<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png" alt="EWFI" width="590" height="206" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-242076" srcset="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png 590w, https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi-300x105.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" />
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about all aspects of the Home Run Derby spectator experience, both in the ballpark and from afar: the new format, the Netflix broadcast, the Philly fans, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jordan-walker/27475/stats/batting" target="_blank">Jordan Walker&#8217;</a>s win, and more. Then (49:12) they discuss how All-Star selections increasingly reflect same-season performance, Bruce Meyer&#8217;s and Rob Manfred&#8217;s comments to the MLBPA, negotiations over MLB players&#8217; participation in the 2028 Olympics, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/pete-crow-armstrong/27769/stats/batting" target="_blank">Pete Crow-Armstrong</a> and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/ceddanne-rafaela/24262/stats/batting" target="_blank">Ceddanne Rafaela</a>&#8217;s mutual lovefest, and the ice-cold A&#8217;s and red-hot Red Sox. 
Audio&nbsp;intro: Jonathan Crymes, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17xCKWhVd_jYCsHmnzYS21kpPsWJ2zj73/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme 2</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;outro: Moon Hound, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nUFPNuHpOrpem0flIdJO-zbMml2BaR_a/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jordan-walkers-breakout-continues-with-home-run-derby-title" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG HRD recap</a>
<a href="https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/the-hr-derbys-lefties-are-poised" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to LHB-heavy preview</a>
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1agFklIX29uAzHRn4w7kwBdAZOgCs83OJ/view?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLB HRD notes</a>
<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2026&batSide=L&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling=3&parks=mlb" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to LHB park factors</a>
<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2026&batSide=R&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling=3&parks=mlb" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to RHB park factors</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-year-of-the-left-handed-hitter/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to &#8220;Year of the LHH&#8221; post</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/jordan-walker-wins-2026-home-run-derby-in-debut" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLB.com on Walker</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/youngest-home-run-derby-winners" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to list of youngest HRD winners</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49358712/jordan-walker-hopes-home-run-derby-win-inspires-black-kids" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Walker on inspirational value</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Run_Derby#Complete_scoreboard" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to historical HRD results</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WderYLZIuX0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to McGwire Simpsons scene</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7443824/2026/07/14/netflix-home-run-derby-mlb-jordan-walker/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Marchand on Netflix</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26993820/how-home-run-derby-became-america-national-pas" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sam on the Derby&#8217;s future</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLB_Home_Run_Derby_X" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to HRD X wiki</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/megrowler.fangraphs.com/post/3mqkgc2auv22k" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Meg&#8217;s Arozarena photo</a>
<a href="https://www.joeposnanski.com/p/sport-and-spectacle" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Posnanski on the HRD</a>
<a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-11-sp-64795-story.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Philly Drew/batteries incident</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Eagles_Santa_Claus_incident" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Philly Santa Claus incident</a>
<a href="https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/baseballs-all-stars-live-in-the-present" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Paine on All-Star selections</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2189-dont-sell-umpires-shorts/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to past EW discussion on selections</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/domismoney.bsky.social/post/3mqmqsl5isc2z" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Manfred competitive balance quote</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7445282/2026/07/14/mlb-union-ad-campaign-salary-cap/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Meyer on MLB.TV ads</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49357692/issues-tickets-rooms-complicate-mlb-playing-olympics" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Passan on the Olympics</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7445406/2026/07/14/union-mlb-olympic-participation-consequences/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Drellich on the Olympics</a>
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0745683/quotes/?item=qt0284599&ref_=ext_shr_lnk" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to The West Wing quote</a>
<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/13/sports/all-star-game-ceddanne-rafaela/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rafaela/PCA article</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG WAR leaderboard</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds/fg/mlb?date=2026-07-14&dateDelta=2026-07-01" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to playoff odds changes</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7442519/2026/07/13/athletics-fire-pitching-coach-scott-emerson/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to A&#8217;s firing article</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&season=2026&season1=2026&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=0&filter=&players=0&sortcol=13&sortdir=default&type=1&month=16" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to team road FIP</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=0&season=2026&season1=2026&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=0&filter=&players=0&sortcol=13&sortdir=default&type=1&month=15&pagenum=1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to team home FIP</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2026&month=1000&season1=2026&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=&age=&filter=&players=0&sortcol=21&sortdir=default&startdate=2026-03-01&enddate=2026-07-14" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to team batting WAR</a>
<a href="https://www.joesheehan.com/2026/07/newsletter-excerpt-july-13-2026-red-hot.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sheehan on the Sox</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conn_(nautical)" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to conn wiki</a>

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Effectively Wild Episode 2505: Game Recognize (All-Star) Game

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