Effectively Wild Episode 2332: The Setup Man Cannot Hold

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Spencer Strider’s concerning performance, how he and Sandy Alcantara remind us that comebacks from elbow surgery aren’t automatic, and whether things are lookng up for the White Sox on and off the field. Then (32:23) they bring on top-tier Patreon supporter John Thomas to banter about his background as an EW listener and baseball fan, answer listener emails (42:34) about the future of baseball’s historic cathedrals, whether sabermetrics inevitably promotes efficiency and specialization, whether Mariano Rivera delayed the reimagining of bullpen roles, the evolution (or devolution) of framing, and a rotation of Paul Skenes clones, and then Stat Blast (1:38:33) about the Rockies and the best-ever infield defenses, Devin Williams and the worst holds, and notable matchups between minor leaguers and rehabbing big leaguers.

Audio intro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”Audio interstitial: Jimmy Kramer, “Effectively Wild Theme”Audio outro: Philip Tapley and Michael Stokes, “Effectively Wild Theme”

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Link to Davy on StriderLink to TJ return studyLink to White Sox TV infoLink to MLBTR on IshbiaLink to Ishbia wikiLink to story on Ishbia’s homeLink to story on the SunsLink to Ishbia letterLink to Sheehan on the SoxLink to Vargas leaderboardLink to team SP WARLink to Veres on the RockiesLink to Dubuque articleLink to Scout School series introLink to Scout School series conclusionLink to Ben on no-hitter defenseLink to Ben’s gaming podLink to John Thomas slangLink to Russell on shortening upLink to article on historical TTOPLink to Rob on TTOP over timeLink to Molina framing montageLink to Ben on framing in 2013Link to Ben on framing techniqueLink to Skenes TTOP splitsLink to Russell on SP handednessLink to Ben on SP playoff familiarityLink to Ben on RP playoff familiarityLink to Monfort on defenseLink to all-time infield defenseLink to 2025 infield defenseLink to infielder definitionLink to infield definitionLink to rulebook on infieldersLink to Ben on PiazzaLink to hold definitionLink to Williams gameLink to worst 2025 holds by WPALink to McDaniels gameLink to worst-ever holds by WPALink to Cascarella gameLink to worst 2025 holds by RE24Link to Maton gameLink to worst-ever holds by RE24Link to Cox gameLink to Kershaw game storyLink to Kershaw box scoreLink to Reds prospect listLink to rehabbing pitchers sheetLink to rehabbing batters sheetLink to Ryan NelsonLink to Robert AuLink to listener emails databaseLink to ExcelliusLink to La ColaborativaLink to Dotson/Farrell articleLink to SNL Goulet clip

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