Effectively Wild Episode 1685: Too Close to Call

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley offer a few updates on the first subject of their “Meet a Major Leaguer” segment, Zach Pop, banter about Corey Dickerson’s impending 200th career double, and answer listener emails about weather-based scheduling, giving umpires the option of not making close calls and deferring to replay reviewers instead, the strange statistics of Javier Báez, enforcing parity (but also mediocrity), whether baseball fans could channel the collective action of the soccer fans who sank the Super League, bringing the chess clock to baseball and improving pace, and the easiest role on the roster in which to collect low-effort, low-pressure paychecks, plus a Stat Blast about Bill Buckner and the overrated or underrated players whose Black/Gray Ink scores differ most from their career WAR. Audio intro: Cat Stevens, "Pop Star" Audio outro: Blind Melon, "So High" Link to Kevin Goldstein on Báez Link to Michael Baumann on the Super League’s demise Link to Grant Brisbee on what makes games long Link to Ben in 2014 on the least-used players Link to B-Ref Black/Gray Ink glossary Link to giant Stat Blast spreadsheet Link to Meg on Hamels Link to video of Astudillo saying “gasolina” Link to video of Astudillo taking cover Link to video of Astudillo’s homer Link to postgame video of Astudillo  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Sponsor Us on Patreon  Facebook Group  Effectively Wild Wiki  Twitter Account  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: [email protected] var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source