Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Follow Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Ben Lindbergh (The Ringer), Sam Miller (ESPN), Meg Rowley (FanGraphs), and an array of guests talk about baseball with an analytical bent, covering a mix of timely topics from the serious to the absurd a few times per week.

Ben Lindbergh, Sam Miller, Meg Rowley


    • May 16, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 23m AVG DURATION
    • 2,323 EPISODES

    4.7 from 2,437 ratings Listeners of Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast that love the show mention: sam miller, sam and ben, meg and sam, ben and sam, ben and jeff, prospectus, mike trout, lindbergh, favorite baseball podcast, sabr, jeff and ben, baseball topics, cistulli, fan of baseball, great baseball podcast, fangraphs, team previews, karabell, baseball fix, daily baseball podcast.


    Ivy Insights

    The Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast is an exceptional podcast that offers a unique and insightful perspective on the game of baseball. Hosted by Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley, this podcast provides in-depth analysis, thoughtful discussions, and intelligent conversations about current baseball topics. With their clarity in explaining things and pedantic approach (meant with love), Ben and Meg have become two of my favorite voices to have in my ears.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the wealth of knowledge and expertise that Ben and Meg bring to each episode. They provide deep insights into various aspects of the game, from player performance to team strategies, while also delving into historical tidbits and references. Their discussions are always well-informed, thought-provoking, and backed up by data and research. I appreciate their ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and understandable manner.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the diversity of topics covered. From analyzing player contracts to discussing collective bargaining issues, they cover both the business side of baseball as well as its on-field dynamics. This breadth of coverage allows listeners to gain a comprehensive understanding of the game beyond just what happens on the field.

    However, one potential drawback of this podcast is its focus on business-related aspects such as contracts, draft rights, and collective bargaining. While important for understanding the game's inner workings, these topics can sometimes be dry and may not appeal to those looking for more traditional baseball content. Additionally, the podcast's emphasis on baseball as a business can occasionally overshadow the pure love for the game.

    In conclusion, The Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast is a must-listen for any avid baseball fan seeking intelligent analysis and insightful discussions about America's pastime. Despite its occasional dryness when delving into business-related matters, this podcast excels at providing valuable information while keeping things light-hearted and entertaining. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley's expertise and charm make this podcast a standout in the baseball podcast landscape.



    Search for episodes from Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

    Effectively Wild Episode 2322: Rose-Colored Glasses

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 104:25


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Julio Rodríguez gifting a homer and then taking one away, two Red Sox outfielders teaming up to make a catch, home-run-robbery terminology, Conor Jackson and remembering some guys who were good for your fantasy team, pouring one out for the Austin Barnes Dodgers era, lopsided scores, and the […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2321: The Seventh-Inning (Dynamic) Stretch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 107:22


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about an expert's stance on stretching, whether the White Sox were the funniest team for the new Pope to support, what Paul Skenes signing up for the WBC signifies, an optimistic take on the odds of a lost season, Bud Black's firing and the dreaded “vote of confidence,” Roki […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2320: Baseball Jobs (Dietician and Fun-Fact Finder)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2025 150:28


    Ben Lindbergh and Ben Clemens of FanGraphs banter about the latest positional drama regarding Rafael Devers, then discuss whether and why pitchers leaguewide are Yu Darvish-ing and Tyler Holton-ing—that is, throwing more pitch types, and varying their pitch types more based on batter handedness—before answering listener emails about home strike zones and combining bad teams […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2319: Going By the Book

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 130:46


    It's a baseball-book bonanza! Ben Lindbergh rounds up the authors of three new baseball books for conversations about their work and our relationships with the past. First he talks to John W. Miller about his biography of Earl Weaver, The Last Manager, Weaver's wiring and sabermetric intuition, and the diminished role and reputation of managers. […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2318: It Was the Worst of Times, it Was the Worst of Times

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 106:08


    Ben Lindbergh brings on Brandon Uffner, an Orioles and Braves fan, to talk about his two teams' slow starts to the season, his prescription for fixing them, how he came to root for them, managing his competing loyalties, and more. Then (36:01) he talks to Austin, a White Sox and Rockies fan, about both of […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2317: Wake Up Babe (Ruth)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 117:26


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Mike Trout's latest injury, Pete Alonso's renaissance, a Daulton Varsho recovery catch, Andrés Muñoz the cat guy, and the called strike zone (sort of) shrinking. Then (40:49) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Carson Otter to talk about his background with baseball and the podcast, share his baseball-related […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2316: Brebbia is the Soul of Wit

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 118:05


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the unexpected power of Meg's Mariners (and Jorge Polanco, specifically), in contrast to the Rangers' unexpectedly light-hitting lineup. They also discuss a Jackson Chourio comment about Julio Rodríguez, the long-awaited comeback of Lance McCullers Jr. and the thus-far-deflating comeback of Sandy Alcantara, the literally diminished Mookie Betts, Jose […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2315: Eight Bidets a Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 105:58


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Roki Sasaki and the Dodgers' bidets, baseball in The Last of Us, The Simpsons, and the (future) work of Lin-Manuel Miranda, walk-off groundouts, two possibly botched calls, Jesús Luzardo and how skilled teams are at evaluating medicals, a four-homer effort in a loss, the unexpectedly exciting NL West […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2314: Memento Mori

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a new contender for the highest bat flip, meet major leaguers (14:28) Ryan Johnson and Alan Roden, and (48:35) answer listener emails about how different baseball would be if losses were free for fans and wins cost extra, whether the Rockies will finish in first before the Dodgers […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2313: Great Sports Content

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 87:28


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about old-pitcher comebacks (or dropoffs), James Wood's inefficient excellence, Aaron Judge's potentially unparalleled peak, whether pitching to contact pays, a possible Paul Skenes change, a base-stealing update, private equity's MLB plans, and Rob Manfred's feelings on fandom. Audio intro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2312: A Return to Current Events

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 110:12


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about EW's Ella Black series and catch up on topics they missed during the week away from regular episodes, including: some struggling teams (including the Orioles and Braves), Cal Raleigh's (and David Rubenstein's) bobbleheads, an Atlanta kerfuffle involving Brian Snitker, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Jarred Kelenic, recent pitcher injuries, […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2311: Only a Woman: Ella Black, Lost and Found (Part 3–Ella’s Legacy)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 103:12


    Ella Black was the first woman to write about baseball for a national publication—if her name was Ella Black, and if she was a woman. On Ella Black: Lost and Found, a three-part scripted series from Effectively Wild, Ben Lindbergh explores what we know about the enigmatic trailblazer and tries to solve some of the […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2310: Only a Woman: Ella Black, Lost and Found (Part 2–Ella’s Season)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 76:22


    Ella Black was the first woman to write about baseball for a national publication—if her name was Ella Black, and if she was a woman. On Ella Black: Lost and Found, a three-part scripted series from Effectively Wild, Ben Lindbergh explores what we know about the enigmatic trailblazer and tries to solve some of the […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2309: Only a Woman: Ella Black, Lost and Found (Part 1–Ella’s Legend)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 60:29


    Ella Black was the first woman to write about baseball for a national publication—if her name was Ella Black, and if she was a woman. On Ella Black: Lost and Found, a three-part scripted series from Effectively Wild, Ben Lindbergh explores what we know about the enigmatic trailblazer and tries to solve some of the […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2308: Field of Streams

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the acceptable circumstances (if any) for a bobblehead of a team owner, the Grand Junction Jackalopes belatedly embracing their destiny as the “Chubs,” and more, then (29:35) review and discuss the Netflix documentary The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, followed by a tease for an upcoming […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2307: The Best Worst Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 97:03


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s big bonus, Edmundo Sosa's beginner's home run robbery, how much of a difference depth makes, and the relative levels of alarm about the shoulder injuries of Reynaldo López, Victor Robles, and Blake Snell. Then (49:14) they talk to MLB.com's Michael Clair about what it was […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2306: Extension Tension

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 107:24


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about umpires' surprising preference for full ABS, Rob Manfred's take on torpedo bats, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million extension, players' frugal behaviors, precedents for Dennis Santana's short pants, the Giants' new City Connect jerseys, and (1:14:31) the Dodgers' White House trip. Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2305: How Low Can it Go?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 94:07


    In a grab-bag episode, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the low league BABIP early in the season, the most interesting standings developments so far (with emphases on the Dodgers, Padres, Braves, and AL Central), Atlanta re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-acquiring Jesse Chavez, early attendance issues for the A's, (team-friendly?) extensions for Jackson Merrill, Kristian Campbell, and Ketel […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2304: You Say Suspension, I Say Extension

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 99:16


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about several oddities of the early season, including pitcher Ryne Nelson's single and a drone encounter with an A's bat boy, then discuss Jurickson Profar's PED suspension, Garrett Crochet's extension, and Jonathan Lucroy‘s reaction to Roki Sasaki's apparent post-start tears, before bantering about whether full ABS would encourage even […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2303: Bat After This

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 105:50


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley have an in-depth discussion on all aspects of the sport's topic du jour: torpedo/bowling-pin/juggling-pin(?) bats. They also banter (59:58) about the abysmal beginning of Rafael Devers's season, Aaron Judge's interviews, MLB's attempt to make up for its MLB.TV outage, the vibes at Blue Jays games, Willson Contreras eating bat tape, […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2302: Opening Delay and the 2025 Team Fun Draft

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 130:48


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley react to assorted frustrations and delights of Opening Day, then (42:07) conduct the fifth annual Team Fun Draft, in which they draft all 30 teams in order of how fun they expect them to be to follow in 2025. Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes 2, “Effectively Wild Theme 2” Audio outro: El Warren, […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2301: Organing Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 130:55


    Ben Lindbergh and FanGraphs writer Dan Szymborski banter about how much spring training stats matter, which players improved their projections the most this spring, whether prospects really have a harder time making the transition to MLB from Triple-A today, their spring training award winners, the five-ish biggest questions/storylines for each of them this MLB season, […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2300: Our Favorite Offseason Transactions

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 116:58


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Mookie Betts's unwanted weight loss, new Statcast data on batter positioning, and whether hitters should generally move back in the box, then recap Cal Raleigh's extension and a smattering of other buzzer-beating transactions before discussing (35:46) some of their favorite moves of the offseason. Then (1:10:31) they talk […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2299: The Email Anatomy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg's positional power rankings progress and discuss why MLB is “evaluating” its Diversity Pipeline Program, then for the first time in a while answer listener emails (15:35) about how baseball would be different if swinging hard caused more serious injuries, a high-elevation league/division, inter-game penalties for frivolous end-of-game […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2298: The 2025 Preseason Predictions Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 121:47


    Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs authors Michael Baumann and Ben Clemens play “College Baseball Player or Musician Who's Performing at Sea.Hear.Now 2025” (4:53), and then explain the third annual preseason predictions game (11:53) and make 10 bold predictions apiece (18:57) about baseball in 2025, to be voted on by listeners. Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2297: Shocked and a Paul

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 106:14


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the opening series of the regular season in Japan, then (10:55) discuss the removal (and eventual restoration) of a page about Jackie Robinson on the Department of Defense website, before (39:53) bantering further about breakouts, how player heights dropped (or didn't!) after players were measured more accurately this […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2296: Season Preview Series: Yankees and White Sox

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 116:37


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about completing the season preview series, then preview the 2025 New York Yankees (7:48) with Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, and the 2025 Chicago White Sox (1:04:41) with Sox Machine's James Fegan. Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Cory […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2295: Only the Best Breakout Picks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 103:25


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Jacob deGrom dialing down the velo, the Cardinals signing their first free agent of the offseason, David Robertson still being available, the underrated career of Yasmani Grandal, the latest New Era cap confusion, follow-ups on several recent topics, and the newly jacked Mr. Met. Then (57:22) they talk […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2294: Season Preview Series: Dodgers and Rockies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 149:14


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a surprising amount of Mo Vaughn content, a rash of spring injuries (including Gerrit Cole‘s Tommy John surgery and other Yankees ailments), the latest A's and Rays woes, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers (26:11) with The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, and the 2025 Colorado […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2293: Impossible Sliders and Extremely Slow Curves

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2025 118:14


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a baseball flub in medical procedural The Pitt, Lawrence Butler's extension, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s lofty contract target, how the ball moves differently in the Cactus League, and the value of variety in pitch selection, followed by Stat Blasts (49:20) about the WAR values of letters in player names, […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2292: Season Preview Series: Braves and Marlins

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 139:11


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a fresh wave of “breakout candidate” crimes, Jerry Dipoto's latest Meg-maddening comments, the rise of the “kick change,” how ball/strike calls differ from other boundary calls, Barry Bonds's comments about Shohei Ohtani, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Atlanta Braves (50:56) with 92.9 The Game's Grant McAuley, […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2291: Season Preview Series: Phillies and Guardians

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 125:52


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether the challenge system will inevitably pave the way for full ABS, the degrees of difficulty for two-way Travis Hunter vs. two-way Shohei Ohtani, and (very briefly) reinstating Pete Rose. Then they preview the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies (36:58) with The Athletic's Matt Gelb, and the 2025 Cleveland Guardians […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2290: Season Preview Series: Diamondbacks and Nationals

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 122:47


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the balletic strikeout celebrations of Rockies reliever Jefry Yan, Terry Francona's selective opposition to ABS this spring, how frequently potential game-ending strikeouts will get challenged, and baseball in Season 2 of Poker Face. Then they preview the 2025 Arizona Diamondbacks (36:00) with The Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro, and […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2289: Season Preview Series: Mets and Angels

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 133:56


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about some members of last year's Yankees and Dodgers still sniping about the World Series, Max Scherzer's objection to the challenge system, how ABS has broadly been received so far, and assorted tactical considerations concerning when to challenge. Then they preview the 2025 New York Mets (29:08) with The […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2288: Season Preview Series: Red Sox and Athletics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 126:25


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether certain injuries can improve players, old-but-good guys not getting gigs, the offensive disparity between the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, and Bryce Harper's Phanatic tattoo. Then they preview the 2025 Boston Red Sox (31:16) with The Boston Globe's Alex Speier, and the 2025 Sacramento Athletics (1:25:13) with Jason […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2287: Season Preview Series: Rangers and Pirates

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2025 135:55


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the end of the Yankees' beard ban, the potential end of MLB's business relationship with ESPN, and whether the World Baseball Classic should imitate the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off. Then they preview the 2025 Texas Rangers (50:07) with MLB.com's Kennedi Landry, and the 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates (1:27:23) with […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2286: Season Preview Series: Mariners and Reds

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 119:11


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the start of spring training games, the charms of Tigers reliever John Brebbia, whether MLB's uniform pants were always semi-transparent, and Shohei Ohtani's parallel parking skills. Then they preview the 2025 Seattle Mariners (27:37) with Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, and the 2025 Cincinnati Reds (1:12:53) with […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2285: Shoeless Sho

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 107:56


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a player who signed an extension (Geraldo Perdomo), a player who didn't sign an extension (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.), a player who's switching positions (Mike Trout), and a player who's not switching positions, at least for now (Rafael Devers), plus an update on Meg's updated beliefs about Shohei Ohtani's […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2284: Season Preview Series: Astros and Cardinals

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben's new sound-dampening windows, listener defenses of MLB's altered two-way-player rule, and the latest intolerable “breakout” pick, followed by Stat Blasts (15:49) about the teams with the most winless, non-lossless pitchers and the all-time past-their-prime/time-travel teams. Then they preview the 2025 Houston Astros (32:41) with The Athletic's Chandler […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2283: Season Preview Series: Cubs and Giants

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 124:43


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Red Sox signing Alex Bregman, the Padres signing Nick Pivetta, and Anthony Rendon's latest long-term injury. Then they preview the 2025 Chicago Cubs (29:35) with The Athletic's Sahadev Sharma, and the 2025 San Francisco Giants (1:14:41) with The Athletic's Grant Brisbee. Audio intro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2282: Season Preview Series: Twins and Tigers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Rob Manfred's Super Bowl cameo, the return of not-terrible uniforms, a new finding in the “familiarity vs. fatigue” debate about the times through the order effect, two more Dodgers signings, and an intriguingly timed alteration to the criteria for two-way-player classification. Then they preview the 2025 Minnesota Twins […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2281: Season Preview Series: Orioles and Royals

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2025 104:58


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Dodgers' overstuffed 2025 bobblehead lineup, Ippei Mizuhara's sentencing, and the Angels' tireless pursuit of players who were good several seasons ago. Then they preview the 2025 Baltimore Orioles (35:55) with the Baltimore Banner's Danielle Allentuck, and the 2025 Kansas City Royals (1:08:21) with the Kansas City Star's […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2280: Season Preview Series: Rays and Brewers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 111:28


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Mets re-signing Pete Alonso, the Twins signing Harrison Bader, and the compressed standings in the newly released FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus playoff odds. Then they preview the 2025 Tampa Bay Rays (31:35) with MLB.com's Adam Berry, and the 2025 Milwaukee Brewers (1:09:55) with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2279: Season Preview Series: Blue Jays and Padres

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 125:56


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley introduce the 13th annual Effectively Wild season preview series, then banter about the Tigers signing Jack Flaherty to a smaller-than-expected deal, a long-awaited explanation for the gambling-related firing of umpire Pat Hoberg, and the death and legacy of former commissioner Fay Vincent. Then they preview the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2278: We Shall Not Look Upon Their Like Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 102:52


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Max Scherzer and Jorge Polanco signings, Scherzer vs. Justin Verlander, and the changes in pitcher usage over the course of those pitchers' careers. Then (20:17) they discuss stricter restrictions on the size of fielders' gloves, and the merits of a tax in Meg's county to help pay […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2277: The Most Demoralizing Offseasons

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 94:48


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the overwhelming listener response to their previous conversation about cover models for baseball video games, and Ben issues some “Bo Nos” in support of his previous Royals reporting. Then (18:19) they talk about the Rays signing Ha-Seong Kim, Roki Sasaki “prospect” rankings, a recent leaguewide run on relievers, […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2276: Them’s the Breakouts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 99:47


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about some good news and bad news about breakout picks, Junior Caminero's unbeatable bat flip and home run trot in the LIDOM playoffs, the latest MLB The Show cover model(s) and the lone MLB franchise that hasn't put a player on the cover of a video game, the Ryan […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2275: Stop the Stop Signs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 105:49


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg's memories of Ichiro and his sensational MLB debut, Ippei Mizuhara's letter about his work with Shohei Ohtani, Roki Sasaki's dog, the misleading name of “Sluggball,” Jurickson Profar and the prospect of a Braves rebound, which players will get “shorter” thanks to the challenge system, two new rules […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2274: All Hall

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 79:24


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley bring on FanGraphs senior writer Jay Jaffe to break down the Hall of Fame voting results, from new honorees to one-and-done candidates to trends in support to forecasts for future ballots and much more. Audio intro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Hill report […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2273: Dodgers Dominance Discourse Redux

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 97:25


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley revisit and update their recent discussion on the Dodgers, competitive balance, and what's good for the game in light of L.A.'s latest additions, then (1:06:18) discuss the Blue Jays' signing of Anthony Santander and the outlook for Pete Alonso, followed by (1:20:02) a Stat Blast on Bob Uecker and the […]

    Effectively Wild Episode 2272: Leagues of Their Own

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2025 137:42


    Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley react to the news that Roki Sasaki is signing with the Dodgers (shocker!), breaking down how the posting process played out, the Dodgers' ridiculous rotation, whether L.A.'s talent-acquisition advantage is good or bad for baseball, the runners-up for Roki, and more. Then they explore how softball and baseball are joining […]

    Claim Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel