Podcast
Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast
Hosted by Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley · EN
Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary
178episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Effectively Wild Episode 2467: Stay Pricey, San Diego
Apr 1800:30:58Summary readyThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about another accidental challenge and listener-suggested alternatives to the head/helmet tap, the implications of the Padres’ reported sale for a record price, Mike Trout’s resurgence and Jordan Walker’s surge, a Stat Blast about one-man lineups, stoic responses to getting drilled by line drives, loud stadium noise, listener emails about extensions and the next CBA, tuning in to no-hitter attempts in progress, and “anti-framing,” and more. Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to latest challenge Link to other review signals Link to soccer review signal Link to cricket review signal Link to skeuomorph wiki Link to HPB/CI challenge sequence Link to WSJ Padres sale story Link to ESPN Padres sale story Link to S&P info 1 Link to S&P info 2 Link to S&P info 3 Link to Chelsea protest story Link to Chelsea money loss story Link to Trout series fun facts Link to Trout six-game streaks Link to Trout four-game streaks Link to Trout’s Savant page Link to Trout hypotheticals Link to Trout’s five homers Link to Walker analysis Link to FG WAR leaders Link to Mets-Dodgers game Link to Jay on the Mets Link to Stat Blast spreadsheet Link to 1969 Williams game Link to 1991 Boston game Link to 1950 Vollmer game Link to 1978 Expos game Link to Freeland vs. Myers hit Link to Ben on sick players Link to sick Sale start Link to Greene game Link to Greene game article Link to 2025 stadium noise article Link to 2026 stadium noise article Link to Collins HoF induction article Link to Messick article Link to “anti-framing” article Link to “anti-framing” clip Link to listener emails database Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit ...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2466: Turn Off the Tap?
Apr 1601:41:03Summary readyBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Kevin McGonigle’s new contract and whether pre-arbitration extensions are still team-friendly, Tatsuya Imai’s adjustment period, MLB’s average four-seam fastball velo nearing 95 mph, a new frontier in catcher’s interference calls, and whether a new challenge signal should replace the head/helmet tap, then (1:21:02) Stat Blast about a historic scoring day, games in which the score most often matched the inning, homering against all other teams while playing for one team (and the most homers without going deep twice against the same team), opposing pitchers catching pop-ups in the same game, driving in oneself and no one else, and season-starting streaks of games with a lead. Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on McGonigle Link to Paine on extensions 1 Link to Paine on extensions 2 Link to Ball on extensions Link to Nightengale on extensions Link to Rome on Imai Link to Imai synopsis Link to Rome on interpreters Link to story on Duran incident Link to Statcast velo by year Link to Pitch Info velo by year Link to Pitch Info info Link to righty Statcast velo by year Link to all-pitches velo by year Link to Woodrum on velo Link to Sam on flames Link to EW on flames 1 Link to EW on flames 2 Link to Trueblood on fastball counts Link to EW on CI Link to 2024 CI totals Link to 2025 CI totals Link to Sam on the Meidroth CI Link to Sam on the Cubs CI attempt Link to Sam on swings and the CI Link to Ohtani accidental challenge Link to Chandler accidental challenge Link to Rice accidental challenge Link to 2025 Lee incident Link to challenge rules Link to volleyball challenge rules Link to NHL officials wiki Link to Crawford rehab update Link to April 13 scores Link to April 13 offense Link to MLB batting stats pre-4/13 Link to MLB batting stats post-4/13 Link to T...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2465: Before You Can Say Jack(ie) Robinson
Apr 1401:43:47Summary readyBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Mariners actually sort of sacrificing Humpy, the historically compressed standings at the start of the season, top prospects (and veteran relievers) pushing for promotions, the solution to a Kutter Crawford mystery, a faux-froyo con, Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s rules confusion, Cade Winquest’s quest, and more. Then (57:18) they talk to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick about Jackie Robinson Day, the importance of telling stories about Black baseball in an anti-diversity climate, Bob’s work on MLB The Show, the MLB pipeline for African American players, showcasing the surviving Negro Leagues ballparks, the NLBM’s expansion plans, baseball in Kansas City, Ichiro Suzuki’s visits to the Museum, and more. Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to “Jack Robinson” idiom Link to Humpy clip Link to Humpy plushy Link to MLBTR on Imai Link to standings data Link to leaguewide offensive stats Link to baseball drag graph Link to previous Crawford banter Link to 2025 Crawford story Link to new Crawford scoop Link to “hose” baseball slang Link to FG top prospects Link to Parker collision story Link to froyo feature Link to Jazz story Link to Jazz clip Link to Jazz play Link to Boone story Link to Kobayashi Maru wiki Link to Brebbia post Link to MLBTR on Kimbrel Link to Yankees/Mets losses stat Link to Emanski drills video Link to frequency illusion wiki Link to MLBTR on Winquest Link to phantom ballplayer wiki Link to Jackie Robinson Day wiki Link to Robinson story removal Link to MLB “diversity” story Link to new MLB The Show mode Link to MLB at Rickwood Field wiki Link to surviving ballparks story Link to East-West Classic news Link to % of Black players data Link to NLBM expansion page Link to sportswriters/Marriott story Link to Chiefs stadium story Link to Royals stadium story Link to John Donaldson EW episode Link to donate to the NLBM Link to Swanson quote Link to Episode 305 wiki Link to Lorenzen note Link to MLBTR on Pham Sponsor Us on Patreon <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" height="18" src="ht...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2464: Hello, Dolly!
Apr 1100:30:05Summary readyThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the bad omen of a broken bat on an Ichiro Suzuki statue, whether Mason Miller is, at this moment, the best pitcher ever on a batter-per-batter basis, and how to label atypical pitches, then Stat Blast (30:00) about team promotional giveaways, age and debut gaps among MLB brothers, and switch-hitters who hit higher in the lineup from one side. Then (47:58) Ben talks to 88-year-old All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher Dolly “Lippy” Vanderlip about growing up as the lone girl in games against boys, joining the AAGPBL at age 15, playing for manager Jimmie Foxx, life on and off the field, the end of the league, how A League of Their Own revitalized interest in the AAGPBL, the impending launch of the Women’s Pro Baseball League, and more. Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to broken statue video Link to broken statue image Link to Mariners joke tweet Link to statue being fixed Link to statue story summary Link to Mariners wRC+ ranking Link to three arms episode Link to Wicker Man post Link to highest K% for RP Link to lowest FIP for RP Link to Miller pitch-type splits Link to Miller’s stats as a Padre Link to Sheehan on Miller Link to Padres-Rockies game story Link to MLB SP stats Link to MLB RP stats Link to team RP stats Link to Crizer on Imai Link to MLB.com on Imai Link to MLBN on Imai Link to Imai’s Savant arsenal Link to shuuto wiki Link to 2025 promotions data Link to team giveaway rates Link to Sox giveaway expansion Link to MLB brothers data Link to Ben on Guerrero birthdates Link to Art Fowler SABR bio Link to switch-hitters info Link to switch-hitters data Link to “Hello, Dolly!” wiki Link to Dolly’s wiki Link to Dolly’s AAGPBL player page Link to AAGPBL wiki Link to WPBL wiki Link to AAGPBL queer history Link to Blair article 1 Link to Blair article 2 Link to Ball on extensions Link to Paine on extensions 1 Link to Paine...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2463: Filled to the Brim
Apr 1001:48:14Summary readyBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Jorge Soler charging the mound against Reynaldo López and whether a team could dupe an opposing ace into getting ejected, Konnor Griffin’s extension becoming official, whether Jose Altuve is benefiting from the reshaped strike zone, a wave of MLB injuries, teams whose playoff odds have changed the most in the first two weeks of the season, Tony Vitello’s PR performance, the debut of brimless hats, a few follow-ups, and more. Audio intro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Cease vs. Ohtani game Link to brawl story Link to suspensions story Link to Soler vs. López stats Link to Bois database Link to Bois spreadsheet Link to “aggro” wiki Link to Armadillidiidae wiki Link to Dan S. on Griffin Link to MLBTR on Griffin Link to Olney’s deleted tweet Link to Rosenthal on Griffin Link to marriage/divorce stats Link to Woodrum on the strike zone Link to Seidler on Altuve Link to wRC+ leaderboard Link to batter challenges leaderboard Link to Altuve called-strike rate Link to Judge called-strike rate Link to Altuve mistake-strike rate Link to Judge mistake-strike rate Link to five-year out-of-zone-strike rate <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=&hfGT=R%7C&hfPR=ball%7C&hfZ=1%7C2%7C3%7C4%7C5%7C6%7C7%7C8%7C9%7C&hfStadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfPull=&hfC=&hfSea=2025%7C2024%7C2023%7C2022%7C2021%7C&hfSit=&player_type=batter&hfOuts=&home_road=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&hfEventOuts=&hfEventRuns=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfMo=&hfTeam=&hfOpponent=&...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2462: Coolness Personified (and Quantified)
Apr 801:59:57Summary readyBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Carter Jensen’s several (inadequate) alarms and why big leaguers don’t oversleep more often, Artemis II, Daniel Susac as the sequel to Andrew Susac, the timing of Konnor Griffin’s call-up, the many ways to marvel at (and value) Jo Adell’s home-run-robbery spree, Patrick Corbin the Blue Jay, a quintessentially 2026 half-inning, and follow-up emails, plus (1:40:47) a postscript featuring an Afterball by Ben about national announcer stats. Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to “It’s Been Awhile” Link to Jensen oversleeping story Link to Pasquantino quote Link to Jensen TikTok clip Link to Russell on young baseball brains Link to overview effect wiki Link to Yankees/Marlins Artemis story Link to Artemis wholesomeness Link to Apollo and baseball story Link to Susac’s nephew Link to Baumann on Griffin Link to MLBTR on Griffin Link to Olney’s deleted tweet Link to info on extensions and PPI Link to Adell catch 1 Link to Adell catch 2 Link to Adell catch 3 Link to 2026 OF FRV laggardboard Link to Adell’s DRS Link to SIS on HR robberies Link to Ben on HR robberies Link to Ben on Trout’s 2011 Link to Ben on pre-WAR valuations Link to Adell’s 2020 FARTBAT Link to FARTBAT naming Link to Angels-M’s box score Link to FG post on Adell Link to win probability tweet Link to Tango on wall balls Link to Tango on catch probability Link to Adell photo Link to article about Adell catch Link to Trout’s Twitter reply Link to Hunter on Adell Link to “wallowing” wiki Link to MLBTR on Corbin Link to Jays SP projections Link to Jays RR depth chart Link to BP on Corbin Link to BP on ATL-AZ inning Link to Albies challenge Link to 2016 Young quotes Link to Grifol on the eclipse Link to Theo “trade” Link to Stokes-Lyon match Link to Snicko wiki Link to EW Episode 1875 Link to Calcaterra on Dirks Link to Dirks Pull% <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=home%5C.%5C.run%7...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2461: If You Build it, They Will Checksum
Apr 200:27:38Summary readyThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about rookie batters’ blistering start to the season, then Stat Blast (10:15) about how long it typically takes for there to be no remaining teams that are winless or undefeated (or both), the latest a team won or lost by a margin that matched its record, and the seasons that featured the most Hall of Famers (at all, and in their primes). Then they talk to three listeners who created brand-new apps/sites that enhance the experience of following the season: Tristan Rodman of Baseball Scores (28:00), Zach Gines of First Pitch (46:45), and Ezra Thompson of Play-O-Graph (1:09:30), followed by assorted updates (1:26:58). Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to freemium model announcement Link to written explanation Link to checksum explainer Link to seasonal rookie batting lines Link to 2026 rookie batting line Link to 2026 rookie pitching line Link to Baumann on Painter Link to Kepner on the rookies Link to aging curve research 1 Link to aging curve research 2 Link to Ben on 2015 rookies Link to Ben on 2015 youth Link to Fernandez debut game Link to two-homer-debuts query Link to winless/undefeated teams data Link to 1894 game Link to 1911 game Link to 1986 game Link to 1993 game Link to 1996 game Link to 2000 game 1 Link to 2000 game 2 Link to HoFers data Link to HoFers graph Link to Frisch VC info Link to listener emails database Link to Baseball Scores site Link to Tristan’s site Link to The Gagnés theme 1 Link to The Gagnés theme 2 Link to @dril tweet Link to Angell quote Link to First Pitch site Link to NERD scores Link to B-Ref Stream Finder Link to Skubal-Gallen gamer Link to Play-O-Graph site Link to playograph wiki Link to FotMob Link to Moneyball clip Link to Grounds Crew Baseball site Link to The Number Wall site Link to “meme” origins Link to Yates press conference Link to Orioles tap-off Link to Crawford walk-off story Link to pre-Artemis II batted balls <a href="htt...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2460: The Arc of History Bends Toward .500
Apr 101:41:12Summary readyBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Joey Wiemer, Colt Emerson’s contract, the concept of “sticking at shortstop,” and pre-arbitration (and pre-debut) extension trends, then (29:11) answer listener emails about A.J. Preller trading himself, Harrison Bader and the press conference threshold, plotting to prevent a switch-hitter from batting from both sides, no-selling a World Series ring ceremony, giveaway promotions at every game, a Craig Kimbrel PitchCom hypothesis, the top five MLB owners, pitch-count limits in a World Series perfect game bid, technical fouls in baseball, the aesthetic appeal of platooning, and lifetime .500 franchises. Audio intro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Baumann on Wiemer Link to MLB.com on Wiemer Link to FG combined WAR leaderboard Link to “small sample” song Link to Voros’ Law Link to “WDJDD?” (short) Link to “WDJDD?” (long) Link to MLBTR on Emerson Link to Nichols’ Law of Catcher Defense Link to Passan tweet about Emerson Link to FG post on Pratt Link to Sam on extensions Link to Bader story Link to Seinfeld “sponge-worthy” clips Link to Kiri on promotions Link to “Things Fitting Perfectly Into Other Things” Link to Meg on the baseball penalty box Link to Diamondbacks bullpen story Link to “Maddux” stat Link to Ben on ex-player execs Link to franchise W-L records Link to listener emails database Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2459: Pump the ABS Brakes
Mar 3101:41:22Summary readyBen Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Mike Trout’s hot start, Dub Gleed’s (nick)name, the challenge system as a mainstream sensation, several tactical considerations, listener emails, premature conclusions, and pedantic points after a weekend’s worth of ABS action, Munetaka Murakami’s early slugging, a Brewers call-up and extension, NBC’s broadcast crews, and more, plus a few follow-ups. Audio intro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to the other ABS Link to Gleed trade story Link to challenge system tweet 1 Link to challenge system tweet 2 Link to Ben on the challenge system Link to Sam on the challenge system Link to UmpScorecards data Link to Rosenthal on the challenge system Link to Passan on the challenge system Link to ABS system wiki Link to FG community blog Link to Petriello on 2025 ABS data Link to team ABS leaderboard Link to ABS dashboard Link to ABS player leaderboard Link to Crizer on the challenge system Link to debutant dingers query Link to 2026 debutant dingers Link to Murakami NPB analysis Link to Murakami fun fact Link to Reds Opening Days story Link to Shelton ejection clip Link to Bucknor story Link to Bucknor challenges Link to Bucknor scorecard Link to Bucknor story Link to Cora ejection Link to ABS and manager ejections info 1 Link to ABS and manager ejections info 2 Link to ABS and manager ejections info 3 Link to Quero call-up info Link to MLBTR on Pratt Link to FG Brewers list Link to Sam on check swings Link to AP on Benetti Link to MLBTR on Pratt Link to listener emails database Link to “burn the ships” wiki Link to article about Syracuse team Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXytxPs81CsUSJmN1mQMr526CdeDpf4vK" target="_blank" rel="noopener noref...
SummaryEffectively Wild Episode 2458: The Opening Day Debutant (Base)ball
Mar 2800:21:38Summary readyThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the pleasures of and precedents for the historic rookie performances on Opening Day, the pains of Netflix’s Opening Night broadcast, an Opening Day disaster for Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz, and a bird near Carson Benge, Freddie Freeman’s gameday fit, a perplexing (un?)fun fact about the Phillies and Jhoan Duran, why players don’t always challenge when they “should,” Nico Hoerner and Shane Baz extensions, baseball movies being back (thanks to Tom Hanks), and more, plus a Stat Blast (1:28:40) about Black Ink streaks and a postscript (1:37:14) featuring a follow-up and a few bonus Blasts. Audio intro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to freemium model announcement Link to written explanation Link to 2026 new debuts Link to RE24 query Link to 2026 RE24 players Link to 1914 RE24 players Link to 1938 RE24 players Link to 1950 RE24 players Link to RE24 glossary Link to B-Ref RE24 leaders Link to total bases query Link to 2026 TB players Link to 1938 TB players Link to 1.000 OPS query Link to 2026 1.000 OPS players Link to 1901 1.000 OPS players Link to 1938 1.000 OPS players Link to Dick Crutcher bio Link to Baumann on the rookies Link to “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon” Link to first White Sox game Link to Marchand on the Netflix game Link to Bonds story Link to Bonds at Rickwood game Link to 180-degree rule Link to FG post on Skenes Link to Ben on the Pirates and A’s Link to Pirates HR celebration Link to Benge on the bird Link to Freeman post 1 Link to Freeman post 2 Link to Stark post Link to Sam post Link to Phillies home closers query Link to Phillies road closers query Link to Phillies OD home games Link to Phillies OD road games Link to home OD saves by team Link to Kruk comment Link to Tango on location uncertainty Link to Petriello on catcher challenges Link to Ben’s catcher research Link to MLBTR on Hoerner Link to MLBTR on Baz Link to upcoming FA class Link to Hanks movie announcement Link to Hanks typewriter collection Link to Night Swim wiki Link to Caught Stealing wiki Link to Eephus EW interview Link to Ben on Rogue One and Andor <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Black_Ink" rel="...
Summary