Two different worlds we live in two different worlds

But we will show them as we walk together in the sun

That are two different worlds

Good morning and welcome to episode 843 of Effectively Wild

The Daily Podcast from Baseball Perspectus presented by our Patreon supporters and the baseball reference plan decks

I'm Ben Lindbergh of 538, joined not by my usual co-host Sam Miller but by my colleague at 538 Rob Arthur

So we are interrupting our team preview series today to bring you this special bonus episode

Because we want to talk to a player who's become a hero to baseball nerds this spring

His name is Cole Figaroa, he's been in the big leagues with both the raise and the Yankees

And he's currently in Pittsburgh Pirates Camp trying to add a third team to his baseball reference page

Pirates beat writer Travis Sachik recently wrote in the Tribune review that Cole is, quote, perhaps the most mathematically gifted player in the Great Fruit League

And my girlfriend Jesse recently wrote in an instant message to me, quote, Cole Figaroa is everything you love

So a few hours ago he was standing in the batter's back spacing Luis Severino and now he is talking to us, hey Cole

Hi, yes, I am here, I survived Mr. Severino, my launch angle was a little off today

And I probably a little bit on the negative side so I grounded out the first base and now I'm here talking to you

So one way that non-professional athletes like me and Rob maintain our self-esteem while watching baseball players is by telling ourselves that

While yes, we may not be as big or as fast or as coordinated as those guys were probably better at doing math or writing computer code or analyzing advanced baseball stats

And now you come along and leave us nothing to cling to you you've already got the glamorous career

Can't you just let us have the stuff that doesn't help get you dates or potentially getting these dollars?

Well, I think I need to clarify this in a little bit in this particular instance

You're actually talking to an undersized under-tooled somewhat of a thinking player so I wouldn't take it as badly as you're taking it right now

I think it's look at me as maybe one of your own that happens to have very good hand-eye coordination

...