The Ringer's Philly Special Bryce Harper's WBC, Phillies Storylines, And the Eagles Sign Hollywood Brown!
Mar 18, 2026
Anthony Dabbundo, baseball writer and analyst, breaks down WBC storylines and Phillies buzz. He discusses Bryce Harper’s late WBC homer and what it means for narratives. Aaron Nola’s revamped velocity and spring form get attention. They touch on JT Realmuto, Bryson Stott’s hitting plan, and the Eagles signing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as a potential AJ Brown market signal.
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Vibe Mattered As Much As Results For Team USA
- Team USA's vibe and leadership felt muted compared to Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Japan, hurting perception even when on-field results were mixed.
- Anthony Dabbundo pins this on stoic leaders (Harper, Schwarber, Judge) lacking expressive celebrations that energized opponents.
Nola's WBC Reboot Suggests Real Velocity Return
- Aaron Nola delivered two standout WBC starts for Italy, throwing nine innings, one earned run, and eight strikeouts across the tournament.
- Dabbundo notes velocity jump from ~89 in 2024 to ~93 in the WBC and improved command and curveball shape as evidence Nola may rebound.
I Missed Nola's Start For A First Date And It Went Fine
- Anthony Dabbundo missed Aaron Nola's WBC start because he was on a first date and claims it went well despite skipping the game.
- He downplayed telling the date he loves Nola, saving deeper fandom reveals for later.