Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

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 spending story Link to Ippei show update Link to FG post on Matz Link to MLBTR on Grissom Link to MLBTR on Ponce Link to MLBTR on Weiss Link to MLBTR on Kay Link to MLBTR on Anderson Link to HUAL on Kiffin Link to Kiffin dog story 1 Link to Kiffin dog story 2 Link to report on Juice Link to post on Juice’s account Link to Cruella de Vil wiki Link to Garcia brothers story Link to Patreon gift subs Link to Secret Santa sign-up 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 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 Redd post about Harper Link to Harper photo 1 Link to Harper photo 2 Link to Redd’s site Link to Ozone therapy wiki Link to Bastyr U wiki Link to FG post on Ford trade Link to FG post on Password trade Link to 2025 team catcher WAR Link to team SP projections Link to Jay on Kent Link to Sheffield’s explanation Link to 2B JAWS Link to 2000 NL fWAR leaders Link to 2000 NL bWAR leaders Link to “C’mon, do something” meme Link to MLBTR on Wade Link to Patreon gift subs Link to Secret Santa sign-up 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, 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. Audio intro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio interstitial: Sam Miller, “Effectively Wild Theme (Ken Maeda’s Nice ‘n’ Easy Remix)” Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to EW Episode 669 Link to competitions/drafts sheet Link to EWStats site Link to The Only Rule Link to Ben’s Vince Gilligan video Link to Pebble Hunting Link to Sam on tripping Link to Sam on non-highlight highlights Link to Sam on the CI challenge Link to Sam on dropped third strikes Link to piece about first pitches Link to How To with John Wilson Link to Sam on remembering past years Link to Sam on Ohtani in 2024 Link to Sam on the World Series Link to Sam on the Hall Link to titular Yogi-ism Link to John’s B-Ref page Link to John’s Newmark bio Link to 2024 article on John Link to 2012 article on John Link to 2007 article on John Link to Johnson’s first pitch Link to Bonds TTO splits Link to Giants Trajekt machine Link to Cooney/Wharton Link to Cooney’s LinkedIn Link to Byrnes wiki Link to Wrapped post Link to Patreon gift subs Link to Secret Santa sign-up 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 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 demolition Link to preseason team goals Link to Dickson on “corner” Link to Dickson on “opposite field” Link to Dickson on “whiff” Link to FG top 50 FA Link to team wins since 2000 Link to Andrews on ABS and catchers Link to Tango on ABS and catchers Link to listener emails database Link to MLBTR on Manoah Link to MLBTR on Ponce Link to Patreon gift subs Link to Secret Santa sign-up 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 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 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 to Ben on Alcantara in 2022 Link to Trueblood on predictability Link to Sam on the Crasnicks Link to new ESPN survey Link to Patreon gift subs Link to Secret Santa sign-up 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 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 Babe Ruth Award wiki Link to Kershaw/Stafford backstory Link to xkcd “Ten Thousand” comic Link to Stafford stat Link to Stafford’s season Link to QB wins leaders Link to Nightengale column Link to BP on MLB’s “losses” Link to MaML on Karcher Link to listener emails database Link to Jesser’s YouTube channel Link to Rendon report Link to MLBTR on Cease Link to Baumann on Cease Link to Secret Santa sign-up 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 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 Casebook Link to Secret Santa sign-up 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 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 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 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 […]

Ben, Meg, Michael Baumann, Ben Clemens, and Chris Hanel congregate to review the results of the 2025 minor league free agent draft (11:45) and recap their 40 bold preseason predictions (19:01), following quick games of “2025 College World Series Starting Pitching Matchup or First Amendment Supreme Court Case” (2:58) and “Cedar Rapids Kernel or Character […]

Ben and Meg banter about the benefits of baseball supporting longer careers than some other sports (inspired by LeBron James becoming the first NBA player to make it to a 23rd season), the Mariners re-signing Josh Naylor, four free agents accepting qualifying offers, the Orioles and Angels swapping Grayson Rodriguez and Taylor Ward, whether teams […]

Ben and Meg banter about Based Boras vs. Borscht Belt Boras and a few corny quips they overlooked, then discuss end-of-season awards (Aaron Judge vs. Cal Raleigh, Paul Skenes vs. Cristopher Sánchez, Skenes as a paid pitchman, José Ramírez MVP shares, Shohei Ohtani's dog vs. Judge's dogs, repetition among award winners, groupthink among voters, WAR […]

Ben and Meg banter about a hotel-lobby shrine to Addison Barger and Scott Boras wordplay at the GM meetings, Stat Blast (25:50) about Paul DePodesta's comeback, POBO percentage, postseason questions, and Mike Greenwell, and (1:01:07) conduct the 11th annual free agent contract over/under draft, plus a Boras postscript. Audio intro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Benny […]

Ben and Meg break down the federal indictment of Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz, including the documentary and statistical evidence of their alleged pitch-fixing, the implications for the sport and sports gambling, the unanswered questions, the dark comedy, and more (plus a real-time reaction to an MLB betting reform and an answer to an […]

Ben and Meg banter about the Rockies reportedly hiring Paul DePodesta as their new head of baseball operations, another managerial hiring, MLB's World Series ratings bonanza, the resurgence of the splitter, the Royals extending Salvador Perez, and more. Then (44:30) they bring on Ben Clemens to discuss his ranking of this offseason's top 50 free […]

Ben and Meg banter about the slightly shorter-than-usual duration of the offseason, how big the WBC will be, and a few managerial hirings. After that (41:53), they talk to FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about Munetaka Murakami and this offseason's most promising free agents from international leagues, what we've learned about Roki Sasaki and […]

Ben and Meg banter about all the highlights of World Series Game 7, with a side of World Series Game 6, break down the appeal of the now-completed postseason, and discuss what teams might take away from the success of 2025's pennant winners. Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme” […]

Ben and Meg banter about Trey Yesavage's performance in World Series Game 5, whether he's already provided a career's worth of value to Toronto, his current prospect ranking, and his future, plus Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s steady postseason production vs. Shohei Ohtani's clustered postseason production, covering the regular season like we cover the postseason, why the […]

Ben and Meg banter about Magic Johnson's Game 5 preview, Game 4 observations, belated Game 2 takes on Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Jonas Brothers, Addison Barger's sleepovers and doppelgangers, David Popkins' impact on the Jays, another Cal Raleigh award win, Bryce Harper's hurt feelings, and more. Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, […]

Ben and Meg banter about and draft their favorite 18 moments (one for each inning!) from an endlessly entertaining, and almost just plain endless, World Series Game 3. Audio intro: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Ben on Game 3 Link to Laurila on Game 3 […]

Ben and Meg banter about Ben's trip to a World Series-obsessed city, whether Game 1 of a best-of-seven series can be “must-win,” the Jays-as-underdogs narrative, the global audience for the matchup, and a few factors they're following throughout the series, before reacting to two California clubs' managerial hirings: the Angels' choice of Kurt Suzuki and […]

Meg Rowley and guest co-host Ben Clemens of FanGraphs discuss the conclusion of the ALCS, including Dan Wilson's decision to the turn to Eduard Bazardo to face George Springer with runners on in the seventh rather than bring in a higher-leverage reliever like Andrés Muñoz. Then they preview the upcoming World Series between the Blue […]

In the hours before an ill-fated (for the Mariners) ALCS Game 7, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the state of Meg's fan feelings and the highlights, lowlights, managerial moves, and more from Games 5 and 6. Then they discuss Shohei Ohtani's instantly legendary NLCS Game 4 performance (plus postscript). Audio intro: Kite Person, “Effectively […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about ALCS Game 4 and NLCS Game 3, with an emphasis on Max Scherzer's must-win mentality and why his hyped-up mound and start-day demeanor stops just short of scanning as too intense, the Dodgers' likeability (or lack thereof), and repetitive promos. Then (as Meg sporadically exclaims about the beginning […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the effect of road dominance on the postseason spectator experience and discuss NLCS Game 2 and ALCS Game 3, touching on Yoshinobu Yamamoto's throwback complete game, the historic playoff production of Kiké Hernández, the less surprising excellence of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a budding Dodgers backlash, pitcher usage when […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley revisit Meg's experience of Mariners-Tigers ALDS Game 5 and recap the first few games of the Championship Series round, touching on postseason broadcast booths, the Mariners' mauling of the Blue Jays in Toronto, Pat Murphy's burnishing of the Brewers' underdog image, broader narrative-building about the Brewers-Dodgers series, whether the Dodgers […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley announce their playoff livestream plans and then break down Game 4 of the Phillies-Dodgers NLDS, including their musings on Orion Kerkering's game-ending error and the events that preceded it, whether baseball would be better or worse without tragic on-field figures, the Phillies' future, the intimidating Dodgers, and more. Then, after […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the rampant overuse of the phrase “must-win game,” denying late timeouts, the Blue Jays' victory over the Yankees, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a Yankees postmortem, Aaron Judge's partial postseason redemption, the athletic (and managerial) highlights and lowlights of the other ALDS and the two NLDSes, the swan song of […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg's recovery from illness and her ongoing emotional distress as a postseason spectator, then share their takeaways from the first two games of each ALDS and the first game of each NLDS. After that (51:15), Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie joins to talk about how he's […]

Ben Lindbergh brings on Michael Baumann, who immediately makes Ben regret it by subjecting him to a lyrical ode to Effectively Wild inspired by the Taylor Swift song “Wood.” Then they play “College Baseball Player or Make and Model of Car?” before recapping the three decisive Game 3s of the wild card round (with an […]

Ben Lindbergh brings on Hannah Keyser and Zach Crizer of The Bandwagon to banter in a hopefully not-immediately-dated way about the first two days of playoff action, including the Dodgers dispatching the Reds, Dave Roberts using “Strategy,” Aaron Boone's perceived mismanaging, the flamethrowing Mason Miller and a playoff-pitch-speed conundrum, and more, plus conversation about how […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about their plans for playoff livestreams and an MLB attendance announcement, then recap the highlights of the last weekend of the regular season and discuss what excites them about the playoffs. Along the way, they rank the collapses of the Astros, Tigers, and Mets and banter about trade-deadline do-overs, […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Mariners clinching the AL West, the benefits and drawbacks of MVP debates, the power of great players to enhance a season for spectators, the Cardinals' and Giants' reciprocal eliminations, the near-extinction of the 200-inning pitcher, the Nationals' new head of baseball ops, and how predictive a track […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the delights of the last week of the regular season, the Dodgers' bullpen problems, and what kind of compromise the challenge system is, then (43:09) answer listener emails about where the warning track extends, the easiest day at the office for a batter, a player who exclusively hits […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the standings and stakes of an unexpectedly wild last week of the regular season, whether there's such as a thing as a playoff team that can't make a deep run, why Cal Raleigh is the player of the year regardless of whether he wins MVP, whether it still […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about 2025's record number of 25-25 players and whether the current power/speed version of the sport is rendered any less impressive by its recent rule-change origins, the historic pre/post-All-Star break splits of Julio Rodríguez and whether the Mariners can help him become less of an extreme slow starter/fast finisher […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the state of the wild cards and whether the pennant races have been more exciting than forecasted despite the lack of actual changes in the playoff field, Cal Raleigh's latest exploits, Geraldo Perdomo's quiet excellence, the Orioles' 2026 outlook, the Dodgers' rotation and bullpen, Shohei Ohtani's playoff role(s), […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg's reaction to the Mariners moving into first place in the AL West (at least temporarily), Jac Caglianone and the Royals' woeful corner-outfield offense, whether major leaguers have gotten better at sliding, and an unjust byproduct of the zombie runner. Then (50:43) they bring on baseball researcher and […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the deepening twilight of Mike Trout, then (21:19) discuss why the so-called “death of expertise” sweeping society hasn't swept sports in the same way, before answering listener emails (1:04:01) about whether the Rangers are good, how the count can be “quickly 0-2,” what makes a righty seem like […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss and speculate about the percentage of major leaguers who've been inducted into some hall of fame and banter about Elly De La Cruz's extended slump, Sean Murphy's hip-to-be-tear revelation, and the perils of playing through injury, then assess where the line is when publicly shaming fans for ballpark behavior, […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss Yoshinobu Yamamoto's near no-hitter, the Effectively Wild bump, and the Orioles' incredible comeback), then banter (and quasi-Stat Blast) about four subjects: whether Shohei Ohtani has been more or less valuable as a DH only or as a two-way player this season; whether Cal Raleigh hits a disproporionate number of […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Trent Grisham's 30-homer season is more or less surprising than Juan Soto's almost-30-steal season, Colson Montgomery's dinger spree, why there hasn't been a no-hitter this season, and the exciting-but-boring AL/NL West races. Then (26:47) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Ashton Moss to banter about his baseball […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about broadcasters' anxiety about saying “Cam Schlittler,” whether the Mets' pitching-prospect trio of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat will produce more WAR than “Generation K,” a protracted trot by Rafael Devers, whether Framber Valdez intentionally crossed up his catcher, how a lockout looming in late 2026 could […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley talk about not talking about the Cardinals, then banter about Sandy Alcantara's resurgence, whether Walker Buehler will have his own bounceback for the Phillies, Ha-Seong Kim's reunion with Jurickson Profar, the concept of “adversarial location,” Aroldis Chapman and Taj Bradley‘s discoveries of inside/outside and scouting reports, respectively, Chapman's extension, whether […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about John Brebbia's return to the big leagues, Kyle Schwarber's four-homer game, the potential for a position-player-pitcher-assisted five-homer game, Heliot Ramos and dingers on extremely slow pitches, an interminable inning, whether the playoff race is over and, if so, whether that's an indictment of the 12-team format, and the […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the semi-resurgence of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw, Nathan Eovaldi's injury and Patrick Corbin's climb to the top of the Rangers innings leaderboard, the great-but-forgotten Steve Rogers, the end of Andrew Heaney's Pirates tenure, Royce Lewis's focus on his stats, whether MLB's strikeout rate has declined […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the early start to the 2026 regular season and MLB's schedule in a warming world, tossing snacks after tossing a bat, this year's potential trio of 50-homer hitters (including a Cal Raleigh update), the virtues of players who have high floors (with check-ins on Bobby Witt Jr. and […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about sports equivalents to baseball's bat crack, Colson Montgomery's torpedo bat, reserving judgement on the MVP race, Francisco Alvarez's minor league reset (and subsequent injury), a Kyle Tucker slump/injury update, the hot hitting of Giancarlo Stanton and Jakob Marsee, the Twins' new knuckleballer, Pierson Ohl, and the ramifications of […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about torpedo bats (remember them?), Cody Bellinger's good year and confounding career, recent comments by Craig Counsell and Aaron Boone, the impending call-up of Bubba Chandler and the recent arrival of Owen Caissie, the weirdest things about being a pro baseball player, a zombie-runner-induced ending to a pitcher's duel, […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the commissioner's power to dictate conversations about baseball, realignment possibilities, whether league distinctions still matter, how much they have to banter about, Victor Robles's bat throw and suspension, the latest Tommy Pham flare-up, a Ketel Marte controversy, the Brewers, the Blue Jays, and what teams' styles of play […]

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether any of the teams that sold at the trade deadline can make an improbable playoff run, whether the Dodgers' position in the playoff race refutes or confirms preseason fears about their advantages, and the accelerating splintering of sports broadcasts (MLB on the Poob tube!), then answer emails […]