Effectively Wild Episode 2395: Momentum is the Next Day’s Starting Podcast

EWFI
Ben and Meg banter about Trey Yesavage’s performance in World Series Game 5, whether he’s already provided a career’s worth of value to Toronto, his current prospect ranking, and his future, plus Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s steady postseason production vs. Shohei Ohtani’s clustered postseason production, covering the regular season like we cover the postseason, why the Dodgers’ bats have gone cold, Teoscar Hernández’s outfielding, Mookie Betts’ future at shortstop, what the World Series says about “momentum,” how the last two games of the series will affect post-series discussions about MLB, and Davis Schneider’s batting mimicry.

Audio intro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme
Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme

Link to “pitcher’s cycle”
Link to high-K, 0-BB starts
Link to more Yesavage facts
Link to Passan on Yesavage
Link to FG top 100 update
Link to MLB Pipeline ranking
Link to Weaver on momentum
Link to BP on momentum
Link to BP on momentum again
Link to Sheehan on the Dodgers
Link to Sam on the Dodgers
Link to Shneider article
Link to “catbird seat” info
Link to Barber letter

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RosterResource Chat – 10/30/25

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Contract Crowdsourcing 2025-26: Ballot 10 of 12

Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent seasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract crowdsourcing project, with the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowd to better understand and project the 2025-26 free agent market.

In recent years, we’ve added a few features to these ballots based on reader feedback. You now have the option to indicate that a player will only receive a minor league contract, or won’t receive one at all. If there is a player option, team option, or opt out in a player’s contract, you’ll be able to indicate whether you think he will remain with his current team or become a free agent. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the projected WAR figures are from the first cut of the 2026 Steamer600 projections.

Below are ballots for eight of this year’s potential free agents — in this case, a group of pitchers who have options or opt outs associated with their current contracts. Not all of them will actually reach free agency, but in the event they do, we’re interested in gauging their next contract. Read the rest of this entry »


Contract Crowdsourcing 2025-26: Ballot 9 of 12

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent seasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract crowdsourcing project, with the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowd to better understand and project the 2025-26 free agent market.

In recent years, we’ve added a few features to these ballots based on reader feedback. You now have the option to indicate that a player will only receive a minor league contract, or won’t receive one at all. If there is a player option, team option, or opt out in a player’s contract, you’ll be able to indicate whether you think he will remain with his current team or become a free agent. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the projected WAR figures are from the first cut of the 2026 Steamer600 projections.

Below are ballots for 10 of this year’s potential free agents — in this case, a mix of pitchers and position players who have options or opt outs associated with their current contracts. Not all of them will actually reach free agency, but in the event they do, we’re interested in gauging their next contract. Read the rest of this entry »


Contract Crowdsourcing 2025-26: Ballot 8 of 12

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent seasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract crowdsourcing project, with the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowd to better understand and project the 2025-26 free agent market.

In recent years, we’ve added a few features to these ballots based on reader feedback. You now have the option to indicate that a player will only receive a minor league contract, or won’t receive one at all. If there is a player option, team option, or opt out in a player’s contract, you’ll be able to indicate whether you think he will remain with his current team or become a free agent. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the projected WAR figures are from the first cut of the 2026 Steamer600 projections.

Below are ballots for 12 of this year’s free agents — in this case, a group of starters and relievers, some of whom have dealt with recent injury. Read the rest of this entry »


Isiah Kiner-Falefa Is Doing Everything He Can

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

In the aftermath of Monday’s Game 3 loss (well, really it ended up being almost as much Tuesday’s Game 3 loss, at least on the East Coast), I encountered an unexpected sentiment floating around on the internet, and I’d like to unpack it.

Somewhere around the 32nd inning of that game, I noted that Toronto’s lineup had been shortened quite dramatically by a series of in-game substitutions.

I am amazed the Jays have lasted this long after taking out their second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-best hitters, in two cases for guys who absolutely cannot hit even a little. The Dodgers should've been walking Guerrero every time up too

— Michael Baumann (@baumann.bsky.social) October 28, 2025 at 2:35 AM

I meant this as nothing more than a statement of fact; George Springer got hurt mid-game, and Bo Bichette had to be removed because he came pre-injured and is currently running like the “before” clip in a commercial for a physical therapy practice. Toronto manager John Schneider’s options were quite limited. Read the rest of this entry »


Effectively Wild Episode 2394: Swing Hard in Case You Hit It


A Tale of Two Adjustments: Blue Jays Seize 3-2 World Series Advantage

Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Game 5 of the World Series was a rematch between two pitchers, Blake Snell and Trey Yesavage, who each left Game 1 of the series unhappy with their form. That game devolved into a bullpen battle, and surely neither starter wanted a repeat of that. With the series tied at two, whichever pitcher bounced back better was likely to send their team to Toronto with a 3-2 lead and the inside track on the title. Both starters went deep into the game, but in the end, the Blue Jays got the best of Snell. They snuck in a few runs early, broke through late, and held the Dodgers at bay en route to a 6-1 victory that put them a win away from their third championship in franchise history.

For the first three rounds of the playoffs, Snell went directly at hitters, overwhelming them in the strike zone and pitching deep into games as a result. He tried a new strategy to begin the World Series, though. The Blue Jays present a maddening problem to opposing pitchers. They look for pitches to drive early in the count, and they take big, extra-base-seeking swings when they can. They’re also frustratingly patient outside of the strike zone. In Game 1, Snell tried to work the edges of the zone early, only to pay the price in baserunners and pitches. He limited the damage for a while, but wore himself out and gave Toronto far too many free baserunners in the process.

On Wednesday, he had a new plan. A direct approach had served Snell well all month. Going away from it did him no favors. He’d been so afraid of Toronto’s power that he dinked and dunked himself out of the game. No more of that. Snell’s first pitch of the game was a fastball, belt high to Davis Schneider. It was a statement pitch. Schneider turned it into an exclamation point, tucking it 373 feet over the wall in left. Read the rest of this entry »


Job Posting: Chicago White Sox – Senior Quantitative Analyst

Senior Quantitative Analyst

Position Overview 
The Chicago White Sox is seeking a Senior Quantitative Analyst with exceptional statistical expertise to enhance model development for our growing Research & Development team. You’ll design and deploy sophisticated models that inform critical decisions across player evaluation, development, and strategy—while mentoring other analysts in advanced statistical methods and best practices.

Job Responsibilities 

  • Design, build, and deploy production-grade statistical models for player forecasting, evaluation, and strategic decision-making
  • Own modeling projects end-to-end: research question formulation, statistical design, implementation, validation, and deployment
  • Adhere to statistical best practices, coding standards, and reusable modeling infrastructure for the team
  • Mentor junior analysts in advanced statistical techniques, experimental design, and model development workflows through code reviews and technical workshops
  • Translate complex statistical findings into actionable insights for coaches, scouts, and front office executives

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field
  • 3-5 years building and deploying predictive models in industry or advanced graduate training

Technical Skills

  • High proficiency in R or Python and SQL
  • Deep expertise in Bayesian statistics with hands-on experience building custom Bayesian models
  • Strong experience with probabilistic programming languages (Stan, PyMC, JAGS, or similar)
  • Familiarity with machine learning methods (regression, classification, ensemble methods, neural networks), causal inference approaches, and core algorithms for optimization and model fitting
  • Experience with version control (Git) and building production model pipelines

Professional Attributes

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to statistical rigor
  • Excellent communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Ability to work independently on long-term projects and manage multiple priorities
  • Passion for mentoring and elevating team capabilities

Preferred Qualifications

  • Graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Statistics or related quantitative field
  • 5+ years of experience building models in industry or relevant field
  • Knowledge of current baseball research and sabermetrics

About Our Culture
We are building a growing analytics team where every member has the opportunity to make meaningful contributions. Our team is guided by three core values:

  • Process Driven: We strive to establish robust analytical frameworks, document thoroughly, and build sustainable systems that scale
  • Communication: We translate complex findings into actionable insights for diverse audiences
  • Impact: We measure success by how our models influence real decisions and outcomes

Working Conditions

  • Flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by the baseball calendar
  • Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
  • Occasional travel

Compensation:

  • $90,000 – $100,000

Benefits include:

  • Health
  • Dental
  • Life
  • AD&D
  • LTD
  • Defined Benefit Plan (Major League Baseball Pension for Non-Uniformed Personnel)
  • Voluntary Supplemental Life
  • Voluntary Supplemental AD&D
  • Voluntary Vision
  • Voluntary Pet Insurance
  • Voluntary 401(k)
  • Voluntary Flex Benefits (FSA, Transportation, Dependent Care)
  • Complimentary White Sox Tickets
  • Complimentary Lunch
  • Holiday Break
  • Promotional Items

Chicago White Sox is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please include a resume and cover letter.

To Apply
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Chicago White Sox.


Contract Crowdsourcing 2025-26: Ballot 7 of 12

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent seasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating a contract crowdsourcing project, with the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowd to better understand and project the 2025-26 free agent market.

In recent years, we’ve added a few features to these ballots based on reader feedback. You now have the option to indicate that a player will only receive a minor league contract, or won’t receive one at all. If there is a player option, team option, or opt out in a player’s contract, you’ll be able to indicate whether you think he will remain with his current team or become a free agent. Numbers are prorated to full season where noted. Unless otherwise indicated, the projected WAR figures are from the first cut of the 2026 Steamer600 projections.

Below are ballots for 11 of this year’s free agents — in this case, a group of position players, most of whom are infielders. Read the rest of this entry »