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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/effectivelywild/membership" target="_blank">visit our Patreon</a>.
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the long-in-the-making major league debut of gravity-defying, strikeout-celebrating reliever <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jefry-yan/27902/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Jefry Yan</a>, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/steven-kwan/24610/stats/batting" target="_blank">Steven Kwan&#8217;</a>s resurgence, a lineup with lots of Juniors, a scooter celebration, a double FARTBAT, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/luis-arraez/18568/stats/batting" target="_blank">Luis Arraez</a> abandoning home plate, MLB players&#8217; low-stakes conspiracies, a head-to-head MVP battle, the Mets&#8217; <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/francisco-lindor/12916/stats/batting" target="_blank">Francisco Lindor</a>&#8211;<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/juan-soto/20123/stats/batting" target="_blank">Juan Soto</a> drama, the A&#8217;s firing David Forst, a pitcher plate appearance, and more. Then (1:02:46) Ben brings on YouTubers Noah Campbell (aka SOFTDRINKTV) and Taylor McNelis (aka WildLion Games) to discuss the decline in the quantity and quality of sports video games, how well baseball lends itself to gaming, the golden age of baseball video games, and whether a few new challengers might endanger MLB The Show&#8217;s dominance. 
Audio&nbsp;intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gRbN55AUmEHEfjljyqFNWloCLSTXu527/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;interstitial: The Gagnés, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jVOMAuZop-4BhxnZ1JQaULw7FlW2XJD_/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;outro: Philip Bergman, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r_SutdDwCAJtoMBaw5CjiM-mhsRmG6ii/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/effectivelywild/comments/1vgsfru/jefry_yan/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Reddit post on Yan</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2290-season-preview-series-diamondbacks-and-nationals/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to first Yan episode</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2294-season-preview-series-dodgers-and-rockies/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to second Yan episode</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/jefry-yan-celebrates-after-strikeouts-in-mlb-debut" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Yan debut story</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmySA9LAYcs" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Yan debut video</a>
<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/sporty-videos?playId=6b00c001-2115-39b0-83e7-022d94e94dfe" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Yan leap on single</a>
<a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/jefry-yan-s-signature-leap-was-ruthlessly-mocked-by-the-guardians/ar-AA29wxgu" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Guardians&#8217; Yan mockery</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/red-sox-to-sign-john-brebbia-to-minor-league-deal.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Brebbia</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2496-our-daily-breb/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Brebbia&#8217;s second EW appearance</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2502-the-cycle-of-major-league-life/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to previous Kwan chat</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&type=8&season=2026&month=1000&season1=2026&ind=0&qual=0&startdate=2026-07-01&enddate=2026-08-06&team=0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Kwan leaderboard</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6236437/2025/04/04/mlb-players-money-saving-hacks/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Kwan pillow quote</a>
<a href="https://nikolavukovic.substack.com/p/why-athletes-are-increasingly-the" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sports nepo babies article</a>
<a href="https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2167845/the-son-also-rises-its-a-golden-age-for-major-leaguers-kids" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to article on baseball nepo babies</a>
<a href="https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/ryan-nolan" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ryan HoF page</a>
<a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2026/08/06/giants-player-trolls-harrison-bader-over-scooter-crash-celebration-mlb/91202534007/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Giants scooter celly</a>
<a href="https://x.com/MLB/status/2085508791618138298" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Arraez abandonment</a>
<a href="https://x.com/ScoringChanges/status/2085499785944170967" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to @ScoringChanges explanation</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/ronald-acuna-jr-hits-home-run-after-it-deflects-off-two-marlins-players" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Marlins misplay</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-500/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to EW Episode 500</a>
<a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/pete-crow-armstrong-babe-ruth-never-existed.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to PCA comments</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/razzball.bsky.social/post/3ms6r2jrcus2e" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Saucedo comments</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25506993/free-agent-pitcher-adam-ottavino-says-whiff-babe-ruth" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ottavino comments</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/109228/box-score-banter-les-jeux-sont-faits/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to PCA vs. Ohtani game</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49536047/former-mets-pitcher-peralta-initiated-sitdown-soto-lindor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Peralta/Lindor/Soto report</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6531473/2025/08/02/yankees-new-bullpen-acquisitions-implode-marlins/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2025 Yankees bullpen blowup</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/francisco-lindor-and-jeff-mcneil-offer-explanation-for-incident" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Lindor/McNeil article</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/08/athletics-fire-david-forst.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Forst</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-snap-seven-game-losing-streak-vs-phillies" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Mikolas PA article</a>
<a href="https://x.com/spencernusbaum_/status/2085190380425728100" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Nusbaum tweet</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/button-mash" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Button Mash</a>
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3z9QIZzDR4o34uBBbsxb0z" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to The Ringer-Verse</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SOFTDRINKTV" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to SOFTDRINKTV on YouTube</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WildLionGames/videos" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to WildLion Games on YouTube</a>
<a href="https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/will-college-football-25-save-the" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Paine on sports games 1</a>
<a href="https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/the-paradox-of-sports-video-gaming" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Paine on sports games 2</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ntcTFIEw_4" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Jabroni Baseball video</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leveraged_buyout_of_Electronic_Arts" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to EA buyout</a>
<a href="https://kotaku.com/bloodbath-ahead-for-ea-as-it-looks-to-cut-700-million-in-annual-costs-under-saudi-arabia-2000721875" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to EA layoffs report</a>
<a href="https://kotaku.com/bloodbath-ahead-for-ea-as-it-looks-to-cut-700-million-in-annual-costs-under-saudi-arabia-2000721875" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to EA layoffs report</a>
<a href="https://kotaku.com/ea-sports-reverses-course-on-college-football-microtransactions-following-player-revolt-2000714972" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to College Football microtransactions</a>
<a href="https://grantland.com/the-triangle/mvp-baseball-2005-mod-community-mlb-video-games/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on MVP Baseball 2005</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_XtDTJTj9M" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah on MVP Baseball 2005</a>
<a href="https://remapradio.com/articles/super-mega-baseball-4-and-the-quest-for-the-perfect-game/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Super Mega Baseball 4 article</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-589/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Metalhead on EW 1</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-1530-thats-why-they-play-the-games/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Metalhead on EW 2</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-815tI2J_Qc" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Taylor on SMB4 roster updates</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LETB2xvIzW0" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Taylor&#8217;s SMB4 review</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2017/10/10/features/backyard-baseball-20-year-anniversary" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Zach Kram on Backyard Baseball</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/style/backyard-baseball-video-game-teacher.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Backyard Baseball comeback article</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backyard_Baseball" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Backyard Baseball wiki</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzBdRQTLNb4" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Taylor&#8217;s Backyard Baseball review</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLO8wXmtxwQ" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah on MLB Power Pros</a>
<a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/3434700/Indoor_Baseball/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Indoor Baseball</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14JWmYG6KeY" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah on Indoor Baseball</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjiQ161F0Jk" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah on MVP 06: NCAA Baseball</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfTnRAVct14" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah&#8217;s MLB The Show 26 review</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU89c1d7O0k" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Taylor&#8217;s MLB The Show 26 review</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Pros" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Power Pros wiki</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Baseball_Spirits" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Professional Baseball Spirits wiki</a>
<a href="https://www.sportico.com/business/tech/2026/konami-japanese-baseball-video-game-us-shohei-ohtani-1234938997/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to article about eBaseball Pro Spirit 2026</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHKE4DjOo_E" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah on eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT</a>
<a href="https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0101-PPSA34491_00-PROBBSPIRITS26AE" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 on PS5</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0mERTjtTbI" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah on eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 news</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaGlbMRxsXM" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Noah&#8217;s eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 review</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPZMjsvYm2Y" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Taylor&#8217;s eBaseball: PRO SPIRIT 2026 review</a>

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Effectively Wild Episode 2515: All Fun and Games

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