Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

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

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the long-in-the-making major league debut of gravity-defying, strikeout-celebrating reliever Jefry Yan, Steven Kwan’s resurgence, a lineup with lots of Juniors, a scooter celebration, a double FARTBAT, Luis Arraez abandoning home plate, MLB players’ low-stakes conspiracies, a head-to-head MVP battle, the Mets’ Francisco Lindor–Juan Soto drama, the A’s firing David Forst, a pitcher plate appearance, and more. Then (1:02:46) Ben brings on YouTubers Noah Campbell (aka SOFTDRINKTV) and Taylor McNelis (aka WildLion Games) to discuss the decline in the quantity and quality of sports video games, how well baseball lends itself to gaming, the golden age of baseball video games, and whether a few new challengers might endanger MLB The Show’s dominance.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”

Audio interstitial: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Reddit post on Yan

Link to first Yan episode

Link to second Yan episode

Link to Yan debut story

Link to Yan debut video

Link to Yan leap on single

Link to Guardians’ Yan mockery

Link to MLBTR on Brebbia

Link to Brebbia’s second EW appearance

Link to previous Kwan chat

Link to Kwan leaderboard

Link to Kwan pillow quote

Link to sports nepo babies article

Link to article on baseball nepo babies

Link to Ryan HoF page

Link to Giants scooter celly

Link to Arraez abandonment

Link to @ScoringChanges explanation

Link to Marlins misplay

Link to EW Episode 500

Link to PCA comments

Link to Saucedo comments

Link to Ottavino comments

Link to PCA vs. Ohtani game

Link to Peralta/Lindor/Soto report

Link to 2025 Yankees bullpen blowup

Link to Lindor/McNeil article

Link to MLBTR on Forst

Link to Mikolas PA article

Link to Nusbaum tweet

Link to Button Mash

Link to The Ringer-Verse

Link to SOFTDRINKTV on YouTube

Link to WildLion Games on YouTube

Link to Paine on sports games 1

Link to Paine on sports games 2

Link to Jabroni Baseball video

Link to EA buyout

Link to EA layoffs report

Link to EA layoffs report

Link to College Football microtransactions

Link to Ben on MVP Baseball 2005

Link to Noah on MVP Baseball 2005

Link to Super Mega Baseball 4 article

Link to Metalhead on EW 1

Link to Metalhead on EW 2

Link to Taylor on SMB4 roster updates

Link to Taylor’s SMB4 review

Link to Zach Kram on Backyard Baseball

Link to Backyard Baseball comeback article

Link to Backyard Baseball wiki

Link to Taylor’s Backyard Baseball review

Link to Noah on MLB Power Pros

Link to Indoor Baseball

Link to Noah on Indoor Baseball

Link to Noah on MVP 06: NCAA Baseball

Link to Noah’s MLB The Show 26 review

Link to Taylor’s MLB The Show 26 review

Link to Power Pros wiki

Link to Professional Baseball Spirits wiki

Link to article about eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026

Link to Noah on eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT

Link to eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 on PS5

Link to Noah on eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 news

Link to Noah’s eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 review

Link to Taylor’s eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 review

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After talking Tarik Skubal and a few other early acquisitions in the preceding pod, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley recap the rest of the trade deadline in detail, from Adell to Zeferjahn (with many non-ex-Angels in between): the biggest surprises, the winners and losers, and the various reminders that life comes at you fast.

Audio intro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Skubal trade EW discussion

Link to Ben on the Skubal trade

Link to Andy M. on the Brewers and Skubal

Link to Brewers “we tried” article 1

Link to Brewers “we tried” article 2

Link to Hogg post

Link to Roberts quote

Link to Skubal quote

Link to Dodgers super-rotation post

Link to SP RoS projections

Link to SP depth charts

Link to Trueblood on the Brewers

Link to mlb.com trade tracker

Link to FG trade post round-up

Link to FG winners/losers post

Link to Ben on Spider-Man

Link to Baumann’s Rockies headline

Link to Wade/Ward wiki

Link to Brebbia news

Link to Harper OF move

Link to May monthly award winners

Link to Toboni comments

Link to Elias comments

Link to ZiPS deadline breakdown

Link to Kostka tweet

Link to FG farm rankings

Link to “subtle” oblique strain

Link to Lombard call-up

Link to Lombard dinger

Link to white flag trade

Link to Law on Mayer

Link to Partners INW

Link to wildfire response fund

Link to fire relief fund

Link to Red Cross donation site

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley break down the Dodgers’ trade for Tarik Skubal from multiple angles: the Tigers’ return, expectations for Skubal and the Dodgers, why other teams let the trade happen, and the significance for the sport. Then they discuss a smattering of other moves (including deals for Freddy Peralta and Luis Castillo) before closing banter about a shampoo disclosure in the Baltimore booth.

Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ben on the Skubal trade

Link to Other Ben on the Skubal trade

Link to Longenhagen on the Skubal trade

Link to Sheehan on the Skubal trade

Link to Paine on the Skubal trade

Link to Dodgers discourse article

Link to Friedman quote

Link to FG’s pre-deadline top 100

Link to SP RoS projections

Link to Baumann on the Brewers/Rays

Link to FG playoff odds

Link to San Andreas meme

Link to payroll/winning correlation

Link to more on payroll/winning correlation

Link to Rosenthal column

Link to Dodgers playoff improvement

Link to BP on competitive balance

Link to Sheehan on rentals

Link to Clemens on rentals

Link to Paine on deadline impact

Link to Cooper on prospect trades

Link to FG farm rankings

Link to FG on the Peralta trade

Link to MLBTR on the Castillo trade

Link to FG on the Twins trade

Link to FG on the Brewers/Guardians trade

Link to FG on the Atlanta/KC trade

Link to MLBTR on the Doval trade

Link to Paine on everybody being a buyer

Link to “C’mon, do something” meme

Link to Queens vs. Heights gamer

Link to The West Wing scene

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

Ben Lindbergh brings on baseball-loving comic-book experts David Harper (of SKTCHD and Off Panel: A Comics Interview Podcast) and Tiffany Babb (of The Comics Courier, The Comics Staple, The Fan Files, and Interesting Jobs the Podcast) to assemble superpowered baseball teams. First they banter about Harrison Bader’s scooter troubles and David’s and Tiffany’s baseball/comic-book backgrounds, trade-deadline desires, and favorite baseball/comics crossovers. Then (37:20) they take turns filling out rosters from the ranks of Marvel/DC superheroes.

Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Bader article 1

Link to Bader article 2

Link to Bader article 3

Link to another Bader report

Link to 2014 Bader incident

Link to Bumgarner story

Link to Kent injury story 1

Link to Kent injury story 2

Link to Giants vehicular injuries

Link to Bader suspension article

Link to MLBTR on Bader’s suspension

Link to Shanahan injury article

Link to Midnight Sun Game

Link to Midnight Sons wiki

Link to Brand New Day box office

Link to The Death of Superman wiki

Link to Goldman on power levels

Link to Granillo on baseball and supes 1

Link to Granillo on baseball and supes 2

Link to Granillo on baseball and supes 3

Link to superhero strength scale wiki

Link to Peanuts podcast episode

Link to Joe Shlabotnik wiki

Link to Peanuts baseball analysis

Link to FG on the Angels/Rangers trade

Link to MLBTR on the Minter trade

Link to West Coast Avengers Annual #2

Link to Bullseye bio

Link to David’s Eisner acceptance speech

Link to Eisner Awards wiki

Link to SKTCHD

Link to Off Panel

Link to SKTCHD draft post

Link to SKTCHD HoF post

Link to SKTCHD Avengers post

Link to Tiffany’s website

Link to The Comics Courier

Link to The Comics Staple

Link to Interesting Jobs the Podcast

Link to The Fan Files

Link to The Fan Files Insta videos

Link to The Fan Files TikTok videos

Link to SI on baseball and superheroes 1

Link to SI on baseball and superheroes 2

Link to Clemens home run video

Link to Clemens home run article

Link to Clemens fun facts thread

Link to ultimate grand slam wiki

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the end of Ben’s jury duty and Meg’s first colonoscopy, then discuss an investigation into Dodgers owner Mark Walter’s finances, Roki Sasaki’s big glove, Munetaka Murakami’s performance against good velocity, a squirrel sighting (and top prospect Max Clark’s arrival) in Detroit, baseball’s animal kingdom, who gets to claim Jimothy, the frustrating Mariners, Curtis Mead’s im-mead-iate injury, and pre-deadline unrest in Philly. Then (1:05:16) FanGraphs contributor Kiri Oler joins to preview the Women’s Pro Baseball League’s inaugural season and consider its prospects for long-term success.

Audio intro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WSJ on Walter’s finances

Link to WSJ on Walter’s stroke

Link to Ben on the Dodgers in 2015

Link to WSJ on Sasaki

Link to June FG post on Sasaki

Link to Roki’s rolling WAR

Link to Roki’s four-seamer speed by start

Link to Murakami vs. velo article

Link to extended squirrel video

Link to MLB.com squirrel article

Link to BP squirrel article

Link to PAWS page

Link to animal appearances video

Link to MLB.com on Clark’s call-up

Link to BP on Clark’s call-up

Link to baseball exceptionalism wiki

Link to Jimothy wiki

Link to M’s Jimothy promotion

Link to Trash Pandas’ Jimothy promotion

Link to food guarding info

Link to Mead injury article

Link to Mead recovery report

Link to BP IL Triage tool

Link to Gelb on the Phillies

Link to Paine on the Phillies

Link to WPBL wiki

Link to Kiri on the WPBL teams

Link to Kiri on WPBL managers

Link to Kiri’s 2025 pod appearance

Link to Kiri on other women’s leagues

Link to WPBL team pages

Link to AP on the WPBL

Link to ESPN’s WPBL press release

Link to 2025 WPBL announcement

Link to Women’s Baseball World Cup article

Link to Ben on the OWL

Link to A League of Their Own scene

Link to Roki game story

Sponsor Us on Patreon

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