Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about surprising playoff odds, the Astros extending Jose Altuve (26:40), the Brewers signing Gary Sánchez (34:57), the forthcoming Netflix docuseries about the 2024 Red Sox (38:49), a baseball equivalent of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift (45:17), and how trailblazing former first-round draftee Carter Stewart has fared in Japan (55:29). Then (1:03:25) they talk to Paul Freedman, co-founder and CEO of Pioneer League expansion teams the Oakland Ballers and the Yolo High Wheelers, about his efforts to ensure the survival of professional baseball in Oakland in the likely absence of the A’s.

Audio outro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG’s playoff odds

Link to Ben Clemens on the odds

Link to PECOTA’s projected standings

Link to Ben L. on the O’s

Link to Baumann on Altuve

Link to Astros Altuve tweet

Link to story on Altuve and cheating

Link to Martino Altuve report

Link to banging data

Link to Clemens on Sánchez

Link to Netflix press release

Link to MLB.com on the doc

Link to Drive to Survive myth

Link to Ben on Swift

Link to Princiotti on Swift

Link to Swift/NFL story 1

Link to Swift/NFL story 2

Link to Swift/NFL story 3

Link to Swift/NFL story 4

Link to Kiley on Stewart in 2019

Link to Jim Allen on Stewart

Link to Manfred on streaming

Link to Nevada teacher lawsuit

Link to Manfred comments

Link to Las Vegas mayor comments

Link to Oakland mayor comments

Link to A’s Opening Day offer

Link to Ballers promo video

Link to Ballers website

Link to High Wheelers website

Link to Pioneer League wiki

Link to Oaklandside on the Ballers

Link to Mercury News on the Ballers

Link to A’s Coliseum veto

Link to Oakland Roots SC wiki

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