Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast
EWFI [http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png] This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/effectivelywild]. Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether Ben cursed Shohei Ohtani [https://www.fangraphs.com/players/shohei-ohtani/19755/stats/batting]’s bat by predicting that Ohtani would win the Cy Young award but not the MVP award, whether Bobby Witt Jr. [https://www.fangraphs.com/players/bobby-witt-jr/25764/stats/batting] could win his first MVP award this season, the defensive transformation of Luis Arraez [https://www.fangraphs.com/players/luis-arraez/18568/stats/batting], and more, then (33:16) further interrogate what homoerotic celebrations say about baseball culture, discuss the latest ABS challenge mishaps, answer listener emails (54:30) about an ABS double-or-nothing idea, trading challenges for runs, purchasing challenges midgame, an upside of umpire rotation, boosting offense with double-barreled batters, and a baseball equivalent to the Kelce brothers, plus Stat Blasts (1:28:21) about players with the most inning-ending at-bats in a game, swing rates in debut plate appearances, grand-slam merchants, teams with many MVP vote-getters, and picked-off pinch runners. Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jVOMAuZop-4BhxnZ1JQaULw7FlW2XJD_/view?usp=drive_link]” Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C85Waxu-ubj5VEkl5qCROdNaEAdUbcl4/view?usp=drive_link]” Link to preseason predictions episode [https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2455-the-2026-preseason-predictions-game/] Link to Ohtani slump story 1 [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7274674/2026/05/12/dodger-shohei-ohtani-slump-rest/] Link to Ohtani slump story 2 [https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/dodgers-still-plan-rest-shohei-ohtani-after-breaking-slump] Link to Ohtani slump story 3 [https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-out-of-dodgers-lineup-in-back-to-back-games] Link to Ohtani slump story 4 [https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48766151/amid-slump-ohtani-keeps-mound-dominance-win-giants] Link to Ohtani slump story 5 [https://full-count.jp/2026/05/14/post1960732/] Link to FG WAR leaders [https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/war?teamid=&lg=&sortcol=6&sortdir=desc&wartype=0] Link to B-Ref WAR leaders [https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_top_ten.shtml] Link to FG post on Arraez [https://blogs.fangraphs.com/luis-arraez-is-good-at-defense-now/] Link to MLB.com on Arraez [https://www.mlb.com/news/luis-arraez-improving-defense-with-giants] Link to FRV leaders [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/fielding-run-value?dateEnd=2026-05-13&gameType=Regular&seasonStart=2026&seasonEnd=2026&type=fielder&position=0&minInnings=q&minResults=1] Link to Outsports post 1 [https://www.outsports.com/2024/10/14/24102753/dodgers-mets-kike-hernandez-gavin-lux-crotch-bump-gay/] Link to Outsports post 2 [https://www.outsports.com/2026/3/16/24130383/world-baseball-classic-italy-vinnie-pasquantino-kansas-city-royals-usa-kiss-madonna-lady-gaga/] Link to Outsports post 3 [https://www.outsports.com/2024/10/18/24102964/chicago-cubs-world-series-david-ross-dexter-fowler-crotch-bump-gay-dodgers-cleveland-guardians-david-fry-brayan-rocchio/] Link to homosociality wiki [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosociality] Link to Ross memoir [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/david-ross/teammate/9780316559454/?lens=hachette-books] Link to Valentine/Baty incident [https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1tcivjg/junior_valentine_thinks_brett_baty_is_challenging/] Link to Torres challenge denials [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2026/05/10/carlos-torres-denies-abs-challenges-orioles-athletics/90024081007/] Link to Heim play [https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/2051039658499273166] Link to Ben on accidental challenges [https://www.theringer.com/2026/05/08/mlb/a-complete-taxonomy-of-mlb-abs-accidents-challenge-system] Link to Jake on accidental challenges [https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/will-mlbs-abs-challenge-signal-evolve-heres-why-head-tap-gesture-can-cause-confusion-among-umps-players-and-scoreboard-operators-175516119.html] Link to Gausman quote [https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48486702/mlb-2026-automated-ball-strike-challenge-system-rule-players-weigh-in] Link to batter challenge leaders [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/abs-challenges?gameType=regular&year=2026&challengeType=batter&level=mlb&minChal=1&minOppChal=0&fielderMode=as-challenger] Link to Rumsfeld quote wiki [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_are_unknown_unknowns] Link to catcher challenge leaders [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/abs-challenges?gameType=regular&year=2026&challengeType=catcher&level=mlb&minChal=1&minOppChal=0&sort=net_net_runs&sortDir=desc&page=0&pageSize=50] Link to team challenge leaders [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/abs-challenges?gameType=regular&year=2026&challengeType=team-summary&level=mlb&minChal=1&minOppChal=0&dataCount=runs&sort=n_chal_runs_gained_total&sortDir=desc&page=0&pageSize=50] Link to Clemens on FA $/WAR [https://blogs.fangraphs.com/what-are-teams-paying-for-a-win-in-free-agency-2026-edition/] Link to Ortiz ump injury [https://www.mlb.com/video/home-plate-umpire-roberto-ortiz-exits-game] Link to double-barreled BP article 1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20130825014635/http:/fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2013/08/07/our-turn-to-learn-a-baseball-tradition-reconsidered/] Link to double-barreled BP article 2 [https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2200462] Link to HUAL segment [https://slate.com/podcasts/hang-up-and-listen/2026/03/why-so-many-professional-athletes-have-podcasts-now-and-why-most-fail] Link to ex-athlete pods article 1 [https://frontofficesports.com/have-we-reached-peak-athlete-podcast/] Link to ex-athlete pods article 2 [https://awfulannouncing.com/podcasts/athlete-hosted-reaching-saturation-point.html] Link to Tkachuks pod [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wingmen-with-matthew-brady-tkachuk/id1851307432] Link to Harrisburg vs. Erie game [https://www.milb.com/gameday/seawolves-vs-senators/2026/05/07/818689/final/box] Link to 1977 Jays-Yanks game [https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA197709100.shtml] Link to five-inning-ending players [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1R33WX84ilK7JQTYInNAjSKhc3dTQqFDEGPQc1lUclWc/edit?usp=sharing] Link to 2003 NL MVP voting [https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2003_National_League_Most_Valuable_Player_Award] Link to teams with 8+ MVP vote-getters [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NuN63MP-5iLFp6nqYm-L14SE-F1h5gulynFR9x6szTM/edit?usp=sharing] Link to SABR on WAR and awards [https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-relationship-between-war-and-the-selection-of-annual-performance-based-awards/] Link to Baumann on WAR and awards [https://blogs.fangraphs.com/did-war-ruin-the-mvp-conversation/] Link to Sam on downballot MVP votes [https://pebblehunting.substack.com/p/downballots-got-boring] Link to debut-PA swing rates data [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iqe1ft-IyCd7ZFbTSA8yasrQUPFItxibE2oA8kEbAJQ/edit?usp=sharing] Link to innings 1-3 swing rate [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=&hfGT=R%7C&hfPR=foul%7Cfoul%5C.%5C.bunt%7Cbunt%5C.%5C.foul%5C.%5C.tip%7Cfoul%5C.%5C.pitchout%7Chit%5C.%5C.into%5C.%5C.play%7Cmissed%5C.%5C.bunt%7Cfoul%5C.%5C.tip%7Cswinging%5C.%5C.pitchout%7Cswinging%5C.%5C.strike%7Cswinging%5C.%5C.strike%5C.%5C.blocked%7C&hfZ=&hfStadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfPull=&hfC=&hfSea=2025%7C&hfSit=&player_type=pitcher&hfOuts=&home_road=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&hfEventOuts=&hfEventRuns=&hfABSFlag=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfMo=&hfTeam=&hfOpponent=&hfRO=&position=&hfInfield=&hfOutfield=&hfInn=1%7C2%7C3%7C&hfBBT=&hfFlag=&metric_1=&group_by=league&min_pitches=0&min_results=0&min_pas=0&sort_col=pitch_percent&player_event_sort=api_p_release_speed&sort_order=desc&chk_inning=on#results] Link to innings 4+ swing rate [https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&hfAB=&hfGT=R%7C&hfPR=foul%7Cfoul%5C.%5C.bunt%7Cbunt%5C.%5C.foul%5C.%5C.tip%7Cfoul%5C.%5C.pitchout%7Chit%5C.%5C.into%5C.%5C.play%7Cmissed%5C.%5C.bunt%7Cfoul%5C.%5C.tip%7Cswinging%5C.%5C.pitchout%7Cswinging%5C.%5C.strike%7Cswinging%5C.%5C.strike%5C.%5C.blocked%7C&hfZ=&hfStadium=&hfBBL=&hfNewZones=&hfPull=&hfC=&hfSea=2025%7C&hfSit=&player_type=pitcher&hfOuts=&home_road=&pitcher_throws=&batter_stands=&hfSA=&hfEventOuts=&hfEventRuns=&hfABSFlag=&game_date_gt=&game_date_lt=&hfMo=&hfTeam=&hfOpponent=&hfRO=&position=&hfInfield=&hfOutfield=&hfInn=4%7C5%7C6%7C7%7C8%7C9%7C10%7C&hfBBT=&hfFlag=&metric_1=&group_by=league&min_pitches=0&min_results=0&min_pas=0&sort_col=pitch_percent&player_event_sort=api_p_release_speed&sort_order=desc&chk_inning=on#results] Link to grand slams data [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1vTSvX4VC1GaOLT6UbanxLa4zUvMqTRImhv7sFO6lRDA/edit?usp=sharing] Link to listener emails database [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-8lpspHQuR5GK7S_nNtGunLGrx60QnSa8XLG_wvRb4Q/edit?usp=sharing] Link to highest PR pickoff rates data [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aiMsFM9aruakWpXktsHDV3dNPzX5yAuFJpnekW_0EWA/edit?usp=sharing] Link to Haggerty pickoff game [https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401815301] Link to SABR on PR specialists [https://sabr.org/journal/article/leg-men-career-pinch-runners-in-major-league-baseball/] Link to Wright on PR specialists 1 [https://mcusercontent.com/70117f7e29064e68418377637/files/78657855-0a52-3d40-86dc-9838f14a343c/23038_Lewis_Designated_Runner.pdf] Link to Wright on PR specialists 2 [https://mcusercontent.com/70117f7e29064e68418377637/files/ef7939e4-9cbb-5fb6-6b1e-5d53606b7c12/23043_Designated_Runner_Part_2.pdf] Link to Langs Bell fun fact [https://bsky.app/profile/slangsonsports.bsky.social/post/3mlro5vepbc23] [https://i.imgur.com/hT2AX6G.jpg] Sponsor Us on Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/effectivelywild] [https://i.imgur.com/xQIHgp3.png] Give a Gift Subscription [https://patreon.com/effectivelywild/gift] [https://i.imgur.com/tNOGFnG.png]podcast@fangraphs.com Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com [podcast@fangraphs.com] [https://i.imgur.com/gj3wTt4.png] Effectively Wild Subreddit [https://www.reddit.com/r/effectivelywild/] [https://i.imgur.com/28HuIsx.png] Effectively Wild Wiki [http://effectivelywild.wikia.com/wiki/Effectively_Wild_Wiki] [https://i.imgur.com/n16jO21.png] Apple Podcasts Feed [http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/effectively-wild-daily-baseball/id545919715] [https://i.imgur.com/fQfPcpV.png] Spotify Feed [https://open.spotify.com/show/18kbXy9p0jHw3o8f2cQlCj] [https://i.imgur.com/sjL4TbJ.png] YouTube Playlist [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXytxPs81CsUSJmN1mQMr526CdeDpf4vK] [https://i.imgur.com/jbkZAC1.png] Facebook Group [https://www.facebook.com/groups/effectivelywild/] [https://i.imgur.com/waJFv7Y.png] Bluesky Account [https://bsky.app/profile/ewpod.bsky.social] 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[https://breakingt.com/collections/fangraphs] Source [https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2479-batters-up/]
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