Effectively Wild Episode 2554: Is MLB Bad for NPB? And Can the Rockies Catch Up?

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, please visit our Patreon. With Meg Rowley sidelined by an ill-timed landscapers visit, Ben Lindbergh brings on two great guests. First, Japanese baseball expert Yuri Karasawa (aka Yakyu Cosmopolitan) joins to talk about the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks dynasty, whether the Hawks’ success has induced a Dodgers-esque backlash or desire for a salary cap, NPB’s adoption of the pitch clock and universal DH, the league’s partial offensive bounceback, Yuri’s MLB expectations for Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira, and Hiromi Itoh, whether Japanese fans are frustrated by the departures of so many NPB stars, whether losing top amateur talents such as Shoki Oda poses an existential threat to Japanese pro ball, how to follow NPB from afar, and more. Then (1:03:39) Ben welcomes Michael McClellan, newly promoted director of analytics for the Rockies, to talk about leaving the Rays for the Rockies, how the Rockies can catch up to earlier data adopters, how to handle Coors Field, quantifying pitch-calling, what teams are looking for in applicants, how teams are (and aren’t) using AI, and more. Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch!