<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png" alt="EWFI" width="590" height="206" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-242076" srcset="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png 590w, https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi-300x105.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" />
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/cal-raleigh/21534/stats/batting" target="_blank">Cal Raleigh</a>, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/randy-arozarena/19290/stats/batting" target="_blank">Randy Arozarena</a>, and WBC handshake etiquette, whether a mercy-rule-inducing dinger qualifies as a walk-off, whether a winning home team could voluntarily play the bottom of the ninth, MLB&#8217;s ban of the Brewers&#8217; challenge-system system, why the MLBPA <em>should</em> defend <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jurickson-profar/10815/stats/batting" target="_blank">Jurickson Profar</a> and other players with positive PED tests, and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/joe-sewell/1011766/stats/batting" target="_blank">Joe Sewell&#8217;</a>s indestructible bat, then preview the 2026 New York Mets (56:35) with <em>The Athletic</em>&#8217;s <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/timbritton.bsky.social" target="_blank">Tim Britton</a>, and the 2026 Washington Nationals (1:40:27) with <em>The Athletic&#8217;</em>s <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/spencernusbaum.bsky.social" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Spencer Nusbaum</a>, plus several postscript updates (2:27:10).
<div class="intro-misc intro-team">
        <div class="intro-header"><span class="intro-header-text">2026 EW Season Preview Series</span></div>
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                <div class="team-lg">NL</div><table><tr><td><a class="link-inactive">ATL</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2446-season-preview-series-cubs-and-guardians">CHC</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2436-season-preview-series-astros-and-diamondbacks">ARI</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2449-season-preview-series-mariners-and-marlins">MIA</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2445-season-preview-series-red-sox-and-reds">CIN</a></td><td><a class="link-inactive">COL</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2450-season-preview-series-mets-and-nationals">NYM</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2439-season-preview-series-brewers-and-rangers">MIL</a></td><td><a class="link-inactive">LAD</a></td></tr><tr><td><a class="link-inactive">PHI</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2438-season-preview-series-pirates-and-twins">PIT</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2440-season-preview-series-orioles-and-padres">SDP</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2450-season-preview-series-mets-and-nationals">WSN</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2448-season-preview-series-yankees-and-cardinals">STL</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2437-season-preview-series-giants-and-royals">SFG</a></td></tr></table></div>
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<p><strong>Audio&nbsp;intro</strong>: Luke Lillard, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IdOM-zb7R8ln39HiJsfTKpQCOdvTF7fd/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
<strong>Audio&nbsp;interstitial 1</strong>: Ian Philllips, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrPfzMAqjbs7sudd3ufBF9DQ6CUJQBgI/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
<strong>Audio&nbsp;interstitial 2</strong>: Josh Busman, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SggB_cBRUvlpFnxY6mZRh4wXQ4AHj91K/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
<strong>Audio&nbsp;outro</strong>: Gabriel-Ernest, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RRfThaYTS3pNyN08OEGLJLdhXRb-wIUZ/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/team-italy-espresso-home-run-celebration-world-baseball-classic-2026" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to espresso shots</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/2026-standings" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to WBC standings</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/tarik-skubal-will-leave-team-usa-to-return-to-tigers-camp" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Skubal update</a>
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/are-mariners-randy-arozarena-and-cal-raleigh-feuding-over-wbc-interaction/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to handshake beef summary</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7104129/2026/03/10/mariners-randy-arozarena-cal-raleigh-handshake-wbc/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to handshake beef precedent</a>
<a href="https://x.com/EvaLaMorte/status/2031179269175431195" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to video of failed handshake</a>
<a href="https://x.com/LuisGilbertLop/status/2031222571522265160" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Arozarena&#8217;s comments</a>
<a href="https://x.com/Masterflip_/status/2031238544866291908" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to translation</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/cal-raleigh-randy-arozarena-no-handshake-mexico-usa-world-baseball-classic" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to De Rosa response</a>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arozarena-world-baseball-classic-raleigh-f895c44ba605b4a32fe4c87d139d89dd" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Raleigh response</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/netherlands-vs-dominican-republic-in-2026-world-baseball-classic" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Soto homer</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/sports/baseball/mlb-playoffs-walkoff-home-run.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to &#8220;walk-off&#8221; etymology</a>
<a href="https://www.baseball-almanac.com/dictionary-term.php?term=walk-off" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to baseball dictionary definition</a>
<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/fox-broadcaster-bombarded-after-worst-walk-off-call-in-baseball-history-11640282" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Albies homer (and call)</a>
<a href="https://books.google.mw/books?id=Xh4OvwEACAAJ&lpg=PR4&pg=PA30#v=snippet&q=%E2%80%9Cahead%E2%80%9D%20+%20%E2%80%9Cninth%E2%80%9D&f=false" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to <em>A Game of Inches</em> excerpt</a>
<a href="https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/mlb/hhvryxqioipb87os1puw.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLB rulebook</a>
<a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/why-orioles-pirates-played-bottom-011838395.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to 2023 ump-less half-inning</a>
<a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2026/03/05/brewers-begin-to-implement-strategy-for-abs-challenge-system/89006602007/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Brewers signs article</a>
<a href="https://x.com/CyrtHogg/status/2030056615681081844" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Brewers signs update</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7091280/2026/03/06/mlb-drug-testing-contracts-jurickson-profar/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ghiroli column</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-8lpspHQuR5GK7S_nNtGunLGrx60QnSa8XLG_wvRb4Q/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to listener emails database</a>
<a href="https://baseballspast.substack.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Pages from Baseball&#8217;s Past</a>
<a href="https://baseballspast.substack.com/p/the-king-of-contact" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sewell article</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/phillies-jesus-luzardo-agree-to-extension.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Luzardo</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/joey-wentz-to-miss-2026-season-due-to-torn-acl.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Wentz</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/03/hunter-greene-elbow-surgery-bone-chips-july.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Greene</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/breakdowns/payroll" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to team payrolls page</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/offseason-tracker/mets?transactiontype=&teamchange=" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Mets offseason tracker</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/mets" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Mets depth chart</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/ryan-lambert-100-mph-heat-raw-eggs" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Lambert eggs article</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6672509/2025/09/29/mets-mlb-collapse-mendoza-soto-lindor/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Tim on the Mets&#8217; collapse</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/juan-soto-and-francisco-lindor-address-mets-clubhouse-issues" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Soto/Lindor discord update</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2026/01/28/mlb/the-rebuilt-new-york-mets-are-bucking-baseball-history" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on Mets turnover</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/francisco-alvarez-2026-outlook-after-swing-changes" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Alvarez resurgence article</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/tim-britton/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Tim&#8217;s author archive</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/offseason-tracker/nationals?teamchange=&transactiontype=" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Nationals offseason tracker</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/nationals" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Nationals depth chart</a>
<a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/hang-up-and-listen/2026/02/the-seahawks-stunned-the-patriots-at-the-super-bowl" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to <em>WaPo</em> discussion on HUAL</a>
<a href="https://www.nytco.com/press/the-athletic-welcomes-new-colleagues/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to <em>The Athletic</em>&#8217;s <em>WaPo</em> hirings</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/nationals-focused-on-throwing-strikes-in-2024" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rizzo mantra</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2163-littell-big-league/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Littell on EW</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/spencer-nusbaum/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Spencer&#8217;s <em>WaPo</em> author archive</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/spencer-nusbaum/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Spencer&#8217;s <em>The Athletic</em> archive</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/italy-vs-united-states-in-2026-world-baseball-classic" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Italy/USA game story</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/lewispoll.is/post/3mgqzp3fg4222" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to tiebreak scenarios</a>
<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gSmPU0L8kYpCtAFRjW1wp" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on Ellen&#8217;s podcast</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/blog-roll?category=Only%20a%20Woman:%20Ella%20Black" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ella Black series</a>
<a href="https://andrewballnotes.substack.com/p/why-do-spring-training-days-start" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ball&#8217;s post about mornings</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVctA_JAtly/?img_index=2" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Schaeffer clip</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rjandersonwrites.com/post/3mf5gelgyts2m" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to R.J.&#8217;s farewell thread</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2295-only-the-best-breakout-picks/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to R.J.&#8217;s last EW appearance</a>
<a href="https://bandwagon.ghost.io/bandwagon-preboarding-picking-mlb-players-to-make-the-leap-in-2026/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Crizer&#8217;s breakout terminology</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XQjZwxfA0k" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Tarkin quote</a></p>
<p>
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