

Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Clayton Kershaw’s resurgence and opt-out odds, the state of the playoff races, the Mariners’ balk-off weekend win, an unusual aspect of the 2008 CC Sabathia trade, the impending free agency of Nelson Cruz, and Ben’s article about the 1993 Athletics’ platoon-starter experiment, a precursor to the current Rays’ “opener” strategy. Then (25:09) they bring on Death Cab for Cutie singer/songwriter/guitarist (and Effectively Wild listener/composer) Ben Gibbard to talk about his band’s new album, Thank You for Today, as well as the Mariners’ season and the AL West race, how he got into baseball analysis, his favorite storylines of the season, watching the playoffs while on tour, ballparks as concert venues, singing the National Anthem, batting stances vs. singing stances, the aging curve for musicians vs. the aging curve for athletes, meeting casual music fans, being in the best shape of his life, the value of changing musical lineups, and more.

Audio intro: Death Cab for Cutie, "Gold Rush"

Audio interstitial: Death Cab for Cutie, "When We Drive"

Audio outro: Death Cab for Cutie, "60 & Punk"

Link to Mariners’ balk-off win

Link to 2008 trade-deadline retrospective

Link to Ben’s article on the 1993 A’s

Link to Ben Gibbard’s National Anthem performance

Link to Death Cab’s new album

Link to Death Cab’s upcoming concerts

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