<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 discuss the initial CBA proposals by the MLBPA and MLB: some specific points of departure and alignment, whether we really learned anything about what each side wants or the likelihood of lost games, and what the rhetoric and rebuttals say about the PR battle to come. Then (50:08) they banter about whether baseball broadcasts could ever get good enough to endanger attendance, why ABS challenge rates haven&#8217;t closely correlated with batter quality, a difference between what fans and neutral spectators tend to enjoy about teams, whether ace-type starting-pitcher seasons are making a partial comeback, a threat to baserunners and bat-dog employment, and a mid-start stretching-related mishap.
Audio&nbsp;intro: Justin Peters, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjDTYA9tQlZDQBpZqZUEosHoKN8nMQxR/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;outro: Ian H., &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x3QzhMjO6frLGXRoKk-h4I9dkWw16wff/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7310615/2026/05/27/mlb-franchise-value-lags-behind-nfl-nba-nhl/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Drellich on franchise values</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbplayers.com/post/mlbpa-makes-opening-proposals-to-benefit-all-players-and-build-upon-industry-momentum" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBPA proposals</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7312562/2026/05/27/mlb-players-labor-negotiations-first-pitch/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Drellich on the MLBPA proposals</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/107386/the-players-deliver-their-opening-arguments/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Normandin on the MLBPA proposals</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/107384/the-players-association-opening-proposal-and-two-questions/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Mains on the MLBPA proposals</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7315605/2026/05/28/mlb-hard-salary-cap-union-lockout/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Drellich on the MLB proposals</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbplayers.com/post/statement-from-interim-executive-director-bruce-meyer" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Meyer statement</a>
<a href="https://x.com/EvanDrellich/status/2059735642473701399" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Caplin statement</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/cdgoldstein.baseballprospectus.com/post/3mmwpabd6bz2w" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to CBA math post 1</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/benclemens.bsky.social/post/3mmwpldxthc2i" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to CBA math post 2</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-1542-the-players-pr-handicap/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Episode 1542</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48901348/2026-mlb-labor-cba-mlbpa-first-proposals-lockout-salary-cap-floor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Passan&#8217;s CBA proposals breakdown</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/effectivelywild/permalink/26984396114587218/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Hershberger&#8217;s 1876 post</a>
<a href="https://pebblehunting.substack.com/p/great-hitters-should-be-greedy" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sam on challenge rates</a>
<a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/abs-challenges" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to challenge leaderboard</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/maybe-james-wood-just-thinks-he-has-a-really-tiny-strike-zone/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Andrews on Wood&#8217;s challenges</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/projections?type=onpacegpp&stats=pit&pos=&team=0&players=0&lg=all&z=1779950543&sortcol=&sortdir=desc&pageitems=30&statgroup=dashboard&fantasypreset=dashboard" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to pitcher-pace leaderboard</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/projections?type=onpacegpp&stats=bat&pos=&team=0&players=0&lg=all&z=1779968140&sortcol=&sortdir=desc&pageitems=30&statgroup=dashboard&fantasypreset=dashboard" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to batter-pace leaderboard</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48896372/dodgers-prospect-suffers-freak-kneecap-injury-trying-avoid-bat-dog" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to George injury article</a>
<a href="https://dodgerblue.com/dodgers-affiliate-tulsa-drillers-suspending-bat-dog-program-after-kendall-george-injury/2026/05/28/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to bat-dog suspension article 1</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7314012/2026/05/27/dodgers-tulsa-drillers-bat-dog-program-report/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to bat-dog suspension article 2</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets/specials/animal-days" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to &#8220;Pups in the Park&#8221; page</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-call-up-bruce-the-bat-dog-for-major-league-debut" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2025 bat-dog call-up</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/eury-perez-leaves-game-vs-blue-jays-after-four-innings" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Pérez injury article</a>
<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1tpfdqc/comment/oo8eubj/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Reddit comment about Ben</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/05/rockies-john-brebbia-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Brebbia</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/05/jared-jones-to-start-for-pirates-on-friday.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Jones</a>

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Effectively Wild Episode 2484: Buckle Up, It’s CBA Season

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