Ben Lindbergh, Sam Miller, and senior writer for The Athletic Andy McCullough banter about the people they would be (or have been) most nervous about interviewing and two new noteworthy articles, then discuss Andy’s and Rustin Dodd’s highly controversial ranking of the 30 greatest baseball songs of all time, the dispute about John Fogerty’s “Centerfield,” the best and worst baseball songs, what qualifies a song as a baseball song, why baseball music isn’t better, and more. Audio intro : The Magn...
Apr 30, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about Johnny Vander Meer ’s ear boils and the surprisingly ancient origins of the phrase, “A walk is as good as a hit,” then answer listener emails about why some players prove to be flashes in the pan, whether a home run derby would work under current conditions, whether the pandemic makes MLB expansion more or less likely, what one would learn from watching every game from an MLB season (and how one would do it), why some prospects skip Triple-A, and why we ...
Apr 28, 2020•1 hr 11 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about beverage consumption, foreign baseball leagues’ potential for popularity in the U.S., and the life and death of legendary flamethrower Steve Dalkowski, who passed away this week. Then they talk to Rob Liu of CPBLStats.com (25:48) and Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net (58:22) about two leagues that have beaten MLB back to action, Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) and South Korea’s Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), touching on how their seasons ha...
Apr 25, 2020•1 hr 35 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller discuss the results of MLB’s investigation into Boston Red Sox sign stealing, touching on Boston’s lighter penalties and seemingly lesser offenses compared to the Astros’, whether Boston’s front office and coaches deserved to be absolved, the moral hazard of the advance scout who doubles as a replay-room operator, and more. Then they answer listener emails about firing managers based on one egregious in-game decision, transporting a modern coach to an earlier era of ...
Apr 23, 2020•1 hr 16 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about the Effectively Wild community’s least-disliked MLB teams and two unjust Cy Young/MVP snubs, then discuss what Michael Jordan’s brief baseball career taught us about Jordan and about baseball. Audio intro : Willie Nelson, " Why Do I Have to Choose " Audio outro : Emmylou Harris, " Jordan " Link to EW MLB Survivor game recap Link to EW MLB Survivor game data Link to Ben on peak Pedro Link to Jordan oral history Link to episode about Jordan oral history Li...
Apr 21, 2020
With MLB in limbo, Ben Lindbergh investigates virtual baseball, talking to the designers of three new baseball video games— Ramone Russell of Sony San Diego, makers of MLB The Show 20 , Markus Heinsohn of Out of the Park Developments, makers of Out of the Park Baseball 21 (37:56), and Scott Drader of Metalhead Software, makers of Super Mega Baseball 3 (1:21:50)—about the histories of their respective franchises, how their games differ stylistically, their different development plans, balancing r...
Apr 20, 2020•2 hr 3 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley speak to FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel about their new book, Future Value: The Battle for Baseball’s Soul and How Teams Will Find the Next Superstar , touching on topics including the best kinds of scouting stories, how technology and data have confirmed or overturned traditional scouting beliefs, how smart teams are spending, how to make a miserly owner invest in scouting and development, whether scouts should have access to data, whether sco...
Apr 18, 2020•1 hr 39 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about the strange story of a man named Bill Henry who impersonated former major league reliever Bill Henry for decades, then answer listener emails about seasons with an ERA+ or OPS+ of 420, teams from the past that they would most want to cover as time-traveling beat writers, and the difference between being fans of teams and being fans of particular players, plus two Stat Blasts about all-time head-to-head franchise records and how good a starting rotation w...
Apr 16, 2020•1 hr 17 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about how runs, hits, and errors became baseball’s standard scoreboard stats and the piecemeal way in which baseball evolves, then reminisce about and reevaluate the 2015 experiment that led to their 2016 book about running the independent league Sonoma Stompers, The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Baseball Team . Audio intro : Wishbone Ash, " Errors of My Way " Audio outro : Splinter, " After Five Years " Link to Sam on...
Apr 14, 2020•1 hr 18 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about new options for supporting FanGraphs and a potential plan to play the 2020 season with a radically realigned league structure, then talk to FanGraphs writer and ZiPS projection system proprietor Dan Szymborski about how a shortened or canceled season would affect projections for 2021, whether players would exceed or fall short of their projections after a long layoff, how a canceled season could impair player development, how returns from injuries, stren...
Apr 11, 2020•1 hr 17 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about a possible banter shortage, a mysterious sack of flour from 1971, the kinds of baseball stories being published in the absence of baseball, the greatness (and eye-popping pitcher usage) of the 2001 World Series, the October travails of Charlie Leibrandt , and how MLB should approach planning for the start of the season, then answer listener emails about how to reward true talent in a shortened season, whether the Mendoza Line needs a new name, whether th...
Apr 09, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller split up to talk to the authors of two new baseball books. First, Sam speaks to Sports Stories newsletter author Eric Nusbaum about Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between . Then (33:18) Ben brings on Wall Street Journal national baseball writer Jared Diamond to discuss Swing Kings: The Inside Story of Baseball’s Home Run Revolution , plus a postscript covering the release of the expanded, paperback edition of The MVP Machine , a Stat...
Apr 07, 2020•1 hr 33 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the response to FanGraphs’ request for financial support, discuss the latest news about minor league pay, Tommy John surgeries, college eligibility, the possibility of baseball coming back, Astros suspensions, and the suspiciously lively ball, and unveil a Stat Blast song cover and a Stat Blast about the longest team streaks of starting different players at a particular position on Opening Day. Then (45:34) they bring on Texas Rangers major league streng...
Apr 03, 2020•1 hr 20 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller talk to Brad Balukjian , author of brand-new baseball book The Wax Pack: On the Open Road in Search of Baseball’s Afterlife , about the long road (figuratively and literally) that led to the book, how he decided to try to track down the players from an old pack of baseball cards, his favorite encounter with one of the pack’s former major leaguers, and what he learned about life from his journey, then try to predict which active major leaguers are most likely to end u...
Apr 01, 2020•1 hr 24 min
Ben Lindbergh, Sam Miller, and Meg Rowley begin by discussing the financial impact that the pandemic and the postponement of the baseball season have had on FanGraphs and requesting reader/listener assistance. Then Ben and Sam review some of the worst mistakes managers made in World Series games of the 1980s and mull over why managerial mistakes are so frustrating, how teams’ tactical decisions have improved over time, and how much managers of earlier eras cost their teams. Audio intro : Gillian...
Mar 31, 2020•1 hr 3 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the benefits, uncertainties, and downsides of the deal between MLB and the MLBPA to sort out salary and service time in the event of a shortened or canceled season, whether and how a social distancing-approved version of baseball could be played while maintaining a six-foot minimum distance between players and other personnel, how a shortened season would affect the Dodgers’ return in the Mookie Betts trade, a commercial in which Johnny Bench holds seven...
Mar 28, 2020•1 hr 26 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about which types of old games they would want to rewatch, Noah Syndergaard’ s Tommy John surgery, and how short is too short for a regular season, then answer listener emails about whether the 2020 title will be tainted by a shortened season, whether MLB should skip the regular season and go straight to the playoffs or replace the standard playoff format with an extended tournament or bracket, whether great players should be allowed to pick a team for their f...
Mar 26, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller revisit Sam’s tradition of viewing the beloved and despised 1989 film Field of Dreams on the eve of Opening Day (or in this case, what would have been Opening Day) and examine how their perceptions of the movie have evolved, what makes Field of Dreams the most divisive baseball movie, the many aspects of the movie that make little sense, and its redeeming qualities. Audio intro : James Horner, " The Place Where Dreams Come True " Audio outro : James Horner, " End Cre...
Mar 24, 2020•1 hr 11 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about advice for working from home, Chris Sale ’s Tommy John surgery, concerns about pitcher health in a shortened season, the possibility of playing more doubleheaders when baseball comes back, how late would be too late for the season to start, the overuse, injury, and treatment of pitcher Wes Ferrell , how COVID-19 could affect MLB service time, rewatching old games and FOX Sports Detroit re-airing 2019 Tigers games, and baseball coming back in Japan and So...
Mar 21, 2020•1 hr 20 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller follow up on a previous discussion of advance scouting’s contribution to Kirk Gibson ’s legendary 1988 home run and banter about the strangeness of not having a date for Opening Day, then answer listener emails about how to get into baseball for the first time, how a shortened season could affect future perceptions of players’ careers, whether a shortened season would create more uncertainty in the standings (and whom it would help), whether baseball would be better ...
Mar 18, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about life during self-isolation and delayed media consumption and explore some of the long-considered and ultimately rejected article ideas in Sam’s tickler file, including Ken Griffey Jr. ’s rap career, an undiscovered baseball star in Yosemite, an advance-scouting conspiracy theory, an unorthodox solution to extra-inning games, and a complaint about baseball inspired by Shel Silverstein (plus a brief baseball coronavirus update and the recommended baseball ...
Mar 17, 2020•1 hr 2 min
In the absence of real baseball (and with plenty of solitary time on fans’ hands), Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley devote an episode to three new fictional depictions of baseball, speaking to novelist Emily Nemens (9:18), the author of spring training tale The Cactus League , novelist Gish Jen (36:56), the author of dystopian baseball saga The Resisters , and actor Hank Azaria (1:08:59), the star of IFC TV series Brockmire , which is about to return for its futuristic fourth and final season. Audio...
Mar 13, 2020•1 hr 36 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley react to MLB’s COVID-19-caused cancellation of the remainder of spring training and the postponement of Opening Day and discuss the disquieting week and the ramifications for the culture and the 2020 baseball season. Audio intro : Dan Bern, " Ballpark " Audio outro : Frank Sinatra, " I Get Along Without You Very Well " Link to MLB announcement Link to FDR letter Link to story on baseball’s previous responses to disease Link to order The MVP Machine iTunes Feed (Pleas...
Mar 13, 2020•34 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about Padres outfield un-fun facts, then discuss MLB’s $1 million “The Vault” competition to predict several statistical leaders of the 2020s, producing their picks in each category, reviewing how hard it would have been to pick the winners of the 2010s, and ruminating on the nature of baseball predictions and the inexorable impending decline of Mike Trout . Audio intro : Tacocat, " Crystal Ball " Audio outro : Tame Impala, " Let it Happen " Link to MLB’s vaul...
Mar 11, 2020•1 hr 8 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about Mike Trout’ s career spring training stats, then preview the 2020 Minnesota Twins (9:01) with the The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman , and the 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates (46:33) with The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ’s Jason Mackey , plus a conversation between Ben and Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller (1:19:30) about Keller’s historically unlucky debut MLB season. 2020 EW Season Preview Series AL BAL CHW ATH BOS CLE HOU NYY DET LAA TBR KCR SEA TOR MIN TEX NL ATL CHC ARI M...
Mar 09, 2020•1 hr 38 min
Meg Rowley and Sam Miller briefly banter about the state of Chris Sale’s arm and appreciating one’s friends when they are on vacation, then preview the 2020 Boston Red Sox (4:40) with the Boston Globe’ s Alex Speier , and the 2020 San Francisco Giants (38:40) with The Athletic ’s Grant Brisbee . 2020 EW Season Preview Series AL BAL CHW ATH BOS CLE HOU NYY DET LAA TBR KCR SEA TOR MIN TEX NL ATL CHC ARI MIA CIN COL NYM MIL LAD PHI PIT SDP WSN STL SFG Audio intro : David Bowie, “Under Pressure” Aud...
Mar 06, 2020•1 hr 15 min
With Ben Lindbergh on vacation, Meg Rowley and Sam Miller answer a few very special listener emails on Shohei Ohtani, what they want to know about the 2020 season (complete with a twist), and how we treat umpires. Plus, a Statblast! Audio intro : The Police, “ Message In A Bottle ” Audio outro : Letters to Cleo, “ Cruel to be Kind” Link to Meg’s piece “Time Has Come Today ” Link to order The MVP Machine iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Facebook Group Effectively Wil...
Mar 05, 2020•58 min
Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about Twins reliever Zack Littell’ s powerful affinity for cruise ships and bidding for baseballs from a baseball movie, then preview the 2020 Washington Nationals (12:39) with the Washington Post ’s Sam Fortier , and the 2020 Kansas City Royals (40:26) with The Athletic’s Alec Lewis . 2020 EW Season Preview Series AL BAL CHW ATH BOS CLE HOU NYY DET LAA TBR KCR SEA TOR MIN TEX NL ATL CHC ARI MIA CIN COL NYM MIL LAD PHI PIT SDP WSN STL SFG Audio intro : Frankie...
Mar 02, 2020•1 hr 14 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about passing the halfway point of the season preview series, Zach Eflin ’s spring training feedback on a possibly less lively baseball, the effect of sign stealing on the average time between pitches, a recent rash of spring pitcher injuries, and the incredible career trajectory of former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. , then preview the 2020 Mets (19:06) with The Athletic’s Tim Britton , and the 2020 Blue Jays (58:23) with Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith . 2020...
Feb 28, 2020•1 hr 34 min
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Astros confiscating signs at spring training and Madison Bumgarner’ s rodeo alter ego, Mason Saunders, then preview the 2020 Athletics (13:58) with the San Francisco Chronicle’ s Susan Slusser , and the 2020 Rockies (39:47) with The Athletic’s Nick Groke , plus a postscript on the implications of Luis Severino ’s season-ending surgery (1:13:16). 2020 EW Season Preview Series AL BAL CHW ATH BOS CLE HOU NYY DET LAA TBR KCR SEA TOR MIN TEX NL ATL CHC AR...
Feb 26, 2020•1 hr 19 min
