Episode Details

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the impressiveness of a prediction by Carlos Estévez, how to say the score from the losing team’s perspective, and getting hit in the head by a hot dog. Then (23:13) they discuss getting hit in the head (or the hands) by a baseball: how often it happens, how dangerous it is, and whether (as Whit Merrifield argues) MLB must act to discourage it. Then (58:28) they brainstorm about visiting teams’ first-inning disadvantage and answer listener emails (1:08:42) about Triple-A teams as playoff warm-up acts, an obscure Rich Hill record, post-PitchCom performance in past sign-stealing situations, headfirst sliding vs. feet-first sliding (and whether running more can cause one to slump at the plate), the concept of a “natural position,” and the ethics of a UCL exclusivity deal.

Audio intro: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Estévez story
Link to Estévez game
Link to Estévez game highlights
Link to McMahon homer
Link to Estévez game story
Link to 2022 Merrifield HBP
Link to Merrifield Athletic article 1
Link to Merrifield Athletic article 2
Link to Ben on HBP in 2021
Link to Mains on HBP in 2021
Link to Arthur on HBP and batters 1
Link to Arthur on HBP and batt