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

MAR 28, 202621 MIN

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

MAR 28, 202621 MIN

Description

<img loading="lazy" 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="auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" /> 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’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>’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’t always challenge when they “should,” <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 intro: Grant Brisbee, “<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CJziS-LZMoyB13avq991af2-c9KaGfoU/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>” Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r_SutdDwCAJtoMBaw5CjiM-mhsRmG6ii/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>” <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 “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon”</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’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’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.theringer.com/2025/05/16/star-wars/five-takeaways-from-rewatching-rogue-one-after-andor-star-wars" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on Rogue One and Andor</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’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’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> <a href="http://www.patreon.com/effectivelywild" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" height="18" src="https://i.imgur.com/hT2AX6G.jpg" style="width: 18px;height: 18px" width="18" /> Sponsor Us on Patreon</a> <a href="https://patreon.com/effectivelywild/gift" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" height="18" src="https://i.imgur.com/xQIHgp3.png" style="width: 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