Ben Lindbergh (of Effectively Wild and FiveThirtyEight) joins BttP editor Ken Maeda to talk about all things Star Wars, including his take on The Force Awakens, and growing up a fan of the series. After some talk about his sportswriting, spoilers start at about 12 minutes in.
Aaron Hicks, OF, New York Yankees Acquired by New York in the deal that sent catcher JR Murphy to Minnesota, Hicks is a post-hype prospect who showed promise in an injury-interrupted 2015 season. He turned… Read more »
Andrew Patrick, Eric Hartman, Mike Carlucci, and Brandon Lee hold a 5-round draft of their all-time favorite Simpsons episodes.
By the time you’re reading this you’ve probably eaten your fill of turkey, stuffing, and pie. In the spirit of the holiday we asked several of the Banished to the Pen contributors what they’re thankful… Read more »
We go off-topic to pass the off-season: Effectively Wild group members Eric Ferguson and Eric Hartman join BttP regulars Eric Roseberry and Ryan Sullivan for a 3-round draft of their all-time favorite wrestlers.
In 2015 the New York Mets were a team that led their fans on an emotional roller coaster. The Mets made fans feel like they themselves were members of the team. It was impossible for… Read more »
The following is the result of a “flash” draft of leftover Halloween candies, as conducted by Banished to the Pen staff and contributors. Select scouting notes are also included. The picks were based solely on… Read more »
Halloween is coming up on Saturday, so we decided to ask the other writers at Banished to the Pen, “What were some of the scariest moments in MLB this season?” To put it another way,… Read more »
A few hours of darkness still lingered when I woke up on Saturday to head to Washington National Airport for an early morning flight to St. Louis for Game 2 of the NLDS between the St…. Read more »
On Tuesday afternoon I was sitting in my office and I had a thought. “I should go to Pittsburgh for the NL wild card game.” I’m not a Pirates or Cubs fan, but I just… Read more »
Banished to the Pen turns the clock back to 1988, as we take a look at some classic baseball video games and collectibles.
In this series, Banished to the Pen turns the clock back to a particular year in baseball from the ’80s and ’90s. Our first entry starts with 1988, the year of one of the most… Read more »
A few days ago I gave you some reasons to keep watching baseball if your favorite team is out of it. The playoffs look like they’re going to be exciting. There are some great young stars… Read more »
It seems like only yesterday that spring training was starting. Back in March and April it was a time of hope. Anything seemed possible before the season started. Maybe the Padres really will win the… Read more »
In a development that shocked and delighted baseball fans everywhere – or at least those frequenting a very small section of the internet – Effectively Wild icons Ryan Webb and Matt Albers actually appeared on both the podcast and in a Ben Lindbergh Grantland article this week to talk about the record which they have so unrelentingly (and largely unwittingly) broken: total games finished without ever recording a save.
Last week I had the opportunity to go to Marlins Park for the first time. This was also one of the rare opportunities when my wife went to a game with me. My wife doesn’t… Read more »
When I turned age ten, my parents gifted me a subscription to Beckett Baseball Card Monthly for my birthday. This was big if you collected baseball cards; a Beckett magazine gave you credibility, it signaled to everyone that you weren’t… Read more »
Almost three months of the MLB season have passed, and while many divisions are on course to be tense, thrilling affairs deep into the season, none can match the Webb-Albers Championship for excitement generated by so… Read more »
From the professional level, to public park leagues, to back yards, to couches and televisions, fathers (biological, chosen, or father-figures) and their children spend the summer months playing, discussing, watching, studying, and sharing the game… Read more »
Athletes should not be role models. Parents say it, teachers say it, writers say it, Charles Barkley says it. There are of course, dissenting voices who can (and should) bring up people like Roberto Clemente…. Read more »
On this edition of Mop-Up Duty: It’s Star Wars. Brandon Lee, Ken Maeda, and Mike Carlucci hold a 5-round “space fantasy mock draft” of their favorite Star Wars things, reminiscing, learning fun facts, and looking to the future of the franchise. Recommended only to those with excessive levels of geekness.
Everyone’s favorite gap-toothed funnyman, David Letterman, has presented many baseball-related Top Ten Lists during his influential and inventive 33-year run in late night.
This week marked the start of month 2 in the Banished to the Pen ottoneu SABR points league. We haven’t quite reached the June 1st date in which all stats magically become credible but there… Read more »
My mom taught me the baseline of what I know about baseball. Growing up on the North Side of Chicago, she followed the Cubs as Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Fergie Jenkins… Read more »
EFFECTIVELY WILD FACEBOOK GROUP – A group of diehard listeners recently turned weirdly-specific general manager with the advent of what is arguably the most Effectively Wild of all fantasy leagues: the Webb-Albers Championship. Eleven reliever… Read more »
Have no fear, BttP ottoneu fans, last week was a fluke and I’m back with yet another recap. It’s been a rough 2 weeks since I last posted (getting “old” sucks) but I’m thrilled to… Read more »
The Phillies are rebuilding. 2015 is a lost cause, 2016 too. 2017, maybe they’re hunting the wild card if everything breaks right. The team is old, not terribly productive, has very little upside, and the… Read more »
The commish of our league has built a simulation engine from the ground up. It’s not based just on stats, but the characteristics of the player (line drive rate, etc). The current season in the… Read more »
We did it, everybody! We survived the second week in Banished to the Pen’s ottoneu league. Weekly Standings KerouacNation underwent somewhat of an identity crisis in week two and is now known as the… Read more »
You get your guy. It’s the last round of your fantasy draft. The top 275 to 800 players have been taken, give or take a few depending on league depth. Everyone’s starting lineup was filled… Read more »
