Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the opening series of the regular season in Japan, then (10:55) discuss the removal (and eventual restoration) of a page about Jackie Robinson on the Department of Defense website, before (39:53) bantering further about breakouts, how player heights dropped (or didn’t!) after players were measured more accurately this spring, Joey Gallo’s attempted conversion to pitching, and an abandoned Marlins player-development idea. Then (1:27:38) they talk to Pirates pitching phenom Paul Skenes about being a cover model for MLB The Show 25, his stoic exterior, starters as stars, an auction for his debut baseball card, his hobbies, his expanding pitch mix, and max-effort pitching.

Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Randy Johnson on EW

Link to Ohtani homer

Link to ratings info

Link to Davy gamer 1

Link to Davy gamer 2

Link to post about Jackie page

Link to article about Jackie page

Link to archived 404 page

Link to restored page

Link to NPR on Rogers page

Link to first statement to Passan

Link to second statement to Passan

Link to segregation ban story

Link to MLB D&I page

Link to old MLB D&I page

Link to post about change

Link to CBB breakouts tweet

Link to height changes sheet

Link to pitcher-measuring info

Link to Gallo tweet

Link to Ben on Gallo in 2014

Link to TTO% leaderboard

Link to Marlins ad

Link to Stock tweet

Link to Herald on Marlins

Link to Athletic on Marlins

Link to The Show gameplay trailer

Link to The Show launch trailer

Link to Livvy’s nonchalant quote

Link to Skenes composure quote

Link to Skenes Opening Day reveal

Link to Skenes dexterity quote

Link to new pitches story

Link to Skenes auction

Link to Skenes on workload

Link to deGrom story

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about completing the season preview series, then preview the 2025 New York Yankees (7:48) with Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, and the 2025 Chicago White Sox (1:04:41) with Sox Machine’s James Fegan.

2025 EW Season Preview Series

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Audio interstitial: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to offseason spending

Link to FG payrolls page

Link to Yankees depth chart

Link to Yankees offseason tracker

Link to BaseRuns standings

Link to Gary’s author archive

Link to White Sox depth chart

Link to White Sox offseason tracker

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Jacob deGrom dialing down the velo, the Cardinals signing their first free agent of the offseason, David Robertson still being available, the underrated career of Yasmani Grandal, the latest New Era cap confusion, follow-ups on several recent topics, and the newly jacked Mr. Met. Then (57:22) they talk to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports and Thomas Nestico of TJStats about their podcast-approved approaches to picking breakout candidates, their methodologies and success rates, their breakout picks for 2025, and more.

Audio interstitial: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Passan on deGrom

Link to MLBTR on Maton

Link to MLBTR on Grandal

Link to latest caps

Link to more on the caps

Link to FG post on caps

Link to old EW on caps

Link to slambio article

Link to Rob on walk-off reversals

Link to Patrick on 3B coaches

Link to Keke Palmer meme

Link to jacked Mr. Met

Link to Grizz

Link to R.J.’s breakout picks

Link to Thomas’s breakout picks

Link to R.J.’s 2024 breakouts review

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Link to sickos meme

Link to Devers article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a surprising amount of Mo Vaughn content, a rash of spring injuries (including Gerrit Cole‘s Tommy John surgery and other Yankees ailments), the latest A’s and Rays woes, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers (26:11) with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, and the 2025 Colorado Rockies (1:34:00) with The Rockies Insider’s Patrick Lyons.

2025 EW Season Preview Series

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Audio interstitial 1: El Warren, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial 2: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

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

Link to Vaughn story 1

Link to Vaughn story 2

Link to Enhanced Games wiki

Link to Hang Up episode

Link to FG post on Cole

Link to Ben on spring injuries

Link to Rays report

Link to A’s report

Link to A’s report 2

Link to A’s feature

Link to Russell on rep. level

Link to offseason spending

Link to FG payrolls page

Link to Dodgers depth chart

Link to Dodgers offseason tracker

Link to Sasaki signing info

Link to “Lettuce” digital short

Link to EW TJ research

Link to “Are We the Baddies?”

Link to cherry blossoms info

Link to prank war article

Link to prank war video

Link to Fabian’s author archive

Link to Rockies depth chart

Link to Rockies offseason tracker

Link to Rock Talk 1

Link to Rock Talk 2

Link to Colorado pronunciation

Link to hangover effect info

Link to Freeland on EW

Link to Ben on Freeland in 2018

Link to Sheehan on Bud Black

Link to Monfort prediction

Link to Patrick’s work

Link to Patrick’s podcast

Link to trademark article 1

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Link to trademark renewal

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a baseball flub in medical procedural The Pitt, Lawrence Butler’s extension, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s lofty contract target, how the ball moves differently in the Cactus League, and the value of variety in pitch selection, followed by Stat Blasts (49:20) about the WAR values of letters in player names, the best one-and-done pitcher/batter seasons in each franchise’s history, and the longest-tenured groups of players on pennant winners. Then (1:08:20) they talk to Carson Lund, director and co-writer of newly debuted baseball movie Eephus, about his celebrated contribution to the beleaguered genre.

Audio outro: The Gagnes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to slider explainer

Link to The Pitt episode

Link to Inglourious Basterds scene

Link to Bluesky post

Link to Passan tweet about Butler

Link to MLBTR on Butler

Link to Vlad contract info

Link to Ortiz comments

Link to Baumann on Vlad

Link to Dan S. on Vlad

Link to Trueblood on Vlad

Link to Rosen on movement

Link to Rosen on variety

Link to Down on the Farm study

Link to Oyster Analytics

Link to Stat Blast 1 spreadsheet

Link to Cocaína García wiki

Link to Stat Blast 2 request

Link to Stat Blast 2 spreadsheet

Link to Stat Blast 3 request

Link to Stat Blast 3 spreadsheet

Link to Carson’s IMDb

Link to Eephus website

Link to Eephus trailer

Link to Eephus Rotten Tomatoes

Link to Eephus AP review

Link to list of baseball movies

Link to Filmmaker Magazine

Link to Jacques Barzun quote

Link to Barzun essay

Link to Soldiers Field game

Link to Soldiers Field photos

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a fresh wave of “breakout candidate” crimes, Jerry Dipoto’s latest Meg-maddening comments, the rise of the “kick change,” how ball/strike calls differ from other boundary calls, Barry Bonds’s comments about Shohei Ohtani, and more. Then they preview the 2025 Atlanta Braves (50:56) with 92.9 The Game’s Grant McAuley, and the 2025 Miami Marlins (1:35:27) with Fish on First’s Kevin Barral.

2025 EW Season Preview Series

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Audio interstitial 1: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial 2: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Passan article

Link to breakout screenshot 1

Link to breakout screenshot 2

Link to breakout screenshot 3

Link to Dipoto article

Link to kick change info 1

Link to kick change info 2

Link to kick change info 3

Link to kick change info 4

Link to kick change info 5

Link to “new hotness” tweet

Link to Naquin article

Link to Ishbia article

Link to MASN update

Link to Jay on Iglesias

Link to Hang Up and Listen

Link to James quote

Link to latest Bonds comments

Link to earlier Bonds comments

Link to Bonds armor

Link to Sam on retaliation

Link to Rob on retaliation

Link to offseason spending

Link to FG payrolls page

Link to Braves depth chart

Link to Braves offseason tracker

Link to Baumann on Braves SP

Link to team SP projections

Link to team RP projections

Link to Grant’s author archive

Link to Grant’s podcast

Link to Marlins depth chart

Link to Marlins offseason tracker

Link to Sherman article

Link to Sheehan on breakouts

Link to 2024 attendance

Link to grievance article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether the challenge system will inevitably pave the way for full ABS, the degrees of difficulty for two-way Travis Hunter vs. two-way Shohei Ohtani, and (very briefly) reinstating Pete Rose. Then they preview the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies (36:58) with The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, and the 2025 Cleveland Guardians (1:19:49) with The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.

2025 EW Season Preview Series

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Audio interstitial 1: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”

Audio interstitial 2: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Dave Armstrong and Mike Murray, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to post on the two zones

Link to Hunter clip

Link to Hunter article

Link to Colorado pronunciation

Link to Ben on goalie goals

Link to Manfred/Rose report

Link to Ben on Rose

Link to EW on Rose

Link to offseason spending

Link to FG payrolls page

Link to Phillies depth chart

Link to Phillies offseason tracker

Link to Harper/milk post

Link to hydrogen water explainer

Link to team WAR projections

Link to team SP projections

Link to team RP projections

Link to Matt’s author archive

Link to Matt’s podcast

Link to Guardians depth chart

Link to Guardians offseason tracker

Link to BaseRuns standings

Link to Mario Kart article

Link to Thomas trade quote

Link to 20-homer OF article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the balletic strikeout celebrations of Rockies reliever Jefry Yan, Terry Francona’s selective opposition to ABS this spring, how frequently potential game-ending strikeouts will get challenged, and baseball in Season 2 of Poker Face. Then they preview the 2025 Arizona Diamondbacks (36:00) with The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro, and the 2025 Washington Nationals (1:24:35) with The Washington Post’s Andrew Golden.

2025 EW Season Preview Series

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Audio interstitial 1: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial 2: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Yan article

Link to Yan montage (Yantage?)

Link to more Yan clips

Link to Francona article

Link to challenge strategy research

Link to Oyster Analytics

Link to 2024 Stripers game

Link to Poker Face teaser

Link to trumpet mute info

Link to offseason spending

Link to FG payrolls page

Link to Nationals depth chart

Link to Nationals offseason tracker

Link to losses leaderboard

Link to Lerner quote

Link to MLBTR on MASN

Link to Andrew’s author archive

Link to Diamondbacks depth chart

Link to Diamondbacks offseason tracker

Link to bill passage

Link to Nick’s author archive

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about some members of last year’s Yankees and Dodgers still sniping about the World Series, Max Scherzer’s objection to the challenge system, how ABS has broadly been received so far, and assorted tactical considerations concerning when to challenge. Then they preview the 2025 New York Mets (29:08) with The Athletic’s Tim Britton, and the 2025 Los Angeles Angels (1:20:24) with The Athletic’s Sam Blum.

2025 EW Season Preview Series

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Audio interstitial 1: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial 2: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to 2024 WS stats

Link to Nestor comments

Link to Boone comments

Link to latest Kelly comments

Link to November comments

Link to Ben on WS Game 1

Link to WS Game 5 recap

Link to ABS permutations

Link to Scherzer challenges

Link to Scherzer on ABS

Link to catcher dekes episode

Link to challenge strategy research

Link to Oyster Analytics

Link to replay review analysis

Link to replay review episode

Link to offseason spending

Link to FG payrolls page

Link to Mets depth chart

Link to Mets offseason tracker

Link to M&M Boys wiki

Link to Tim’s author archive

Link to Angels depth chart

Link to Angels offseason tracker

Link to Angels-inspired Stat Blast

Link to Bender EW episode

Link to Sam’s Bender article

Link to Sam’s author archive

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about whether certain injuries can improve players, old-but-good guys not getting gigs, the offensive disparity between the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, and Bryce Harper’s Phanatic tattoo. Then they preview the 2025 Boston Red Sox (31:16) with The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier, and the 2025 Sacramento Athletics (1:25:13) with Jason Burke of Inside the A’s.

2025 EW Season Preview Series

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Audio interstitial 1: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio interstitial 2: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Keaschall article

Link to Mets camp count

Link to MLBTR on Iglesias

Link to Belt article

Link to aging curve 1

Link to aging curve 2

Link to Verlander article

Link to spring training parks

Link to homers/humidity

Link to 2024 FL ST wOBA

Link to FL teams’ RS wOBA

Link to 2024 AZ ST wOBA

Link to Link to AZ teams’ RS wOBA

Link to overall ST wOBA

Link to overall RS wOBA

Link to Phanatic tattoo story

Link to offseason spending

Link to FG payrolls page

Link to Red Sox depth chart

Link to Red Sox offseason tracker

Link to Netflix series story

Link to Werner quote

Link to Alex’s book

Link to Alex’s author archive

Link to Athletics depth chart

Link to Athletics offseason tracker

Link to Jason’s author archive

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