Effectively Wild Episode 2409: Hindsight is 2025

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the John Brebbia and Devin Williams signings (in that order, obviously), share a few follow-ups, and (31:33) assess whether each team satisfied its season preview guest’s conditions for a successful year. Then (58:18) they answer emails about the origins of the concept of the “opposite field,” the meaning of the word “whiff,” how to refer to offseasons, whether umpires practice throwing, how much stock to place in regular-season wins without an accompanying championship, and two takes on the challenge system.

Audio intro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Brebbia
Link to Brebbia on EW
Link to minor league FA
Link to FG post on Williams
Link to present-value calc
Link to Petriello on Williams
Link to biggest 2025 ERA-FIP gaps
Link to contracts draft
Link to team SP pro