Team Italy's WBC surge and charm

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Team Italy’s triumphs (and good vibes) at the WBC, a tumultuous week for Team USA and Mark DeRosa, and where the tournament stands entering the quarterfinals, then preview the 2026 Philadelphia Phillies (39:21) with The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, and the 2026 Los Angeles Angels (1:21:00) with The Athletic’s Sam Blum, plus a postscript (2:09:08).

Audio intro: Austin Klewan, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 1: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial 2: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Pedantic)”
Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to WBC standings
Link to WBC bracket
Link to “caffeine and kisses” story
Link to Pasquantino homers
Link to “beaned up” article
Link to “beaned up” clip
Link to DeRosa clip 1
Link to DeRosa clip 2
Link to DeRosa clip 3
Link to latest DeRosa comments
Link to clip removal
Link to article on DeRosa’s mistake
Link to Ghiroli on DeRosa
Link to Rosenthal on DeRosa 1
Link to Rosenthal on DeRosa 2
Link to article on DeRosa/Harper
Link to Disgrace of Gijón
Link to roster reconfigurations
Link to Raleigh shirt
Link to Team USA chemistry article
Link to Sopranos clip
Link to team payrolls page
Link to Phillies offseason tracker
Link to Phillies depth chart
Link to Harper EBOO article
Link to Matt on Harper
Link to Matt on Harper/Dombrowski
Link to Matt on Castellanos
Link to Castellanos Insta post
Link to Matt on Kerkering
Link to Phillies himbo article 1
Link to Phillies himbo article 2
Link to Stark on Phillies continuity
Link to Matt on Strahm
Link to Girl With a Pearl Earring
Link to team SP projections
Link to team RP projections
Link to Matt’s author archive
Link to Matt’s podcast
Link to TB12 update
Link to Angels offseason tracker
Link to Angels depth chart
Link to Sam’s Angels beat farewell
Link to Sam on Netflix in Japan
Link to Sam on Rendon
Link to Angels TV network story
Link to Trout sprint speed story
Link to article on fastest human
Link to pitching development survey
Link to Sam’s author archive
Link to Paxton/pitch limits article
Link to WBC rules
Link to Ben on “Strategy”
Link to Laureano post 1
Link to Laureano post 2

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