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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 heroics of Astros outfielder <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/lucas-spence/35126/stats/batting" target="_blank">Lucas Spence</a> and the potential for pennant races and postseasons to anoint unlikely heroes, then discuss whether the playoff format puts too much priority on divisions and should incorporate reseeding prior to and/or following the wild card round. They also follow up (28:42) on a few topics from the preceding episode (the Marlins putting starting pitchers in the pen, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/vladimir-guerrero-jr/19611/stats/batting" target="_blank">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.&#8217;</a>s apology, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/randy-johnson/60/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Randy Johnson</a>&#8217;s home-defense baseballs), Stat Blast (40:34) about teams improving their winning percentage in several consecutive seasons, hitters who were the worst hitter for one team and the best hitter for a different team in the same season, and franchises that have seen the most visiting teams clinch on their field, before examining (58:19) new baseball and softball TV series. Finally (1:10:51), they talk to <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sportydolphin.bsky.social" target="_blank">Sam Nichols</a> (aka &#8220;sportydolphin&#8221;) about his MLB/WPBL <a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/" target="_blank">stats site</a>, the challenges in bringing sabermetrics to a fledgling league and a small-sample season, the WPBL&#8217;s most valuable player, league tactics, the WPBL community, and more. 
Audio&nbsp;intro: Tom Rhoads</a>, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K07EyCA31NglTFT3h8Rdiiu0lpDyz9u_/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;interstitial: Ted Berg</a>, &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw9qqvm-LT8" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Small Sample Size Song</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;outro: Jonathan Crymes, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u9uMDVhB3JbuuT3HQYDzXcl4cXc-mY4Z/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/lucas-spence-hits-three-home-runs-in-astros-win-over-a-s" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Spence story</a>
<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-playoff-seeding-bracket-best-record/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Axisa on the playoffs</a>
<a href="https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/does-baseball-still-need-divisions" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Paine on the playoffs</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/110476/wild-idea-playoff-seeding-should-reflect-team-quality/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Normandin on the playoffs</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5006358/2023/10/27/mlb-rob-manfred-postseason-format-athletics-relocation-vote/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Manfred on the playoffs</a>
<a href="https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/the-market-believes-in-the-dodgers" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Paine on regular-season predictiveness</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/ryan-gusto-janson-junk-lead-marlins-win-vs-red-sox" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Junk appearance</a>
<a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-vladimir-guerrero-jr-apologizes-for-comments-on-contract/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to latest Guerrero comments</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/keeganmatheson.bsky.social/post/3mw7oczobk22e" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to previous Guerrero comment</a>
<a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader/206734076/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1995 RJ article 1</a>
<a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader/206734079/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 1995 RJ article 2</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYXTV51GdUs" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to RJ vs. Kruk</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-1238-absolute-unit/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to RJ on EW</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/riley-o-brien-in-play-run-s-to-randal-grichuk" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Grichuk homer</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13jdxsWPQnjWP8pyWXyEOOUwCvUNWX8pKVqmuGP7sjVE/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to clinches spreadsheet</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=2009&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2009 draft first round</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/17934/bp-unfiltered-mike-trout-is-21-today-randal-grichuk-is-still-not/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sam on Grichuk</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>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_from_Accounts" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Colin From Accounts wiki</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VcvVcK0a70" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Team Moms: Baseball trailer</a>
<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/where-to-watch-team-moms-baseball-reality-show-free-2026-s1-1236709031/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to THR on Team Moms: Baseball</a>
<a href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/television-movies/2026/09/24/team-moms-baseball-scottsdale/91897540007/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Team Moms: Baseball review</a>
<a href="https://people.com/kim-kardashian-admits-why-she-didnt-want-her-sons-to-play-baseball-exclusive-12140639" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Kim K. on baseball</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aecr7t8nSfg" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Slo Pitch trailer</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slo_Pitch_(web_series)#Television_series" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Slo Pitch wiki</a>
<a href="https://torontolife.com/culture/slo-pitch-karen-knox/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Slo Pitch interview</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heated_Rivalry" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Heated Rivalry wiki</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farmer_Wants_a_Wife_(American_TV_series)" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Farmer Wants a Wife wiki</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2533-you-win-some-you-lose-40-in-a-row/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to previous week&#8217;s WPBL segment</a>
<a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sportydolphin.fun</a>
<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/coming-of-age-with-aol-instant-messenger" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to The New Yorker on AIM</a>
<a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/wpbl/stats?board=runs" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sportydolphin run values</a>
<a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/wpbl/stats?board=draft" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sportydolphin draft analysis</a>
<a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/wpbl/scorigami" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sportydolphin Scorigami</a>
<a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/wpbl/photos" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sportydolphin photos</a>
<a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/wpbl/awards" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sportydolphin fan voting</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/110417/the-queen-of-baseball/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Bradley on the championship</a>
<a href="https://sportydolphin.fun/wpbl/reading" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to sportydolphin linked writing</a>
<a href="https://therisingfastball.substack.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to D.A. Espinoza newsletter</a>
<a href="https://towardsamoreperfectgame.substack.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Mary Mustard newsletter</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-nichols-9609a015b?trk=public_post_comment_actor-name" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sam on LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2026/09/25/mlb/mlb-too-many-innings-not-enough-arms-starters-relievers-bullpens-playoffs" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on the pitching shortage</a>

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Effectively Wild Episode 2536: Wrong Division

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