Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Meg’s strategies for coping with record heat in Phoenix, revisit an earlier conversation about whether the pitch clock has boosted MLB attendance (and reminisce about when the cause of increased game times was still considered unclear), celebrate their recent wish about camera angles on broadcasts coming true, discuss the resurgences of Jason Heyward and Cody Bellinger, marvel at Mickey Moniak’s continued resistance to regression and the Orioles overtaking the Rays in the AL East, use Jarred Kelenic’s fractured foot to advocate for padded dugout surfaces, and try to determine whether Albert Pujols or Miguel Cabrera had the more surprising steep decline. Then (1:11:46) they answer listener emails about burnishing Shohei Ohtani’s legacy (and his likely career path), letting All-Star starters return to the game after being removed, Elly De La Cruz if he had to attempt steals, and the distance to bullpens, plus a Future Blast (1:42:20) from 2035 and a postscript on old-timer home run derbies.

Audio outro: Andy Ellison, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to info on Phoenix heat

Link to Russell on attendance

Link to earlier attendance convo

Link to Grant on game times

Link to attendance stats

Link to Ben on predictable times

Link to info on ticket-buyer age

Link to Rangers relay broadcast

Link to earlier episode on broadcasts

Link to Dodgers preview episode

Link to article on Heyward’s swing

Link to FG post about Bellinger

Link to Jay Jaffe on Moniak

Link to earlier Moniak convo

Link to info on Moniak’s name

Link to Moniak’s rolling zone rate

Link to ESPN RPI

Link to FG playoff odds

Link to Kelenic fracture article

Link to Cabrera’s hit

Link to FG post on Anderson

Link to Sam on Ruth and Ohtani

Link to Elly’s throw

Link to Elly throwing stats

Link to Elly’s earlier record throw

Link to Vroom Vroom Guy wiki

Link to info on Angels hammer

Link to Harper homer article

Link to Emma on bullpens/brawls

Link to EW emails database

Link to Rick Wilber’s website

Link to Draper/Roberts hockey fight

Link to Twins charity derby info

Link to ex-Twins pickup hockey article

Link to 2003 derby article

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