Episode Details

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter euphorically about the unbelievable ending of the World Baseball Classic, from Japan’s semifinal game against Mexico, to the climactic showdown between Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout in the USA-Japan final, to what made the whole WBC such a success. Then (52:02) they close the book on meeting major leaguers from 2022 by talking to James Bailey, author of Major League Debuts: 2023 Edition, about his new series of annual books about every player who makes the majors, his process for researching rookies, whether there are too many major leaguers, and 2022 debutants Jason Delay, Ben DeLuzio, and Donny Sands, followed by a Stat Blast (1:24:15) about Ichiro Cano and the highest-WAR combined baseball names, plus a Past Blast (1:33:14) from 1984.

Audio intro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: The Sun, “In Perfect Time”

Link to Zach Kram on the WBC
Link to Ben on the WBC
Link to Ohtani pitch grade stat
Link to Trout-Ohtani video
Link to Japanese broadcast call
Link to 120 percent quote
Link to more than 100 percent wiki
Link to Arozarena trash talk
Link to Ohtani trash talk
Link to Ohtani’s speech
Link to Arozarena HR robbery
Link to Arozarena autographing

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