Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Randy Arozarena making up with Cal Raleigh, the response to their announcement of the podcast’s new freemium model, whether they would try to issue the official first ball/strike challenge in MLB history, the challenge system vs. the pitch clock, several straggling WBC topics (the Team Italy espresso machine auction results, great TV ratings, a Team USA strawman, reframing the hierarchy of high-level baseball competition, projecting future WBCs, and a non-called shot, plus NPB “ghost wins”), how Ben’s anti on-field-front-office-meddling rant resonated with readers, why Kevin McGonigle and JJ Wetherholt made Opening Day rosters and Konnor Griffin (and John Brebbia) didn’t, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cristopher Sánchez extensions, and how politicians should talk about sports fandom if they want to sound authentic.

Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to “hierarchy of power” supercut

Link to Arozarena statement

Link to freemium model announcement

Link to written explanation

Link to EWStats site

Link to espresso auction

Link to Jac jersey auction

Link to WBC TV ratings

Link to Rosenthal comments

Link to Webb quote

Link to Acuña quote

Link to Kay comments

Link to McLean/Holmes story

Link to NPB “ghost win” story

Link to NPB “ghost win” tweet

Link to NHL overtime rules

Link to Ben on front-office meddling

Link to Ben on the foul lines

Link to The Athletic on Griffin

Link to Pirates hitter projections

Link to MLBTR on Brebbia

Link to FG post on PCA

Link to profane PCA profile

Link to FG post on Sánchez

Link to FG post on Strider

Link to Mamdani quote

Link to Adams cap

Link to de Blasio cap

Link to Hillary caps story 1

Link to Hillary caps story 1

Link to “trash revolution” story

Link to HUAL on Mamdani

Link to statue prizes

Link to MLFAD picks

Link to Meg on HUAL

Link to observer effect wiki

Link to four playoff teams article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley announce a new freemium model for the podcast: From now on, one of their three episodes a week will be available only to Patreon supporters. In this PSA, they lay out their reasons for making the change and explain how it will work. You can also read a written explanation here.

Link to subscribe via Patreon

Link to written announcement

Sponsor Us on Patreon

Give a Gift Subscription

Email Us: [email protected]

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs authors Michael Baumann and Ben Clemens (accompanied by podcast scorekeeper Chris Hanel) play “College Baseball Player or Driver in a Formula 1 Support Series” (5:07), banter about an auction for Team Italy’s WBC espresso machine (10:09), explain the fourth annual preseason predictions game (19:20), and then make 10 bold predictions apiece (22:20) about baseball in 2026, to be voted on by listeners.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)”

Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to vote on predictions

Link to preseason predictions game wiki

Link to Anton’s mash-up song

Link to original song

Link to EW Episode 2383

Link to “College Baseball Player or” games

Link to Baumann on Herta

Link to espresso machine auction

Link to other Team Italy items

Link to Ohtani Cy Young story

Link to Ohtani email episode

Link to Sam on Gsellman

Link to For All Mankind

Link to FG playoff odds

Link to Artemis II story

Link to Perry/moon landing story

Link to Neckzilla

Link to Schulte’s SABR bio

Link to Manfred/Harper/DeRosa story

Link to AO3

Link to new managers story

Link to team WAR projections

Link to 2024 2B innings leaders

Link to active postseason droughts

Link to 2025 Royals WAR leaders

Link to Garcia breakout comment

Link to old-SP leaders

Link to Quinn’s SABR bio

Link to Verlander outing article

Link to young, homegrown SP leaders

Link to Pirates SP article

Link to Baumann on Mlodzinski

Link to MLB partnership announcement

Link to MLB partnership announcement info 1

Link to MLB partnership announcement info 2

Link to MLB partnership announcement info 3

Link to vote on predictions (do it!)

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and FanGraphs contributor Kiri Oler wrap up the World Baseball Classic, covering Venezuela’s triumph, Team USA’s slump and vibes, and the overall success of the tournament, plus thoughts on Mark DeRosa’s managing and Team USA’s future, the semifinal matchups, the bad calls against the Dominican Republic, the challenge system and pitches that are “too close to take,” the WBC vs. the World Series, when the next WBC should be, and much more.

Audio intro: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”

Link to Defector on Venezuela

Link to Harper on the outcome

Link to Posnanski on Team USA

Link to Manfred on WBC timing

Link to data on US-DR game

Link to data on Perdomo take

Link to Ben on fouling off pitches

Link to Harper on the Olympics

Link to McLean start story

Link to top SP projections

Link to USA anthem answers

Link to DeRosa on SEAL speaker

Link to Fox Rogers mix-up

Link to Julio’s WBC quote

Link to Judge’s WBC quote

Link to Hernández’s WBC quote

Link to Jeter on the WBC

Link to DeRosa/López relievers story

Link to next WBC timing

Link to Ben on more WBCs

Link to story on DeRosa’s future

Link to Charbonnet play

Link to Ben on “Strategy”

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB’s new experimental minor league rules, and the potential downsides of trying to skip straight to a desired on-field result, then complete the 14th annual season preview series by previewing the 2026 Los Angeles Dodgers (35:35) with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and the 2026 Colorado Rockies (1:30:13) with Rockies Insider’s Patrick Lyons.


2026 EW Season Preview Series



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Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial 1: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial 2: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ward article 1

Link to Longenhagen on the new rules

Link to Stark on the new rules

Link to Stark on second base

Link to disengagement rules

Link to Bois on balks

Link to team payrolls page

Link to Dodgers offseason tracker

Link to Dodgers depth chart

Link to Baumann on Roki

Link to Fabian on Roki

Link to Dodgers first-rounders

Link to field-sponsorship story

Link to Fabian’s author archive

Link to Rockies offseason tracker

Link to Rockies depth chart

Link to Rockies team wRC+ by year

Link to article on Bryant’s back

Link to article on Vodnik’s family

Link to article on Vodnik at the WBC

Link to Brebbia on EW

Link to Patrick’s work

Sponsor Us on Patreon

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