Effectively Wild Episode 2393: The World Series Game 3 Draft

Host(s): Ben Lindbergh (The Ringer), Meg Rowley (FanGraphs)
Date: October 29, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is devoted entirely to Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, which became an instant classic: an 18-inning, 6-hour-and-39-minute marathon between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. Rather than a typical recap, Ben and Meg hold a “Game 3 Draft” — trading memorable moments, notable narratives, and wild details from a game so jam-packed it felt like a series unto itself. There’s discussion of drama, strategy, heroics, managerial choices (especially concerning Shohei Ohtani), and the stress, absurdity, and exhaustion that comes with a postseason epic.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Game 3 Was an Epic: Why the Focus?

• The hosts explain up top that this game was so historic, fascinating, and exhausting that it deserves its own episode. They compare it to the legendary 2015 ALDS Game 5, as well as the 2018 World Series 18-inning epic, but insist this game eclipsed those in action and drama ([09:43]).
• Comparison with the 2018 game:
  • 2018: 7 hours, 20 mins; 18 innings, less action
  • 2025: “Only” 6:39, but more pitches (609), plate appearances (153), and scoring.
  • “There was not as much activity in that game. And it took even longer” – Ben ([09:43])
• The “pitch clock” made a difference: more activity took less time.

2. The ‘Draft’ — Notable Moments & Key Performances

[Start of the draft: 12:05]

Format: Draft of 9 memorable things each (aiming for 18 total—one for each inning).

A. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Legendary Effort

• Meg’s first pick: Guerrero’s all-round postseason has become “the stuff of lore,” highlighted by his mad dash from first to home in the 7th inning — “the boop play” ([12:13]).
  • “He just booped it. He booped the plate.” (Meg, [13:48])
  • Emphasis on Vlad’s effort level, focus, and “hair on fire” play throughout the postseason.
• Ben echoes: Not just the bat – Vlad’s defense and baserunning have been outstanding.
  • “He has remade himself physically…right now…he’s an all-round player. He can do it all.” (Ben, [21:00])
• Also, a fantastic throw from first to third to nail Teoscar Hernández ([21:00], [23:21]).

B. Shohei Ohtani: Dominance and Deliberate Dodging

• Ohtani’s game-tying home run in the 7th off a “middle-middle” pitch from Seranthony Domínguez ([26:55]).
  • “Hardly has a more middle, middle pitch ever been thrown.” (Meg, [26:55])
• Intentional walks controversy:
  • Schneider (Blue Jays manager) IBB’d Ohtani a (postseason) record four times, mostly with the bases empty, tripling the previous World Series total.
  • “He set so many records, so many different types of records really…first player to be intentionally walked four times in a postseason game.” (Ben, [32:47])
  • “It just became the latest manifestation that Ohtani is on a different plane of athletic existence.” ([32:49])
• Listener question: What can be done to stop multiple IBBs? Ben and Meg agree it’s impractical to legislate away, and most fans—even stats-minded ones—simply don’t want to see Ohtani beat them again ([32:47]-[39:44]).

C. Bullpens and Unsung Heroes

• Will Klein’s Ironman Relief for Dodgers ([43:00]):

  • 4 innings, 72 pitches (double previous MLB high), crucial strikeouts on fumes.
  • “He was essentially the last line of defense…and he knew it.” (Ben, [44:03])
  • Parallels to Nathan Eovaldi’s extra-inning heroics in 2018, but with less buildup or expectation ([47:15]).
  • Dodgers’ bullpen depth: Klein, Enriquez, Robleski, and Dreyer, previously unused, threw 6 2/3 scoreless and were vital.

• Blue Jays’ side:

  • Eric Lauer: 4.2 innings of calm, effective relief ([72:12])
  • Fischer: Gutting through exhaustion for key outs ([75:20])

D. The Starters Lurk: Kershaw & Yamamoto

• Both teams’ bullpen depletion meant ace starters were warming up to enter late extras ([52:27], [55:05]).
  • “The eerie threat of looming starters.” (Meg, [52:27])
• Yamamoto volunteered to pitch after a complete-game start only days earlier ([55:05]).
• Clayton Kershaw’s redemption inning:
  • Entered in the 12th with bases loaded, got out of trouble — possibly his final appearance.
  • “If that is the end of Clayton Kershaw’s career, then he went out with one more happy signature postseason moment for once.” (Ben, [63:36])

E. Umpiring, Controversies, and Weirdness

• Strike zone and the Varsho/Bo Bichette pickoff fiasco ([63:42])
  • Dalton Varsho is rung up on a blown call for strike two on ball four; Bo Bichette, thinking it’s ball four, leaves the bag and is picked off.
  • “The original sin of that moment comes with a late call and a late, bad call.” (Meg, [70:11])
• Anticipation of automated challenge systems coming to MLB and frustration it wasn’t in place for this postseason.

F. Defensive Gems

• Dalton Varsho’s center field play prevents runs all night ([75:20]).
  • “He saved this…in part because of Dalton Varsho and some of the plays that he was making, getting on his horse, running a really good route out there.” (Meg, [75:20])
• Addison Barger’s rocket throw to cut down Freddie Freeman at home ([85:17]):
  • “That was the third fastest tracked postseason throw I saw…98.5 mph and perfectly accurate.” (Ben, [85:18])

G. Walkoff and Near-Walkoffs

• Freddie Freeman’s walk-off HR in 18th:

  • “As you said, he spared us from that possible fate of Miguel Rojas pitching in the 19th inning.” (Ben, [83:10])
  • First player with multiple walkoff HRs in World Series history.

• Numerous near-walkoffs: Multiple deep flies that had fans, broadcasters, and players on edge, all contained by Dodger Stadium’s night air ([80:41], [81:18]).

H. Broadcast, Booth, and Ballpark Atmosphere

• Broadcast evolved into sleep-deprived delight:
  • “Smoltz let his hair down…bantering about fruit plates…they were getting a little loose.” ([90:28])
• Sleepy Shohei Ohtani anecdote: Ohtani accidentally wore the wrong cap in extras, so tired he needed a coach to alert him ([90:40]).

3. Strategic & Managerial Decisions

Intentional Walks and Conventional Wisdom

• John Schneider’s repeated IBBs to Ohtani, even with no one on, drew criticism and statistical breakdown ([27:35], [32:47]).
  • “He found that it’s really bad…costing the Blue Jays something like 13% in win expectancy. Which is an enormous number.” (Ben, [27:35])
  • The third, loading the bases for Freddie Freeman, was seen as particularly egregious ([29:33]).

Substitutions and Lineup Attrition

• As the game spiraled deep into extras, both teams ran out of bench bats and relievers, leading to less dynamic lineups and the threat of position players pitching ([45:11], [76:48], [77:43]).
• If Yamamoto hadn’t volunteered for the 19th, Miguel Rojas would have pitched—crisis barely averted ([76:48]).

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Nature of This Game

• “It’s such a rich text because it was two games worth of game in terms of innings, and maybe more than that in terms of just how much activity was crammed into this thing.” – Ben ([08:33])
• “This game has everything!” – Meg ([11:04])

On Ohtani’s Intentional Walks

• “It ascended to such a preposterous level…he set so many records.” – Ben ([32:49])
• “This was such an unusual circumstance with such an unusual player.” – Meg ([36:18])

On Vlad’s Heroics

• “Vladimir Guerrero Jr. really wants to win this World Series.” – Meg ([12:13])
• “He has made himself into a capable defender…he’s an all-round player.” – Ben ([21:00])

On the Marathon’s Fatigue

• “I was convinced for at least two innings that the game would never conclude because our time on the mortal plane had concluded. And this was us in purgatory. We were all in hell.” – Meg ([04:55])
• “If this is hell, I would sign up for eternal damnation because this is not so bad.” – Ben ([06:09])

On Broadcast and Booth Atmosphere

• “I loved the notion of Sleepy Ohtani…” (Meg, [90:33])
• “Smoltz let his hair down…they were getting a little loose. They were a little punchy. It was terrific.” (Meg, [90:28])

5. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & justification for focusing on Game 3: 00:37–09:43
• Comparing to other postseason marathons: 09:43–11:04
• Draft begins: 12:05
  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr. post-season play & “boop” score: 12:13–18:04
  • Ohtani’s heroics & intentional walks: 26:55–39:44 (with deeper stats at 32:47)
• Pitching heroics & bullpen chaos: 43:00–52:13
• Starters warming in extras: 52:27, 55:05
• Kershaw’s inning: 59:42–63:36
• Umpiring and Varsho/Bo incident: 63:41–71:17
• Defensive highlights – Varsho & Barger: 75:20–85:18
• Freddie Freeman’s walk-off and false alarms: 80:32–84:56
• Broadcast and “Sleepy Shohei” moments: 90:28–91:28

Additional Notable Threads

• The sloppiness and chaos of the game: Many errors, strange coaching decisions, and questionable base running; yet, that wildness contributed to the game’s appeal.
• “Zombie Runner” debate: Both hosts adamant that postseason should never feature the extra-inning runner. “This should be like the nature reserve where we get to enjoy unspoiled wilderness with no Zombie Runner.” (Ben, [78:08])
• Bizarre behind-the-scenes stories: Addison Barger couch-surfing on Davis Schneider’s hotel pullout ([87:12]), viral marketing shenanigans behind home plate ([91:51–94:09]), and more.

Final Thoughts

• The game was so sprawling and strange, the hosts acknowledge they forgot or didn’t have time to mention many notable plays and side-stories.
• Ben's closing: “For the sickos, those who can and will be there until the last pitch, this will stay with us forever. This will be an absolute classic and a game that we had to devote an entire episode to.” ([99:15])
• Statistical oddities:
  • 37 men left on base, 4-for-26 with RISP.
  • 19 pitchers used: a postseason record.
  • More triple digit pitches in late innings than multiple entire World Series in recent history ([47:15]).
• Acknowledgement: No time to discuss Game 4 at length, but the Blue Jays tied the series, assuring return to Toronto for Halloween baseball.

For more analysis and all references, see the show notes on FanGraphs or episode description.