Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben and Sam do an all-banter episode about the standings through the first 40 percent of the season, Yordano Ventura’s suspension, and the unchanging closer role. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to Baseball Prospectus draft expert Christopher Crawford about what went down on day one of the amateur draft. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben, Sam and FanGraphs writer August Fagerstrom banter about the allure of Kelly Johnson and the Indians’ plan for winning without Michael Brantley, then talk about big league candidates for untried defensive alignments. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about the brawl between the Orioles and Royals, then answer listener emails about Clayton Kershaw, Jon Lester, beating the shift, and how bad they would be at calling balls and strikes. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about a Clayton Kershaw mystery and discuss where the depressing Padres should go from here. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam reevaluate the Dodgers’ mega-trade from 2012 and discuss how far Carl Crawford, James Shields, and Ryan Howard have fallen. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to ESPN Stats & Info’s Mark Simon about fun-fact philosophies, David Wright, Daniel Murphy, and other notable players, and his new book, The Yankees Index. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about Matt Albers’ double and a Stompers success, then discuss the privacy/performance implications of new tracking technology employed by big league teams. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about old business, then answer listener emails about deceptive defenders, gold chains, nature vs. nurture, strikeout records and more. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about a play at the plate and a bad fun fact, then discuss the defensive-positioning differences between the Dodgers and Mets. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to Los Angeles Times Dodgers beat writer Andy McCullough about the arrival of Julio Urias, the struggles of Yasiel Puig, the excellence of Clayton Kershaw and, reluctantly…politics? var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to FanGraphs writer Carson Cistulli about his recently completed television broadcast rankings for baseball’s local markets. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben, Sam, and listener Corey McMahon plug the Saberseminar, then answer listener emails about automated strike zones, Jackie Bradley, Mike Trout, Bill Wambsganss, Willians Astudillo and more. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about Ichiro Suzuki’s resurgence, Clayton Kershaw’s continued dominance, and Rich Hill’s free-agent outlook. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about burning clubhouse belongings and banning intentional balls, then discuss the shaky starts to the season by Matt Harvey, Sonny Gray, and Dallas Keuchel. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to former Sonoma Stomper (and The Only Rule Is It Has to Work character) Santos Saldivar, a pitcher they discovered on a spreadsheet last summer who was just signed by the Brewers. (No book spoilers.) var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to Tadeo Varela, sabermetric analyst for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League, about the team’s pursuit of a statistical advantage. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam answer listener emails about trading Mike Trout, David Ortiz’s impending retirement, analyzing scouts, judging batted balls on TV, Clayton Kershaw and more. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about Joey Votto, then discuss what they’d ask Rob Manfred if they knew he’d answer honestly. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about a bad fun fact, David Ortiz, and retirement tours, then draft noteworthy moments from Sunday’s Rangers-Blue Jays brawl. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to ESPN investigative reporter T.J. Quinn about the string of suspensions in the ongoing battle between baseball and PEDs. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam talk to FanGraphs writer August Fagerstrom about the mechanics and significance of Max Scherzer’s 20-strikeout start. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about Bartolo Colon’s likeability, then answer listener emails about Colon, Randy Johnson, the Cubs, prescient managers and more. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam banter about Stephen Strasburg’s extension, then discuss whether the Angels should trade Mike Trout. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source

Ben and Sam discuss Bartolo Colon’s first career home run, the Cubs’ continued success and willingness to walk Bryce Harper, and The Good Wife’s series finale. var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source