Effectively Wild Episode 2418: The Challenge System Challenge

Описание: Ben Lindbergh, Craig Goldstein (https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:m2td...) of Baseball Prospectus (https://www.baseballprospectus.com/) , and Joe Sheehan (https://bsky.app/profile/sheehannewsl...) of The Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter (https://www.joesheehan.com/) break down teams’ last-minute Christmas shopping—including the White Sox signing Munetaka Murakami (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/mun...) , the Padres signing Michael King (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/mic...) and Sung Mun Song (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/sun...) , the Orioles trading for Shane Baz (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/sha...) , the Red Sox trading for Willson Contreras (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/wil...) , a three-team trade involving the Pirates, Rays, and Astros, Jeff McNeil (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jef...) and Matt Strahm (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/mat...) swaps, and the Yankees’ hibernation—plus banter about the quasi-retirement of Craig’s nemesis, Joe Kelly (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/joe...) , the future of NPB, a report about Emmanuel Clase (https://www.fangraphs.com/players/emm...) ’s mid-game phone use, and supporting independent media. Then (1:11:40) they conduct an in-depth debate about the respective merits of human umpiring, the challenge system, and full ABS.



Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_u1O...) ”

Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K07E...) ”



Link to Kelly’s podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)

Link to Dubuque on the challenge system (https://www.baseballprospectus.com/ne...)

Link to Craig on the challenge system (https://www.baseballprospectus.com/ne...)

Link to Joe on the challenge system (https://www.joesheehan.com/2025/09/jo...)

Link to previous podcast discussion (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effective...)

Link to Seitz decision wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seitz_d...)

Link to Joe on the Seitz decision (https://www.joesheehan.com/2020/12/fr...)

Link to over/under draft results (https://www.ewstats.com/competitions/...)

Link to Baumann on Murakami (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/phenomena...)

Link to Rosenblum on Murakami (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/creating-...)

Link to Longenhagen on Murakami (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-scou...)

Link to Craig on Murakami (https://www.baseballprospectus.com/ne...)

Link to Sarris on Murakami (https://x.com/enosarris/status/200150...)

Link to Ben on Murakami in 2022 (https://www.theringer.com/2022/09/15/...)

Link to Sato story (https://gopsusports.com/news/2025/12/...)

Link to FG post on King (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/padres-si...)

Link to FG post on Song (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/padres-fi...)

Link to FG post on Baz (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/baltimore...)

Link to Craig on Baz (https://www.baseballprospectus.com/ne...)

Link to team SP projections (https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts...)

Link to Joe on three-team trade (https://www.joesheehan.com/2025/12/ne...)

Link to FG post on three-team trade (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/pittsburg...)

Link to FG post on Contreras (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cardinals...)

Link to FG post on Strahm (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/phillies-...)

Link to Strahm’s beer stance (https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/3...)

Link to Bowlan info (https://philliesminorthoughts.com/tak...)

Link to FG post on McNeil (...