August 16, 2023

Effectively Wild Episode 2046: These Segments Are Underrated

1 hour

With Ben Lindbergh in Sweden on Ringer business, FanGraphs’ Ben Clemens joins Meg Rowley for a turn in the co-host chair. Ben and Meg begin (1:40) by discussing the disturbing allegations made against Rays shortstop Wander Franco over the weekend. They then banter (5:00) about the experience of watching baseball while on vacation, before turning their attention to Ben’s Five Things series, the sneaky delights of mid-sized Midwestern cities, the Braves scoring big against Danny Mendick, chalk preseason predictions (and Ben’s beef with Other Ben’s prognostication choices), which teams’ World Series odds might be too light (or too heavy), a milestone Juan Soto walk, players being over and underrated, announcers’ refusal to discuss no-hitters, the joy of local commercials on baseball broadcasts, the Cardinals’ and Pirates’ recent runs of relative success and futility, and who might shake up the standings down the stretch. They close with a Future Blast from 2046 (55:20) and an invitation to play Magic: The Gathering, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Evan Drellich and Brittany Ghiroli on the likely next steps in MLB’s investigation into Franco

Link to Ben’s Five Things I Liked (And Didn’t Like) Archive

Link to 21-3 Braves/Mets Box Score

Link to the FanGraphs Playoff Odds

Link to the FanGraphs 2023 staff predictions

Link to Chris Gilligan on shifting playoff odds

Link to Ben’s piece on Michael Lorenzen’s no-hitter

Link to Ben’s (latest) Lars Nootbaar piece

Link to Rick Wilber’s website

Link to Future Blast wiki