Summary[]
In their first live episode of Effectively Wild, recorded on Saturday at Saber Seminar, Ben and Sam answer listener emails with help from two players, John Baker and David Aardsma.
Topics[]
- Catchers facing former battery mates
- Position players pitching
- Practicing trick plays
- Defining a balk
- Shortest possible careers
- Pitching in the rain
- Lifetime pitches
- Viewing pitches from the dugout
- Baseball playing monkey
Banter[]
- Ben notes that this is the first time he and Sam have been looking at each other while recording.
- Even when in Sonoma during the Stompers season Ben and Sam would often record from different parts of the same house.
- Before a Pacific Association game Jose Canseco lost a home run derby against a rising high school junior.
Email Questions[]
- [Name unknown]: "Do catchers have an advantage when facing pitchers that they once caught?"
- [Name unknown]: "How many teams of the 30 in MLB have a trick play in their arsenal? How often do they practice them?"
- [Name unknown]: "What's the deal with balks?"
- Ryan: "I was wondering what the shortest possible career was for a position player was and if anyone has achieved it."
- Mike: "How much of an advantage does rain give a pitcher?"
- Jerome: "In the lifetime of a MLB pitcher how many pitches do you think they will throw?"
- Danny: "How the hell do coaches and players in the dugout know that a pitch is off the plate by inches when it's within the zone on the Y axis? What are they responding to?"
- [Unknown]: "If a monkey could be trained to bat and field, and have a positive WAR, should it be allowed to play?"
Play Index[]
- The Play Index is inspired by Ryan's email, which was sent over three years ago.
- There are 23 players who had a MLB debut where they were pinch hit for after being announced as a pinch hitter (including Bobby Abreau).
- Sean Mulligan had one career plate appearance and grounded out to the pitcher on his first swing.
Notes[]
- Sam asks several questions that are based off listener emails that he and Ben receive frequently.
- John said that in his experience hitting off Joe Blanton it was actually harder than normal to hit off a pitcher he knew very well.
- John thinks that every MLB team has at least one offensive trick play but not necessarily defensive ones.
- Sean Mulligan was traded by the Padres to the Indians for $75,000 and a treadmill.
- David says that rain makes the ball too slick, and that was you really want for the ball
- David estimates that he throws 2-3 pitches in practice/warm ups for each in game pitch.
Links[]
- Effectively Wild Episode 940: Live at Saber Seminar!