Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the Cody Bellinger trade, the Yankees’ and Cubs’ next moves, Guaranteed Rate Field changing to Rate Field, and the results of MLB’s inquiry into pitcher injuries. Then (31:39) they bring back A’s slugger Brent Rooker to discuss his monster 2024, his work as a World Series correspondent, misconceptions about hitting, how Sutter Health Park will play, leaving the Coliseum, his future with the A’s, unreported injuries, ballplayer parental leave, his favorite meals of the year, learning chess, his 2025 goals, and much more.

Audio interstitial: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to FG post on Bellinger

Link to Guaranteed Rate wiki

Link to Rate Field announcement

Link to ESPN on the MLB research

Link to Passan on the MLB research

Link to the AP on the MLB research

Link to The Athletic on the MLB research

Link to Ben on pitcher injuries

Link to Ben on too many pitchers

Link to Rooker’s first pod appearance

Link to FG post on Rooker

Link to correspondent announcement

Link to Annie Hall scene

Link to story on surgery

Link to “not trading” tweet

Link to extension story

Link to weddings story

Link to crosswords research

Link to Sutter Health story

Link to park factors

Link to Rooker’s TikTok

Link to Rooker’s Instagram

Link to Rooker’s Twitter

Link to EW gift subscriptions

 Sponsor Us on Patreon

 Email Us: [email protected]

 Effectively Wild Wiki

 Get Our Merch!