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 latest apparent change in the baseball’s behavior (this time it seems to be deader) and, in a tribute to Tommy John (11:35), retrace the timeline of his trailblazing surgery and his return to a major league mound 50 years ago through contemporaneous accounts and quotes. Then (55:58) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Jamie Verbrugge to discuss his podcast and baseball backgrounds before answering listener emails (1:05:02) about the upper bounds of a cup of coffee, a really entertaining but trophy-less season vs. a really boring championship season, an undercover baseball robot, whether Jefry Yan would celebrate a strikeout on an overturned ball call, whether fans are suggestible enough to be fooled by fake home run distances, an ultimate frisbee-style integrity rule for baseball, the value of Ron Washington, and the advisability of bringing the infield in, followed by Stat Blasts (2:01:49) about Pete Crow-Armstrong leading his league in offense and defense, every team in a divison having the same recent record, team games with high matching run, hit, and walk totals, pitchers who got a win, a loss, and a save in a single three-game series, team games with streaks of the same start to each offensive inning, bullpens where one pitcher out-WARed all the others combined, and strikeout-free shutouts.

Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Sheehan on the ball

Link to Savant drag dashboard

Link to earlier ball analysis 1

Link to earlier ball analysis 2

Link to John’s statement

Link to MLB.com on John’s statement

Link to Reuters on John’s illness

Link to Tommy John wiki

Link to Frank Jobe wiki

Link to Jaffe on John

Link to career IP leaders

Link to Grant on Posey/Avila

Link to NanoNeedle article

Link to Maness repair article

Link to TJ timeline links

Link to TJS database

Link to Strom surgery article

Link to Bordley surgery article 1

Link to Bordley surgery article 2

Link to Ben’s baseball/America course

Link to Ben C. on Skubal and Detroit

Link to Dickson on “cup of coffee”

Link to Asimov’s Robot series

Link to Super Baseball 2020

Link to Baseball Highlights 2045

Link to Data smell Reddit thread

Link to Skenes photos

Link to Yan game video

Link to Yan box score

Link to Yan Savant search

Link to ultimate’s integrity rule

Link to Arraez/Washington article

Link to article on Wash in 2027

Link to SIS infield-in study

Link to Ben on shifting vs. RHB

Link to Stirnweiss SABR bio

Link to PCA/Snuffy Blast spreadsheet

Link to AL Central streaks image

Link to 13-13-13 Stathead query

Link to win/loss/save spreadsheet

Link to leadoff streaks info

Link to 2026 Guardians relievers

Link to bullpen WAR gaps spreadsheet

Link to Tigers-Guardians gamer

Link to zero-K, zero-run games

Link to listener emails database

Link to MLB All-Century Team

Link to BNS Jays play podcast

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB franchise appreciation, Stat Blast about what the resurgence of three-inning saves and the expanding distribution of saves say about pitcher usage, and learn about a new baseball injury. Then (43:28) they bring on Lindsay Imber of Close Call Sports and the official scorer behind the MLB Scoring Changes account to explain the “fourth-out” rule that confused fans and players this week and to pick nits with the MLB rulebook. Finally (1:30:50), Ben brings back former major leaguer John Poff to read from his new book, reflect on his use of “greenies” and players’ political differences, and share a new fundraising initiative for the Standing Rock Reservation, followed (2:13:45) by a few updates.

Audio intro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Yankees “capital infusion”

Link to story about Yankees valuation

Link to story about Lakers sale

Link to impending Padres sale

Link to FIFA takeover attempt

Link to Infantino wiki

Link to Littleton save

Link to save rule

Link to pope hat giveaway

Link to Latz stats

Link to Atlanta’s three-out savers

Link to data on three-out saves

Link to data on save-getters by season

Link to multi-inning RP outings data

Link to Herfindahl–Hirschman index wiki

Link to annual HHI data

Link to HHI graph

Link to Inverse Participation Ratio

Link to THT on three-inning saves

Link to SB Nation on three-inning saves

Link to Medium post on three-inning saves

Link to WSJ closers story

Link to Ben on saves slipping in 2017

Link to Betteridge’s law wiki

Link to parakeet bounceback news

Link to Goodhart’s law wiki

Link to league SP splits

Link to league RP splits

Link to FG post on Goodhart’s law

Link to other FG post on Goodhart’s law

Link to Arrigheti report

Link to more on Arrigheti

Link to Morton’s neuroma wiki

Link to Morton’s neuroma causes

Link to Mayo Clinic on Morton’s neuroma

Link to more on Morton’s neuroma

Link to even more on Morton’s neuroma

Link to Ben on the 2015 ALDS game

Link to Ben on confused counts

Link to @ScoringChanges

Link to @ScoringChanges fourth-out tweet

Link to @CloseCallSports

Link to Close Call Sports website

Link to Close Call Sports YouTube channel

Link to Lindsay wiki

Link to Lindsay’s fourth-out video

Link to Lindsay’s Sale video

Link to Lindsay’s Wheeler video

Link to fourth out wiki

Link to fourth-out story 1

Link to fourth-out story 2

Link to SABR on fourth outs

Link to The Athletic fourth-out explainer

Link to Bois on balks

Link to Sam on balks

Link to xkcd comic

Link to Schneider quote

Link to 2016 Schneider game

Link to Strike Four

Link to Poff Stat Blast

Link to first Poff appearance

Link to second Poff appearance

Link to Halls of Fame discussion

Link to Poff’s first Hall of Fame

Link to Poff’s second Hall of Fame

Link to Poff’s book

Link to Carlin routine

Link to baseball exceptionalism wiki

Link to greenies info

Link to Ben on PEDs and the ball

Link to “Buffalo Bill ‘s” poem

Link to Standing Rock wiki

Link to Gilbert Kills Pretty Enemy art

Link to John’s fundraiser

Link to Scherzer’s piano-playing

Link to Kendrick cameo story

Link to Skenes velo graph

Link to Skenes game story

Link to Liquid I.V. powder

Link to Rocker pickle-juice game

Link to Stanton yoga report

Link to Foulke wife tweet

Link to Foulke firing report

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a quick hook for Keith Foulke in the WPBL and Stat Blast about the historic outcome of a series between two streaking teams before analyzing an update on Giancarlo Stanton’s status, the effect of era on Jacob Wilson’s errorless streak, the significance of baseball’s resurgence in Hollywood (as evidenced by a Netflix Yankees series, three upcoming baseball movies, and a baseball tangent on Ted Lasso), Mike Krukow and the best team scenario for a beloved broadcaster’s farewell tour, Max Scherzer’s small-sample resurgence, and the latest on Hunter Greene, Paul Skenes, and Gerrit Cole.

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Dak quote

Link to Dak Wookieepedia page

Link to Hobbie’s Hoth fate

Link to Boston Hunters announcement

Link to Hunters tweet

Link to WPBL standings

Link to Weeks hiring story

Link to story about A’s streak snapping

Link to story about Sox streak-snapping

Link to Stat Blast streaks data 1

Link to Stat Blast streaks data 2

Link to harmonic mean wiki

Link to so over/so back meme

Link to FG preseason predictions

Link to Boone/Stanton quote 1

Link to Boone/Stanton quote 2

Link to Casas swinging exchange

Link to Casas swinging article

Link to Casas surgery

Link to Stanton chips quote

Link to Stanton/Panterra video

Link to Stanton/Panterra post

Link to Stanton ESPN photo shoot

Link to Wilson story 1

Link to Wilson story 2

Link to errorless leaderboard

Link to 2025 Wilson fielding game log

Link to 2026 Wilson fielding game log

Link to 2002 Bordick fielding game log

Link to Korach tweet

Link to annual fielding averages

Link to leaguewide batted-ball stats

Link to leaguewide K rate stats

Link to 2002 team batted-ball stats

Link to 2026 team batted-ball stats

Link to Sam on errors

Link to Stat Blast on errors

Link to dill-flavored Liquid I.V.

Link to Netflix Yankees series

Link to Gehrig movie news

Link to Glen Powell’s IMDb

Link to Cooper story 1

Link to Cooper story 2

Link to The Catch movie info

Link to Hanks movie news

Link to Stone as Padres fan

Link to Stone as Mets fan

Link to EW baseball movies episode

Link to Lasso NLBM story

Link to Lasso NLBM scene

Link to recent Kendrick EW appearance

Link to B-Ref career pitching WAR

Link to FG career pitching WAR

Link to Eephus on Prime Video

Link to Eephus EW interview

Link to Josef Suk wiki

Link to Olympics art awards

Link to Suk’s Scherzo Fantastique

Link to fantastic scherzo explainer

Link to more fantastic scherzo info

Link to Johnson strikeouts discrepancy

Link to Scherzer vs. Johnson story

Link to Jay on Scherzer and Cole

Link to Ryan SABR bio

Link to MLBTR on Greene’s surgery

Link to White Sox Kwan call

Link to previous Skenes discussion

Link to Skenes leaderboard

Link to Cole leaderboard

Link to BaseRuns standings

Link to George injury update

Link to Lasko injury update

Link to Trout birthday fun fact

Sponsor Us on Patreon

Give a Gift Subscription

Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

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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

Sponsor Us on Patreon

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Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com

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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

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!

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