Effectively Wild: A Fangraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Daniel Vogelbach becoming a Brewers hitting coach and coach-hiring trends, analyze and phact-check Tommy Pham’s pitch for “PhamGraphs,” react to the Kazuma Okamoto signing and the Blue Jays embracing their big-market potential (in contrast to the Giants), and take the temperature of the pretty tepid stove (phollowed by a phollow-up on Pham). Audio intro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Vogelbach news Link to Brewers coaching staff Link to last year’s Vogelbach hiring Link to Vogelbach promo Link to article on PhamGraphs Link to negativity bias wiki Link to team batting LI Link to batter opp_DRA- Link to team batter opp_DRA- Link to lineup construction study Link to DRA- explainer Link to DRC+ explainer Link to Canha’s BP player card Link to Pham’s BP player card Link to August Pham incident Link to EW Episode 2363 Link to PH PA l

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Ben Clemens banter about the Astros signing Tatsuya Imai to a smaller-than-expected deal. Then (18:20) they continue a cherished podcast tradition by conducting the 13th annual Effectively Wild Minor League Free Agent Draft, in which they select 10 minor league free agents each and compete to see whose roster will accumulate the most combined MLB playing time in 2025 (followed by a postscript at 1:31:23). Audio intro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to guest appearances sheet Link to FG post on Imai Link to MLBTR on Imai Link to Feinsand tweet Link to The Athletic on Imai Link to minor league free agents Link to MLBTR on MiLB FA Link to last year’s draft Link to MiLB FA draft wiki Link to EWStats page Link to dynasty FA draft sheet Link to Brebbia on EW Link to MLBTR on Baddoo Link to 2025 MLB average SP Link to MiLB IP leaders Link to Can’t Hardly Wait scene Link to this y

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the potential risk to sports prediction markets pose and then (24:00) discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each American League team that wasn’t previously covered on the show in 2025. Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Rendon Link to Bloomberg on prediction markets Link to The Athletic on prediction markets Link to FoS on the Blackhawks Link to story about MLB memo Link to Slate on prediction markets Link to Slate on prediction markets 2 Link to Royals stadium story Link to 1922 article on Fowler Link to AL stories spreadsheet Link to Ella Black series  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 Accou

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a smattering of recent transactions and then (20:17) discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each National League team that wasn’t previously covered on the podcast in 2025. Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLB.com on Soderstrom Link to MLBTR on Soderstrom Link to MLBTR on Refsnyder Link to The Athletic on Refsnyder Link to “the grink” tweet Link to Fowler SABR bio Link to 1925 article on Fowler Link to NL stories spreadsheet  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

Ben Lindbergh talks to two pitchers who topped out at Triple-A in 2025, which was a demotion for one and a promotion for the other. First, he brings back Rangers pitcher Declan Cronin, the only major leaguer alum of Ben’s high school, to discuss a setback of a season that included a mysterious hip injury, compromised mechanics, diminished stuff, a cutthroat release and, finally, Tommy John surgery. Along the way, they cover the urge to play through injuries, joining the Rangers after being unceremoniously jettisoned by the Marlins, what tearing a UCL feels like, the incentives that lead to elbow problems, Declan’s plan to bounce back from a challenging year, MLB-NWSL romances, and competing with other players for wedding dates. Then (1:05:45), Ben talks to White Sox pitcher/sportswriter Duncan Davitt about becoming a journalist on the side, being on both ends of interviews, being blacked out of baseball broadcasts, the plight and importance of local media, his deceptive delivery, being traded and

Ben Lindbergh, Craig Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, and Joe Sheehan of The Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter break down teams’ last-minute Christmas shopping—including the White Sox signing Munetaka Murakami, the Padres signing Michael King and Sung Mun Song, the Orioles trading for Shane Baz, the Red Sox trading for Willson Contreras, a three-team trade involving the Pirates, Rays, and Astros, Jeff McNeil and Matt Strahm swaps, and the Yankees’ hibernation—plus banter about the quasi-retirement of Craig’s nemesis, Joe Kelly, the future of NPB, a report about Emmanuel Clase’s mid-game phone use, and supporting independent media. Then (1:11:40) they conduct an in-depth debate about the respective merits of human umpiring, the challenge system, and full ABS. Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Kelly’s podcast Link to Dubuque on the challenge system Link to Craig on the ch

Ben Lindbergh brings on ESPN senior MLB insider Jeff Passan to discuss the ins and outs of the newsbreaking business—how he reports and announces news, how newsbreaking in baseball differs from newsbreaking in other sports, conflicts of interest, the ills of social media, work-life balance, aging, his flirtation with switching to the basketball beat, and more—plus Jeff’s thoughts on ESPN’s relationship with MLB, the biggest surprises and questions of this hot stove season, and the outlook for a lockout. Then (1:06:55) Ben talks to The Athletic’s Sam Blum about what he learned from covering the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Tyler Skaggs against the Angels, which was settled just before the jury reached a verdict. Audio intro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Jeff’s last EW appearance Link to Jeff

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about an “oppo taco” mention in Wake Up Dead Man, a run on free-agent relievers and the lack of late-inning options remaining on the market, when big free agents actually tend to sign, the Nationals’ youth movement in the front office and on the coaching staff, and the stacked USA WBC pitching staff, plus follow-ups on several subjects. Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Rian Johnson clip Link to MLB.com on Weaver Link to Williams message Link to FG post on Keller Link to Arizona gulls Link to MLBTR on May Link to Jimmy trailer Link to Buzzfeed post on Jimmy Link to remaining FA RP Link to Nats youth story Link to Nats youth story 2 Link to Nats youth tweet Link to MLBTR on DeBartolo Link to Butera quote Link to Nats ticket settlement Link to scouts lawsuit Link to ump age study Link to Sheehan research Link to Raleigh award tweet Link to USA WBC roste

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Ha-Seong Kim, Adrian Houser, and Foster Griffin signings, a prospect-for-prospect Red Sox and Nationals trade, and the Twins’ partial sale, then (34:00) answer emails about saying “pitchoff” instead of “first pitch,” the value of a cool nickname, a Hall of Fame reference in The Wizard of Oz, whether teams value batter performance against elite pitching, protesting ball/strike calls from the dugout, keeping Pete Rose out of the Hall, a running start for pitchers, and moving the catcher back instead of the mound. Audio intro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Kim Link to Anthopoulos comments on Kim Link to MLBTR on Houser Link to MLBTR on Griffin Link to FG post on pitching prospects trade Link to Twins sale story Link to $/WAR analysis Link to $/WAR analysis 2 Link to ceremonial first puck wiki Link t

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a smattering of transactions, featuring (among others) Jorge Polanco, Tyler Rogers, Kenley Jansen, Isaac Collins, Angel Zerpa, Merrill Kelly, Josh Bell, and Adolis García. Then (49:03) they talk about MLB’s move to regulate and standardize the use of in-game technology across the minor leagues, baseball content (sans spoilers!) in new Netflix films Wake Up Dead Man and A House of Dynamite (1:04:50), and MLB players who could come out of retirement after long layoffs, à la Colts QB Philip Rivers (1:15:20). Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Polanco Link to Petriello on Polanco Link to FG post on Rogers Link to team RP projections Link to FG post on Brewers/Royals trade Link to 2025 team OF stats Link to FG post on Kelly Link to FG post on Kenley Link to R-JAWS leaders Link to Ben on the Lester trade Link to MLBTR on Bell

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Garrett Stubbs and the latest example of eyebrow-raising off-the-field Phillies behavior (content warning: adult breast milk consumption), then (14:58) discuss the Pete Alonso signing from the Orioles’ and Mets’ perspectives, Stat Blast (47:09) about teams losing long-tenured/productive players and rapid roster turnover among title winners, and recap (1:05:25) a smattering of transactions to put a bow on the week of Winter Meetings. Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to cursed Stubbs TikTok Link to info on breast milk drinking Link to bodybuilders and breast milk Link to Stubbs on EW Link to Phillies himbo article 1 Link to Phillies himbo article 2 Link to FG post on Alonso Link to Alonso’s career splits Link to O’s vs. LHP Link to Sheehan on the O’s Link to O’s offense sim Link to team SP projections Link to Post cover 1 Li

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley break down Scott Boras’s Winter Meetings wordplay and discuss the Kyle Schwarber and Edwin Díaz deals, a smattering of starting-pitcher signings, the Pirates as supposed spenders, the latest on the Ippei Mizuhara TV series, a Lane Kiffin canine conspiracy, and a Johanfran Garcia nickname. Audio intro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Boras on EW Link to Boras on Imai Link to Boras on Suárez Link to Boras on Bregman Link to Boras on Alonso Link to more on Alonso Link to “Wood” song Link to Boras on Gallen Link to Boras on Skubal Link to Boras on Bellinger Link to Bellinger quote transcription Link to quote about news timing Link to FG post on Schwarber Link to NL fWAR leaders Link to FG post on Díaz Link to Friedman’s “heavy lifting” quote Link to over/under draft results Link to Pirates offer story Link to Boras on the Pirates Link to Pirates/Marlins

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley deliver a correction to the preceding episode’s draft results, ponder the mystery of a bigger John Brebbia fan than Ben, remind listeners to sign up for EW Secret Santa, and banter about Sonny Gray, Brian Cashman, and gloriously nonsensical sports beefs, Bryce Harper’s ozone therapy, two trades centered on blocked prospects, and Jeff Kent’s Cooperstown induction. Audio intro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to EWStats thread Link to competitions/drafts sheet Link to EWStats site Link to FanGraphs Walk-Off Link to Gray article 1 Link to Gray article 2 Link to Dobbins dad story Link to Schlittler article 1 Link to Schlittler article 2 Link to Cashman on Stanton Link to Harper Insta post Link to Baumann post about Harper Link to Baumann’s cycling newsletter Link to Redd post about Harper Link to Harper photo 1 Link to Harper photo 2 Link to Redd’s site Link to Oz

Ben Lindbergh, Sam Miller, and podcast scorekeeper Chris Hanel review the results of an under-25-pitchers draft Ben and Sam conducted a decade ago. Then (13:38) Ben and Sam banter about Ben’s physique, answer listener emails about doing a The Only Rule-style experiment 10 years later, discuss Sam’s revamped, unique approach to writing about baseball this year, and consider some possibilities for what we’ll remember about baseball in 2025. After that (1:05:57), Ben continues the sporadic “Baseball Jobs” series by interviewing 71-year-old John Yandle, the Giants’ left-handed batting-practice pitcher since 1985, about his transition from pitcher to BP pitcher, the keys to good BP, balancing his day job and his baseball side gig, anticipating starting-pitcher matchups, fending off advanced pitching machines, his incredible longevity, arm care in his 70s, the hitters who’ve complained the most, throwing BP to Barry Bonds, and more, followed by (2:01:20) a postscript. Audi

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the John Brebbia and Devin Williams signings (in that order, obviously), share a few follow-ups, and (31:33) assess whether each team satisfied its season preview guest’s conditions for a successful year. Then (58:18) they answer emails about the origins of the concept of the “opposite field,” the meaning of the word “whiff,” how to refer to offseasons, whether umpires practice throwing, how much stock to place in regular-season wins without an accompanying championship, and two takes on the challenge system. Audio intro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Brebbia Link to Brebbia on EW Link to minor league FA Link to FG post on Williams Link to present-value calc Link to Petriello on Williams Link to biggest 2025 ERA-FIP gaps Link to contracts draft Link to team SP projections Link to Canadian currency details Link to Metrodome dem

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley respond to the responses to their response to a recent listener email, discuss (14:38) the Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease deal (including a Stat Blast about pitchers with big ERA-FIP gaps at 34:11), Anthony Rendon’s potential retirement (47:23), and the Orioles’ Ryan Helsley signing (1:05:37), before scrutinizing ESPN’s annual offseason survey of MLB executives (1:15:53). Audio intro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to EW Episode 2407 Link to T20 cricket Link to Baumann on Cease Link to team SP projections Link to contracts draft results Link to Canadian currency wiki Link to ERA-FIP gap findings Link to ERA estimators study Link to “IPA” drug report Link to Rendon report Link to Rendon EW episode Link to The Force Awakens scene Link to Helsley starting post Link to Helsley signing post Link to Helsley BP player card Link to BP pitching leaderboards Link

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Becca Balton to banter about Becca’s baseball background, her origins as a listener, and the Nationals’ new direction, then (17:51) answer emails about a team WAR cap, an extra-innings variant in which the team to score fastest wins, manager close-ups on postseason broadcasts, citing the stats of a particular pitch, a pitch-based skills competition, and the “corners” of the strike zone, followed (1:09:33) by Stat Blasts about postseason series MVPs with negative (c)WPAs, pitchers who earned their first save in their final appearance, the oldest/most-experienced pitchers to push their career records over .500 for the first time, and teams that swept the major awards in the shortest spans, plus a postscript on the Dylan Cease signing and more. Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Yesavage splitter stats Link to

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Red Sox-Cardinals trade involving Sonny Gray and take Hal Steinbrenner to task for his comments about the Yankees not being profitable, then (37:00) talk to Jay Jaffe about the big issues surrounding this year’s (and upcoming years’) BBWAA and Era Committee Hall of Fame ballots. Audio intro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Gray Link to Baumann on Gray Link to Breslow quote Link to Steinbrenner’s comments Link to Rob on Steinbrenner Link to Rob on Atlanta Link to Beeston quote Link to Forbes estimates Link to 2026 BBWAA ballot Link to Jay on the ballot Link to Jay’s profiles schedule Link to ballot tracker Link to ballot tracker site Link to S-JAWS info Link to Jay on the contemporary ballot Link to Posnanski post Link to The Cooperstown

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Warren Schaeffer staying on as Rockies manager, the Mets’ and Rangers’ Brandon Nimmo–Marcus Semien swap, and their memories, thoughts, and feelings concerning Alex Rodriguez, inspired by the new, three-part HBO docuseries Alex vs. A-Rod. Then (58:35) they talk to the co-directors/EPs of Alex vs. A-Rod, Gotham Chopra and Erik LeDrew, about how the docuseries sausage was made and their insights into A-Rod’s psyche. Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2” Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Schaeffer Link to Baumann on the trade Link to Alex vs. A-Rod trailer Link to stream Alex vs. A-Rod Link to Alex vs. A-Rod IMDb page Link to Gotham’s IMDb page Link to Erik’s IMDb page Link to latest HUAL episode Link to Munch King bag Link to “gun” etymology Link to 1993 Levy article Link to Secret Santa sign-up  Sponsor Us on Patreo

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Aaron Judge having been teammates with both Taylor Ward and Tyler Wade, a revelation about the late-season health of Elly De La Cruz, and the hidden value of multiposition players such as Mauricio Dubón, then (38:22) answer listener emails about the terms “baseball lifer” and “double-barrel action,” when […]