PODCAST

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley

Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary

sports baseball

All Episodes

2:19:53

Effectively Wild Episode 2440: Season Preview Series:...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/02/13

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about hamate fractures and other deflating spring training injury announcements, Zack Wheeler’s preserved rib, Chris Getz and Luisangel Acuña, a profusion of salary cap coverage, and more, and then preview the 2026 Baltimore Orioles (38:50) with The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka, and the 2026 San Diego Padres (1:27:28) with MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell.2026 EW Season Preview Series

en-US

1:48:35

Effectively Wild Episode 2439: Season Preview Series:...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/02/11

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about new (and encouraging) details about MLB.TV registration, Justin Verlander returning to the Tigers, the rites of spring training, and the Rafael Devers trade in retrospect, before previewing the 2026 Milwaukee Brewers (20:50) with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Curt Hogg, and the 2026 Texas Rangers (1:08:28) with MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry.2026 EW Season Preview Series

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2:08:17

Effectively Wild Episode 2438: Season Preview Series:...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/02/10

Meg Rowley shares her euphoric reaction to the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win, while Ben Lindbergh largely listens and occasionally interjects with bits of baseball commentary. Then (29:14) they discuss Buck Martinez’s retirement, Terrance Gore’s untimely death, and a purported catching super-prospect, before previewing the 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates (44:23) with Roundtable Sports’ John Perrotto, and the 2026 Minnesota Twins (1:25:07) with The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman.

en-US

1:57:14

Effectively Wild Episode 2437: Season Preview Series:...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/02/07

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the new, ESPN-ified process for signing up for MLB.TV, Stat Blast (12:28) about the long-sought, newfound pitching prowess of the WBC’s Team USA superteam, and then (34:31) preview the 2026 San Francisco Giants with The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee, and the 2026 Kansas City Royals (1:20:20) with MLB.com’s Anne Rogers.2026 EW Season Preview Series ALBALCHWATHBOSCLEHOUNYYDETLAATBRKCRSEATORMINTEX

en-US

2:00:27

Effectively Wild Episode 2436: Season Preview Series:...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/02/06

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB player chatbots, an Addison Barger giveaway, Tarik Skubal’s big arbitration win, the Tigers signing Framber Valdez, and a rough week for sports media, then (36:29) begin the 14th annual EW season preview series by discussing the 2026 Houston Astros with The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, and the 2026 Arizona Diamondbacks (1:25:35) with The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro, followed (1:54:53) by a postscript.2026 EW Season Preview

en-US

1:52:23

Effectively Wild Episode 2435: Oddsball Ideas

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/02/04

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about MLB owners avoiding the Epstein files, preview the season preview series, bemoan the insurance issues preventing some stars from playing in the WBC, and break down the Luis Arraez and Eugenio Suárez signings, the Brendan Donovan trade, the latest White Sox moves, and their major takeaways from the release of the 2026 playoff odds. Then (1:22:00) Ben brings on historian Richard Hershberger to discuss the 150th anniversary of the National League’s

en-US

1:37:27

Effectively Wild Episode 2434: Hold Your Dark Horses

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/31

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the oddly timed end of Derek Falvey’s rein as POBOth for the Twins, Jacob Wilson’s extension and the promising but lopsided A’s, pillow contracts vs. trampoline contracts, which teams have had the most frustrating offseasons, dark-horse-candidate teams for 2026, and listener responses to their previous discussion of a Fellowship of the Ring baseball team.Audiointro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audiooutro: Ted O.,

en-US

1:41:26

Effectively Wild Episode 2433: Off the Dome

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/29

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about their coming deliverance from a slow baseball news period, spring training as a spectator experience, and how the prelude to Opening Day has changed, then (12:43) answer emails about the many meanings of “back end” in baseball, an outfielder who repels batted balls, whether all rule violations constitute cheating, a playoff team composed of spoilers, and which positions the members of the Fellowship of the Ring would play, followed (1:16:01) by

en-US

1:48:18

Effectively Wild Episode 2432: What Stars Deserve

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/28

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley share their responses—and the baseball world’s response—to the events of this month in Minnesota. Then (17:26) they banter about deboned Carlos Rodón, the latest pseudoscientific pursuits of Bryce Harper (and Mike Trout?), and the Giants signing Harrison Bader, before (48:06) discussing José Ramírez’s new extension with the Guardians, Andrew McCutchen’s quarrel with the Pirates, and what teams and star players owe to each other, if anything. Finally

en-US

1:49:16

Effectively Wild Episode 2431: Hitters Who Podcast...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/24

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the MacKenzie Gore trade, the trajectories of the Rangers and Nationals since their respective World Series victories, and why the White Sox signed Seranthony Domínguez. Then (29:38) they bring on baseball buds Brent Rooker and Vinnie Pasquantino for a wide-ranging conversation about their scrapped podcasting plans, the Royals remodeling Kauffman Stadium, how Sutter Health Park played, the good and bad of bat-speed training, the challenge system,

en-US

1:52:57

Effectively Wild Episode 2430: New York, New York

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/23

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the best point in the podcast at which to talk transactions, how a salary cap would affect the kind of conversations we have about baseball (based on the way we discuss other sports), the notion that a particular signing would drive owners to pursue a salary cap, and (25:09) whether a fielder’s proclivity for diving catches tells us anything about how good he is (inspired by the belief that Andruw Jones never had to dive). Then (44:32) they break down

en-US

1:35:05

Effectively Wild Episode 2429: Retire Rich

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/21

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ha-Seong Kim and the perils of slipping on ice, the contrasting retirement comments of Mookie Betts and Rich Hill, more on the Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette signings, Goodhart’s law and baseball stats, the late Wilbur Wood, and the latest trends in Hall of Fame voting.Audiointro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)” Audiooutro: Sam Chess, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Kim story Link to

en-US

1:52:19

Effectively Wild Episode 2428: Scalded by the Stove

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/17

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a flurry of transactions and a three-team-trade dilemma, then break down the J.T. Realmuto, Bo Bichette, and Kyle Tucker deals, plus talk of baseball economics and Emmanuel Clase’s roosters.Audiointro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audiooutro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to FG post on Castro Link to MLBTR on three-team trade Link to Passan on Tucker Link to Passan on three-team trade Link to two buttons

en-US

1:35:48

Effectively Wild Episode 2427: Holo Victory

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/16

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley analyze the latest additions to the AL East: Ryan Weathers to the Yankees and Ranger Suárez to the Red Sox. Then (26:52) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter Jon Norton to answer listener emails about players who’ve repeatedly signed one-year contracts, whether they would want to play in an MLB game, how impressive switch-hitting should be, WAR without players who took PEDs, and the all-time greatness of Star Trek legend Buck Bockai.Audiointro: Xavier

en-US

1:41:22

Effectively Wild Episode 2426: The Hot (Stove) Corner

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/14

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley break down the Cubs’ big Alex Bregman signing, Nolan Arenado’s trade to Arizona, Kauffman Stadium’s soon-to-be-cozier confines, and a former GM’s dismissal of advanced stats, plus a few follow-ups.Audiointro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audiooutro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to Andrews on Bregman Link to Baumann on Bregman Link to Langs on draftees Link to Montgomery on Boras Link to Kennedy

en-US

1:36:14

Effectively Wild Episode 2425: The Manfred Mantra

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/10

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a breakup of baseball lookalikes, minor league free agent draft eligibility, and more players who unretired after becoming coaches, then break down the latest baseball broadcasting developments, Rob Manfred’s recent comments (about his priorities and future, an offseason signing deadline, and regular-season structure), Tarik Skubal’s historic arbitration case, and, inspired by sensational hockey streaming series Heated Rivalry (which they

en-US

1:37:10

Effectively Wild Episode 2424: The Perfect Fits for...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/09

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about how the on-ramp for learning about sports analytics has changed since they were students, follow up on players who unretired after becoming coaches, break down the Edward Cabrera trade (and the Michael Lorenzen signing), and then discuss the remaining top-10 free agents (Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Framber Valdez, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette, and Ranger Suárez) from three perspectives: where they’d have the biggest impact, where would be most fun for

en-US

1:45:23

Effectively Wild Episode 2423: The State of the Stove

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/07

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Daniel Vogelbach becoming a Brewers hitting coach and coach-hiring trends, analyze and phact-check Tommy Pham’s pitch for “PhamGraphs,” react to the Kazuma Okamoto signing and the Blue Jays embracing their big-market potential (in contrast to the Giants), and take the temperature of the pretty tepid stove (phollowed by a phollow-up on Pham).Audiointro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audiooutro: Ian Phillips,

en-US

1:46:25

Effectively Wild Episode 2422: The 2026 Minor League...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2026/01/03

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Ben Clemens banter about the Astros signing Tatsuya Imai to a smaller-than-expected deal. Then (18:20) they continue a cherished podcast tradition by conducting the 13th annual Effectively Wild Minor League Free Agent Draft, in which they select 10 minor league free agents each and compete to see whose roster will accumulate the most combined MLB playing time in 2025 (followed by a postscript at 1:31:23).Audiointro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild

en-US

Effectively Wild Episode 2421: The Stories We Missed...

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast ·

2025/12/31

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the potential risk to sports prediction markets pose and then (24:00) discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each American League team that wasn’t previously covered on the show in 2025.Audiointro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audiooutro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to MLBTR on Rendon Link to Bloomberg on prediction markets Link to The Athletic on prediction markets Link to FoS on the

en-US

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Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

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