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This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please <a href="https://www.patreon.com/effectivelywild" target="_blank">visit our Patreon</a>.
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the pleasures of and precedents for the historic rookie performances on Opening Day, the pains of Netflix&#8217;s Opening Night broadcast, an Opening Day disaster for <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/paul-skenes/33677/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Paul Skenes</a>, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/oneil-cruz/21711/stats/batting" target="_blank">Oneil Cruz</a>, and a bird near <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/carson-benge/35177/stats/batting" target="_blank">Carson Benge</a>, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/freddie-freeman/5361/stats/batting" target="_blank">Freddie Freeman</a>&#8217;s gameday fit, a perplexing (un?)fun fact about the Phillies and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jhoan-duran/21029/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Jhoan Duran</a>, why players don&#8217;t always challenge when they &#8220;should,&#8221; <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/nico-hoerner/21479/stats/batting" target="_blank">Nico Hoerner</a> and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/shane-baz/22264/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Shane Baz</a> extensions, baseball movies being back (thanks to Tom Hanks), and more, plus a Stat Blast (1:28:40) about Black Ink streaks and a postscript (1:37:14) featuring a follow-up and a few bonus Blasts.
Audio&nbsp;intro: Grant Brisbee, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CJziS-LZMoyB13avq991af2-c9KaGfoU/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://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-is-going-freemium/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to freemium model announcement</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c3ZJ21_5CSpH6fPsG-BNNahj2xmWSwxgMsJFXbnbgho/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to written explanation</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2026-debuts.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2026 new debuts</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/ayy6Z" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to RE24 query</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/TxSzy" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2026 RE24 players</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/42LPv" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1914 RE24 players</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/I4sef" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1938 RE24 players</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/oglpr" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1950 RE24 players</a>
<a href="https://library.fangraphs.com/misc/re24/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to RE24 glossary</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/re24_bat_career.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to B-Ref RE24 leaders</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/WvWz8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to total bases query</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/Wai4f" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2026 TB players</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/nz12a" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1938 TB players</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/9aVSG" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1.000 OPS query</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/9ZKJA" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2026 1.000 OPS players</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/Zzaa7" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1901 1.000 OPS players</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/j6scs" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1938 1.000 OPS players</a>
<a href="https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Dick-Crutcher/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Dick Crutcher bio</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/welcome-to-the-big-leagues-boys-it-can-only-get-worse-from-here/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Baumann on the rookies</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball%27s_Sad_Lexicon" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to &#8220;Baseball&#8217;s Sad Lexicon&#8221;</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIL/MIL202603260.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to first White Sox game</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7148046/2026/03/26/mlb-netflix-yankees-giants/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Marchand on the Netflix game</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/how-barry-bonds-was-nearly-a-yankee" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Bonds story</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p3CJ-M1hXM" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Bonds at Rickwood game</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/180-degree_rule" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 180-degree rule</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-worst-start-of-paul-skenes-career/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on Skenes</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2026/03/26/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-sacramento-athletics-mlb-lopsided-dark-horses-paul-skenes-konnor-griffin" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on the Pirates and A&#8217;s</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/inside-the-pirates-pittsburgh-themed-home-run-celebration" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Pirates HR celebration</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/timbritton.bsky.social/post/3mhykftibzs2h" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Benge on the bird</a>
<a href="https://x.com/Dodgers/status/2037307527155847315" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Freeman post 1</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/iamwhatyousay.bsky.social/post/3mhyqp5gpnk27" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Freeman post 2</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/jaysonst.bsky.social/post/3mhypylfnds27" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Stark post</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sammillerbb.bsky.social/post/3mhyreddni22i" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sam post</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/Rbk3i" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Phillies home closers query</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/iVpTC" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Phillies road closers query</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/w71wm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Phillies OD home games</a>
<a href="https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/sharing/UmXPR" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Phillies OD road games</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aEnBJ4kcg3EC44gQMIMgRVEkBeTIamSsPHpHUMpusUI/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to home OD saves by team</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/johngonzalez.bsky.social/post/3mhylzkhmbk2u" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Kruk comment</a>
<a href="https://tangotiger.com/index.php/site/article/abs-challenge-rates-by-proximity-to-border-of-strike-zone" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Tango on location uncertainty</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-spring-training-2026-takeaways" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Petriello on catcher challenges</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2018/03/26/mlb/three-theories-on-catcher-plate-performance" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben&#8217;s catcher research</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/cubs-nico-hoerner-agree-to-extension.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Hoerner</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/orioles-shane-baz-finalizing-extension.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Baz</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/baseball-s-next-free-agent-classes" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to upcoming FA class</a>
<a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/tom-hanks-baseball-movie-combacker-bad-bunny-1236699572/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Hanks movie announcement</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jan/14/tom-hanks-typewriters-display" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Hanks typewriter collection</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Swim" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Night Swim wiki</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caught_Stealing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Caught Stealing wiki</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2293-impossible-sliders-and-extremely-slow-curves/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Eephus EW interview</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Black_Ink" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Black Ink info</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DpWwNi-Cs7-8RZUqNJ0e4sB_W_dhPYRcXEv_L0wv3WU/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Black Ink data 1</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DFvokl9qKZe1Qi1_7qw8eJ4YzKVUR-Yd4H7xIRtzk6o/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Black Ink data 2</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2019/08/07/mlb/mike-trout-home-runs-league-leader-stats" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on Trout&#8217;s Black Ink</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR202009220.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 1</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR202009230.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 2</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA200006180.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 3</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS200006190.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 4</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA190407130.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 5</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA190407140.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 6</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA197807271.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 7</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA197807272.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to blowout 8</a>
<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ohH_ou9M3HYP5H4XHAjCL-qRLLlEXLRP?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Vinay&#8217;s data</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA193009012.shtml" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1930 game</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27535188/what-greatest-collection-talent-ever-one-roster" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sam on record talent</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-mets-could-swipe-some-base-stealing-records/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Davy on Mets basestealing</a>
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/mets-antoan-richardson-base-stealing-juan-soto-brandon-nimmo-un62giix" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Newsday on Mets basestealing</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/antoan-richardson-might-have-austin-riley-running-in-2026" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to story on Richardson and Riley</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-8lpspHQuR5GK7S_nNtGunLGrx60QnSa8XLG_wvRb4Q/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to listener emails database</a>

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Effectively Wild Episode 2458: The Opening Day Debutant (Base)ball

Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

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