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Artwork for Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley
Major League Baseball
Baseball
Fangraphs
MLB
World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers
Colorado Rockies
Toronto Blue Jays
Shohei Ohtani
Philadelphia Phillies
Seattle Mariners
Cleveland Guardians
New York Mets
Baltimore Orioles
MLB Playoffs
Atlanta Braves
World Baseball Classic
Aaron Judge
Dodgers
Mike Trout

Daily baseball statistical analysis and commentary

PublishesDailyEpisodes2499Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BaseballSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Latest Episodes

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon.

Ben Lindbergh and Ben Clemens banter about some suspicious variability in the ball’s behavior and whether the low-drag, high-home-run-rate times of the late 2010s hav... more

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the rise and fall of Ildemaro Vargas, the Mets’ and Cubs’ David Peterson swap, Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s refusal to wear a cup, the Giants’ response to Pride Night fallout, and the owners’ CBA strategy. Then (56:41... more

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Joey Meneses and John Brebbia being back in the big leagues, Mike Trout’s hamstring strain, Dillon Dingler’s dominance, a Blue Jays All-Star voting update, the latest Home Run Derby format change, MLB’s radic... more

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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon.

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley discuss the backlash to MLB’s initial statement about the Giants’ objectors to Pride Night, the league’s subsequent expanded statement, a... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Jade Van Kley
Backline Nurse on Instagram, baseball content creator
Backline Nurse / Instagram @BacklineNurse
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2489: Baseball: Better Late Than Never
Adrian Chiles
Baseball fan, columnist for The Guardian, BBC/ITV presenter
The Guardian
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2489: Baseball: Better Late Than Never
Bob Kendrick
President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2465: Before You Can Say Jack(ie) Robinson
Dolly Lippy Vanderlip
Veteran pitcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League; interview guest
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2464: Hello, Dolly!
Ezra Thompson
Creator of Play-O-Graph, a live scoreboard covering MLB, international leagues, minors, and college baseball
Independent developer
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2461: If You Build it, They Will Checksum
Tristan Rodman
Listener, creator of Baseball Scores website
Independent listener, Gagnets musician
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2461: If You Build it, They Will Checksum
Zach Gines
Creator of First Pitch, a scoring system for how compelling each game is
Independent developer
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2461: If You Build it, They Will Checksum
Chris Hanel
Scorekeeper, statistician on Effectively Wild
FanGraphs
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2455: The 2026 Preseason Predictions Game
Kiri Oler
FanGraphs writer who previewed the WBC for FanGraphs
FanGraphs
Episode: Effectively Wild Episode 2454: Be All You Can WBC

Hosts

Ben Lindbergh
Host of the show; provides analysis and discussion leadership; frequent topic introducer
Meg Rowley
Co-host; provides analysis, commentary, and narrative framing; guides discussions

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 4.3k ratings
  • Always a Delight

    Ben and Meg are always good for updates on the latest baseball news, engaging analysis, and a good cackle!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rrc227
    United Statesa month ago
  • Money Ruins Another Good Thing

    I was a paid subscriber for years and didn’t ever mind supporting BONUS content. However, the new Pay to Listen format capitalizes on the FOMO of listeners in an attempt to extract additional money for something they already got for free. Not cool to turn loyalty into additional revenue.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JackieDaytona1
    United States2 months ago
  • I wanna know about baseball

    Ben and Meg are hilarious and well learned on baseball. Learn, laugh, Love Shohei

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SETHLARB
    United States2 months ago
  • Amazing podcast

    Meg please stop saying swears there is kids listening you know but awesome podcast I listen every night to go to sleep love what you’re doing. Keep it up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    UGbctyhcytxgdfxgdcjgh
    United States2 months ago
  • Dillon Dingler

    This used to be a good podcast, in the days of Sam Miller. Meg Rowley has completely ruined it. It’s unlistenable, and it’s a shame. I like Ben Lindbergh, but unfortunately only the old episodes (2014 email shows) are listenable, or occasional new ones when rowley is on vacation, and Lindbergh brings in replacements like Clemens, Longenhagen, or Jaffe. If he would find a different cohost, this could go back to being a great podcast someday.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DillonDingler
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guest variety adds historical and tech perspectives to baseball talk.
Listeners praise depth, consistency, and storytelling quality.
Some criticism around length or political discussions should be expected by some.
Long-form format may be challenging for casual listeners, but rewarding for analytics fans.
Highly data-driven with sharp banter.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#21
United States/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#169
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#11
Canada/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#11
United Kingdom/Sports/Baseball
Apple Podcasts
#224
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#15
Germany/Sports/Baseball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Effectively Wild Episode 2489: Baseball: Better Late Than Never
Q: What drew you to baseball as an adult, Adrian?
Adrian explains a curiosity-driven path: discovering baseball terminology in everyday UK language, going to a Rays game during a holiday, and then becoming hooked by the sport's rhythm, history, and the beauty of its lore.
Effectively Wild Episode 2460: The Arc of History Bends Toward .500
Q: What is the trajectory of long-term extensions for players who haven't debuted yet?
The hosts discuss that extensions have existed for years, with some cases before debut and others after limited major-league exposure; they note that while more teams are experimenting with pre-debut deals, it remains case-by-case and depends on team philosophy and player certainty.
Effectively Wild Episode 2448: Season Preview Series: Yankees and Cardinals
Q: What is the Cardinals' off-season strategy and how does Bloom fit into it?
Goold describes a deliberate, two-track rebuild focused on trimming payroll while accelerating development, with Bloom brought in to overhaul player development and the minor league system, enabling a faster path to contention.
Effectively Wild Episode 2448: Season Preview Series: Yankees and Cardinals
Q: What is the current assessment of the Yankees' roster—remains the same core, or is there more turnover to come?
Phillips argues the core is largely the same, with a few external pieces like Weather and Chivelli; the team is good on paper but still needs bullpen balance and health, suggesting a mix of continuity and targeted additions rather than a full rebuild.
Effectively Wild Episode 2450: Season Preview Series: Mets and Nationals
Q: What are the main tactical changes the Nationals are making under Poboni?
Nusbaum outlines a broad shift to a younger, more connected organization with enhanced development resources, added coaches at every affiliate, and a focus on trackable data and sustainability rather than short-term wins.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A long-running, analytics-forward baseball show blends data-driven analysis with accessible banter. Episodes routinely dissect awards races, player performance, injuries, and front-office decisions while weaving in historical context and trends from the game's past. Guests range from historians and former players to tech creators building fan-facing tools, offering practical insights for evaluating talent, strategy, and game presentation. The show's distinctive mix of rigorous stats, storytelling, and lively discussion makes it appealing to listeners who want both depth and personality in baseball coverage.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Baseball Bar-B-Cast
2. Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball
3. Baseball America
4. Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast)
5. RotoGraphs Fantasy Baseball

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 14 years ago and published 2499 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jade Van Kley
2. Adrian Chiles
3. Bob Kendrick
4. Dolly Lippy Vanderlip
5. Ezra Thompson
6. Tristan Rodman
7. Zach Gines
8. Chris Hanel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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