Effectively Wild Episode 1896: No Backsies

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Ben’s habitual misappraisal of checked swings and the potential for automated checked-swing calls, then discuss the potential unionization of the minor leagues via minor league players joining the MLBPA, Nationals rookie replacement Joey Meneses outplaying Juan Soto and Josh Bell since the trade deadline, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and the AL Cy Young and MVP races, the Brewers’ and Padres’ results since the Josh Hader–Taylor Rogers trade, the potential postseason teams with the most sympathetic narratives for neutral rooters, Dallas Keuchel and the long tail of a former Cy Young winner’s career, the Angels’ surprisingly high shutout total, an Albert Pujols fun fact, John Smoltz’s communication breakdown, the return of soaring spin rates, a record-setting Mickey Mantle card, New York number retirements for Paul O’Neill and Willie Mays, and the reinvented stance of the late John Wockenfuss, plus two Past Blasts (1:36:32) from 1896 and a few followups. Audio intro: Kurt Vile, “Check Baby” Audio outro: Nick Drake, “Joey” Link to checked-swing rule explainer Link to SIS study on checked swings Link to Ben on checked swings Link to Tipping Pitches T-shirt Link to MLBTR on unionization efforts Link to Ohtani’s postgame comment Link to team RP WAR since 8/2 Link to Jay Jaffe on the Hader trade Link to SIS on Hader Link to Michael Ajeto on Hader Link to Robert Orr on Hader Link to highest ERAs w/29+ saves Link to team shutout leaders Link to Pujols record article Link to Ben Clemens on Smoltz Link to Rob Arthur on spin rates Link to 2022 offense by month Link to story on the Mantle card Link to EW episode on memorabilia Link to Yankees WAR leaderboard Link to story on the Mets and Mays Link to Craig Wright’s story series Link to Wright on Wockenfuss Link to video of Wockenfuss Link to BSG imitation of Wockenfuss Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four Link to 1896 story source Link to first source on Pond Link to second source on Pond Link to third source on Pond Link to Pond/sweater story Link to Pond’s SABR bio Link to Fox 96 mph screenshot Link to Fox 97 mph screenshot Link to Dan S. on head-to-head records  Sponsor Us on Patreon Subscribe to Stathead (Code: WILD20)  Facebook Group  Twitter Account  EW Subreddit  Effectively Wild Wiki  iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!)  Get Our Merch!  Email Us: [email protected] var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source