Effectively Wild Episode 1609: Game, Set, MaskBen Lindberghon October 29, 2020 at 12:50 pm

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller discuss Justin Turner’s positive COVID test, his unsafe decision to return to the field after World Series Game 6, and why his protocol-breaking behavior cast a pall over the World Series celebration, then examine the series’ significance to the legacies of the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw, why the Dodgers were a fun team to follow, why no asterisk is required, the legendary postseason performance of Randy Arozarena, Rays manager Kevin Cash’s much-maligned decision to replace Blake Snell with reliever Nick Anderson in the sixth inning of Game 6, whether bullpen usage has gone too far, and the evolution of what people mean when they refer to “analytics,” plus a Stat Blast about where the Rays’ World Series showing ranks among World Series losers.

Audio intro: Robbie Robertson, “Breakin’ the Rules“
Audio outro: Steve Winwood, “Winner/Loser”

Link to MLB statement about Turner
Link to LA Times story on Turner
Link to Ken Rosenthal on Turner
Link to Jen Mac Ramos on Turner
Link to Bradford William Davis on Turner
Link to Barry Svrluga on Turner
Link to Ben on the Dodgers as familiar figures
Link to Tony Wolfe on Arozarena and the Rays offense
Link to Louisa Thomas on Kershaw
Link to Ben on Cash, Snell, and starters
Link to Ben on bullpenning
Link to research on the TTO penalty
Link to earlier research on the TTO penalty
Link to Russell on the TTO penalty
Link to research on pulling pitchers
Link to Twitter thread on pulling Snell
Link to Nate Silver on capping pitchers
Link to FanGraphs playoff coverage