This was the first podcast I ever got into. Loved it. Rarely missed an episode for almost a decade. Meg absolutely ruined it for me though. I started skipping more and more episodes over the last few years until I asked myself why I was even listening at all. Now I’ve stopped completely. What used to be a fun, nerdy baseball show has turned into a medium for the hosts to lecture listeners with their radical political opinions. Not only that, but the quirky character Meg tries to play is way too over the top. How many times can you repeat Ben’s name? Unfunny jokes are driven into the ground like the whole bird bones thing. They’ll spend 30 minutes talking about the most inconsequential things. It’s a shame what’s happened to such a previously great podcast. Clearly others feel the same way based off of recent reviews. I’ve moved onto other baseball podcasts.

This podcast was once good. Now it’s not and it really hasn’t been good for a while now.

Unfortunately, the show that’s supposed to be about analytics is more about lecturing you on politics and social issues. The baseball hypotheticals are still there and fun, but those can’t save the massive decline in quality in the last few months.

The baseball content is excellent. The political handwringing is tedious. Heartfelt no doubt but mostly knee jerk progressive angst.

n/t

I’ve been an on-again-off-again listener for the better part of a decade. Every time I return to listening, I’m reminded of how magical a universe Ben, Sam, Jeff, and Meg have built over the many years. It’s the greatest podcast of all time.

Ben mentioned that he had an idea to do an EW mini-series for quite a while but was waiting for the right idea — well, this was definitely it. The series as a whole was incredibly engaging and well-produced. The time and effort that went into researching Ella Black’s story was quite evident throughout the three episodes. As a baseball fan in Pittsburgh, this story was particularly compelling to me, but I believe all baseball fans with an interest in the history of the game would be equally as captivated. I would love more mini-series like this in the future! Beyond the Ella Black series, the standard EW format will also always get five-stars from me.

The narrative series just completed at Effectively Wild on Ella Black, the first female sportswriter, was fantastic. Well researched, lovingly produced, and attention holding throughout. A departure from their usual (and great) form and one I was somewhat skeptical about. But it was so well done and so engaging I decided to leave this review to celebrate the good work and encourage them to consider further podcasts like this should a topic ever grip them enough. Great job!

I LOVE this!

Been listening to this podcast for years but it’s a shell of its former self. Meg has become basically unlistenable as all she does now is lecture.

Checking back in to say that Meg and Ben rule, EW rules. Keep trusting your editorial gut and talk about what’s important. For the “stick to sports people”: baseball doesn’t exist outside of culture and politics. Culture and politics are woven into sports. Pretending they aren’t is a bit naive. This is a podcast about baseball, not just about numbers. If it’s uncomfortable for you to think about labor issues or the fact that MLB used to be segregated, I’d encourage you to spend some time in that discomfort and genuinely engage with those issues. This is the review I wrote a few years ago: It’s hysterical to me that anyone would rate this show less than 5 stars. Sounds like a cry for help. Effectively Wild’s combination of abundance and quality is flabbergasting. Literally an episode for every imaginable version of appreciating baseball. Keep talking about labor issues! It’s hugely important, and created an easy in to a tough conversation about labor rights more broadly. I donate a small amount monthly and am proud to say it because if you like the pod and listen and can afford it, I think you should too.

I’m sure you don’t care what they say anyway (and nor should you), just wanted to reiterate how wrong the “stick to baseball” comments are. Meg is on the right side of history, she can say whatever she wants as far as I’m concerned. Let those people alienate themselves and find a right wing baseball podcast.

Enjoy the insightful baseball dialogue but was very disappointed that Meg decided to jump into the cultural wars by bad mouthing a singer and then disingenuously attempting to clarify.

please have more coverage of barry bonds talking about kids these days

Intelligence and insight abound here, and it will make you roll your eyes a lot at other podcasts’ vapid “hot takes.” The hosts are both terrific.

I love baseball. My girlfriend does not. However, we both love this podcast. I listen for the baseball analysis, the pedantic tangents, the wonderful interviews, and the dives into baseball stats and history, but she listens entirely because of Meg. Specifically because of things like episode 2285: 41:15 - 43:06. I’m not gonna explain it, you’ll just have to listen. This show is a 10/10 for baseball fans and non-fans alike - from top to bottom.

Effectively Wild is my favorite baseball podcast. Meg and Ben (the hosts) have an easy chemistry that’s fun to listen to, and they cover the game with a mix of statistical insight and passion. They get great guests, but perhaps the most intriguing episodes are the ones where they answer all sorts of baseball-related email questions from listeners. If you are a baseball fan and not a subscriber, you’re doing it wrong. The podcast is a great complement to their work at The Ringer and Fangraphs.

Spent 15 minutes complaining about clickbait in 2025.

Fun! A welcome antidote to the dude-bro brand of baseball analysis.

Would give zero stars if I could. Too much banter. Too pedantic. Too many numbers.

A once wonderful podcast by excellent hosts has out talked itself. Why make a point in 500 words when you can use 10,000? I miss the days of 30 minute Effectively Wild. Treat your audience as if it were as intelligent as you are, Ben and Meg. We got it ten minutes ago. Move on.

I have regularly listened to Effectively Wild for more than ten years. This review is intended to cancel out the review left earlier this month, besmirching the name of Meg Rowley. She is the best of us and provides about 25% of the joy in my life. She provides a different flavor of analysis from other hosts, former or active, and that flavor is a welcome relief from the platitudinal clichés expressed on nearly every other baseball cast. Ben, I like you too, friend. It’s a Friday show, and I was feeling spicy.

This used to be a good podcast, in the days of Sam Miller. Meg Rowley has completely ruined it. It’s unlistenable, and it’s a shame. The only reason this isn’t a one-star review is bc I like Ben Lindberg. But unfortunately I can only listen to old episodes, or new ones when rowley is on vacation, and Lindberg brings in replacements like Clemens, Longenhagen, or Jaffe. If he would find a better cohost, this could go back to being a top podcast again.

I’m a patreon supporter HOWEVER for two otherwise intelligent hosts they’re still on that lolmets bull. Banter better!

I only have time in my week for one baseball podcast. After sampling a lot of them, I picked this one.

He talks too long on one issue. Seems like he feels he has to constantly talk

There is a substantial wave in thirst for prospect and (MLB)draft knowledge. Eric is our proverbial drink for abstaining from that thirst. Love him on the podcast! Thanks for the work and drive you all have.

Recommended by Jacky Lee, the host of Hito MLB, a podcast from Taiwan. I love this show. I even spend time to read Ben Linburgh’s books, which are awesome as well

Great work team, love the chatter!

I love Ben and Meg's insights, two great baseball brains. However I find my self turning off the episodes once they begin to talk themselves in long repetitive circles about one topic without making much progress. I'm all for a free flowing natural conversation but sometimes they make a point and continue to make the same point four or five times before moving on. These circling conversations and sometimes oddly defensive tip-toeing language just turn me off from the show. Not sure if its the pacing, editing, or just my personal preference. They aren't as funny as they think they are.

Cut the show in half and focus on baseball and it would be one of the best. They spend a great deal of time talking about things they know little about while making effectively wild assumptions. For example, they don’t know anything about a specific county’s zoning regulations and I really don’t care to find out but they spend a half hour discussing it. Have production cut that part.

I love baseball and avidly listen to many baseball podcasts. I listen to a broad variety of pods, from the more “professional” ones to the more “playful” ones including this one. But, come on Meg and Ben! Often your podcast is plain immature in not a good, playful sense. Just immature! From the minutes long comments on new uniforms…, while saying you don’t want to make that “a big fuss” about them, to sometimes just going down really unproductive and honestly non-sensical rabbit holes. Make no mistake, there are episodes here that are very good, playful, creative and refreshing! But, more often than not, those get overshadowed by really immature, children-like comments, topics, and tone throughout whole episodes. And we are talking about 1hour+ long episodes. Please improve on this area and I will happily re-subscribe and start listening again.

Or at least the enlightened despot…maybe the elected benevolent ombuds-person. The only flaw, it needs more Longenhagen, Bauman , and Clemens. Love Meg and Ben; just want to hear more from the others two. Spin-off podcast anyone?

Hope you like em

Best baseball podcast and it’s not even close. Great analysis, hosting, humor etc. can’t recommend enough if you’re a diehard fan of this great game

I tried this podcast because I had listened to all the episodes of Sleeper and the Bust. There was a whole segment about women in the sport and why there aren’t any female umpires in MLB. Undoubtedly it has nothing to do with the fact that there are no women MLB players and everything to do with rampant sexism in the sport. Other topics were equally uninteresting.These are interesting topics for some, undoubtedly, but just not my cup of tea. The hosts are good and quick-witted and seem like nice people.

Perhaps the best distillation I can give of why I adore this podcast: Seeing the title of Episode 2101 (“Eating Crow”) and wondering how Ben and Meg could dedicate so much time to breaking down the big Tyrone Taylor/Adrian Houser for Coleman Crow trade, and being delighted to realize that it was instead a discussion of grammar school pottery.

there is no peer

This show has its appeal, and I understand why people like it. But just be ready for them to spend 15 minutes doing something like trying to find a proper definition of “drought.” If you enjoy insanely lengthy discussions that feel like diving into a black hole about something semi irrelevant to why you came to the podcast, then go for it

It didn't happen immediately, but the new host — as is acknowledged on the pod — has definitively changed EW. It is now much more self-satisfied and juvenile than I enjoy listening to; additionally, one of the hosts being an active, unabashed fan of a team is not a welcome change for me. While I don't think she herself is less smart than former hosts by any means — and indeed, her predecessor shared some of the above traits to a degree — the conversations she encourages and engages in certainly feel that way.

It took me a few episodes to get used to Ben and Meg’s delivery, but now I’ve come to very much appreciate the clarity with which they explain things. This combined with their pedantry (meant with love) has helped me improve my understanding of baseball. Ben and Meg have quickly become two of my favorite voices to have in my ears. Came for the baseball knowledge and staying for the hosts.

Great info Like the content. Just some constructive criticism…probably a nervous tick but can Ben (i think) seems like he is slightly laughing the entire time he’s talking.

My favorite Grant Brisbee podcast (and there are a few), the other two guest hosts are pretty good too.

Almost ten years of listening and I still look forward to listening to Ben’s and Meg’s insightful musings about my favorite pastime.

I like Ben but love Meg! Sue me! You’re both very knowledgeable but she has an awkward charm. Pedro Feliz was underrated.

Edit: I apparently reviewed this when it first started. While it did get a lot better technically, recently it has become two hours of variable listenability. Some good baseball content, interrupted by interminable stretches of discussion of players crapping. This show badly needs an editor who will overrule the hosts saying “leave it in.” Good information, smart hosts, but the quality is very low. It's hard to pull off two guys chatting off the cuff, and too often they come off as simply unprepared. Not too long ago, they mentioned that they don't prepare for the show, which is by no means a good thing. A rule of thumb I learned in broadcasting is that a good hour on-air results from 3 hours of preparation, and this show would really benefit from the hosts taking an hour a day preparing, getting their facts and relevant points in order, before talking into the mic. The technical problems, including today not actually speaking into a microphone, add to the amateurish feel.

I didn’t mind Meg at first but dear lord, she just drowns on and on about nonsense. Talks herself in circles and makes sure to defend anything she says when it doesn’t need defending. And the constant squeals and noises, come on now. She knows baseball very well but it’s become almost unlistenable lately with all of her other stuff added in.

I hope you’re ok. You are very appreciated.

Love the several times a week discussion of various baseball topics. Still listening nearly 10 years after posting (most of) this review.

The analysis is second to none, even if it involves spilt popcorn on a plane!