Episode Details

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Shohei Ohtani’s (finally) leagues-leading jersey sales, Mets grounds crew shenanigans, and shrinking minor leaguers, then (28:18) answer listener emails about restructured pitching staffs on which everyone would throw 3-to-4 innings at a time, a speed limit for pitches, displaying error bars for WAR, allowing outfielders only a certain number of catches per game (plus info on secret natural lefties), and a pitcher who reliably gets stronger as the game goes on, followed (1:20:03) by a guest Stat Blast on the not-nice improbability of the Twins’ playoff losing streak by Chris Hanel, maker of the new YouTube documentary “The Minnesota Twins and the Cruelest Streak in Sports.”

Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to 2023 jersey-sales ranking
Link to 2021 jersey-sales ranking
Link to 2018 jersey-sales ranking
Link to grounds crew story
Link to Schumaker video
Link to Longenhagen on heights
Link to shrunk/shrank pedantry thread
Link to Laurila on the Rays
Link to Petriello on the Rays
Link to restrictor plate article
Link to Ben on smaller pitching staffs
Link to EW Episode 449
Link to BP DRC+ SDs