Effectively Wild: A Fangraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben and Sam preview the Royals’ season with Kansas City Star columnist Sam Mellinger, and George talks to Kansas City Star Royals beat writer Rustin Dodd (at 28:04).

Ben and Sam banter about Angels at the airport, Ryan Webb, and a home-run-hitting contest, then answer listener emails about winning three-game series, the best radio broadcasts, the baseball equivalent of the San Antonio Spurs, and more.

Ben and Sam preview the Angels’ season with Vice Sports contributing editor David Roth, and George talks to Los Angeles Times Angels beat writer Pedro Moura (at 27:42).

Ben and Sam preview the Marlins’ season with BP author Matt Trueblood, and Jeff talks to ESPN/Fox Sports Florida analyst Eduardo Perez (at 28:08).

Ben and Sam preview the Athletics’ season with SB Nation’s Claire McNear, and George talks to San Francisco Chronicle A’s beat writer Susan Slusser (at 21:09).

Ben and Sam preview the Rockies’ season with Deadspin editor Tom Ley, and Jeff talks to Purple Row prospect writer Jen Mac Ramos (at 19:45).

Ben and Sam banter about a picture of Michael Pineda, then answer emails about deferred contracts, players they wish would write books, Michael Jordan the minor leaguer, and more.

Ben and Craig preview the Orioles’ season with Jon Bernhardt, and George talks to MASN/MASNSports.com Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko (at 25:52).

Ben and Sam preview the Reds’ season with Russell Carleton, and Jeff talks to Cincinnati Enquirer Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans (at 28:21)

Ben and Sam preview the Braves’ season with Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Mark Bradley, and Jeff talks to Talking Chop prospect writer Garrett Spain (at 31:23)

Ben and Sam preview the Phillies’ season with Holly M. Wendt, and Jeff talks to News Journal Phillies beat writer Meghan Montemurro (at 23:50)

Ben and Sam preview their fourth annual 30-team season-preview podcast series with preview partners Jeffrey Paternostro and George Bissell, then answer listener emails about prospect lists, talking to scouts, fantasy drafting, Ian Desmond, and Kenta Maeda.

Ben and Sam discuss why teams don’t pay a premium for elite free agents and why players who switch positions might not always do so smoothly.

Ben and Sam banter about The Good Wife’s Super Bowl spot and discuss some potential unintended consequences of raising/shrinking the strike zone.

Ben talks to former Baseball Prospectus editor-in-chief Steven Goldman and Banished to the Pen’s Darius Austin about how Warren Spahn avoided the 1950s Dodgers and what we can learn from the way managers used their pitchers when rotations weren’t rigid.

Ben and Sam banter about Alvaro Espinoza and Kenta Imamiya, then draft candidates for the 2016 Comeback Player of the Year Award(s).

Ben and Sam answer listener emails about Howie Kendrick’s contract, Scott Boras and the CBA, how teams hire analysts, young MVPs, and more.

For the third consecutive year, Ben and Sam draft the 20 minor league free agents they hope will earn the most major league playing time in 2016.

Ben and Sam banter about Billions, the amazing Willie Davis, and a strange Fox Sports article, then conduct a quiz show.

Ben and Sam talk to the new Director of Baseball Research and Development for MLB Advanced Media, Daren Willman, about what’s in store for Statcast in 2016 and beyond.