Effectively Wild Episode 1893: Flame Inflation

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the inflation of flames for fast pitches on baseball broadcasts, Oneil Cruz’s record-setting hard hit and the limitations of tools, Ben’s review of a trip to Yankee Stadium and Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski’s review of Wrigley Field compared to Fenway Park, the potential impact of a forthcoming Angels franchise sale, the latest Tony La Russa shenanigans, the importance of Johnny Cueto, updates on the streaking Cardinals and Albert Pujols, Jordan Montgomery, and Yadier Molina, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s shoulder surgery, the new, more balanced MLB schedule coming in 2023, the return of Alex Bregman’s bat, and the historic exploits of NPB phenoms Munetaka Murakami and Roki Sasaki, plus a Past Blast from 1893 and a few followups.

Audio intro: The Super Friendz, “Down in Flames”
Audio outro: Nils Lofgren, “Yankee Stadium”

Link to Sam on the flames
Link to percentage of 95+ pitches
Link to percentage of 95+ fastballs
Link to percentage of 95+ 4-seamers
Link to percentage of 96+ 4-seamers
Link to story on Cruz hit
Link to Jay Jaffe on the Yankees
Link to Winckowski comments
Link to “bean counter” etymology
Link to Angels sale announcement
Link to The Athletic on the Angels sale
Link to MLBTR on the ballpark sale
Link to La Russa quote
Link to article on Kopech
Link to other post on Kopech
Link to MLBTR on the Cueto signing
Link to article about players of the week
Link to Jay on Pujols
Link to Jeremy Frank tweet about Pujols
Link to Ben Clemens on Montgomery
Link to Foolish tweet about Montgomery
Link to article on Molina’s absence
Link to article on Tatis’s surgery
Link to article on the 2023 schedule
Link to Clemens on Bregman
Link to David Laurila on Bregman
Link to June episode about Bregman
Link to DeltaGraphs
Link to Ben on DeltaGraphs
Link to CBS Sports on Murakami
Link to The Sporting News on Murakami
Link to The Japan Times on Murakami
Link to Kyodo News on Murakami
Link to article on Murakami’s streak
Link to video of Murakami’s streak
Link to Richard Hershberger’s Strike Four
Link to 1893 story source
Link to Goldeyes EW episode
Link to Wade/Ward EW wiki page
Link to high Offense, negative WPA sheet
Link to 1978 Orioles cap