the Witch

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

SEATTLE — Every year, pitchers and catchers report for spring training, and just as spring represents a reawakening in the natural world, spring training provides a reawakening for every team, a fresh start, full of renewed optimism. No matter the team, fans across the league allow themselves to dream a little, to believe that this year might be the one.

You could be my silver springs
Blue-green colors flashin’
I would be your only dream
Your shining autumn, ocean crashing.

But for 29 teams, the season will end in heartbreak. For some teams that heartbreak might come as early as June or July, for others in August or September, and a few will experience the agony of October sorrow. Over the last several years, the Seattle Mariners have unwittingly built a tradition of remaining very much in the playoff hunt until the final week of the regular season, only to miss the cut by a harrowingly thin margin. They did make the playoffs in 2022, ending a 20-year postseason drought, but they struggled to cross that threshold again. Instead, they fell into a familiar rhythm, playing hard until the very end, but then their season was over. Their time was up.

Time cast its spell on you, but you won’t forget me
I know I could have loved you, but you would not let me.

This season is different. The Mariners not only secured a place in the postseason, but they also won the AL West for the first time since 2001. In doing so, they eschewed the Wild Card Series and advanced directly to the best-of-five Division Series, which begins on Saturday against the Tigers in Seattle. And all it took was a little witchcraft. Read the rest of this entry »


Cubs Control the Narrative in Decisive Game 3 NL Wild Card Win Over Padres

David Banks-Imagn Images

They say that in order to thrive in stressful and uncertain times, the key is to focus on the things you control. And who are “they” exactly? Mostly people who traffic in self-help cliches on the internet. But cliches are cliches for a reason. They’re rooted in some measure of truth. And in a decisive Game 3 on Thursday, the NL Wild Card Series between the Cubs and Padres was ultimately decided by control — in nearly every sense of the word. The type of control that refers to whether a pitcher can find the strike zone, the type of control a manager exercises over bullpen usage, and the type of control exerted over batted ball outcomes when lockdown defense becomes a critical component of a team’s identity.

In a 3-1 Cubs victory over the Padres, neither team looked dominant, but Chicago dominated the variables within its control, while San Diego seemed to be pulling blocks from a Jenga tower on an inning-by-inning basis and hoping to stay upright until its offense could break through with a few runs. Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: Baltimore Orioles – Pro Scouting Analyst Fellowship

Pro Scouting Analyst Fellowship

Location: Baltimore · MD
Reports To: Manager, Professional Scouting

Job Summary:
This individual will support the efforts of the Professional Scouting department by conducting extensive evaluations of professional players in the United States and abroad. The employee will utilize multiple information sources, relying heavily on video analysis while also working closely with the Baseball Analytics department. This is a seasonal position that is based out of Baltimore, MD. Preference will be given to candidates who can begin in the off-season, though summer-only candidates will be considered as well.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Compose scouting reports on professional players utilizing video, technology, and in-person looks to enhance the club’s decision-making process.
  • Monitor roster dynamics of other organizations and leagues, maintaining prospect lists, depth charts, and positional rankings.
  • Distribute target lists (FA, trade, Rule 5, international professional players, etc.) to scouts, coaches, and front office staff and coordinate responses for recommendations.
  • Monitor scouting reports for consistency, accuracy, and compliance.
  • Coordinate scout schedules and track coverage of target players.
  • Troubleshoot technical and equipment issues, provide solutions to video scouting assignments, coordinate data-sharing agreements, and perform other administrative duties as assigned.
  • Assist with data analysis, maintenance, and collection.
  • Prepare tools, visualizations, and reports to aid in disseminating information throughout Baseball Operations.

Qualifications

  • Exceptional knowledge of baseball and of sabermetric research and principles.
  • Demonstrated experience with player evaluation.
  • High level of attention to detail.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with staff members of all levels.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, SQL, R, and Python preferred.
  • Degree or equivalent experience in a STEM field preferred.
  • Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays and to travel as needed.

DISCLAIMER:
The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. The duties listed do not represent an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:
The Baltimore Orioles are an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Baltimore Orioles to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race (including hair textures, afro hairstyles, or protective hairstyles), color, national origin or ancestry, religion or creed, gender or sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, citizenship status, marital status, veteran’s status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The anticipated hourly rate for this role is $20/hour.

Benefits include concession and merchandise discounts, free parking, and limited complimentary baseball tickets to home games. A 401(k) plan with discretionary employer match available after one year of service and 1,000 hours is also available.

This information is being provided in accordance with the Maryland Equal Pay for Equal Work – Wage Range Transparency law.

To Apply
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Baltimore Orioles.