Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Roki Sasaki is Headed to MLB, Andrew Painter's Fall League Run & November News Nov 18, 2024

Eno and DVR return from a brief break to discuss Roki Sasaki's decision to head to MLB for the 2025 season. Now that he's on the way, they discuss a few potential landing spots and how they're currently valuing him for early drafts. Plus, they look at Andrew Painter's return in the Arizona Fall League, Josue Briceño's MVP-winning performance in the league, and another round of November news including shoulder surgery for Zach Neto, more changes to the left field wall in Baltimore, and a temporary move to George Steinbrenner Field for the Rays in 2025.

Rundown

2:24 Roki Sasaki is Headed to MLB, Where Will He Land?

9:50 Would You Rather?: Roki Sasaki v. Other Early-Round (Top 75 overall) Starting Pitchers

21:55 Andrew Painter's Arizona Fall League Return

27:25 Josue Briceño Gets on the Deep Dynasty League Radar in the AFL

34:14 Reading the Tea Leaves: Aaron Boone's Comments on Caleb Durbin & Jasson Dominguez

39:48 Griffin Jax Being Considered for Starting Role in Minnesota

46:19 Zach Neto Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

53:49 Grayson Rodriguez: Fully Recovered From Lat Strain

56:37 Other News & Notes: Charlie Morton & The Rays' 2025 Home

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

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Ohtani's Shoulder Surgery, Roki Sasaki's Pitch Mix & An Early Offseason Acuña Update Nov 09, 2024

Eno and DVR are back from First Pitch Arizona with a flurry of early offseason updates including a shoulder procedure for Shohei Ohtani, a closer look at Roki Sasaki's pitch mix after his 2024 campaign in NPB, expectations that Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider won't be ready for Opening Day in 2025, plus a trade, a new contract for Michael Wacha, and the path for Jeff Hoffman to return to a starting role once he finds a new club in free agency.

Rundown

2:01 Shohei Ohtani's Undergoes Left Shoulder (Labrum) Surgery

12:17 How Many Players Have Old Injuries to Manage?

21:50 Roki Sasaki Nearing a Decision for 2025 Plans

30:57 Spencer Strider & Ronald Acuña Jr.: Unlikely for Opening Day

38:00 Jorge Soler Traded to Anaheim for Jorge Soler

49:08 David Fry Undergoes UCL Surgery

51:16 Extensions, Options & Opt-Outs

1:11:14 Willson Contreras to First Base & Position/Role Change Rumblings

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Live From First Pitch Arizona 2024! Nov 04, 2024

Eno and DVR are live at First Pitch Arizona. Max Bay, parent of Stuff+ joins the show to discuss a few changes with the latest update to the model. Danny Kirwin and Cooper Adams from the Red Sox organization stop by to discuss their path as undrafted college players into Boston's system and into the Arizona Fall League.

Plus, Eno and DVR discuss a few of the biggest surprises relative to the Stuff+ model in 2024, and their preferred roster construction strategies as the 2025 fantasy baseball draft season gets underway.

Rundown

1:02 Is DIPS Theory Dead?

9:46 Looking Beyond the Projections & Models for an Edge

11:56 Predicting the Next Iteration of Changes to Stuff+

18:59 Danny Kirwin & Cooper Adams Join the Show

23:31 How Did Tread Help Danny & Cooper Make the Leap From College to Signing with Boston?

29:26 Unique Challenges in the Arizona Fall League

34:06 The Biggest Movers in the Updated Stuff+ Model

43:03 What Is Your Ideal Roster Construction Approach as Draft Season Begins?

60:29 Considerations for Players Returning From Second Tommy John Surgery

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The Dodgers Are World Series Champions & Baseball's Death Star Oct 31, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the Dodgers' series-clinching Game 5 victory over the Yankees that made them the 2024 World Series Champions, which featured a string of defensive miscues that opened the door for a five-run fifth, and a clean ninth inning from....Walker Buehler?!

Plus, they look ahead to busy offseasons for both clubs as the Dodgers weigh options for a few potential upgrades, and the Yankees prepare to make a massive offer to retain Juan Soto.

Rundown

1:18 The Dodgers' Pitching Staff Had Just Enough in the Tank

7:33 One Brutal Inning for the Yankees' Defense

15:20 The Yankees' Need for More Bullpen Depth in Future Postseasons

19:24 The Dodgers Have Taken Over Baseball's Death Star

30:06 Long-Term Concerns About Jack Flaherty's Velocity?

37:38 The Yankees' Offseason Plans & Juan Soto Watch

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Anthony Volpe's Big Swing & Hitters That Missed Their Projections in 2024 Oct 30, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Anthony Volpe's huge Game 4 -- including a grand slam -- that may help the Yankees turn the World Series around as they continue to stave off elimination. Plus, they dig into several hitters that missed their 2024 season projections in both direction, looking for overperformers who had real breakouts, and underperformers with rebound potential in 2025.

Rundown

1:27 The Anthony Volpe Game & Volpe's Long-Term Ceiling

12:40 Austin Wells' Insurance Homer & Eighth-Inning Runs Saved Luke Weaver's Workload?

16:22 White Sox Hiring Will Venable as Manager; Offseason Targets?

26:58 Hitters that Missed Projections: Underperformers -- Long-Term Fallers, or Rebound Targets?

42:58 Hitters that Missed Projections: Overperformers -- Breakouts, or Players Bound for a Downturn in 2025?

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The Dodgers Are One Win Away & More Second-Half Takeaways Oct 29, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the Dodgers' commanding lead over the Yankees after a 4-2 win in Game 3. Plus, they wonder if the TV strike-zone box is ready for an overhaul, and discuss why Brusdar Graterol doesn't strike more hitters out. Away from the World Series, they discuss several notable second-half performances including Blake Snell, Yusei Kikuchi and Hunter Brown with an eye toward early 2025 drafts.

Rundown

3:55 Another Strong Start From Walker Buehler

10:29 A Closer Look at Strike Three Against Gleyber Torres in the Seventh Inning

18:02 The Multi-Year Success of Dodger Bullpen Games

26:25 Why Doesn't Brusdar Graterol Get More Strikeouts?

30:48 Giving Blake Snell & Gerrit Cole the SP1 Treatment in 2025?

43:41 Eno's Lingering Concerns About Kevin Gausman

47:55 Is Hunter Brown an SP2 Now? (Top 30 Pitcher)

53:36 Buying 2023-2024 Improvements From Yusei Kikuchi?

56:42 Second-Half Hitter Questions: Josh Lowe's K%, Lars Nootbaar's Health & Sean Murphy's Productivity

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Freddie Freeman's Epic October Moment, Judge's Slump & Long-Term Questions About Ohtani's Shoulder Oct 28, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss an eventful start to the World Series -- including Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam, and the Yankees' choice to use Nestor Cortes in that matchup -- long-term concerns about Shohei Ohtani's dislocated shoulder even if he's able to play in Game 3, and the postseason struggles of Aaron Judge. Plus, they look back at their second-half draft from July to discuss a few intriguing early-draft season targets including Luis Robert Jr., whose situation for 2025 would improve drastically if the White Sox opt to trade him.

Rundown

1:15 Freddie Freeman's Walk-Off Grand Slam

11:31 Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Game 2 Performance & Adjustments

21:01 Aaron Judge's October Woes

27:00 Long-Term Concerns About Shohei Ohtani's Shoulder?

36:54 Looking Back at Our Second-Half Rebound Draft

43:50 Luis Robert Jr. v. Brenton Doyle in 2025

51:45 Bo Bichette v. Luis García Jr.

57:58 David Fry, Sonny Gray & Ronny Mauricio Updates

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Freddie Freeman Cover Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

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World Series Preview & Predictions: Yankees v. Dodgers Oct 24, 2024

Eno and DVR preview the World Series matchup between the Yankees and Dodgers, examining the team's position player groups -- including defense and baserunning -- pitching, and the difficulty of game planning throughout the series. Plus, they share their predictions for series winner and series MVP.

Rundown

1:32 The Lineups: Depth Will Be Under the Microscope Behind Stars

14:38 How Do the Yankees & Dodgers Stack Up Defensively?

24:05 Do the Dodgers Have a Significant Edge on the Basepaths?

27:55 Game-by-Game Starting Pitcher Outlook

33:52 The Challenge of Limiting Looks at Your Relievers

37:07 Game Planning Considerations for the Series

51:54 Predictions: Series Winner & MVP

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World Series Reliever Rankings & Critical Matchups Oct 23, 2024

Eno, DVR, Trevor discuss the passing of Fernando Valenzuela, whose dominant 1981 season led to Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award honors in the same campaign and spurred 'Fernandomania' in Los Angeles. Plus, they dig into reliever rankings for the World Series and critical matchups that each team will be focused on during the Fall Classic.

Rundown

0:59 Fernando Valenzuela Passes Away at Age 63

5:21 Reliever Rankings for the World Series: Who Is No. 1?

15:59 Evan Phillips' Difficult Matchup with the Yankees' Bats

20:12 Tommy Kahnle's Extremely Heavy Changeup Usage

28:08 The Yankees' Lack of Power Lefties in the Bullpen

37:27 Uncertainty Around Nestor Cortes Jr.'s Availability & Role

44:22 Critical Matchups That Could Swing the Series

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Trevor May

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Is This The Dream World Series? Oct 22, 2024

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss a few compelling things about this year's World Series matchup and wonder if this round of Yankees v. Dodgers is a 'Dream World Series'. Plus, they rank the starting pitchers that are likely to appear in the series and assess the overall strength of each team's rotation options. Beyond the World Series, they also discuss Britt's story about White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf considering a potential sale of the team, and the upgrades that might be on tap for a Cubs team seeking a return to the playoffs in 2025.

Rundown

1:14 Is This the 'Dream World Series'?

5:32 The Best World Series Money Can Buy?

13:03 What Compels You Most About Yankees-Dodgers?

23:21 Lining Up the Starters Around Expected Bullpen Games

28:28 Rankings the Starting Pitchers We'll See In This Series

42:56 Jerry Reinsdorf is Open to Selling the White Sox

51:12 Offseason Plans for the Cubs

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The Yankees & Dodgers Advance to the World Series Oct 21, 2024

Eno and DVR look back at the conclusion of the LCS matchups as the Dodgers eliminated the Mets and the Yankees eliminated the Guardians to advance to the World Series over the weekend. They also examine a few potential offseason moves for the Mets and Guardians.

Rundown

4:51 The Dodgers' Lack of Innings From Starters This Postseason

8:53 Reliever Third Time Penalties Raise Questions About Heavy Reliever Usage in Playoffs

14:56 Did We Underappreciate the Tommy Edman Deal?

19:48 Looking Ahead at the Mets' Offseason Plans

28:45 An ALCS That Delivered Plenty of Excitement

40:39 Juan Soto v. Hunter Gaddis in Game 5 of the ALCS

48:27 What's On Tap for the Guardians This Winter?

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An Instant Classic in Cleveland & Early Starting Pitcher Thoughts Oct 18, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss an instant classic in Cleveland as the Guardians took Game 3 of the ALCS in dramatic fashion. Plus, they see another night of increased stuff across the board for Dodgers and Mets pitchers in Game 4 of the NLCS, where the Dodgers are now just one win away from the World Series. They also consider the 2025 outlook for Yoshinobu Yamamoto and take their first look at very early draft-day costs for starting pitchers around the top of the board.

Rundown

2:21 An Instant Classic in Cleveland

10:58 Should Jhonkensy Noel Be in the Starting Lineup for Bottom-Half Pop?

14:26 The Dodgers Are One Win Away From the World Series

20:20 Did We See a Similar Stuff Increase at Citi Field in Game 4?

29:10 Is Yoshinobu Yamamoto a Fantasy Ace In Year 2 with the Dodgers?

41:25 What If You Wait Until After Round 5 (15 teams) to Start Drafting Pitchers?

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Walker Buehler's Stuff Plays Up & The October Struggles of Catchers Oct 17, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Walker Buehler's outing in Game 3 of the NLCS and the overall uptick in pitch movement at Citi Field on Wednesday night. Plus, they examine the struggles of catchers at the plate this postseason -- and in recent years -- before discussing publicly available defensive metrics following the release of Gold Glove finalists earlier this week.

Rundown

1:13 Was That Walker Buehler's Best Stuff of the Season?

9:29 David Fry's Injury-Driven Defensive Limitations

11:53 Are Catcher Ground Into Stumps by October?

20:06 Will Smith's Slight Downturn in 2024

30:06 How Does This Guardians Team Compare to Other Recent LCS Clubs?

41:20 The Gold Glove Finalists Made Us Wonder: How Do We Feel About Currently Available Defensive Metrics?

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Can the Guardians Battle Back in the ALCS? Oct 16, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the Yankees' Game 2 over the Guardians and the missed opportunities for Cleveland as the series heads to Ohio and wonder how the Guardians might be able to climb back into the series. Plus, Eno shares his frustration with the unfair critiques of one-knee down catching, and they discuss the lack of right-on-right changeups.

Rundown

2:20 Missed Opportunities in Game 2 of the ALCS

7:40 The Absurdity of Complaints About One-Knee Down Catching

12:49 Pedro Avila's New Splitter May Matter Beyond the Playoffs

21:32 How Can the Guardians Climb Back Into the ALCS?

29:02 Why Don't We See More Right-on-Right Changeups?

35:43 Can We Have More Broadcast Options in the Playoffs?

45:33 Hawk-Eye Purchases KinaTrax; Potential Benefits on the Public Data Side in the Future?

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Will Bullpen Decay & The Mets' Success Against Relievers Define This Postseason? Oct 15, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the Dodgers' altered bullpen game approach in Game 2 of the NLCS which included an earlier usage of Landon Knack, who surrendered a critical second-inning grand slam to Mark Vientos. Plus, they examine the Mets' success against relievers throughout the year as highlighted by Robert Orr of Baseball Prospectus, a few potential fits for Alex Bregman and Willy Adames in free agency, and the success of Carlos Rodón in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians.

Rundown

1:41 The Mets Slug Against the Dodgers' Bullpen to Take Game 2

7:16 Mark Vientos' 2024 Breakout

12:23 How Will Alex Bregman's Defense Age?

18:01 Willy Adames' Foray Into Free Agency

22:55 Did the Dodgers' Hold Back Their Top Relievers in Game 2 to Limit the Mets' Looks?

26:39 Robert Orr's Breakdown of the Mets' Success Against Relievers

35:20 What Would You Put on Your Hitters Skills Checklist?

39:55 Can the Guardians Begin to Turn Good Hit Tools Into More Power?

47:51 What Changed for Carlos Rodón in Game 1 of the ALCS?

52:37 Will Luis Severino Add Wrinkles for the Dodgers' Lefties in Game 3?

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LCS Matchup Thoughts, Offseason Plans for Padres & Tigers Oct 14, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the LCS matchups between the Dodgers and Mets, and the Yankees and Guardians -- including the Dodgers' pitching staff going on an excellent run of scoreless innings (33 entering Game 2 of the NLCS on Monday) -- and the Guardians' series-clinching win over the Tigers from the weekend. Plus, they wonder what adjustments AJ Preller and company will make around the core returning for 2025, and the next steps for the Tigers after their run ended one win away from a trip to the ALCS.

Rundown

1:35 Will the Dodgers Ever Give Up a Run Again?

3:21 The Padres' Offseason Outlook

12:35 Keys to the Mets-Dodgers NLCS Matchup

25:58 Lane Thomas' Grand Slam Propels the Guardians Into the ALCS

37:14 The Tigers' Offseason Outlook

49:31 Jackson Jobe's Path Into the Opening Day Rotation

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The Yankees Reach the ALCS & Two Game 5s On Tap Oct 11, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the Yankees' series-clinching win over the Royals, and what comes next after big step forward in Kansas City in 2024. Plus, they examine the Guardians' win in Game 4 that brings their ALDS matchup with the Tigers for a decisive Game 5 against Tarik Skubal, and a few offseason news items of interest.

Rundown

1:12 Yankees Advance to ALCS with Game 4 Win in Kansas City

5:42 Offseason Outlook in KC

17:07 Chuckles From the Yankees' Postgame Celebration

25:14 Another Smart Bullpen Decision in an Elimination Game

30:38 An Excellent Game 4 in Guardians-Tigers Series

41:09 Offseason Updates: Brent Rooker, Jorge Polanco & Tomoyuki Sugano

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The Tigers Are One Win Away From the ALCS, The Mets Are Through to the NLCS! Oct 10, 2024

Eno, DVR, and Britt discuss the Tigers' Game 3 win over the Guardians that has put them one win away from the ALCS, the Dodgers' bullpen game shutout of the Padres that will send their series back to LA for a Game 5, Francisco Lindor's heroics that vaulted the Mets into the NLCS, what's next for the Phillies, and the Yankees-Royals matchup in Game 4 that features a rematch of Gerrit Cole v. Michael Wacha.

Rundown

7:30 The Tigers' Staff Cruises (Again) in Game 3

11:30 Matt Vierling's Catch Halts a Guardians Rally

19:45 The Dodgers' Bullpen Game Shutout Win in Game 4

30:41 Francisco Lindor's Grand Slam Sends the Mets to the NLCS

36:30 The Phillies' Current Window; Offseason Needs

41:59 The Yankees Push the Royals to the Brink of Elimination

48:51 The KC Bullpen Decision: Lefty-Lefty Against Wells, or Righty-Right Against Stanton?

55:25 Michael Wacha's Success & Changeup Usage v. Aaron Judge

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The Mets & Padres Are One Win Away From the NLCS Oct 09, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss critical Game 3 wins for the Mets and Padres that have the Phillies and Dodgers facing elimination Wednesday. Plus, they dig into the Tigers' and Guardians' pitching options in a bullpen-heavy Game 3 in Detroit, and the Clarke Schmidt-Seth Lugo pitching matchup on tap as Royals v. Yankees shifts to Kansas City.

Rundown

0:34 The Tigers' Game 3 Pitching Plans

6:49 Cleveland's Plans Behind Alex Cobb

13:18 Sean Manaea Deals in Game 3; Mets One Win Away From NLCS

24:05 Can José Quintana Keeps the Phillies' Bats Quiet in Game 4?

30:04 Clarke Schmidt v. Seth Lugo in Kansas City

35:17 Dylan Cease on Short Rest v. Landon Knack & the Dodgers' Bullpen

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Kerry Carpenter Delivers a Game-Winning Homer & Four Division Series Knotted at 1-1 Oct 08, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss all four Division Series being level at one game apiece and preview the Game 3 matchups between the Phillies and Mets, and Padres and Dodgers before looking back at Kerry Carpenter's game-winning three-run homer off of Emmanuel Clase, and the four-run fourth inning at the put the Royals on top for good in the Bronx on Monday night.

Rundown

2:15 Sean Manaea: A Familiar Foe w/Changing Arm Slot

11:42 Seeing a Pitch Shape More Often Reduces Effectiveness

15:57 Walker Buehler's Game 3 Assignment; Importance of Curveball and Cutter

22:18 Mookie Betts' Postseason Numbers

33:55 Kerry Carpenter Claims a Chapter in Tigers Postseason History

47:17 The Royals Take Game 2 in the Bronx

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A Drama Packed Weekend of Playoff Action Oct 07, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a busy weekend for all four Division Series -- including the early outburst from the Cleveland lineup that set up a Guardians' Game 1 win, a back-and-forth battle in the Bronx that the Yankees held onto win over the Royals, and two splits on the National League side where bitter rivalries have generated some great early-series drama.

Rundown

2:56 The Guardians' Offense Erupts in Game 1; Thoughts Behind Tigers' Opener Strategy Against Cleveland Bats

11:17 Game Planning Against Tarik Skubal

18:11 A Missed Opportunity for the Royals?

22:44 One Particularly Important Play By Jazz Chisholm Jr.

28:40 Phillies-Mets Is Delivering Through Two Games

39:37 Padres-Dodgers Continues to Escalate

50:27 Jurickson Profar Fooled Us!

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Division Series Matchup Breakdown Oct 04, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the Mets' thrilling comeback win over the Brewers to advance to the NLDS -- and Eno looks ahead and what's next for Milwaukee in 2025 -- before they take a look at each of the four Division Series matchups getting underway Saturday.

Rundown

1:36 Pete Alonso Hits a Series-Winning Homer

9:22 Eno Looks Ahead at the Brewers' 2025

15:37 Key Questions in Mets-Phillies Matchup

26:30 A Possible Role for Kodai Senga In This Round?

31:09 Key Questions in Tigers-Guardians Matchup

39:51 A Closer Look: Potential Game Plan for Tigers v. Tanner Bibee

47:03 Does the AL's Off-Day Schedule Help Kansas City?

55:23 Key Questions in Padres-Dodgers Matchup

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One Game 3 From the Wild Card Round & Three Teams Sent Packing Oct 03, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the action from Day 2 of the Wild Card Round which featured three teams advancing -- including the Tigers, Royals and Padres -- and just one series -- Mets v. Brewers -- that will head to a decisive Game 3. With Division Series previews on tap for Friday's episode, they also examine the offseason questions facing the Astros, Orioles and Braves as those teams begin to focus on 2025.

Rundown

1:43 Jackson Chourio & Garrett Mitchell Send Brewers-Mets to Game 3

8:32 The Surprising Season of Tobias Myers; Any Wrinkles for Game 3?

15:30 The Orioles' Swift October Exit & A Big Offseason Looming

29:51 The Tigers' Johnny Wholestaff Approach Wins in Game 2

41:11 Big Offseason Questions Looming for the Astros

47:46 The Padres Pile On Early Against Max Fried to Advance

54:06 Atlanta's Offseason Questions

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A Wild Day 1 & Four Teams Facing Elimination on Day 2 Oct 02, 2024

Eno, Britt and DVR look back at fun opening day of the 2024 postseason and consider the implications of Game 1 in each series as four teams -- the Astros, Braves, Brewers and Orioles -- all face elimination Wednesday.

Rundown

0:55 Tarik Skubal's Gem, Tigers' Game 2 Kitchen Sink Pitching Plan

10:56 Mets Parlay Big Inning Into Game 2 Elimination Opportunity in Milwaukee

25:38 The Orioles' Lineup is Looking For Answers

35:00 The Padres' Intriguing Rotation Alignment Pays Off in Game 1, Can This Version of Joe Musgrove Close Out Atlanta in Game 2?

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NL Wild Card Matchup Breakdown Oct 01, 2024

After an incredible Game 1 of Monday's Mets-Braves doubleheader, the NL Wild Card round matchups are set! Eno and DVR discuss the potential carryover effects of the tight schedule on both clubs as they go on the road to face the Padres and Brewers. How will the Braves navigate their pitching plans if Chris Sale is unavailable? Will the bullpens wear down as series progress? Plus, is this the most complete Padres team that AJ Preller has assembled in San Diego? Can the Mets' lineup propel them deep into October, or will the Brewers' mixing and matching approach in the pitching staff continues to work in the playoffs?

Rundown

3:34 Doubleheader Carryover Effects on Atlanta's Pitching

11:39 The Best Padres Squad of the Preller Era?

17:49 Limited Value of Regular Season Meetings

23:28 The Depth of the Mets' Lineup

34:40 The Brewers' Pitching Flexibility

41:00 Full World Series Predictions

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AL Wild Card Matchup Breakdown Sep 30, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the two AL Wild Card matchups with the Tigers' second-half surge bringing them to Houston, with an opportunity to end the Astros' string of seven consecutive ALCS appearances. Plus, they examine the Royals-Orioles matchup, and wonder if the Kansas City bats behind Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez can bring enough to the table against playoff pitching, and if the O's second-half performance (40-41) will carry over into October.

Rundown

3:14 Can The Tigers Carry Their Excellent Second Half Into October?

10:34 Buying Elite Quality of Contact Suppression?

17:31 The Difficulty of Picking Against the Astros

25:52 How Do the Royals and Orioles Match Up?

34:37 What's Behind the September Struggles of the Baltimore Bullpen?

38:57 Who Advances to Face the Yankees in the ALDS?

47:37 The Lingering Questions About Supporting Bats Behind Judge and Soto

50:31 Cleveland's Shift Toward More Power in 2024

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Saying Goodbye to the Oakland A's Sep 27, 2024

Eno and DVR are joined by Melissa Lockard on the heels of Thursday's final game for the Oakland A's at the Coliseum. They discuss Melissa's path into A's fanhood a few decades ago, the final home game in Oakland, where things stand with the A's player development, and the long-term outlook for Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler.

Rundown

1:11 Melissa's Path to Becoming an A's Fan

6:07 A Bunny Bringing Balls Out of the Ground?

13:19 How Did This Actually Happens?

20:53 The Final Home Game in Oakland

25:34 What's Next for A's Fans?

33:57 Where Do Things Stand for Player Development?

39:12 How Far Is This Team From Contention?

49:22 Brent Rooker's Incredible 2024 Campaign

53:44 Lawrence Butler's Future

59:22 Which Pitching Prospects is Melissa Most Excited About for 2025?

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Melissa Lockard

Producer: Brian Smith

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

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Why Each Team in Contention Will Get Bounced (& Why They'll Win it All) Sep 24, 2024

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the flaws for each of the 15 remaining teams in contention for the playoffs and explain why that could lead to their elimination (and share a few reasons why they could win the World Series). Does recent form even matter? If so, for how long? Does the Orioles' underwhelming second half mean more than the Royals' seven-game losing streak, or can teams turn everything around with a clean slate in October?

Rundown

1:15 The Dodgers' Current Starting Pitching Options

5:06 Are The Phillies Ready to Finish the Job in 2024?

8:51 Is Starting Pitching Depth the Brewers' Biggest Weakness?

13:58 Could the Padres' Defense Lead to Their Playoff Demise?

17:47 Can the D-backs Continue to Outhit Their Pitching?

21:24 What Are Mets' Biggest Concerns Beyond Francisco Lindor's Health?

27:05 Is the Braves' Nightmare Simply Missing the Postseason?

29:48 Has the Gap Between the Yankees and Astros Closed Since the 2022 ALCS?

34:54 We Owe an Apology to the Guardians

39:49 What Are the Astros' Concerns Beyond the Yordan Alvarez Injury?

44:22 Macro View Problems for the Orioles

50:46 Are the Tigers Actually Good?

56:08 Beyond the Seven-Game Losing Streak, What Are You Worried About with the Royals?

1:01:34 Can The Twins Clear the Cobwebs?

1:07:07 It Would Be a Shame for the Mariners to Waste This Pitching

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How We Would Improve the End of Fantasy Baseball Season Sep 23, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a few potential tweaks to the endgame of fantasy baseball season, which always brings a plethora of odd and challenging decisions. Plus, they look at the injury-hampered season of Rafael Devers, the second-half recovery from Eugenio Suárez, and the limited options available for the final week in draft-and-hold formats.

Rundown

3:53 Eno's H2H Lament

6:55 What Is the Ideal Endgame in Fantasy Baseball?

22:00 Rafael Devers' 2024 Season is Over

29:02 Eugenio Suárez's Massive Second Half

33:05 Staying Upright Until the End in Draft-and-Hold Leagues

42:05 Jonathan Aranda is Pulling Us Back in with a Nice September

51:59 Where the Money Went: Final Week Edition

54:32 Luke Weaver's Adjustments & 2025 Closer Outlook

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Never Doubt Shohei Ohtani Sep 20, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Shohei Ohtani's 50-50 campaign -- and the incredible performance he turned in Thursday to reach that milestone. Plus, they examine Bo Bichette's future outlook as his 2024 season has to come a close, before looking at the second-half K-BB% leaderboard.

Rundown

2:03 Shohei Ohtani Creates the 50-50 Club

4:54 Where Does Thursday's Six-Hit, Two Homer Game Rank All Time?

10:00 Oh Yeah, He'll Pitch Again Next Year

16:10 Freezing Ohtani Takes (Including Our Own)

22:15 Bo Bichette's Disappointing 2024 Season is Over. What's Next?

34:02 Second Half K-BB% Leaderboard Surprises

47:38 Is Brandon Pfaadt the New Mitch Keller or Nick Pivetta?

55:45 Who Are You Targeting for the Final Week?

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Build-A-Pitcher: Our 2024 Pitching Traits Draft Sep 19, 2024

In their final regular season livestream of 2024, Eno, Trevor, and DVR have a draft of pitcher traits, in hopes of honing in on the most important qualities for a pitcher to have as foundational skills. Plus, they discuss Kumar Rocker and 'The Death Ball' and whether the Splinker is actually a real pitch. This week's show will also feature a special edition of 'Name That Dude'!

Rundown

1:31 The Brewers Clinch Their Fourth NL Central Title in Six Season

5:55 Craig Kimbrel DFA'd By Orioles; Is He Cooperstown Bound?

15:42 Does Kumar Rocker Throw 'The Death Ball'?

28:18 Are Splinkers Real?

40:00 Build a Pitcher: Our 2024 Draft

58:26 Name That Dude!

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Trevor May

Producer: Brian Smith

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Why We Need Separate Rookie of the Year Awards for Hitters and Pitchers Sep 17, 2024

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the possibility of having separate Rookie of the Year awards for hitters and pitchers in future seasons, and the difficulty of making choices in this year ROY races. Plus, they discuss the unusual story of Matt Chapman's extension with the Giants going through Buster Posey, the second-half struggles of the Orioles, and whether there is any meaningful link between September rotation results and October performance.

Rundown

1:00 DVR's Case for Splitting Up Rookie of the Year Awards for Hitters and Pitchers

6:34 Varying WAR Across Different Sites (FanGraphs, Baseball Reference and Baseball Prospectus)

13:40 Looking for Value Beyond the Numbers

20:09 Ceddanne Rafaela's Rookie Campaign

26:04 Buster Posey's Role in Matt Chapman's Extension with the Giants

38:01 Making Sense of the Orioles' Second-Half Slide

51:48 Does Late-Season Rotation Form Matter?

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Jackson Merrill Cover Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Mason Miller Cover Photo: Eakin Howard/Getty Images

Paul Skenes Cover Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images

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Adjusting Future Expectations as the 2024 Season Winds Down Sep 16, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Tyler Glasnow's sprained elbow -- and the likelihood that his 2024 season is now over. How much will Glasnow's risk-reward profile shift in the wake of another problematic ailment? Plus, is it time to re-evaluate Julio Rodríguez's status as an early first-round pick on the heels of a disappointing season in Year 3 with the Mariners, or does the ceiling he's flashes in his first two campaigns keep him in the conversation as a top-five pick in 2025?

Rundown

3:24 Tyler Glasnow's 2024 Season is Likely Over

10:52 Awaiting Francisco Lindor's MRI Results

13:33 Is It Time to Re-Assess Julio Rodríguez's Early First-Round Status?

26:56 Long-Term: Spencer Arrighetti v. Hayden Birdsong

34:39 Heliot Ramos' History-Making Homer at Oracle

40:51 Kumar Rocker and Jacob deGrom Fetch (Some) Big Bids

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The Biggest Prospect Risers of 2024 Sep 13, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Corey Seager's season-ending surgery and long-term outlook, Kumar Rocker's debut, and an impressive rotation coming together for the Rangers in 2025. Plus, they crowdsource some of the biggest risers among prospects from several members of The Athletic's MLB staff, and discuss a few intriguing names to consider on the waiver wire this weekend.

Rundown

5:58 Corey Seager to Have Season-Ending Hernia Surgery

11:26 Kumar Rocker Debuts, Jacob deGrom Nears Return

19:55 Twins Minor League Catcher Derek Bender Released for Giving Away Pitches

26:27 Project Prospect: (Some) of the Biggest Risers of 2024

33:40 Position Players Reaching Double-A At Age-18 or Younger

42:59 Carlson Reed: Another Pirates Pitching Prospect to Monitor

55:27 Two More Rising Bats

1:01:34 Weekend Waiver Wire Preview

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How to Keep Hitters Guessing Sep 12, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR consider a few ways that pitchers could keep hitters guessing more often, a question about the possibility of great command being a detriment, unusual training methods and tools, and whether it would be more surprising to see the Tigers make the playoffs -- or -- for the Braves to miss them. Plus, it's Round 3 of Name That Dude!

Rundown

0:59 Using Game Theory for Pitch Sequencing?

9:18 Random Number Generating A Game Plan While Accounting for Known Useful Information

19:50 Can Great Command Be a Detriment?

31:17 What Unusual Training Methods and Tech Have You Seen?

40:39 Let’s Talk About Toe Yoga!

53:41 More Surprising: Tigers Making Playoffs - or - Braves Missing Them?

1:05:50 Name That Dude!

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The Wild Card Races Are Heating Up! Sep 10, 2024

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the return of Jasson Dominguez for the stretch run, Kumar Rocker's upcoming debut with the Rangers, and the Mets' continued presence in the NL Wild Card race. Plus, they'll discuss the Twins' untimely tailspin, the Royals' rise under J.J. Picollo, and how the current struggles of Justin Verlander might shape the Astros' playoff rotation plans.

Rundown

1:19 Jasson Dominguez Rejoins the Yankees

8:05 Kumar Rocker to Make MLB Debut on Thursday

13:30 The Mets' Continued Presence in the NL Wild Card Race

26:04 Can the Twins Disrupt Their Tailspin?

39:39 The Royals' Rise Under J.J. Picollo

55:41 Justin Verlander and the Astros' Playoff Rotation

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The Push for September Roster Reinforcements Sep 09, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss an adjustment from Luis Castillo that might help to prolong his peak in 2025 and beyond in the wake of a hamstring injury that could cost him time down the stretch. Plus, they discuss several new relievers in the mix for saves in September, streaming pitchers to consider in the final month, and a few weekend waiver-wire adjustments.

Rundown

4:10 Luis Castillo's Hamstring Injury & Slider Adjustment

9:23 Jesus Tinoco Joins Late-Season Saves Mix

15:50 Nestor Cortes Jr. Follows Clarke Schmidt; Six-Man Rotation for Now?

21:58 September Streamer Watch

33:57 Increasing Trust in David Peterson

42:07 Is There Anything Behind Elly De La Cruz's Home/Road Splits?

45:44 Pitch Tipping v. Other External Cues (Astros Trash Can Banging)

54:50 Where the Money Went: Trevor Story is Back!

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Pleasant Surprises & Making Better Decisions in September Sep 06, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Reynaldo López and Ronel Blanco as two of this season's pleasant pitching surprises and wonder what's next for the duo, as well as other relievers who might be able to follow López's path to the rotation in 2025. Plus, they discuss endgame strategy for lineup decisions in rotisserie leagues, a potential sleeper in the Oakland outfield for next season, and a few weekend waiver-wire targets, including a pair of old starters chewing up innings effectively for the Guardians.

Rundown

5:02 Reynaldo López: Top-20 Starter (So Far) in 2024!

12:00 A Few Success Stories Moving from the Bullpen to Rotation

15:34 Endgame Lineup Decisions in Rotisserie Leagues

20:49 Another Way the Royals Have Helped Their Run Prevention Cause

29:00 Differences in Major and Minor League Baseballs

34:18 Why Eno Prefers Jackson Jobe to Kumar Rocker

37:11 Another Outfielder Tracking Toward a 2025 Opportunity

44:52 Weekend Waiver Wire Preview

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The Search for Baseball's Most Unpredictable Pitches & Pitchers Sep 05, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss Matt Chapman's six-year extension with the Giants, a combined no-hitter for the Cubs, who are clinging to slim playoff hopes with three-and-a-half weeks remaining in the regular season. Plus, they discuss baseball's replay system with *10* years now on the ledger and wonder how things might improve in the next 10 years, and they begin a quest to find baseball's most unpredictable (and predictable) pitchers and pitches.

Rundown

1:13 Matt Chapman Signs a Six-Year Extension with the Giants

9:04 What's Next for the Giants In Their Push to Return to the Playoffs?

14:55 A Combined No-Hitter From the Cubs

20:26 Baseball's Replay System Turns 10

27:38 We're Ready for the Ball & Strike Call Challenges

34:30 Quantifying a Pitcher's Predictability

Related reading 'The Search for the Most Predictable Pitcher' by Kiri Oler of FanGraphs: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-search-for-the-most-predictable-pitcher/

40:52 The Surprising Profile of Josh Hader's Fastball

46:07 The Relationship Between Low Release Points & High iVB

52:13 Trevor Finds the Root Cause of David Bednar's Struggles

59:49 Camilo Doval's Running Cutter and a Rare Instance of 'Weird' Not Being Good

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The Padres & Astros Are Returning to Full Strength at the Right Time Sep 03, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the Padres getting healthy for the stretch run as Yu Darvish will rejoin the rotation this week on the heels of Fernando Tatis Jr.'s activation from the IL and Joe Musgrove's last-season success. Plus, they discuss what they would look for to get in front of a pitcher's hot streak, the recent struggles of Taj Bradley and George Kirby, Justin Verlander's post-IL Stuff+ numbers, and a FAAB hammer used to add Dylan Crews as Eno chases down a title.

Rundown

3:49 The Padres Are Returning to Full Strength

13:35 Kyle Tucker Approaching Activation (Similarities to Tatis' Injury)

20:15 David Bednar Removed From Closer Role

23:14 Looking Beyond Fastball Velocity for Pitchers Heating Up

Related Reading 'Baseball's 'Hot Hand' Is Real: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/baseballs-hot-hand-is-real/ (Rob Arthur & Greg Matthews)

29:08 What Happened to Taj Bradley?

36:51 What Is Going On With George Kirby?

40:16 Jackson Merrill is a Top ____ Player in 2025

50:36 Justin Verlander's Post-IL Stuff Numbers

53:05 Eno Throws the Hammer to Get Dylan Crews

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Pitching Prospects Promoted for the Stretch Run Aug 30, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss an unfortunate sequence that led to two Royals players suffering an injury Thursday night, uncertainty regarding the availability of Tyler Glasnow down the stretch, several pitching prospects set to debut this weekend including Rhett Lowder and Caden Dana, and a few other intriguing waiver-wire targets to consider.

Rundown

2:44 Vinnie Pasquantino & Lucas Erceg Injured On Same Play

8:36 Tyler Glasnow and Freddie Freeman Updates

15:18 Rhett Lowder Gets the Call From the Reds

20:27 Samuel Aldegheri & Caden Dana Join the Angels

26:30 A Look at Kumar Rocker's Post-Surgery Pitch Mix

29:03 Other Pitchers We're Watching Closely for Potential Stretch Run Opportunities

40:47 Which Team Doesn't Have an Internal Stuff Model?

44:40 Does Ernie Clement Have a Late Breakout Profile?

48:12 Weekend Waiver Preview: Tigers Pitching, José Tena, Miguel Amaya and More Marlins

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The Fast Adjustments of Jackson Merrill & Jackson Chourio Aug 29, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss Oneil Cruz's move to center field and the Pirates' needs in order to take a step forward in 2025, the fast adjustments being made by 'The Jacksons' -- Jackson Merrill, Jackson Chourio, and Jackson Holliday -- that have enabled them to make a significant impact in Year 1.Plus, they discuss swing adjustments being made deeper in counts, the erosion of Corbin Burnes' strikeout rate, and the long-term lack of whiffs from Logan Webb, who continues to generate great ratios despite limited swing-and-miss in his arsenal.

Rundown

1:42 Oneil Cruz Moves to Center Field

11:32 Who’s Next at Shortstop for the Pirates?

15:52 Jackson Merrill & Jackson Chourio’s Fast Adjustments

28:57 Is It Good to Modulate Your Swing by Count?

44:11 Corbin Burnes’ Second-Half Struggles; Long-Term Decline in K%

53:08 A True Whiff Pitch for Logan Webb?

1:02:58 Name That Dude!

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Aaron Judge and Juan Soto Are Having an All-Time Great Season Aug 27, 2024

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the historical context of the 2024 season from Aaron Judge and Juan Soto by taking a look back at elite duos that have had incredible years as teammates. Plus, with the Angels extending Perry Minasian, they wonder if previous levels of payroll spending from Arte Moreno will open up paths to a big free agent signing this winter, before considering several teams that approaching big decisions in their front office during the year ahead.

Rundown

8:33 How Good Is This Season From Aaron Judge & Juan Soto?

15:20 An Interesting Look at Lineup Protection from Saber Seminar

18:19 Name the Yankees' Seven Cleanup Hitters in 2024

25:02 The Angels Extend Perry Minasian, Will Payroll Rise in 2025?

41:30 Front Offices Entering 2025 on the Hot Seat

51:48 Can the Cubs Make It Work Loading Up in the Second Tier of Free Agency While Their Young Core Arrives?

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Britt Ghiroli

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

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Dylan Crews Gets the Call & Saber Conference Highlights Aug 26, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion Dylan Crews and one major change in his profile with the move from Double-A to Triple-A earlier this season. After a weekend at the 'Sabermetrics, Scouting, and the Science of Baseball' conference in Chicago, Eno shares a highlights from a few of the many interesting presentations. Plus, they look at the surge of Jhonkensy Noel as an important power source in the Guardians' lineup, and Bowden Francis' move toward Top-50 Starting Pitcher status.

Rundown

1:02 Dylan Crews Promoted by Nationals

8:36 Xavier Edwards' Partial Season Breakout

13:14 Nolan Gorman's Demotion to Triple-A; What Went Wrong in 2024?

18:22 Eno in Chicago: Saber Conference Takeaways

43:39 Ongoing Studies About the Value of Adding Pitches

56:04 Where the Money Went This Weekend

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Looking Ahead at a 2025 Draft Board Aug 23, 2024

Ryan Bloomfield of Baseball HQ and the Bubba & The Bloom podcast joins DVR discuss the third annual "Meatball Draft" a 15-team draft-and-hold league run by Rob DiPietro (@DeadPullHitter, Pull Hitter Podcast) that drafted its first 11 rounds this week. Who were some of the more interesting risers and fallers, and how should roster construction strategies be altered in a format that drafts this early.

Draft Board: https://tinyurl.com/Meatball24

Plus, DVR and Ryan discuss a couple of prospects they're trying to stash wherever possible, and a few intriguing names to consider on the waiver wire this weekend.

Rundown

1:53 Draft-and-Hold Season Begins with Rob DiPietro's "Meatball Draft"

3:16 How Do You Alter Strategy for Very Early Drafts?

9:12 Paul Skenes v. Tarik Skubal: Round 1 Pitchers

11:27 Biggest Surprises, Movers Compared to Spring 2024

21:12 How Comfortable Are We With Second Tommy John Recovery?

25:17 Pushing Power Over Speed in Early Rounds?

29:55 Jordan Westburg: "Rare" Multi-Eligible Player for 2025

32:07 Corbin Carroll's Recent Resurgence

35:13 Rest-of-Season Projections Thoughts for Final Weeks

40:25 Project Prospect: One Player You're Stashing Everywhere

46:55 Weekend Waiver Preview

Follow Ryan on Twitter: @RyanBHQ

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper

With: Ryan Bloomfield

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

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Joey Votto's Case for Cooperstown & A Closer Look at Park Factors for Pitchers Aug 22, 2024

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss Joey Votto's retirement and his case for Cooperstown, the Mariners' decision to fire manager Scott Servais, and a few park factors for pitchers -- including variations in mounds -- that can impact performances across different environments.Plus, they examine a few pitchers finding new levels in 2024 and try to determine long-term ceilings in search of unexpected aces.Rundown

1:04 Joey Votto Announces Retirement; Next Stop Cooperstown?

13:19 Mariners Fire Manager Scott Servais

26:08 Pitching Park Factors We Rarely Think About

40:56 Searching for Unexpected Aces Among Current Young Starters

52:26 Ryan Pepiot Discusses His Hard Breaking Ball

55:43 Spencer Schwellenbach’s Late Move to PitchingSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Trevor MayExecutive Producer: Derek VanRiper

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Do We Need 100-Win Teams? Aug 20, 2024

As things currently stand, no team will finish the regular season with 100+ wins for the first time since 2014. Does the unusual shape of the standings and the lack of exceptional regular season clubs matter? Eno, DVR and Britt discuss the causes for the lack of dominance, and wonder if common approaches to roster construction are a contributing factor to this year's parity.

Rundown

2:47 Does It Matter If There Are No 100-Win Teams?

8:11 Measuring Team Quality Beyond Win Totals

12:48 Will Long-Term Injury Trends Make This Type of Season the Norm?

15:28 Regular Season Dominance That Didn't Lead to a World Series Win

21:05 How Mad Would You Be Without Playoffs?

24:23 Unique Approaches From Guardians & Red Sox

32:46 Organizational Brain Drain

39:53 Will the Red Sox Make the Playoffs?

47:04 How Does 2025 Look for Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto?

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What’s the Orioles’ secret to developing great hitters? Rival teams have theories ($):

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5696854

The Red Sox have an innovative pitching strategy, but has the league adjusted? ($):

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5704202

Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Britt Ghiroli

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Starting Pitchers Facing Reduced Workloads & Biggest Underperformers of 2024 Aug 19, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the expectations of a tapering per-start workload for Paul Skenes as the season winds down, the second-half adjustments to usage of Garrett Crochet by the White Sox, an explanation for Ke'Bryan Hayes 2024 struggles, the most disappointing pitchers of the year -- relative to initial projections -- and a few weekend happenings on the waiver wire, including the return of Matthew Boyd and growing interest in A's starter Osvaldo Bido.

Rundown

2:18 Paul Skenes Approaching In-Start Limitations?

8:07 At Least They're Not Going the Shutdown Route

14:31 Garrett Crochet's 2025 Outlook

17:29 The Dreaded Velocity Leaderboard w/Injuries

25:18 Ke'Bryan Hayes Playing Through a Herniated Disc

29:11 Biggest Underperforming Pitches of 2024 (So Far)

39:06 Accounting for Different Run Environments Across Projection Systems

49:20 Where the Money Went This Weekend

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Searching for Paths to Playing Time & Keeper League Stashes Aug 16, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss season-ending back surgery for Christian Yelich and the Brewers' search for a left-handed bat to use near the heart of their lineup, Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s elbow injury, a trip to the IL for Byron Buxton, a few prospects yet to debut with an eye toward breaking through for early 2025 debuts, the power ceiling of Junior Caminero, and a few players to consider on the waiver wire this weekend.

Rundown

2:25 Christian Yelich's Season-Ending Back Surgery (Is Garrett Mitchell Good?)

9:27 A Lineup Vulnerable Against Elite Pitching in the Playoffs?

12:45 Jazz Chisholm Jr. To Miss Several Weeks

14:48 Byron Buxton Heads to the IL

17:47 Coby Mayo Returns to Triple-A; Similar Struggles to Henry Davis?

23:57 Searching for Yet-to-Debut Hitters w/Paths to Starting Roles in 2025

32:39 An Early Attempt to Solve the Cubs' Offseason Changes

42:33 Biggest K% Improvers Among Hitters in 2024

46:35 Junior Caminero's Power Ceiling

52:30 Join Us in Arizona for Baseball HQ's First Pitch Conference!

https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2024

53:43 Weekend Waiver Preview

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Will New Pitch Data Help Us Quantify Deception? Aug 15, 2024

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss a report from ESPN's Jesse Rogers that MLB might consider a future rule requiring a six-inning minimum for starting pitchers before taking a deep dive into pitch angles and how future data in this area might make it easier to quantify deception.

Plus, they discuss a recent story that Eno wrote with Britt Ghiroli about the Orioles' success in developing hitters, and they play their first ever installment of 'Name That Dude'.

Rundown

0:57 MLB Considering a Six-Inning Minimum for Starting Pitchers?

14:57 Will Pitch Release Angle Data Help Us Quantify Deception?

23:03 Finding Ideal Horizontal Movement on Fastballs With Release Angle

37:49 What’s In the O’s Secret Sauce with Hitting Development?

44:47 Scouting for Curiosity Within Makeup

54:46 Do Players on Bad Team Get Bored?

1:03:49 Name That Dude

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com

Related Reading

Jesse Rogers' six-inning minimum (ESPN): https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40847173/mlb-rule-changes-2024-six-inning-starting-pitcher-injuries-tommy-john

Michael Rosen on pitch release angles (FanGraphs): https://blogs.fangraphs.com/its-release-angles-all-the-way-down/

Eno & Britt on the Orioles' hitting development:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5696854/2024/08/15/orioles-hitters-development-vertical-bat-angle/

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Which MLB Players Will Make Team USA in 2028? Aug 13, 2024

With the 2024 Olympics completed, Eno, Britt and DVR wonder -- if MLB players are participating in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, who among current stars will be on the roster? Plus, they discuss the unexpected sweat for the NL West and possibility of four teams from the division finding their way into the playoffs.

Rundown

1:08 The "Locks" for Team USA in 2028 (Assuming MLB Players Are Included)

3:39 ZiPS Projections for *2028* (Thanks, Dan Szymborski!)

7:05 Pitching Changes A Lot Over Four Years

15:00 Overprojected Unproven Players?

20:12 How Do We Think Aaron Judge Will Age?

23:20 Looking Back at 2020 Suggest We Might Underrate Current Late-20s Players

29:55 The Race for the NL West Looks Like a Party

41:53 Four Teams From This Division Could Reach the Playoffs

52:48 Will We See Another August Waiver Roster Dump?

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Is It Time to Lower Expectations for Underperforming Hitters? Aug 12, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a soon-to-debut prospect pitching at his *fourth* level of 2024 with the arrival of Zebby Matthews on Tuesday, the demotion of Camilo Doval to Triple-A, and a potential suspension for Jarren Duran after he directed a homophobic slur toward a fan over the weekend. Plus, they take a look at the biggest underperformers among hitters relative to their initial 2024 projections. Is it finally time to lower expectations for the likes of Corbin Carroll, Matt Olson, and Gleyber Torres? Finally, they look at where the money went in weekly waiver-wire leagues and discuss a few of their own roster decisions coming out of the weekend.

Rundown

5:53 Who is Zebby Matthews?

11:54 Camilo Doval Optioned to Triple-A

20:08 Jarren Duran Facing Discipline for Homophobic Slur

23:36 Biggest Underperforming Hitters of 2024 (So Far)

33:15 Finally Tempering Enthusiasm Around Gleyber Torres?

38:44 Where the Money Went: Joe Musgrove Nearing Return from IL

53:26 What Moves Did We Make This Weekend?

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How Can Keeper Leagues Make You a Better Redraft Player? Aug 09, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the pros (and a few potential cons) of playing in keeper leagues and how long-term formats can make you a better redraft league player. Plus, they consider the ceiling and 2025 redraft ADP of Jackson Chourio, the recent struggles of David Bednar, a big move up for the White Sox's system in Baseball America's midseason rankings update, and a few weekend waiver-wire targets.

Rundown

1:34 Biases That Can Develop From Keeper/Dynasty Leagues

7:00 How Keeper Leagues Make You a Better Redraft Player

16:29 Jackson Chourio's Ceiling & 2025 Redraft ADP Outlook

29:36 Concern About Lars Nootbaar's Playing Time?

35:58 What Has Happened to David Bednar?

39:30 Maybe the White Sox's Future Isn't Awful?

45:02 The Angels' Long-Term Outlook

50:13 Weekend Waiver Preview (Hitters)

1:01:15: Tyler Mahle, Spencer Arrighetti & DJ Herz

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How Do You Prepare to Face Blake Snell? Aug 08, 2024

With Blake Snell's return to Cy Snell levels since coming back from the injured list, DVR, Eno and Trevor discuss how teams should game plan against him during the final two months of the season. Plus, they examine some of the biggest surprises among position players in 2024, and the recent uptick in sinker usage around the league. Plus, they discuss the White Sox's decision to part ways with manager Pedro Grifol, the possibility of MLB players in the 2028 Olympics, and more.

Rundown

1:15 Pedro Grifol Fired as White Sox Manager; Evaluating Managers on Bad Teams

7:37 Typical Player-Manager Interactions

15:00 How Will MLB Approach Baseball in the 2028 Olympics?

25:02 The Game Plan: How Do You Prepare to Face Blake Snell

42:38 Pleasant Surprises of 2024: Brenton Doyle

50:57 Tyler Fitzgerald's 8.0 fWAR Pace

54:37 Brent Rooker's Step Forward From 2023

1:01:03 What Has Led to the Uptick in Sinker Usage This Season?

1:06:20 Notable In-Season Bat Speed Increases

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The White Sox Are the Worst Team In Baseball, But Which Team is Baseball's Best? Aug 06, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt consider several options for the 'Best Team in Baseball' title, with just under two months before the playoffs. Plus, they discuss the White Sox as the current titleholder for 'Worst Team in Baseball' honors amidst the team's 21-game losing streak and wonder how things turned for the worse so quickly on the south side of Chicago where the future looked bright just four years ago.

Rundown

4:07 Who Is The Best Team in Baseball Right Now?

12:48 The Injury-Based Case for the Dodgers

21:13 Questions About the Yankees' Bullpen

25:24 What About the Royals?!

33:05 Eno Takes a Trip Down Narrative Street

37:16 The White Sox Are the Worst Team in Baseball

48:40 Eno's Case for the Rockies

55:58 Have the A's Escaped This Conversation?

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A No-No for Blake Snell, Intriguing Free Agent Pitchers & A Mailbag Monday Aug 05, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Blake Snell's no-hitter, the path for Snell to opt out of his current deal with the Giants and get a longer contract this winter, and their approach with Max Scherzer in keeper/dynasty leagues, the recent struggles of Tanner Houck, and a busy weekend for pickups with Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo leading the way in bidding where available.

Rundown

0:50 Blake Snell Throws a No-Hitter Against the Reds

7:33 An Intriguing Class of Free-Agent Pitchers On Tap

11:59 Is Max Scherzer a Drop in Shallow Dynasty & Keeper Leagues?

18:57 Making Sense of Tanner Houck's Recent Struggles

27:02 Why Isn't Randy Vásquez Getting Better Results?

36:35 Will Jeffrey Springs' Velocity Return Before the End of 2024?

44:51 Calvin Faucher & Victor Vodnik Getting Save Chances?

48:02 Jackson Holliday & Coby Mayo Join the O's Regular Lineup

52:31 Does Jordan Westburg Have Another Level?

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Mid-Summer Prospecting & Playing Time Winners & Losers After the Trade Deadline Aug 02, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the difficulty of trading for top-end prospects -- in fantasy and reality -- and whether we should pay extra attention to the players on the move despite the likelihood that they're not top-100 prospects at the time they are traded. Plus, they look at opportunities for Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo in Baltimore, changes to a few depth charts coming out of the Trade Deadline, and Hayden Birdsong's return to the rotation for the Giants with Alex Cobb traded to Cleveland.

Rundown

2:17 Should We Care More About the Prospects Traded at the Deadline?

9:47 The Arc of Jasson Dominguez’s Prospect Ranking

13:25 Did the Padres ‘Hack’ Age-to-Level Models?

19:50 Any Intriguing Prospects That Entered Your Radar This Summer?

25:32 Jackson Holliday & Coby Mayo Promoted This Week

37:19 The Rays’ Depth Chart is Still a Cluster

47:44 Will Miguel Vargas Make a Fantasy Impact with the White Sox?

55:51 Kyle Stowers & the Miami Opportunity Machine

1:05:59 Hayden Birdsong & Marco Luciano Stock Up?

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The Best Pitching Staffs in Baseball & The Worst Pitches of 2024 (So Far) Aug 01, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss the best pitching staffs in baseball coming out of the 2024 Trade Deadline -- comparing the Stuff+ and WAR projections to effectiveness through the first four months of the season. Are the Phillies still an elite playoff staff? Will the Dodgers sort out their best rotation options before October? Does the crew have any faith in the Guardians or Royals staffs?

Rundown

2:26 Ranking the Best Pitching Staffs in Baseball by Stuff+

6:09 Disconnect Between Twins' Rotation Results and Projections v. Model Output

13:45 How Does the O's Top-Three Compare to Other Likely Playoff Teams?

18:01 The Phillies Still Look Great, Especially at the Top with Zack Wheeler & Aaron Nola

22:55 The Bullpen Depth Goes a Long Way in the Postseason to Mask Flaws of No. 3 and 4 Starters

27:56 Do We Have Faith in the Guardians or Royals' Staffs?

34:06 Is Everyone Sleeping on the Astros?

36:42 The Worst Pitches of 2024 (So Far)

55:00 Manipulating iVB on Fastballs to Keep Hitters Off-Balance?

1:01:13 Pitchers Employing Different Approaches Impacting Home/Road Splits

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With: Trevor May

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Trade Deadline Recap: Yusei Kikuchi, Jack Flaherty & Lane Thomas on the Move Jul 31, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt recap the final moves leading into the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline including the Astros' addition of Yusei Kikuchi, the Padres' continued push to improve their roster with another bullpen upgrade in Tanner Scott, Jack Flaherty's move to the Dodgers, and a busy Trade Deadline window for the Rays and Marlins, who cashed in at an opportune time as sellers.

Rundown

2:54 Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros in a Four-Player Swap

6:17 Tanner Scott to the Padres in a Large Trade with Miami

9:15 Trevor Rogers to the O's as Part of Marlins' Massive Deadline

19:45 Lane Thomas to the Guardians

25:37 Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers

30:13 The Rays and Marlins As Deadline Winners From Selling Position

37:51 Which Buyers Did Well?

44:23 Lucas Erceg and Bullpen Arms on the Move

52:10 Surprised the Angels Didn't Deal Away More Players?

1:00:53 Puzzling Deadlines

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This Trade Deadline is Glorious -- Jazz Chisholm Jr., Randy Arozarena & Isaac Paredes On the Move Jul 30, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the heavy activity in the week leading up to the MLB Trade Deadline (Tuesday, 6p ET) including Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Yankees, Randy Arozarena to the Mariners, Isaac Paredes to the Cubs, and much more.

Rundown

2:16 Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the Yankees

9:17 Randy Arozarena to the mariners

14:45 Isaac Paredes to the Cubs

24:31 A Three-Team Blockbuster with the Cardinals, Dodgers & White Sox

42:20 Zach Eflin to the Orioles

45:09 Carlos Estévez to the Phillies

50:25 Quinn Priester to the Red Sox for Nick Yorke

58:18 A.J. Puk to the D-backs for Deyvison De Los Santos (and Andrew Pintar)

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Rapidly Changing Trade Deadline Needs, Rookie of the Year Battles & How to Pitch to Bobby Witt Jr. Jul 25, 2024

DVR and Trevor discuss the rapidly-changing Trade Deadline needs of the Brewers and Mariners in the face of recent injuries to Christian Yelich and Julio Rodríguez. Plus, they’ll examine the Trade Deadline opportunities for the Rays and Padres to re-shape their rosters in the final 2024 installment of ‘At the Fork’. Then, they’ll check in on the Rookie of the Year races in both leagues, before featuring this week’s Game Plan segment: How to Pitch to Bobby Witt Jr.

Rundown

1:02 Christian Yelich to Visit with Spine Specialist

4:26 Robbie Ray Pitches Well in 2024 Debut

8:17 Julio Rodríguez & J.P. Crawford Injuries Impacting M's Deadline Plans?

15:34 The Clubhouse Impact of the Trade Deadline

20:05 Could the Rays Move Veterans & Remain in the Playoff Picture?

25:53 What Will the Padres Add In Their 2024 Deadline Push

30:32 Paul Skenes is Great, and This NL Rookie Class is Loaded

35:38 A Wide Open Rookie of the Year Race in the AL

44:02 The Game Plan: Pitching to Bobby Witt Jr.

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Host: Derek VanRiper

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Producer: Brian Smith

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Deadline Approaches of Recent World Series Teams & The 2024 Hall of Fame Class Jul 23, 2024

Britt and DVR look back the approach of a few recent teams that made it to the World Series and discuss the value of making smaller moves that still make an impact without being a splashy mid-season blockbuster. Can the 2021 Trade Deadline plan of the Braves be replicated as a template, or was it a perfect storm?

Rundown

4:22 Recent World Series Teams' Trade Deadlines

14:42 The Perfect Deadline? Atlanta's 2021 Approach

20:09 Standing Pat v. Looking to the Future

25:29 The 2024 Hall of Fame Class

41:39 Key Series as Teams Try to Pick a Lane

44:45 Why Are the Cubs Content to Look to 2025?

49:33 The Astros' Desire for a 'Star' First Baseman

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Britt Ghiroli

Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper

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A Bad Injury Weekend, Making Up Ground in the Second Half & the Return of Victor Robles Jul 22, 2024

DVR is joined by Jeff Erickson, RotoWire Senior Editor, to discuss the fallout from an injury-filled weekend that included IL stints for Ozzie Albies, Max Fried, and Bo Bichette (among others). Plus, they discuss how to make up ground in the standings in the second half of the season, before looking at a few popular pickups and drops from the weekly leagues.

Rundown

2:06 Expectations for Nacho Alvarez Jr.

11:36 Bo Bichette's Setback with a Calf Strain

17:51 Updates From Around the League: Julio Rodríguez & Carlos Correa

28:22 Mike Trout, J.T. Realmuto, Tyler Glasnow & Clayton Kershaw

Have We Underrated Kershaw's Recent Seasons Because of Lost time?

36:02 What's Your Process for Making Up Ground in the Standings

48:13 Who Has Emerged Unexpectedly in 2024 With a Great Chance to Remain Relevant?

54:10 Where the Money Went -- Is Victor Robles Back?

1:01:57 Surprising Drops: Frankie Montas, Landon Knack & Matt Wallner

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The 2024 Second-Half Rebound Draft, Jacob Wilson Comps & Weekly Waiver Targets Jul 19, 2024

Eno and DVR host their first second-half rebound draft looking for players who have accrued negative value to this point (12-team, 5x5 leagues) with the best chances of turning things around in the second half. Plus, they consider comps for the recently promoted Jacob Wilson, Brooks Baldwin's opportunity with the White Sox, River Ryan's model-breaking arsenal, and a few names to consider on the waiver wire this weekend.

Rundown

1:31 Second-Half Rebound Draft: Luis Robert Jr. v. Gerrit Cole

4:50 Xander Bogaerts & Dansby Swanson

7:50 Blake Snell & Kevin Gausman

11:56 Josh Lowe & Bo Bichette

15:44 Lars Nootbaar & Hunter Brown

17:51 A Waffle to Yusei Kikuchi, the Case for Closers & Sean Murphy

23:01 Camilo Doval & Edwin Díaz

27:52 Project Prospect: Jacob Wilson Gets the Call

34:25 Brooks Baldwin's Opportunity in Chicago

39:30 River Ryan's Model-Breaking Stuff Numbers

47:14 Other Pitching Prospects to Consider Stashing

53:09 Injured Pitchers Nearing Return

58:12 The 12-Team Mixed League Outfield Puzzle

1:04:55 Future Saves: Time to Stash Ben Joyce & A.J. Puk?

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Trade Deadline Surprises, The Cards & Red Sox as Contenders & Getting Beat by Pull-Happy Hitters Jul 18, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss the Cubs and Dodgers squaring off in Tokyo to begin the 2025 regular season, mic'ing up pitchers, potential Trade Deadline Surprises, how the Cardinals and Red Sox might approach necessary upgrades in the coming weeks, and how to pitch Isaac Paredes and other pull-happy power hitters.

Rundown

5:32 Mic'ing Up Pitcher on the Job

11:01 Making Cases for Unexpected Players to Be Traded

23:43 How Would You Approach the Cardinals' Trade Deadline?

33:13 How Would You Approach the Red Sox's Trade Deadline?

49:55 The Game Plan: Pitching to Isaac Paredes & Pull-Happy Power Hitters

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Host: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Trevor May

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Teoscar Hernández's Home Run Derby Win, Yearly Changes in Pull Rate & Bidding Frenzies Jul 16, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Teoscar Hernández's Home Run Derby win, and how he's managed to do so much more at the plate than Adolis García despite similar strikeout, walk and barrel rates. Plus, they look at spray angles for hitters, and wonder if Anthony Volpe might put everything together in the final two-and-a-half months of the season.

Rundown

1:23 Teoscar Hernández Wins the 2024 Home Run Derby

10:42 Adolis García as a Failed Comp

16:36 Year-to-Year Changes in Pull Rate

20:24 Can Anthony Volpe Consolidate 2023 & 2024 Approaches?

30:10 Kevin Gausman: Trusting Recent Success?

34:35 Clayton Kershaw's Velocity Returning in Rehab Starts?

36:36 How to Manage Luis Gil & Other Potential Workload Restrictions for SPs

44:58 Is MJ Melendez Pulling Us Back In

49:59 Rates & Barrels Listener Check-In

52:12 Where the Money Went: Hunter Harvey, Rece Hinds & Lawrence Butler

1:02:23 Intriguing Drops: Edward Cabrera, Colton Cowser & David Fry

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Recapping Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft w/Melissa Lockard Jul 15, 2024

Melissa Lockard joins Eno and DVR discuss Day 1 of the MLB Draft including the Guardians' decision to take Travis Bazzana first overall, Charlie Condon's outlook with a future that includes playing half of his games at Coors Field, top pitchers Chase Burns and Hagen Smith going second and fifth to the Reds and White Sox, respectively, Nick Kurtz's fit with the A's, Jac Caglianone's chances of continuing as a two-way player with the Royals, and a few intriguing picks outside of the Top-10, including switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, who went 15th overall to the Mariners.

Rundown

1:05 The Guardians Select Travis Bazzana First Overall

4:47 Charlie Condon Heads to Colorado

7:15 The Growing Trend of Fast-Tracking Prospects

12:11 Chase Burns Goes No. 2 Overall to Cincinnati

16:13 A Draft That Went Largely to Script Up Top?

23:13 Nick Kurtz's Fit with the A's

26:00 Jac Caglianone & Two-Way Players In This Class

32:39 Hagen Smith to the White Sox (Smith v. Burns)

35:15 Trey Yesavage Slides to the Blue Jays at No. 20

38:17 Intriguing Players Outside the Top-10 Overall

46:31 Best Draft Class Foundations Through Day 1

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Melissa Lockard

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Paul Skenes' Dominance, Mailbag Questions & Weekend Waiver Preview Jul 12, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Paul Skenes' latest dominant performance -- seven no-hit innings against the Brewers on Thursday -- and the balance of preserving his workload to make him available if the Pirates remain in playoff contention through September. Plus, a setback for Jordan Lawlar, charges filed against Wander Franco in the Dominican Republic, mailbag questions about Gerrit Cole and Luis Castillo, and a few players to consider this weekend in weekly formats.

Rundown

1:01 Paul Skenes Carries A No-Hitter Through Seven

10:01 A Setback for Jordan Lawlar

17:14 Steven Kwan & The 'Lucky' Power Hitter

Eno's Story ($) https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5632162

21:56 Wander Franco Charged in Dominican Republic

23:50 Thoughts on Gerrit Cole Through Four 2024 Starts?

31:14 Buying Into Big Second Half for Josh Lowe?

36:56 What Is Going On With Luis Castillo's Slider?

41:59 Curating Your Own "What Happened?" Data

50:55 Project Prospect: 50+ FV, 2024 MLB ETAs, Yet to Debut

55:47 Weekend Waiver Preview: Matt Wallner & Rece Hinds Bring Power

1:05:32 Pitchers to Consider: Luis L. Ortiz, Keider Montero, Justin Wrobleski, Yilber Diaz

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Bobby Miller's Reset, 10 Years of Statcast & Pitching to Gunnar Henderson Jul 11, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss the demotion of Bobby Miller as his 2024 struggles have persisted, the Dodgers' pitching depth being tested more than expected, 10 years of Statcast, and 'new' tools that they think will be a big part of the conversation 10 years from now. Plus, they look at what happens in extended plate appearances, how they would pitch to Gunnar Henderson, and a red-hot start to the MLB career of Reds outfielder Rece Hinds.

Rundown

1:18 Trevor Needs to Tell DVR Where He's Buying Cool Hats

3:52 Bobby Miller Optioned by Dodgers; Headed to Triple-A Oklahoma City

14:00 Celebrating of 10 Years of Statcast

25:04 What 'New' Tool(s) Will Be Even Better Down the Road?

39:43 What Happens During and After Extended Plate Appearances?

57:30 The Game Plan: How to Pitch to Gunnar Henderson

1:06:54 Rece Hinds' Starts His MLB Career on a Heater

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Producer: Brian Smith

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How The Guardians Have Surprised Us, Misevaluations of Francisco Lindor & The Yankees' Flaws Jul 09, 2024

Eno, Britt, and DVR discuss how the Guardians have exceeded our expectations and found success in a different way in 2024, the surprising snub of Francisco Lindor from the NL All-Star Team roster, the actual flaws of the Yankees amidst a 5-15 stretch over their last 20 games, and a few trade fits for Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Rundown

1:10 The Guardians Are Making Us Look Foolish, But How?

11:16 Great Defense is Often Underrated

18:02 Trading for Pitching...in Cleveland?

25:57 Why Don't People Evaluate Francisco Lindor Correctly?

33:39 Lindor Snubbed by His Peers!?

40:05 Assessing the Yankees' Actual Flaws

46:50 The Importance of Clarke Schmidt's Eventual Return

54:04 Finding the Right Fit for Jazz Chisholm Jr. Trade

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Shane Baz Is Back in the Rays' Rotation & Finding the Next Hunter Brown Jul 08, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the busy long weekend in baseball including the return of Shane Baz to the Rays' rotation, the quietly productive season from Luis L. Ortiz, who now has an opportunity to start in Pittsburgh again, and the search for the 'next' Hunter Brown. Plus, they take a look back at where the money was spent in weekly leagues.

Rundown

3:10 Injury Updates

8:26 Ranking of ROS Impact of Currently IL'd Pitchers

16:53 Shane Baz Returns to the Rays' Rotation

22:37 Is Luis L. Ortiz Having a Breakout?

26:16 Can We Find Another Hunter Brown?

37:05 Yilber Diaz Getting a Look in Arizona

41:17 Where the Money Went: Brooks Lee & Yariel Rodriguez

51:37 A Splashy Bid From Eno

1:00:41 Spencer Arrighetti and 'The Line' for Pitching in 12-teamers

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Aaron Civale to the Brewers, Home Run Derby Tweaks, A Derby for Pitchers & Trouble Spot Splits Jul 03, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss the Brewers' acquisition of Aaron Civale from the Rays, and Shane Baz's return to the Tampa Bay rotation. They also cover the tweaks to the Home Run Derby rules, and try to design an equivalent showcase for pitchers to have during All-Star Week in future years. Plus, Trevor shares a few more deep splits looking at Trouble Situations and rest for pitchers.

Rundown

1:45 Aaron Civale Traded to Brewers; Changes On Tap?

13:27 Shane Baz's Progression Through Rehab Assignment & Recent Triple-A Outings

20:54 Modifications to Home Run Derby Rules

28:11 What Would a Pitcher Equivalent of the Derby Look Like?

36:02 Trouble Situations for Pitchers

40:46 Performance Around Rest

48:39 Hypermobility v. Hypomobility

1:00:19 Q&A From the Stream

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A Prospect Promotion In July, Building Midseason Momentum & A Fast Decline Jul 02, 2024

Eno, Britt, and DVR congratulate Jayson Stark for his induction in the NSMA Hall of Fame, and discuss the arrival of James Wood and the intriguing timing of his promotion by the Nationals relative to the league's tendencies to promote top prospects. Plus, they discuss a few teams attempting to carrying the momentum of strong June into the second half, before discussing a handful of players they are interested in seeing during the Futures Game, and the swift decline of Tim Anderson.

Rundown

0:44 Jayson Stark Inducted to the NSMA Hall of Fame

4:00 The Nats' Decision to Promote James Wood on July 1

14:02 Whose June Momentum Will Carry Into Second Half?

25:23 The Cardinals Are Quietly Hanging Around & Pitching Well Recently

33:28 Futures Game Rosters Released

39:42 KBO Regular Season Games in Theaters?!

44:01 Tim Anderson DFA'd by Marlins; Why Did He Decline So Quickly

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Timing the Rebuild, Evaluating the Fringe Fantasy Contributors & James Wood's Promotion Jul 01, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss how to navigate the timing of playing for the future in long-term leagues, the difficulty in making decision in shallow leagues at the bottom of the roster, the promotion of James Wood by the Nationals, Triston McKenzie's demotion to Columbus, and where the money went over the weekend in weekly FAAB leagues.

Rundown

0:56 Timing a Rebuild (How to Avoid Being Like the Angels)

10:37 Assessing the Fringe Player in Shallow Leagues

21:52 James Wood Promoted by Nats, Debuting Monday

27:54 Triston McKenzie Optioned to Triple-A

32:23 Injury Updates: Jordan Romano, Josh Jung & Mike Trout

39:57 Where the Money Went

51:25 Heston Kjerstad Comps Based on Hard-Hit Rate & Max Exit Velocity

59:53 Weekend Drops: Davis Schneider & Dylan Moore

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2024 Predictions Check-In, The Rangers & Reds Reach a Fork in the Road, and Pitching to Steven Kwan Jun 28, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss Eno's story examining the long-term pitch velocity ceiling, how a few of their 2024 predictions are looking as the first half of the season comes to close, the Trade Deadline outlook for the Rangers and Reds, plus a game plan for pitching to Steven Kwan.

Rundown

1:04 Where Was Trevor on the Night of August 5th, 2019?

4:45 The Human Limit for Pitching Velocity

($) https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5571107

13:00 Bold Predictions: Midseason Check-In

24:58 How Well Is Information Being Communicated to Players?

34:37 The Rangers at the Fork -- What Will Texas Do at the Trade Deadline?

44:11 The Reds at the Fork -- Is a 2024 Playoff Berth Still In the Works?

54:47 The Game Plan: How To Pitch to Steven Kwan

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Midseason Buy-High Considerations & Weekend Waiver Preview Jun 27, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss midseason buy-highs while taking a trip through the FanGraphs 2024 Player Rater. Plus, they discuss a few pickups to consider ahead of the weekend, including Jhonkensy Noel in Cleveland, Heston Kjerstad in his second stint with the O's this season, and David Festa joining the rotation for the Twins.

Rundown

3:55 Gunnar Henderson Makes the Leap to First-Round Status

6:31 Ranger Suárez: No. 1 SP in Player Rater for 2024 (So Far)

11:15 Accounting for Wins in a Player Rater

15:15 Adjusting Ratio Baselines for Run Environment

18:08 Which Hitter(s) Are You Targeting?

25:14 Brice Turang's Step Forward and Projecting Ceiling Comps

34:11 Which Pitcher(s) Are You Targeting?

41:35 A Case for Joe Ryan

43:55 Weekend Waiver Preview: Jhonkensy Noel & Heston Kjerstad

54:32 Weekend Waiver Preview: David Festa & Hayden Birdsong\

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The Outlook in Anaheim with Sam Blum Jun 25, 2024

Sam Blum of The Athletic joins Eno and DVR to discuss all things Angels, including the impact of manager Ron Washington during a challenging year, the overall direction of the club with Arte Moreno's decision to continue forward as owner, and the future of Mike Trout.

Rundown

0:43 The Impact of Ron Washington on the 2024 Angels

7:23 Missed Opportunities to Add Depth

11:52 Should the Angels Have Perry Minasian Lead the Rebuild?

17:00 Fast Promotions for Zach Neto & Nolan Schanuel

21:00 Angels Prospects Nearing an Opportunity

26:11 Arte Moreno's Decision to Take the Team Off the Market

31:09 Mike Trout's Future in Anaheim

41:10 José Soriano as a Key Piece of the Core?

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Edwin Díaz's Sticky Stuff Ejection, Max Scherzer Returns, and Lowered Expectations Jun 24, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss another busy weekend of baseball that included a sticky-stuff ejection for Mets' closer Edwin Díaz, the return of Max Scherzer to the Rangers' rotation, more injuries in the Marlins' starting unit, Giancarlo Stanton's quietly strong season before a trip to the IL, and much more.

Rundown

4:57 Edwin Díaz: Ejected for Sticky Substance Violation; 10-game Suspension on Tap

10:11 Max Scherzer: Picks Up Victory in Return from IL

15:02 Jesús Luzardo Likely Out 4-6 Weeks

22:36 Giancarlo Stanton's Quietly Good 2024

30:25 Which Early-Round Player(s) Are You Avoiding in Trades?

FanGraphs Player Rater: https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy-tools/player-rater

45:45 Where the Money Went

58:05 Weekend Drops

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A Memorable Night at Rickwood Field, the 2024 Run Environment & Bequeathed Baserunners Jun 21, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss a few takeaways from Thursday night's game between the Cardinals and Giants at Rickwood Field, the 2024 MLB run environment and try to determine why scoring has fallen back to 2022 levels despite rule changes implemented last season to increase offense. Plus, they look at deep split stats for starters and relievers to take a closer look at inherited and bequeathed runners, and which pitchers battle back most often from difficult counts.

Rundown

1:34 Takeaways From Thursday's Game at Rickwood Field

8:16 The 2024 MLB Run Environment

13:29 Is Talent Being Maximized More Effectively Now Than Ever Before?

21:24 Eno Is Ready to Adjust the Mound

26:58 But, What is a Reasonable Adjustment

30:52 Looking at 3-0 Counts & Pitcher Mindset

44:27 Why You Should Care About Inherited & Bequeathed Runners

55:14 Relievers Adapting to Current Stolen-Base Environment

59:00 Bob Feller's Fastball

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The Greatness of Willie Mays, Gerrit Cole Returns & Another Surprise in Cleveland Jun 20, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the greatness of Willie Mays following his passing at the age of 93 earlier this week. Plus, they take a look around the league at key injury news, including an opportunity in the Houston rotation with Justin Verlander's move to the IL, before checking in on minor-league news and notes, and a few early waiver-wire considerations for the weekend.

Rundown

5:31 Willie Mays Passes Away at 93

13:41 Gerrit Cole Returns From the IL

19:25 Kyle Bradish Undergoes Tommy John Surgery with Internal Brace

24:02 Max Scherzer Returning Saturday Against the Royals

30:56 Jake Bloss Getting a Call to Houston

35:42 Jordan Lawlar On Minor-League IL with Hamstring Strain

39:45 Dylan Crews Joins James Wood at Triple-A

43:15 Other Prospect News & Notes

51:47 Daniel Schneeman Getting a Look in Cleveland

56:35 Ben Rice and Other Bats to Consider

1:01:45 Tobias Myers Roster Rates on the Rise

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Pat Hoberg, Parity in Mid-June, Tatis' Quiet Move Back Toward Stardom & Snoop in the Brewers' Booth Jun 18, 2024

Eno, Britt, and DVR discuss MLB's disciplinary action against umpire Pat Hoberg for violating the league's gambling rules, and Hoberg's ongoing appeal. Plus, they consider the parity with all but two teams in the National League within two games of a playoff position as play began Tuesday, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s bid to return to stardom with less fanfare outside of San Diego, and Snoop Dogg's surprise visit to the Brewers broadcast over the weekend.

Rundown

1:12 Pat Hoberg Disciplined by MLB for Violating Gambling Rules

10:31 Can Hoberg's Appeal Actually Change Anything?

12:50 Mid-June Parity: Love It or Leave It?

28:57 Remind Us if This is Still Happening in September

34:05 Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Quiet Move Back Toward Stardom

42:36 Jurickson Profar's Amazing 2024

46:05 Snoop Dogg Dropped by the Brewers' TV Booth

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Impactful Injuries for the Dodgers, Tough June Hitter Rankings & The Weekend Shuffle Jun 18, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a weekend packed with impactful injuries, a few tough hitters to rank as their "new" roles become more stable, Manny Machado's push to play through injuries this season, and fallout from the weekend roster shuffle in weekly leagues.

Rundown

3:20 An Apology to Our Friends in Europe

8:46 Mookie Betts Suffers a Fractured Wrist

18:25 Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Goes on IL with Rotator Cuff Strain

24:01 Corbin Carroll Leaves with Oblique Injury

25:50 Trea Turner Returns; Is the Outfield A Possibility?

28:00 Bryan Woo's Forearm Discomfort

30:51 Tough Ranks: David Fry, David Hamilton & Addison Barger

46:57 Manny Machado & Playing Through Injuries

53:05 Where the Money Went: Saves in Seattle & Toronto, Cade Povich and DJ Herz

1:08:20 Weekend Drops of Note

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Baseball at Rickwood Field, Team Rebound Candidate & Game Planning for Luis Gil Jun 14, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss historic Rickwood Field, ahead of next week's matchup between the Cardinals and Giants in Birmingham, teams with currently low playoff odds with a chance to rebound toward contention, and how they would approach hitting Yankees starter Luis Gil.

Read More about the history of Rickwood Field in this SABR article from Clarence Watkins: https://sabr.org/bioproj/park/rickwood-field-birmingham/

Rundown

3:52 Rickwood Field Hosting Cardinals-Giants Next Week

8:57 Where Else Should MLB Play Regular Season Games?

10:56 Trevor's Case for the Giants to Rebound Into 2024 Contention

18:33 Eno's Case for the Pirates

23:30 DVR's Case for the Reds & Attempting to Understand Andrew Abbott

38:06 How to Hit Against Luis Gil

54:54 Listener Question: Intangible Aspects of Playing 162 Games

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Searching for Buy-Low Bats, Banking on a Pablo López Bounce Back & Weekend Waiver Preview Jun 13, 2024

Eno and DVR search for buy-low bats and discussing the struggles of Austin Riley, Julio Rodríguez, and Dansby Swanson -- plus a group of hitters that may look like buy-low targets on the surface, but could underwhelm the rest of the way. Plus, they answer a few mailbag questions, and look ahead at potential pickups on the waiver wire this weekend.

Rundown

1:58 Austin Riley is Going to Be OK...Right?

6:18 Julio Rodríguez & Dansby Swanson

10:53 The 'Don't Buy' Lows

17:32 Corbin Carroll v. CJ Abrams in the Past Calendar Year

23:26 Is MJ Melendez the Opposite of Isaac Paredes?

30:09 What's Going on with Pablo López?

34:25 FanGraphs Custom Leaderboards as Watchlists

37:15 Should the Dodgers Target a Shortstop Instead of an Outfielder

44:51 Weekend Waiver Preview

55:14 First Impressions of Drew Thorpe

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The Top of the 2024 MLB Draft Class, Rookie Hitter Struggles & Prospect Risers w/Keith Law Jun 12, 2024

Keith Law joins DVR to discuss a few intriguing names near the top of 2024 draft boards including Charlie Condon v. Travis Bazzana and Chase Burns v. Hagen Smith. Plus, they discuss the sluggish starts for many position players at the big-league level, the early success of Jackson Merrill, the Pirates' next wave of pitching prospects behind Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, and the ascent of James Wood to a top-five position on Keith's updated in-season prospect list.

Rundown

2:07 Charlie Condon v. Travis Bazzana

9:06 Nick Kurtz and Risk/Reward of a First Base Prospect Early

11:59 Chase Burnes v. Hagen Smith

19:01 The Increasingly Difficult Adjustment Phase for Rookie Hitters

30:35 Paul Skenes Meteoric Rise To Ace Status & Pittsburgh's Pitching Development

42:59 Does Luis Robert Jr. Make Sense for the Pirates?

52:14 Noah Schultz & James Wood Move Up the Prospect Ranks

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The Athletic's 2024 MLB Player Poll w/Katie Woo Jun 11, 2024

Katie Woo joins Eno and DVR to discuss several takeaways from The Athletic's 2024 MLB Player Poll including a few 'others receiving votes' for Baseball Player in Baseball behind Shohei Ohtani, the players' selections for 'most overrated' player, the organizations that have bad reputations among the players.

Check out the full poll here ($): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5529966/2024/06/10/mlb-player-poll-overrated-underrated-worst-organization/

Rundown

2:27 The Others Receiving Votes for 'Best Player in Baseball'

9:45 Who Do the Players Think Is the Most Overrated Player in Baseball?

14:53 Who Called Yordan Alvarez and Juan Soto Overrated?

19:58 'Anthony Rendon Was Right -- The Season Is Too Long'

25:53 Where Do Players Want to Play, Removing a Few Variables

31:45 Organizations with Bad Reputations Among Players

39:40 Taking a Pause for the 2028 Summer Olympics?

46:34 The Impact of Analytics on Your Career

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A Promotion-Filled Weekend, Maximizing Development & Chasing the Second Tier Jun 10, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a promotion-filled weekend including the debuts of Hurston Waldrep, Adael Amador and Tyler Locklear, and the expected arrival of Carlos F. Rodriguez to the Milwaukee rotation this week. Plus, they look back at where the free-agent bids were directed over the weekend.

Rundown

2:41 Hurston Waldrep's Debut Against the Nationals

8:06 Adael Amador Joins the Rockies

16:37 Tyler Locklear's Short-Term Fit in Seattle

21:15 Carlos F. Rodriguez: On Track for Tuesday Debut

28:05 Is Player Development Too Narrowly Focused in Some Organizations?

37:02 Promotions by Necessity Rather Than Desire?

41:06 Freddy Peralta's Poor Outings & Connection to Velocity Drops

44:50 Heliot Ramos Joins the Shallow League Fray

49:13 Finding Value in Max Meyer, Jake Irvin, Simeon Woods Richardson, David Peterson and JP Sears

56:53 Chas McCormick: The Healthy Drop of the Week

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MLB Returns to London, Paul Skenes v. Shohei Ohtani, A Fork in the Road for the Jays & Cubs Jun 07, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor discuss baseball's return to London for a two-game weekend series between the Phillies and Mets. An exciting matchup between Paul Skenes and Shohei Ohtani that took place in Pittsburgh earlier this week, how they would game plan trying to pitch to Ohtani, and two teams -- the Blue Jays and Cubs -- facing a critical stretch of schedule in the middle-third of the season.

Rundown

1:18 MLB Returns to London with Phillies-Mets

12:21 Paul Skenes v. Shohei Ohtani

18:41 The Game Plan: How We Would Pitch to Ohtani

28:11 At the Fork — The 2024 Blue Jays

32:44 It’s Not (All) Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s Fault

41:37 At the Fork — The 2024 Cubs

50:31 Adding From the Inside: Cade Horton in the Second Half?

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May Pitching Risers & Fallers, and Pitchers Waiting in the Wings Jun 06, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss some of the biggest risers and fallers among starting pitchers from April to May, over and underperformers compared to initial 2024 projections, pitching prospects closing in on opportunities to help their big-league clubs, and a few weekend waiver-wire targets to consider.

Rundown

1:25 Stuff+ Risers From April to May

6:34 From Below Average to OK, From OK to Good, and From Good to Great

11:42 Cooper Criswell Remains Interesting, Brandon Pfaadt Changes The Mix

15:16 Gavin Stone's Quietly Strong Season for the Dodgers

17:54 Stuff+ Fallers From April to May

22:44 A Willingness to Trade Shōta Imanaga?

26:05 YTD Performance vs. Initial Projections (from The BAT)

34:44 Project Prospect: A.J. Blubaugh's Future Path to the Astros' Rotation

39:18 Cade Povich's Similarities to Robert Gasser

44:25 Will Joey Cantillo Earn a Second-Half Rotation Spot in Cleveland

47:23 The Early Days of Justyn-Henry Malloy & Connor Norby in the Big Leagues

52:37 José Miranda, Blaze Alexander & Enmanuel Valdez

1:00:47 Tylor Megill Underrostered in Shallow Leagues

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A Lifetime Ban, May Hitting Risers & Fallers, and The Shape of a Season Jun 04, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a round of suspensions from MLB for gambling -- including a lifetime ban for Tucupita Marcano, before looking at some of the biggest risers and fallers among hitters from April to May.

Rundown

1:00 Tucupita Marcano: Lifetime Ban for Betting on Baseball

16:47 Biggest Shifts in Hitter Performance: April v. May

22:01 Risers From April to May

30:54 Rookie Bats in Month 2

38:39 Colton Cowser to Fallers From April to May

43:04 May Barrel Rate Risers

49:04 May Hard-Hit Rate Risers

52:04 Full-Season Projections v. Performance to Date

1:07:45 Is a Randy Arozarena Rebound On Tap?

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Tough Decisions, Staying Ahead of Second-Half Fades & Starting Pitchers We're Worried About Jun 03, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss tough in-season decisions for the Tigers (Spencer Torkelson's demotion) and Twins (Edouard Julien's demotion), and the promotion of Connor Norby, before considering the factors to account for when trying to move on from pitchers that have performed very well during the first two months of the season.

Rundown

1:48 Spencer Torkelson: Optioned to Triple-A

8:31 Justyn-Henry Malloy Gets the Call

12:38 Royce Lewis' Return Bumps Edouard Julien to Triple-A

23:19 Connor Norby: Promoted by Orioles

29:08 Adam Mazur: Gets the Call to San Diego

31:42 Question of Our Times: Timing Value Drops for First-Half Stars

42:31 Which Pitchers Are You Most Worried About?

53:38 Where the Money Went: Yimi Garcia, Matt Vierling, Mark Vientos & David Hamilton

1:02:00 Reid Detmers' Long-Term Outlook

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Making Sense of Atlanta's Step Back at the Plate, Career-Shaping Opportunities & One-Hit Wonders May 31, 2024

Eno, DVR, and Trevor analyze the surprising step back for the Atlanta lineup through the first two months of 2024, and discuss players at pivotal points in their careers with a limited window to secure their future role. Plus, they'll take live questions from viewers throughout the show!

Rundown

1:33 More Changes From the Mets; Christian Scott & Brett Baty Optioned to Triple-A

12:55 What's Happening in Atlanta's Lineup?

20:27 Teams Are Pitching the Braves Differently

25:17 Can Hitters Adjust Quickly to a Change Like This?

28:25 A Closer Look at Matt Olson

34:15 Practice Swings Revealing A Hitter's Plan?

37:40 Confidence Levels in Albies, Riley, Harris, Kelenic Getting to Power Again?

42:49 When Careers Reach Pivot Points

57:20 Who Is Your Favorite MLB One-Hit Wonder?

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Starting Pitcher Fallers, Prospect News & Weekend Waiver Preview May 30, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the news that MLB has integrated stats from the Negro Leagues into its official records, a bad day for the Mets, fallers from Eno's latest Starting Pitcher Rankings update, prospect news, and a few names to consider as waiver-wire targets this weekend.

Rundown

1:18 Negro League Stats Added to MLB's Official Records

7:06 An Eventful Day for the Mets

11:52 'There is No Way They Are the Worst Team in Baseball'

16:42 Fallers From Eno's Starting Pitcher Rankings Update

($) https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5513570

30:45 The Z-Contact% Laggardboard

36:40 Ben Brown's Excellent Outing, Window to Continue Starting

39:40 Junior Caminero, Jasson Dominguez, James Wood, Jett Williams & Drew Gilbert Updates

47:05 Can Chase DeLauter Take Over a Spot in Cleveland By Season's End?

50:00 Jacob Wilson: Another Low Barreler with a Great Hit Tool?

52:22 Spencer Schwellenback Arrives

56:17 Matt Waldron & Other Weekend Waiver-Wire Considerations

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Ronald Acuña Jr.'s Second ACL Tear, Carroll Questions & May Starting Pitcher Risers May 28, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a brutal diagnosis for Ronald Acuña Jr., who suffered another torn ACL over the weekend. Plus, they consider the ongoing struggles of Corbin Carroll, Ángel Hernández's abrupt retirement, and a few May risers from Eno's updated Starting Pitcher Rankings.

Rundown

2:06 Ronald Acuña Jr.'s 2024 Season Ends with Another Torn ACL

10:43 The Ongoing Struggles of Corbin Carroll

18:43 Victor Robles: DFA'd by Nationals

27:13 Is Passing on Low Barrel Rate Bats An Easy Call?

31:15: Ángel Hernández Retires

35:24 Injury Updates: Cristian Javier, Jorge Polanco & Kodai Senga

46:49 May Risers: Eno's Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings

($) https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5513570

59:38 Jake Meyers & Colt Keith As Popular Weekend Waiver-Wire Adds

1:09:35 David Fry is Unbelievable

1:12:09 Casey Mize's Rapidly Declining Stuff

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Tipping Pitches, Best Strikeouts We've Seen & A Case For Massive Expansion May 23, 2024

Eno, DVR and Trevor go live at 1p ET/10a PT to discuss pitch tipping, the 'fighters' we did not choose last week and their long-term outlook -- Tanner Bibee, Kyle Harrison, Hunter Greene, Taj Bradley, and Christian Scott -- the best strikeouts they have seen so far this season, and a case for massive expansion that would completely change baseball as we know it.

Rundown

1:18 Tipping Pitches

8:27 A Recent Example from Clarke Schmidt

10:45 Taj Bradley: Tipping Pitches or Too Predictable?

18:40 Tanner Bibee: A Fastball That Is Getting Hammered

26:41 Kyle Harrison: Will He Build Confidence in Secondaries?

31:58 The Case for Hunter Greene

38:33 Christian Scott: The Need For Improved Command

44:55 The Best Strikeouts We’ve Seen This Season

51:31 A Case for Massive Expansion in MLB

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Playing the Long Game with Stars, The Aging Curve & Delayed Breakouts May 22, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss aging stars whose long-term value might be on the cusp of falling, as well as a few players to target despite an overall body of work that leaves something to be desired.

Rundown

10:07 Freddie Freeman Is the Power & Speed Drop a Sign of Things to Come?

18:02 Marcus Semien & Nearly Impossible Durability

23:12 Jose Altuve & Extreme Pull Tendencies Over Time

28:59 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Should We Still Chase A 2021 Ceiling?

34:58 Adolis García: Fearing the Fast Peak From Late Bloomers with Aggressive Approaches

36:37 Oneil Cruz: Will He Improve Enough Against Lefties in the Long Run?

43:02 Zach Neto: Sacrificing Ceiling for a Safer Floor?

46:01 Jordan Walker: No Homers at Triple-A This Season?!

53:58 Alex Kirilloff: A Delayed Breakout Coming, or WYSIWYG?

1:02:14 Project Prospect: The Prospects to Target Via Trade As Top 100 Lists Have In-Season Updates

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A Break for Edwin Díaz, Buying A Luis Gil Breakout & Leveraging Pitching Depth May 21, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Garrett Whitlock's injury and the prolonged opportunity for Cooper Criswell in the Red Sox's rotation, expectations for Edwin Díaz's break from the closer role, Luis Gil's impressive stretch to begin 2024, ways to consider leveraging pitching depth, where the money went this weekend, a few frequently dropped players from the weekend.

Rundown

1:50 Cooper Criswell's Extended Window in Boston

7:47 Edwin Díaz's Break From the Closer Role

16:00 Luis Gil: Analyzing his Early 2024 Breakout

29:52 Any Reason to Worry About Framber Valdez?

33:24 Did Ryan Weathers Figure Something Out?

39:00 Leveraging Starting Pitching Depth

43:24 Disconnect Between Stuff+ & D-backs Starting Pitching

47:56 Still Optimistic About Daulton Varsho?

51:24 Big Weekend Adds

1:02:11 Buying Any Drops? MJ Melendez, Brett Baty & James Outman

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Stuff+, the latest on bat tracking stats and making your mark Max Bay May 20, 2024

Eno is joined by co-parent of Stuff+ and former member of the Houston Astros' analytics department Max Bay. The guys dive into the state of analytics in the sport...

Rundown:

4:09 - The past, present and future of Stuff+

29:45 - How should we be using the new bat tracking data

41:44 - How can people who want to get into baseball analytics for a team stand out

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Elly's Pursuit of 100 Steals, Bat Tracking in Scouting Reports & Choose Your Fighter, SP Edition May 17, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss Elly De La Cruz's bid for 100-steal season, how bat tracking info could be used to supplement scouting reports and game plans against hitters, and their choices from a group of a dozen starting pitchers in an effort to project the next few seasons.

Rundown

1:06 Keeping a Good Receipt (Don't Worry, We Keep The Bad Ones Too)

2:10 Elly De La Cruz's Bid for a 100-Steal Season

8:25 How Many Stolen Bases Would Rickey Henderson Rack Up with Today's Rules

10:49 Building Scouting Reports From Bat Tracking Info

17:31 How Interested Would Players Be In Utilizing This Angle?

30:45 Choose Your Fighters: Two Starting Pitchers From This Dozen, Next Three-Plus Seasons

50:28 Does Trevor Buy Eno's Plan to Make Ben Brown a Closer in 2024?

55:10 How Much Information Does a Typical Player Consume?

1:01:07 Trevor's Wiffle Ball Update

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Opportunity in San Francisco, Struggling Pitching Prospects & Weekend Waiver Targets May 16, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Ronel Blanco's sticky-stuff suspension, Austin Riley's quiet start and recent injury, another opportunity for Luis Matos in San Francisco, and the bullpen woes of the Cubs before digging into the early struggles of many prospect pitchers, and a few waiver-wire targets to consider as the weekend approaches.

Rundown

1:29 Ronel Blanco's Sticky-Stuff Suspension

7:38 Austin Riley's Side Injury; Slow Start

11:39 Jung Hoo Lee: Structural Damage in Shoulder

19:26 Adbert Alzolay to the IL; Searching for Answers in the Cubs' Bullpen

27:39 Still Waiting on Junior Caminero

33:16 Heston Kjerstad Usage & Demotion to Triple-A

44:37 A Look at the Early Struggles of Many Pitching Prospects

54:57 Weekend Waiver-Wire Considerations

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A Closer Look at the Ways to Preserve Starting Pitchers May 14, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss baseball's aim to preserve starting pitchers. How much of a problem is the current use of starting pitchers compared to the past? With injury rates on the rise, what rule changes and tweaks make sense? Will small changes to move the game slightly in the direction of previous era's pitcher usage cause other problems? Plus, they discuss Britt's recent story about a partnership between Perfect Game and Fanatics, and former big leaguer Travis Snider's efforts to improve youth sports.

Rundown

1:13 The Starting Pitcher 'Problem'

6:55 Big Changes in the Last 10 Years

11:15 Incentivizing Pitching Deeper Into Starts

16:39 The Difficult of Getting Everyone on Board with New Rules

20:00 DVR Blames the Reliance on Short Relievers

26:40 Reducing the Fifth Inning Exits When a Starter is Dealing

31:37 Why Don't Starters Try to 'Save' Velocity for Later Innings?

42:46 Britt's Story About the Concerning Perfect Game-Fanatics Partnership

48:52 Travis Snider's Efforts to Improve Youth Sports

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How We're Using Statcast's New Bat Tracking & Bat Speed Leaderboards May 13, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Paul Skenes' MLB debut against the Cubs before digging into ways they are utilizing the new bat tracking and bat speed leaderboards from Statcast, including a few players to consider targeting via trade.

Rundown

1:45 Takeaways From Paul Skenes' Debut & Unexpected Comp

13:39 New Bat Tracking & Bat Speed Leaderboards from Statcast!

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/bat-tracking

19:27 How Should We Apply Bat Speed Information?

25:47 'Squared Up' vs. 'Blasts'

27:59 Players to Target

40:14 A Tool to Use for 'Buy High' Players?

44:44 Learning From Good Players Without 'Ideal' Swing Speed & Length

52:11 Robert Gasser's Debut & Where the Money Went

1:04:13 Other Bids & Frequently Dropped Players

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What Makes a Pitcher Role Change Work & Who Might Be Next to Move? May 10, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss an all-time no-hitter jinx, Willson Contreras' injury and the sharp increase in catcher's interference around baseball, pitchers going through role changes in 2024 -- and who they would like to see make a switch in the future -- plus their game plan for hitters facing Pirates pitcher Jared Jones.

Rundown

1:30 An All-Time Great No-Hitter Jinx?

5:48 Willson Contreras' Injury & The Rise of Catcher's Interference

15:05 Maybe Just Stop Erasing the Batter's Box?

19:48 Is It Time to Regular the Sliding Mitt?

25:41 Switching Roles Between Starting & Relieving

31:41 Adrian Morejón & Needing to Fix Splits Before Becoming a Starter?

36:00 From Long Relief to the Rotation (Bryse Wilson)

40:53 Luke Weaver's Success in the Bullpen

52:06 Game Planning to Hit Jared Jones

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Paul Skenes Gets the Call, Tyler Black Demoted & A Rays' Rotation Shuffle May 09, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the highly-anticipated debut of Paul Skenes, set for Saturday against the Cubs, before digging into a deep list of news items including an injury for Christian Encarnacion-Strand, a quick return to Nashville for Tyler Black following Christian Yelich's activation from the IL, Taj Bradley's return to health, and the triumphant return of Prospect of the Week.

Rundown

0:57 Paul Skenes is Joining the Pirates! Rest of Season Expectations?

9:14 Christian Encarnacion-Strand: On IL with Fractured Wrist

20:06 Christian Yelich's Return Bumps Tyler Black Back to Triple-A

26:50 Finding Replacements for Willson Contreras (Fractured Forearm)

30:22 A Setback for Max Scherzer

33:31 The Rays' Rotation Shuffle: Taj Bradley is Back, Ryan Pepiot to the IL, Shane Baz at Triple-A on Rehab Assignment

46:13 Braxton Garrett: Tread Carefully Upon Activation?

49:42 Project Prospect: Bryan Ramos, Rhett Lowder, Mason Black & Parker Meadows

60:11 Other Waiver Targets to Consider: Jonny DeLuca, Again!

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Who Do You Like In the AL Central? May 07, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss Walker Buehler's return to the Dodgers' rotation before digging into the four contenders in the AL Central to assess each team's current strengths and weaknesses. Plus, they share a few players they underestimated in the past.

Rundown

0:51 Walker Buehler Returns to the Dodgers' Rotation

4:04 Forays Into Free Agency After Two Tommy John Surgeries

10:57 Buying the Guardians' Early Uptick in Offensive Output?

21:32 Weathering Early Injuries In Minnesota

26:15 If Nothing Else, The Royals Are Interesting Again

33:11 Can the Tigers Fix Their Struggling Hitters?

45:02 Players We Were Wrong About (Exceeded Expectations)

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Luis Arraez to San Diego, Hitters on the Rise & Christian Scott's Debut May 06, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the five-player trade that sent Luis Arraez to the Padres, the Marlins' return from the trade, a few hitters that made significant moves up in DVR's updated hitter rankings, and how aggressively Christian Scott was pursued in weekly leagues after an impressive weekend debut against the Rays.

Rundown

3:35 Luis Arraez Traded to the Padres

8:05 Dillon Head & Betting on Best Long-Term Outcome

19:56 Injuries News & Notes: Trea Turner, Joe Musgrove, Wyatt Langford, Christian Yelich, Grayson Rodriguez

31:46 Is Robert Gasser the Next Pitching Prospect to Get the Call?

36:23 A Few Big Risers in DVR's Updated Hitter Rankings

($): https://theathletic.com/5344859/

44:59 Christian Scott & Massive Weekend Bids

59:59 Frequently Dropped Players From The Weekend

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Surprising Starting Pitchers, The Challenge of Hitting in Seattle & How to Pitch to Elly De La Cruz May 03, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss Christian Scott ahead of his debut against the Rays, and four surprising starting pitchers that have put up great numbers over the first month-plus of the season. They also examine the unique challenges of hitting in Seattle -- and try to determine why the park consistently boosts strikeouts -- before building a game plan to pitch to Elly De La Cruz.

Rundown

1:10 Christian Scott Debuting Saturday

3:45 Jack Flaherty: Career-Best K%, BB% & SwStr%!

14:07 Spencer Turnbull: Can He Maintain the Elevated K%?

21:48 Tanner Houck’s Breakout

29:38 Is Zack Littell’s Approach Meshing Well in Tampa?

35:42 What Makes Hitting in Seattle So Difficult?

55:15 Building a Game Plan: Elly De La Cruz

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A Search for Acuña's Missing Power, Strength of Schedule & Waiver Targets May 02, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss several news items including a trip to the IL for Grayson Rodriguez, the return of two other Baltimore starters, more knee trouble for Byron Buxton, and several rehabbing pitchers. Plus, they examine the missing power from Ronald Acuña Jr. this season, strength of schedule considerations, and several players to consider as waiver-wire targets as the weekend approaches.

Rundown

4:53 News & Notes: Grayson Rodriguez, John Means, Byron Buxton

12:48 Suspensions & Rehab Updates: Shane Baz, Taj Bradley & Walker Buehler

20:11 Ronald Acuña Jr.'s Currently Missing Power

25:13 Factors to Consider in Strength of Schedule

30:52 Fluctuations in Lineup Quality Due to Absences

35:08 Toughest Stuff+ Faced This Season

41:57 Project Prospect: Tyler Black, Jordan Beck, Jackson Jobe, Paul Skenes & Heston Kjerstad

57:24 Weekend Waiver Preview: Wenceel Pérez, Nick Senzel, Jacob Young & Pitching Darts/Matchup Plays

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Is the Nationals' Rebuild Ahead of Schedule? May 01, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss Mike Trout's knee injury, José Abreu's demotion to West Palm Beach, the Twins' unusual home-run celebration, and the newest additions to the City Connect uniform lineup, before taking a look at the Nationals' current rebuilding efforts.

Rundown

1:12 Mike Trout Has a Torn Meniscus; Looked Like He Was 'Back'. Before Injury

9:46 José Abreu Optioned to rookie-level West Palm Beach

18:09 Bring Food to Home-Run Celebrations?

22:22 Thoughts on Mets, Rays City Connects

29:49 How Far Along Is the Nats' Rebuild?

45:21 Early-Season Series of Note: O's-Yankees, Rays-Brewers & Dodgers-D-backs

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Promotions, Triple-A Strikeout and Walk Rates & Early Hitter Movers Apr 29, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss promotions for Joey Loperfido and Pete Crow-Armstrong, the impact of the ABS strike zone and Triple-A, big movers among top hitters in DVR's upcoming hitter rankings, concern about Corbin Carroll's power outage, and fallout from another weekend of waiver-wire adds and drops.

Rundown

2:33 Joey Loperfido Promoted to Houston

7:35 The Impact of Triple-A ABS Strike Zone on Strikeouts and Walks

17:32 Injury Updates: Kyle Bradish, Vaughn Grissom & Taj Bradley

25:55 Elly De La Cruz Moving Up Redraft Rankings

33:11 Concern Level About Corbin Carroll's Shoulder, Lack of Pop

39:24 Nolan Jones Struggles + IL Stint

41:53 Where the Money Went: Jo Adell & Pete Crow-Armstrong

51:26 Tempering In-Season Bids w/Streamers vs. Players That Might Stick

58:03 Frequently Dropped Players From the Weekend

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Sweepers, Pitch Design & Colorado with Adam Ottavino and Early Hitting Metrics that Matter Apr 26, 2024

Eno and DVR are joined by Mets pitcher Adam Ottavino to discuss sweepers, pitch design and development, and the success he had during a long run in Colorado. Plus, they examine the quick demotion for Jackson Holliday, several surprising starting pitchers, and hitting metrics that move the needle despite limited samples from the first month of the season.

Rundown

0:21Adam Ottavino Joins the Show!

8:44 How Adam Throws His Sweeper

16:35 Citi Field's Unique Park Factors Based on Game Time

21:22 Players Entering the Game with More Pitches, Even as Relievers

27:11 Jackson Holliday Sent Back to Triple-A

36:57 Erick Fedde's Successful Return to MLB from a One-Year Stint in the KBO

43:01 Ranger Suárez's Early K% Jump

47:37 Graham Ashcraft: Casey Mize in Reverse? Ks Preceding Better Ratios?

51:24 What Matters for Hitters in Smaller Samples?

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How to Build an Elite Bullpen, the Pirates' Paul Skenes Plan & Another Jordan Walker Demotion Apr 25, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss Jordan Walker's demotion, the Pirates' plan for building up Paul Skenes' workload while trying to backload his innings, and the key ingredients to building an elite bullpen.

Rundown

0:43 Make It Make Sense: Jordan Walker's Demotion to Triple-A

6:31 Falling Between Organizational and Individual Coaching

15:34 Tracking Workloads: The Pirates' Plan for Paul Skenes

21:41 In-Game Monitoring Technology

29:51 Building an Elite Bullpen

30:17 What Traits Do You Want In a Closer?

35:03 How Many Defined Roles Do You Want?

46:13 Unintended Consequences with Limited Pitcher Availability?

56:19 Command Thresholds For Elite Relievers

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The New Challenge of Being Patient with Prospects & When to Worry About A Contender's Slow Start Apr 23, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss another excellent showing from Jared Jones and an impressive outing from Mason Milller in the Bronx on Monday afternoon. With teams having greater incentives to bring prospects up when they are ready, the new challenge is having a plan to change course if they struggle. Plus, is there legitimate reason to worry about the slow start of the Astros (7-16 entering play Tuesday) or the Cardinals (10-13)? And, is Blake Snell's bumpy start in San Francisco the byproduct of a late-spring signing?

Rundown

4:10 Jared Jones & Mason Miller Continue to Impress

13:50 An Ump Show in the Bronx

17:52 Jackson Holliday's Early Struggles & When to Adjust a Plan

28:45 Having Defensive Value to Fall Back On

36:53 What's Different About the 2024 Astros?

49:35 The Cardinals' Offense is Going to Wake Up (Right?)

58:01 Is Blake Snell Struggling Because of Signing Delay?

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Early Season Starting Pitcher Risers Apr 22, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss news and notes from the weekend including an encouraging diagnosis for Spencer Strider before examining several risers from Eno's first in-season update of his 2024 starting pitcher rankings.

Rundown

4:20 Underwent Internal Brace Procedure Rather Than Second Tommy John Surgery

7:28 Another SP Injury for Arizona: Merrill Kelly

13:10 Francisco Àlvarez: Out 6-8 Weeks

21:46 Eno's Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings

($) https://theathletic.com/5426812

27:31 Reid Detmers' Early Success

32:22 Casey Mize: Will Strikeouts Show Up With His New Arsenal?

38:09 Javier Assad: What Eno Likes About Him

40:51 Brady Singer: Moves Up Slightly!

44:21 Zack Littell: LODEM Goodness?

48:56 Paul Skenes: Callup Coming Shortly?

53:47 Where the Money Went: Looking Back at Weekend Pickups

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Buying High on Surging Starting Pitchers, Future Power Sources & Recent Debuts Apr 18, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Tanner Houck's excellent start to 2024 on the heels of a 'Maddux' against the Guardians on Wednesday. Plus, they look at the ongoing health struggles for Kris Bryant in Colorado, Yu Darvish's move to the IL, hitters with a path to develop more power over time, and a few recent callups including Jack Leiter, Andy Pages, and Landon Knapp.

Rundown

1:45 Tanner Houck and Buying High on Surging Starting Pitchers

9:35 Ryan Weathers Makes DVR Look Dumb

15:02 Yu Darvish & Kris Bryant Land on the IL

27:25 Finding Power that Follows Contact Skills

37:08 Jack Leiter Gets the Call

40:31 Andy Pages & Landon Knack Join the Dodgers

47:02 Jonatan Clase Lands in Seattle

51:16 A Very Quick Look Ahead at Weekend Waiver Consideration

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John Sterling Retires, Rivalry Heat Check & A Case for the Cubs Apr 16, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss John Sterling's abrupt retirement after 36 years with the Yankees, the Marlins' surprising decision to send Max Meyer back to Triple-A, the current state of baseball rivalries including a few potential new feuds that could develop. Plus, they discuss the Cubs as a potential top-five team for the next five years, before a round of 'Buy, Sell, Hold'.

Rundown

1:07 John Sterling Abruptly Announces Retirement

6:03 The Changing Role of Baseball Broadcasters

11:25 Why Did the Marlins Option Max Meyer to Triple-A?

17:50 Baseball's Rivalry Heat Check

24:20 New Rivalries On the Horizon?

29:30 The Case for the Cubs as a Top-Five Team for the Next Five Years

43:46 Buy, Sell, Hold: Tyler O'Neill's Excellent Start in Boston

47:29 Buy, Sell, Hold: Francisco Lindor's Quiet Bat, When to Actually Worry About Early-Season Slumps

56:21 Buy, Sell, Hold: Joe Musgrove

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Exercising Caution with High Velocity Starters, Tough Early Holds & Drops Apr 15, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the idea exercising more caution with high velocity starting pitchers in the future, weekend news and notes, several recent drops and difficult holds amidst early struggles, and where the money went in weekly free-agent pickups from the weekend.

Rundown

2:28 Jackie Robinson Day, 2024

8:20 Another High Velocity Starter (Bobby Miller) Heads to the IL

15:40 Will Trends Make Starters with Slightly Less Velocity (93-94 mph fastballs) More Popular?

20:28 Justin Verlander Nearing Return

31:25 Surprising Drops & Difficult Holds

43:23 A Pod Divided: Brandon Pfaadt in Shallow Leagues

56:07 Where the Money Went: Colton Cowser, Kirby Yates, Jeff Hoffman and Jose Buttó

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Making Early Adjustments & How to Pitch to Mookie Betts Apr 12, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss a few surprising takeaways from the criminal complaint against Shohei Ohtani's former translator Ippei Mizuhara, the difficulty of making early-season adjustments, and Henry Davis' current struggle against elevated fastballs. Plus, they introduce a new segment 'How I Would Pitch to This Guy' where Eno and Trevor share a detailed gameplan for pitching to Mookie Betts, before taking a few live questions.

Rundown

1:28 Surprises From Criminal Complaint Against Ippei Mizuhara

8:07 The Difficulty of Making Early Adjustment & Henry Davis' Struggles w/High Fastballs

20:23 An At-Bat Trevor Will Never Forget

24:38 How I Would Pitch to This Guy: Mookie Betts

36:59 Looking Beyond Swinging Strikes

40:45 Guessing v. Anticipating

49:51 Are Certain Hitters More Prone to Pop-Ups?

56:24 Making Sense of Hunter Brown's Rough Day Against the Royals

1:02:35 Most Underrated Second Baseman?

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Jackson Holliday's Arrival, Ceddanne Rafaela's Early Struggles & Looking Ahead at Weekend Pickups Apr 11, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss recent progress in the Ippei Mizuhara story, as Mizuhara is in the process of negotiating a guilty plea with federal prosecutors with evidence suggesting that Mizuhara may have stolen more than $4.5 million from Shohei Ohtani. Plus, they consider the arrival of Jackson Holliday and his 2024 comps before taking a look at several minor league injury updates, the early-season struggles of Ceddanne Rafaela, waiver-wire targets, and a few mailbag questions.

Rundown

2:07 Movement in the Ippei Mizuhara Case

5:25 Jackson Holliday Gets the Call to Baltimore; Debuts Wednesday

15:17 Spencer Arrighetti: Promoted by Astros to Fill Rotation Vacancy

18:16 Minor League Injury Updates: Junior Caminero, Jeferson Quero, Robert Gasser, River Ryan & Walker Jenkins

27:42 Ceddanne Rafaela's Ongoing Struggles at the Plate

37:22 Good News (Nick Pivetta), Bad News (Yoán Moncada)

43:13 Early Waiver Wire Outlook: Colton Cowser, Cody Bradford, Bryce Elder and José Soriano

55:30 Mailbag Questions: Pitching+, David Bednar's Hold on the Closer Role, and JP Sears

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A Closer Look at Pitcher Injuries Throughout Baseball Apr 09, 2024

Eno, DVR and Britt take a closer look at pitcher injuries that have mounted at all levels in recent years, and dissect the varying reasons behind the significant increase in major elbow and shoulder problems. Plus, they consider the fast start of the Pirates and the dismal start of the Marlins in their first installment of 'Buy, Sell, Hold' for 2024.

Rundown

1:25 The Problem Starts at Youth Levels

7:31 Incentivizing Starters with In-Game Rules to Reduce Velocity & Pitch Deeper Into Games

12:33 Justin Verlander's Thoughts on the Uptick in Injuries

17:58 Lack of Consistency Across Different Levels

21:13 Adding More Factors to a Multi-Factor Problem

26:55 Injuries Spike Early in the Season

32:11 The Benefits of Playing on Multiple Sports

36:42 Strikeout Rate Growth from the 1970-1990 20-Year Window Compared to 2004-2024

42:02 Eno's Unexpected Suggestion for a Solution

46:15 Buy, Sell, Hold: The Pirates' 9-2 Start

54:22 Buy, Sell, Hold: The Marlins' Miserable 1-10 Start

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A Weekend of Major Injuries and Another Attempt at Making Adjustments Apr 08, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss another round of injuries including a UCL sprain for Spencer Strider, Tommy John surgery on tap for Shane Bieber, a significant hip flexor strain for Luis Robert Jr, and a dislocated shoulder for Trevor Story. Beyond injuries, they discuss Ronel Blanco's encore and the ongoing battle in the Astros' rotation for a spot once Justin Verlander returns, and several players whose value shifted over the past week.

Rundown

1:31 Spencer Strider Has a UCL Sprain; Course of Action TBD

6:20 Shane Bieber Will Have Tommy John Surgery

14:09 How to Adjust to Losing an Ace Early

17:04 Luis Robert Jr.: Grade 2 Hip Flexor Strain

25:30 Gerrit Cole: Ready to Begin Throwing Program!

32:11 Adjusting Draft Strategy or League Setting in the Future to Counter Multi-Year Trend of Elevated Pitching Injuries?

44:25 Trevor Story's Suffers a Dislocated Shoulder

48:01 Alex Kirilloff & Oliver Dunn

53:22 Eno's Bargain Adds From Week 2

59:22 A Case for Spencer Turnbull Beyond Streaming

1:04:10 Good Pickup, Bad Pickup?

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The A's Are Headed to Sacramento, Toughest Places to Win & Changeup Deep Dive Apr 05, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss John Fisher's decision to temporarily move the A's to Sacramento for the next three years (2025-2027) while attempting to complete an eventual move to Las Vegas. Plus, they examine the teams currently facing the toughest path to winning in the next five years, before resuming their pitch deep dive series with changeups.

Rundown

0:54 The A's Are Making a Three-Year Stop in Sacramento

9:01 Challenges In Making the A's Competitive Again

17:00 The Rockies' Built-In Uphill Battle

21:36 Another Rebuild Coming in Miami Under New Leadership?

27:47 Loyalty to a Fault on the South Side of Chicago?

34:49 Is It All On Arte Moreno in Anaheim?

45:51 Pitch Deep Dive: Changeups

56:35 Q&A: Changeup Feel in Games v. Bullpens, Commanding Splitters & What You Would Want for Ohtani's HR Ball

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Shōta Imanaga's Debut, Monitoring Pitcher Workloads & Mailbag Questions Apr 04, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss several injury updates, including a longer-than-expected timetable for Josh Jung's return following wrist surgery,Justin Verlander's progress to a two-start rehab assignment, Walker Buehler's rehab work, and a pair of prospects that avoided scares. Plus, Shōta Imanaga's debut against the Rockies, listener league strategy and roster rates, and several mailbag questions about Luis Gil, monitoring pitcher workloads, and Triston McKenzie's fastball velocity drop

Rundown

2:17 Josh Jung: Lengthier Absence Than Initially Anticipated

5:41 Justin Verlander: Two Rehab Starts on Tap

10:38 Junior Caminero: Avoids Major Injury

15:52 Norfolk & Charlotte Light Up the Scoreboard in the International League

23:25 Shōta Imanaga's Debut

29:10 Listener League Strategy; Notable High & Low Roster Rates

39:15 Luis Gil: No Innings Limit From Yankees?

45:37 How Would a Forward-Thinking Organization Handle RP to SP Shifts?

55:42 Triston McKenzie's Fastball Velocity Drop in Start No. 1

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The Top Five MLB Teams for the Next Five Seasons & Ronel Blanco Makes History! Apr 02, 2024

Britt Ghiroli returns to Rates & Barrels (regularly on Tuesdays, all season!) with Eno and DVR to discuss Ronel Blanco's no-hitter, and the start of a new chapter in Baltimore with an ownership change accompanying the organization's rise toward multi-year success. The trio then discusses the five MLB teams best position for the next five seasons. Is the Astros' window coming to a close, or will Dana Brown's front office begin to thrive in the first-year player draft? Plus, if there are a consensus three teams that belong in the group of five, which two teams are the most deserving of the remaining spots.

Rundown

1:40 Ronel Blanco Throws a No-Hitter

8:36 Yainer Diaz's Big Night At and Behind the Plate

11:44 The Next Chapter of Orioles Baseball

22:21 Which Organizations Are Best Positioned for the Next Five Years?

30:42 Agreement About the Dodgers, Braves & Orioles?

36:52 Buying Britt's Case for the Rangers?

45:01 Eno's Ideas for the Fifth Spot

56:54 Getting Buy-In with New Voices

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Opening Series Observations & Dealing with Small Samples Apr 01, 2024

Eno and DVR take a look back at the Opening Series for each team and discuss their takeaways, along with some of the surprisingly good and bad starting pitcher performances that have unfolded so far. Plus, they highlight a few other important things to monitor in the early days of the season.

Rundown

2:40 Where the Money Went: Jason Foley, Kevin Ginkel, Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, Jordan Hicks & Garrett Crochet

15:52 Making Sense of Starting Pitcher Debuts (Good & Bad)

20:45 Keeping a Close Eye on Zac Gallen's Upcoming Starts

26:51 Bailey Ober's Brutal Start Against the Royals

34:17 Impressive Outings from the Red Sox's Starters

38:32 What Else Matters In Small Samples?

51:56 Trey Lipscomb's Opportunity to Start at Third Base in Washington

55:11 Injury Updates: Eloy Jiménez, Royce Lewis, Edward Cabrera & Sean Murphy

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Opening Day Takeaways & 2024 MLB Season Predictions! Mar 29, 2024

Join Eno, Trevor & DVR as they recap Opening Day and share their predictions for the 2024 MLB Season! From Garrett Crochet's excellent start to Royce Lewis' homer and early exit with an injury, they discuss some of the highest and lows from the first "full" day of the season before making several predictions for the upcoming campaign.

Rundown

1:03 Opening Day Takeaways

18:57 Rookie of the Year Predictions

30:28 Cy Young Award Predictions

41:53 MVP Predictions

45:14 AL Division Winners

48:46 NL Division Winners

52:53 World Series Matchup & Winners

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Opening Day is Here! Will Smith Signs a 10-Year Extension, Bold Predictions & Eno's Main Event Squad Mar 28, 2024

Happy Opening Day! Eno and DVR discuss Will Smith's 10-year extension with the Dodgers, good news for Jordan Romano, a tough break for Jordan Lawlar, and other news and notes as the 2024 MLB season gets underway in full. Plus, they break down a few Eno's bold predictions for the upcoming campaign, and discuss a few wrinkles from this year's Main Event of the NFBC.

Rundown

3:42 Will Smith Signs 10-Year Extension w/Dodgers

8:26 Jordan Romano May Return Quickly From IL

9:26 Jordan Lawlar Out 8-10 Weeks Following Thumb Surgery

12:38 Other News & Notes (Jon Berti, Ronel Blanco, Marco Luciano)

29:08 Eno's 2024 Bold Predictions ($): https://theathletic.com/5351937

47:12 Unique Wrinkles of the NFBC's Main Event

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Jordan Montgomery to Arizona, Spring Stats We Care About & The 2024 All-Oatmeal Team Mar 27, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Jordan Montgomery's move to Arizona on a one-year, $25 million deal, shoulder surgery for Matt McLain, and an opportunity for Victor Scott II following a late-spring injury to Dylan Carlson. Plus, they examine a few spring stats worth caring about, and reveal their selections for The 2024 All-Oatmeal Team. (Reminder: We *Like* Oatmeal!)

Rundown

1:53 Jordan Montgomery to the Diamondbacks

6:32 Matt McLain Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

9:39 Will Victor Scott II Offer More Pop Than Similarly Speedy Outfielders?

16:00 Spring Training Stats We Care About: Stolen Bases

32:40 Spring Training Stats We Care About: K-BB%

40:18 The 2024 All-Oatmeal Team

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Shohei Ohtani Meets with the Media, Spring Job Battle Winners, Injury News & 'Our Guys' for 2024 Mar 26, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the latest in the story involving Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, before catching up on a lot of other news around baseball including job battles that have been decided, late spring injuries wreaking havoc on depth charts, and the subsequent opportunities that have opened up. They wrap up the episode with a quick look at some of their most heavily-rostered players as the rest of the league approaches Opening Day on Thursday.

Rundown

1:37 Shohei Ohtani Speaks About Ippei Mizuhara's Gambling Debts

15:20 Ezequiel Tovar Signs Extension with Rockies

24:20 Injury Follow-Ups: Corey Seager, Josh Jung, Kevin Gausman & Eury Pérez

30:20 Luis Gil, Jared Jones and Max Meyer Get Early-Season Opportunities

38:46 Paul Sewald Heads to IL w/Oblique Strain

47:03 Jackson Holliday Misses Opening Day Roster

52:48 Dylan Carlson's Shoulder Injury Creating Path for Victor Scott II?

56:17 J.D. Martinez's Fit with the Mets

59:38 Our Most Heavily-Rostered Players for 2024

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A Strange Second Day of the MLB Season & Tough Hitter Ranks w/Mike Petriello (Live at Other Half Brewing -- Domino Park) Mar 22, 2024

Eno and DVR are live in Brooklyn for their second show at Other Half Brewing to discuss a slugfest in Game 2 of the Dodgers-Padres series in Korea and a developing story around the swift firing of Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Plus, they're joined by Mike Petriello of MLB.com to discuss several groups of tough hitters to rank, and much more before an excellent round of listener questions.

Rundown

0:51 A Slugfest in Game 2 Between the Dodgers-Padres; Yamamoto's Debut

3:22 Continuing Struggles for Joe Musgrove

6:43 Dodgers Fire Shohei Ohtani's Interpreter Amidst Illegal Gambling Allegations

11:52 Mike Petriello of MLB.com Joins the Show!

17:02 Tough Rankings: Aging Veterans Still Producing (Paul Goldschmidt, Salvador Perez & George Springer)

22:56 Tough Rankings: Younger Players We Still Believe In (Ke'Bryan Hayes, Jeremy Peña & Andrés Giménez)

34:24 Tough Rankings: Big-Side Platoon Risk (Edouard Julien, Gavin Lux, Colt Keith)

44:22 Mike's Favorite Stats

52:08 Listener Q&A

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Baseball is Back! More Tough Pitcher Rankings (Live at Other Half Brewing -- Domino Park) Mar 21, 2024

Eno and DVR are live in Brooklyn and joined by several friends as the 2024 MLB season is underway! Guests include Nick Pollack of Pitcher List, Niv Shah of Ottoneu, Chris Towers of CBS Fantasy and Ellen Adair from the Take Me In to the Ballgame podcast, and several great listener questions!

Rundown

0:45 What Are We Trying to Learn From One-Game Samples & Early-Season Baseball?

10:30 Nick Pollack of Pitcher List Joins the Show! (Cole Ragans Love)

20:52 Tough Rankings: Converted Relievers

30:56 Tough Rankings: Model Surgers w/Bad Spring Results

38:30 Would You Rather? Toss-Ups

52:10 Niv Shah of ottoneu Joins the Show!

59:24 Chris Towers of CBS Fantasy Joins the Show!

1:11:13 Ellen Adair from the 'Take Me In to the Ballgame' podcast Joins the Show!

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

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Another Closer Injury & Tough Pitcher Rankings Mar 19, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Jhoan Duran's oblique injury and the short-term pecking order for saves for the Twins during his absence before discussing some of the most difficult pitchers (and groups of pitchers) to rank in 2024.

Rundown

1:15 Jhoan Duran: Headed to IL with Oblique Strain

5:25 Pitchers with Uncertain Health Situations (Eury Pérez, Gerrit Cole, Kyle Bradish)

13:26 Future Aces with Short MLB Track Records (Bobby Miller and Grayson Rodriguez)

29:01 Model Disagreement with Other Projections (Zac Gallen, Cole Ragans, Bailey Ober)

34:44 Non-Buzzy Veterans (Merrill Kelly, Chris Bassitt, Eduardo Rodriguez)

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Eury Pérez, TJ Friedl, Josh Lowe Injury Updates & Tough Hitter Rankings Mar 18, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss another busy weekend filled with injury news including elbow soreness for Eury Pérez, a fractured wrist for TJ Friedl, and an IL stint to begin 2024 for Josh Lowe. Plus, they dig into several tough hitter rankings as draft season heats up.

Rundown

2:58 Eury Pérez: Dealing with Sore Elbow

7:08 TJ Friedl: Out with Fractured Wrist

11:33: Josh Lowe: Will Open Season on IL

16:26 Kyle Manzardo: Sent to Minor League Camp

23:40 Corey Seager: May Be Ready for Opening Day?

28:29 Any Reason to Worry About Bryce Harper or Aaron Judge?

31:15 Tough Rankings: Luis Robert Jr. & Frequently Injured Early-Rounders

38:52 Oneil Cruz & Young Players Returning From Lengthy Absence

50:42 Luis Arraez & Categorically Imbalanced Players

56:04 Junior Caminero & Players We're Waiting For in 2024

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Eury Pérez Thumbnail Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

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Gerrit Cole Update, Blake Snell Linked to Astros, New Faces in New Places, Deep Dive Into Curveballs Mar 15, 2024

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the latest news on Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury, the Astros’ interest in Blake Snell, the best rotations in baseball, and several new faces in new places, before digging into curveballs, and taking a few viewer/listener questions.

Rundown

0:55 Gerrit Cole: No UCL Tear Detected

7:20 Blake Snell: Astros Interested?

8:45 Best Rotations in Baseball Right Now

New Faces in New Places

14:50 Chris Sale’s Fit in Atlanta

21:00 Josh Hader: Adding to the Astros’ Strength

24:59 DL Hall’s Starting Opportunity in Milwaukee

31:16 Jorge Polanco’s Fit in New-Look Seattle Lineup

34:43 Teoscar Hernández: Getting Into a Better Fit for a Home Park

39:15 Michael Soroka: A Fresh Opportunity for Rebuilding White Sox

42:05 Pitch Deep Dive: Curveballs

59:41 Q&A: Which Spring Stats Do We Pay Attention To?

1:03:32 Q&A: Game Planning for Opponents’ Weaknesses, or Your Own Strengths?

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Dylan Cease to the Padres, Devin Williams' Back Injury & Swing v. Take Decisions in The Shadow Zone Mar 14, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss the trade that sent Dylan Cease to the Padres, the impact of a significant injury for Brewers closer Devin Williams, the increasing possibility of an early-season opportunity for Victor Scott II in St. Louis, and swing decisions in 'The Shadow Zone'.

Rundown

5:20 Dylan Cease Traded to the Padres

10:01 Assessing the White Sox's Return

14:10 Buying the Similarities Between Dylan Cease & Blake Snell?

22:17 Devin Williams' Extended Absence

30:43 Injury Updates: Ronald Acuña Jr. & Tommy Edman

35:58 Swings v. Takes and 'The Shadow Zone'

54:23 Mailbag Questions: Quinn Priester & Unique Leagues in FanGraphs' Auction Calculator

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Position Player Walk Years, Disagreements Between Projections & Jackson Merrill Gets a Plane Ticket Mar 13, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Eno's recent story examining the tendencies of position players in their walk year, disagreements across projection systems and how to work through those differences (and when to target players with projection systems agreement). Plus, they discuss Junior Caminero getting sent to Triple-A to begin the season, Jackson Merrill's upcoming flight to Korea, an injury for Taj Bradley, and the growing concerns about Gerrit Cole as the wait for an update on his status lengthens.

Rundown

5:52 What Happens in Position Players' Walk Years? ($ Eno's story: https://theathletic.com/5321626/)

11:13 Gleyber Torres' Path to More Power

16:24 Eno's Most Rostered Player From Story?

23:43 Disagreement Between Projection Systems

31:26 Rookies of Interest v. How the Fantasy Market Treats Rookies

38:17 Jackson Merrill Gets a Seat on the Plane

46:53 Taj Bradley's Pectoral Strain

53:20 Ongoing Uncertainty with Gerrit Cole & Current Rankings Adjustment

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Cole & Judge Injuries, Mixed LABR Draft Strategies and Projections Pushback w/Mike Gianella Mar 12, 2024

DVR is joined by Mike Gianella of Baseball Prospectus to discuss a busy weekend of news and notes including MRIs for Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge (among others), an 80-game PED suspension for Noelvi Marte, and more. Plus, they discuss their strategies from the 15-team Mixed LABR draft in which Mike built a roster around a power-heavy base and DVR opted for a 'Pocket Aces' build.

Rundown

2:06 Gerrit Cole: Has MRI on Elbow; Likely to Miss Opening Day

3:40 Aaron Judge: MRI on Abdomen; Timetable Unclear

5:02 Noelvi Marte: Suspended 80 Games for Positive PED Test

8:48 Edward Cabrera: MRI Reveals Shoulder Impingement; Targeting Late-Round Marlins Starting Pitchers?

13:14 Sonny Gray: Progressing From Hamstring Injury

15:10 Devin Williams: Visiting with Spine Specialist

21:16 Jordan Lawlar: Optioned to Reno; Stashing Prospects in Redraft Leagues

29:04 Mixed LABR Draft Apporaches (Full Draft Board: https://rtsports.com/labr-mixed-draft) | Building From a Late-Round Position

42:46 When Do You Disagree with Projections?

55:42 Experiences with Pocket Aces

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The Pitching Injury Problem, Catching Targets, Altering Pitch Shapes & Slider/Sweeper Deep-Dive Mar 08, 2024

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss Eno's co-authored story with Ken Rosenthal about the ongoing concern regarding pitcher injuries as velocity and breaking ball usage continues to increase. Plus, they examine the Rays' use of a relatively simple approach to maximize the effectiveness of their pitchers, and how some pitchers like the Cubs' Justin Steele alter the shape of a smaller arsenal to keep hitters off-balance. Finally, they wrap up the show with the deep dive into the slider and sweeper and a few listener/viewer questions.

Rundown

0:58 The Neverending Quest to Reduce Pitcher Injuries

(Related reading -- Eno's story with Ken Rosenthal ($) https://theathletic.com/5325032/)

17:24 Catcher Targets & How the Rays Simplify Their Pitching Plans

(Related reading -- Chad Jennings' story on the Rays' pitching development ($) https://theathletic.com/5318763/)

28:22 Altering Pitch Shapes to Increase a Small Arsenal

(Related reading -- Sahadev Sharma on Justin Steele's ability to change the shape of his 'two' main pitches ($) https://theathletic.com/5311112)

41:43 Deep Dive: Sliders & Sweepers

53:32 Viewer + Listener Q&A

58:01 Joey Votto Signs with the Blue Jays

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2024 Team Previews: Braves, Phillies & Mets Mar 07, 2024

Eno and DVR finish up their 2024 Team Preview series with the Braves, Phillies, and Mets. What's next for the Atlanta lineup after an excellent 2023 that featured five players among the league's 20 biggest risers in wRC+? With quality young pitching depth, is the rotation stronger than ever behind Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and Chris Sale? Will the Phillies get even more from Trea Turner during his second season in Philly? Behind Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, which starting pitchers are most likely to deliver quality innings? Will the retooling Mets exceed expectations with a potentially underrated lineup and a pitching staff with a few intriguing rebound candidates?

Rundown

4:13 2024 Atlanta Braves Preview

9:25 Jarred Kelenic's Fresh Start in Atlanta

18:01 Good Pitching Getting Even Better?

28:24 2024 Philadelphia Phillies Preview

37:16 Starters of Interest Behind Zack Wheeler & Aaron Nola

44:01 2024 New York Mets Preview

50:11 Buying the Mets' Rebound Candidates in the Rotation (Luis Severino, Sean Manaea & Tylor Megill)

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2024 Team Previews: Red Sox, Marlins & Nationals Mar 05, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their Team Preview series with the Red Sox, Marlins and Nationals. Can the Red Sox's lineup produce enough to cover the potential shortcoming of their pitching staff? Will the Marlins' young rotation find enough quality innings in a season without Sandy Alcantara? As the Nats' rebuild continues, how long will we have to wait before James Wood and Dylan Crews enter the mix in Washington?

Rundown

3:37 2024 Boston Red Sox Preview

5:55 Nick Pivetta's New Pitch Mix

13:30 The Red Sox's Current Outfield Situation

23:27 2024 Miami Marlins Preview

37:39 A.J. Puk's Growing Pitch Mix

40:10 2024 Washington Nationals Preview

47:48 Underappreciated Catcher: Keibert Ruiz

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Acuña Injury Watch, March Movers, Zack Wheeler Extension & Matt Chapman to the Giants Mar 04, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a busy weekend of news including further examination of Ronald Acuña Jr.'s surgically-repaired knee, shoulder fatigue for Kevin Gausman, Zack Wheeler's extension with the Phillies, Matt Chapman's three-year deal with the Giants, a pair of big March movers in recent drafts, and the increasingly complicated playing time situations in Baltimore and Cincinnati.

Rundown

1:31 More Knee Trouble for Ronald Acuña Jr.?

7:36 Chris Sale's Rapidly-Rising ADP

11:00 Kevin Gausman Slowed by Shoulder Fatigue

12:57 Zack Wheeler Signs Three-Year Extension w/Phillies

16:07 Matt Chapman Goes to the Giants

23:43 Fallout & Secondary Benefits to Chapman's Arrival in San Francisco

30:57 Wyatt Langford is Flying Up Draft Boards

37:05 Colt Keith v. Jordan Westburg?

38:44 Building a Bench: Orioles Edition

44:45 Jordan Hicks v. A.J. Puk v. Reynaldo López

51:04 Building a Bench: Reds Edition

58:57 How Much Do We Pay Attention to First- and Second-Half Splits?

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Statcast Bat Tracking, Blake Snell's Big Misses, Spencer Strider's Curveball & Cutter Deep Dive Mar 01, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss Statcast's new Bat Tracking technology and the potential benefits of having that information as it becomes publicly available in 2024. Plus, they discuss Blake Snell as a free agent still available in March in a league desperate for quality starting pitchers, the importance of Spencer Strider's developing curveball, the challenges of getting ready for an earlier Opening Day, and take a deep dive into the cutter.

Rundown

1:10 Trevor's Takeaways From Oakland's Fans Fest

7:38 Coming Soon! Statcast's Bat Tracking Leaderboards

15:20 Blake Snell's Big-Miss Dominance

21:56 League-Wide Similarities in Contract Offers & Player Valuations

29:37 The Clear Need for Snell in San Francisco

32:28 The Importance of Spencer Strider's Developing Curveball

38:26 Challenges for the Dodgers and Padres Ramping Up for Early Opening Day in Korea

42:48 Cutter Deep Dive

54:09 Live Q&A: Camilo Doval's Unusual Cutter Movement, Mo's Cutter v. Maddux's Two-Seamer to Lefties, Evaluating Pitchers Coming Back from Tommy John surgery

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2024 Team Previews: Blue Jays, Rays & Orioles Mar 01, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their Team Preview series with the Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles, three teams in the AL East with very little separation in projected wins. All three clubs are loaded with intriguing players, and plenty of mid-round and late-round targets to consider. Can you trust Yusei Kikuchi's walk rate improvement from last season? Will Taj Bradley put the pieces together for a complete season in Tampa Bay? Is Jordan Westburg primed for a breakout despite a late ADP?

Rundown

5:28 2024 Toronto Blue Jays Preview

13:39 An Undervalued Bat Behind the Stars?

25:06 The 'New' Yusei Kikuchi

33:14 2024 Tampa Bay Rays Preview

40:43 Josh Lowe's K% Improvements

50:54 Unlocking a Taj Bradley Breakout

55:07 2024 Baltimore Orioles Preview

1:04:38 Should We Be More Excited About Jackson Holliday in 2024?

1:10:54 Buying the Grayson Rodriguez Adjustments

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2024 Team Previews: Yankees, Royals & White Sox Feb 28, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their Team Preview series with the Yankees, Royals and White Sox. With the addition of Juan Soto to the lineup, will the Yankees make good on their projection and win the AL East in 2024? Can Clarke Schmidt find a solution against left-handed hitters? Are we buying another improvement in the Royals' young group of hitters? Is there any help coming through the system to bolster the team's rotation? And just how bad is the rebuild going to be in Year 1 for the White Sox?

Rundown

1:17 2024 New York Yankees Preview

9:32 Will Alex Verdugo Tap Into More Power at Yankee Stadium?

19:06 Clarke Schmidt's Struggles Against Lefties

26:32 2024 Kansas City Royals Preview

30:37 Maikel Garcia's Sleeper Case

42:03 2024 Chicago White Sox Preview

50:16 Are Potential Surprises Coming From This Group of Pitchers?

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Cody Bellinger Goes Back to the Cubs, Spring Games Begin, & Working Backward for Draft Strategy Feb 26, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Cody Bellinger's return to the Cubs on a short contract with multiple opt-outs, the start of TGFBI, a busy first weekend of spring action that featured a lot of new pitches, and a lot of information about velocity and iVB changes. Plus, they dig into the importance of working backwards when building out draft-day roster construction plans.

Rundown

5:32 Cody Bellinger Re-Signs with the Cubs

17:37 A Live First-Round Pick from Eno’s TGFBI Draft

22:56 Two (!) New Pitches for Hunter Greene

28:02 Cole Ragans’ Improved Fastball Ride in Spring Debut

34:02 Carlos Rodón Has a New Cutter

39:55 Quick Thoughts on Strikeout Park Factors

46:03 Draft Strategy: Working Backwards, or At Least From the Middle

57:15 Looking for Late Power, Without Sacrificing Average

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What to Watch in Spring Training Games, Two-Seam Fastball Feb 23, 2024

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss an unusual day at Phillies camp, superstitious teammates, and what to look for in spring training games. Plus, they continue the deep dive pitching series with a detailed look at two-seam fastballs/sinkers, before discussing a few challenges organizations have getting coaching staffs on the same page in player development.

Rundown

1:38 A Rough Day in Phillies Camp

7:26 What to Look For in Spring Training Games

18:45 Reliever Usage in Closer Battles

26:28 'Two-Seamer' v. 'Sinker'

32:33 Good Two-Seamers & Newer Location Strategies

37:39 An Ineffective Sinker

48:35 Two-Seam Fastballs in Stuff+

50:37 Organizational Philosophy v. Individual Approaches

1:06:15 Viewer Q&A

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2024 Team Previews: Twins, Guardians & Tigers Feb 22, 2024

After discussing a few spring news items, Eno and DVR return to their Team Preview series to break down the Twins, Guardians, and Tigers. Will the Twins' position player core take a leap forward with a full season of Royce Lewis at third base? Is the Twins' pitching depth and bullpen good enough to withstand the loss of Sonny Gray from the rotation? How much will the Guardians lean on Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter this season in a bid to improve their run production, and can the Guardians' young starters to take another step forward in 2024? As the Tigers' rebuild continues, are they primed to close the gap and contend for a division title?

Rundown

0:59 Kodai Senga: Will Begin Season on IL

4:46 Mitch Keller: Signs Extension with Pirates

7:39 Tim Anderson: Finds New Home in Miami

16:11 2024 Minnesota Twins Preview

27:33 Can Joe Ryan Find a Quality Secondary Offering?

40:35 2024 Cleveland Guardians Preview

47:34 Assessing the Draft-Day Value in the Guardians' Top-Four Starters

55:28 2024 Detroit Tigers Preview

1:06:55 Buying Reese Olson's Improved Changeup?

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2024 Team Previews: Cardinals, Cubs & Brewers Feb 20, 2024

Eno and DVR return to their Team Preview series to break down the Cardinals, Cubs, and Brewers. Will the Cards' loaded lineup be able to outhit their shaky starting pitching? Are the Cubs preparing to lean on a group of young players to fill a few remaining gaps in their lineup? How will the Brewers' pitching fare following the Corbin Burnes trade and with Brandon Woodruff likely unavailable in 2024?

Rundown

1:17 2024 St. Louis Cardinals Preview

7:11 Buying the Breakout From Jordan Walker?

20:30 The Pitching Plan: Is This Going to Work?

30:38 2024 Chicago Cubs Preview

34:20 Will Jameson Taillon Build on Second-Half Success?

43:57 Youth Movement Coming in Center Field and at Third Base?

50:27 2024 Milwaukee Brewers Preview

54:49 Which Young Players Will Emerge for Large Supporting Roles?

1:03:27 The Pitching Staff Sans Burnes & Woodruff

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Eno's Case for Elly De La Cruz, Pitcher Injury Risk Considerations, and Spring News & Notes Feb 19, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a few takeaways from Eno's squad in the Bay Area Rotisserie Fantasy League before digging into the latest round of news as spring training is in full swing. With a lot of positive injury news around recently hampered players, how should you adjust your plans as ADP begins to reflect improved spring health?

Rundown

0:50 Eno's Case for Elly De La Cruz

8:10 Recapping Eno's BARF League Build (From Sober Values to YOLO)

13:10 Josh Jung's Calf Strain

15:53 Xander Bogaerts Moves to Second Base

20:49 Whit Merrifield to the Phillies

24:14 Carlos Rodón's Velocity is Back This Spring

36:00 Byron Buxton's Knee is Gone!

41:17 A Quick Nick Lodolo Update

49:23 Are the Rays Backloading Shane Baz's 2024 Innings?

55:41 Starling Marte & Riley Greene Follow-Ups

56:55 A.J. Puk as a Starter & Occasional Six-Man Rotations in Miami?

1:08:15 Applying Roto Advice to H2H Points Leagues

1:13:06 What Might a Team See in Luke Weaver?

1:19:57 Live Episodes in New York at Other Half Brewing!

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Elly De La Cruz Thumbnail Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

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Getting to Know Trevor May, Making Sense of Spring News & A Deep Dive Into Four-Seam Fastballs Feb 16, 2024

Trevor May makes his Rates & Barrels hosting debut, joining Eno and DVR to discuss missteps with the new MLB uniforms, wearing other people's pants, unusual self-designed training regiments, and the difficultly of processing news when the flood of information happens at the outset of spring training. Plus, Eno & Trevor do a deep dive into four-seam fastballs, before a round of listener Q&A.

Rundown

0:56 Getting to Know Trevor

10:45 Making Sense of Spring Training News Updates

19:48 Four-Seam Fastball Deep Dive

51:54 Listener Q&A

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2024 Team Previews: Dodgers, Reds & Pirates Feb 15, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a flurry of news updates from Orioles camp before continuing their Team Preview series, looking at the Dodgers, Reds and Pirates. Is it possible that the Dodgers are slightly underprojected even as a 101-win team in PECOTA? Will the Reds' young pitching stay healthy and deliver enough for them to contend for the NL Central? Can the Pirates turn the corner sooner than expected with Oneil Cruz's return to health and a nice group of young pitchers knocking on the door?

Rundown

1:15 Kyle Bradish's UCL Sprain

6:00 Other Injury Updates From Orioles Camp

9:44 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Preview

14:09 Build a Bench! Finding the Platoons in LA

27:28 2024 Cincinnati Reds Preview

34:51 Breakout Potential for Elly & Noelvi Marte Despite Wide-Range of PT

49:50 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview

55:09 How Aggressively Will the Pirates Promote Their Pitching Prospects?

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A Giant Power Boost, Spring Moves, Draft Season Risers & Fallers + Show News! Feb 13, 2024

Eno and DVR share some show-related news and discuss Jorge Soler to the Giants, a recent swap between the Twins and Marlins, catcher additions for the Brewers and Pirates, and a few spring items to watch for the Rays. Plus, they examine a few risers and fallers among pitchers since the start of draft season in the fall.

Rundown

0:49 Show Announcements!

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5:20 Jorge Soler Signs a Three-Year Deal with the Giants

11:37 Nick Gordon to the Marlins for Steven Okert

17:29 Spencer Turnbull Joins the Phillies

23:40 Gary Sánchez to the Brewers

29:26 Yasmani Grandal to the Pirates

33:39 Things We Recently Learned About the Rays

42:54 Spring Injury Updates: Edwin Díaz, Shohei Ohtani, Garrett Crochet

46:11 ADP Risers & Fallers (Pitchers) Since the Start of Draft Season

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Jorge Soler Thumbnail Photo by Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

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2024 Team Previews: Diamondbacks, Padres & Giants Feb 12, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their Team Preview series, looking at the three teams projected to finish in the middle three spots in the NL West -- the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Giants. Will Arizona's offseason upgrades be enough for them to return to the playoffs in 2024? Can the Padres rebound after sending Juan Soto to the Yankees in a blockbuster trade in December? Is there a reasonable path forward for the Giants with their current core?

Rundown

1:11 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks Preview

11:25 Key Rotation Questions & Depth Concerns

21:24 2024 San Diego Padres Preview

28:23 Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Pulled Barrel Rate Shift From 2021 to 2023

48:12 2024 San Francisco Giants Preview

56:29 Marco Luciano's Breakout Potential & Contact Quality Comps

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Corbin Carroll Thumbnail Photo by Christian Petersen-Getty Images

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Choosing & Building the Right Fantasy Baseball Leagues in 2024 Feb 08, 2024

There is an infinite number of ways to play fantasy baseball, so what factors should you consider when joining or creating a league?

Eno and DVR discuss some of the basic elements of building or finding a league to play in, as well as a few 2024-specific strategy considerations to keep in mind in the face of MLB's 2023 rule changes and the resulting impact on the run environment.

Rundown

1:40 How Do You Want to Play? - and - Key Questions to Consider

14:17 Where Do You Want to Play? - and - League Formats/Entry Fee Options

23:05 Yes, Free Leagues Still Exist!

39:03 Why We Like the FanGraphs Auction Calculator (https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy-tools/auction-calculator)

46:43 What Are You Adjusting for 2024?

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2024 Team Previews: Astros, Mariners & Rockies Feb 07, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their Team Preview series, looking at a few key questions for all 30 clubs as spring training approaches. Part 2 of the series wraps up the AL West with the Astros and Mariners, before examining the ongoing struggles of the Rockies at the bottom of the NL West.

Rundown

0:54 Jose Altuve Signs a Five-Year, $125M Extension w/Astros

5:05 2024 Houston Astros Preview

18:25 Paths to a Hunter Brown Breakout

25:56 2024 Seattle Mariners Preview

33:06 Bryan Woo's Need for a New Approach Against Lefties

43:27 2024 Colorado Rockies Preview

55:38 Will Brenton Doyle's Glove Carry Him to Everyday Playing Time?

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Yordan Alvarez Thumbnail Photo by Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

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2024 Team Previews: Rangers, Angels & Athletics Feb 06, 2024

Eno and DVR begin their Team Preview series, looking at a few key questions for all 30 clubs as spring training approaches. The series begins with three teams from the AL West, including the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Oakland A's.

Rundown

4:47 2024 Texas Rangers Preview

18:27 Will Josh Jung Take Another Step Forward?

24:37 2024 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Preview

35:56 Can Chase Silseth Find a Solution For Left-Handed Hitters?

43:52 2024 Oakland A's Preview

50:04 Potential Power Growth for Esteury Ruiz?

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Marcus Semien Thumbnail Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

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Corbin Burnes to the Orioles, Jorge Polanco to the Mariners & Catching Up on Moves Feb 05, 2024

Eno and DVR catch up on several moves -- big and small -- including the trade of Corbin Burnes to Baltimore for DL Hall and Joey Ortiz, Jorge Polanco to the Mariners, two veteran additions to the A's rotation, and much more.

Rundown

1:10 Corbin Burnes Traded to the Orioles

8:15 Comps for Joey Ortiz

14:47 Jorge Polanco Traded to the Mariners

20:45 Carlos Santana Joins the Twins

23:55 Justin Turner Signs with the Blue Jays

28:25 Gregory Santos Traded to the Mariners

32:40 Dominic Fletcher Acquired by the White Sox

37:54 A's Add Alex Wood and Ross Stripling

42:55 Shohei Ohtani's Bid for Opening Day

44:53 News & Notes (Carlos Correa, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and more!)

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2024 Relief Pitcher Preview Feb 01, 2024

Eno and DVR close out Pitcher Week with their 2024 Relief Pitcher Preview!

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

2:27 ADP Tier 1 (Devin Williams, Edwin Dîaz, Josh Hader, Emmanuel Clase, Jhoan Duran)

15:02 ADP Tier 2 (Camilo Doval, Raisel Iglesias, David Bednar, Jordan Romano, Alexis Dîaz)

27:53 ADP Tier 3a (Paul Sewald, Pete Fairbanks, Andrés Muñoz, Ryan Helsley, Tanner Scott)

36:30 ADP Tier 3b (Evan Phillips, Craig Kimbrel, Clay Holmes, Kenley Jansen, Adbert Alzolay)

43:53 ADP Tier 4 (José Alvarado, José Leclerc, Alex Lange, Mason Miller, Carlos Estévez, Kyle Finnegan, Robert Suarez)

58:33 Beyond Pick 250: Targets For Saves & Saves + Holds Leagues

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2024 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 3 Jan 31, 2024

Eno and DVR continue Pitcher Week with the third and final installment of their 2024 Starting Pitcher Preview!

This episode focuses on the starting pitchers typically drafted outside the Top 200 overall.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

2:36 ADP Tier 9 (Aaron Civale, Brandon Pfaadt, Shöta Imanaga, Lucas Giolito, Yu Darvish, Brayan Bello, Charlie Morton, Yusei Kikuchi, Nick Lodolo, Reid Detmers)

29:31 ADP Tier 10a (Kenta Maeda, Cristopher Sánchez, Andrew Abbott, Nestor Cortes, Taj Bradley, Marcus Stroman, John Means)

53:13 ADP Tier 10b (Kyle Harrison, Kutter Crawford, Seth Lugo, Edward Cabrera, Reese Olson, Emmet Sheehan)

1:12:58 ADP Tier 10c (Luis Severino, Michael Wacha, Griffin Canning)

1:23:16 Beyond Pick 300

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2024 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 2 Jan 30, 2024

Eno and DVR continue Pitcher Week with the second installment of their 2024 Starting Pitcher Preview!

This episode focuses on the starting pitchers frequently in the Pick 100-200 overall range in recent drafts.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

1:18 ADP Tier 5 (Dylan Cease, Joe Musgrove, Walker Buehler, Tanner Bibee, Sonny Gray & Justin Verlander)

26:15 ADP Tier 6 (Chris Bassitt, Hunter Greene, Michael King, Merrill Kelly, Jordan Montgomery, Chris Sale & Bailey Ober)

46:23 ADP Tier 7 (Carlos Rodón, Gavin Williams, Shane Bieber, Mitch Keller, José Berrîos & Nick Pivetta)

1:10:07 ADP Tier 8 (Cristian Javier, Bryce Miller, Eduardo Rodriguez, Hunter Brown, Shane Baz, Bryan Woo, Nathan Eovaldi, Ryan Pepiot, Braxton Garrett)

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2024 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 1 Jan 29, 2024

Eno and DVR start off Pitcher Week with the first installment of their 2024 Starting Pitcher Preview!

This episode focuses on the starting pitchers frequently being drafted within the first 100 picks of winter drafts.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

2:44 ADP Tier 1 (Spencer Strider, Gerrit Cole, Corbin Burnes, Zack Wheeler, Kevin Gausman & Luis Castillo)

22:05 ADP Tier 2 (Pablo López, Zac Gallen, George Kirby, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Aaron Nola, Tarik Skubal)

39:39 ADP Tier 3 (Freddy Peralta, Framber Valdez, Max Fried, Logan Webb, Blake Snell, Kodai Senga, Grayson Rodriguez, Logan Gilbert)

1:04:31 ADP Tier 4 (Eury Pérez, Bobby Miller, Jesús Luzardo, Kyle Bradish, Zach Eflin, Joe Ryan, Cole Ragans, Justin Steele)

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2024 Outfield Preview, Part 3 Jan 26, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their 2024 Position Preview Series with the third and final installment of their outfield preview. This group of players is comprised mostly of late-round considerations for mixed leagues, and those that could make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only).

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

0:53 ADP Tier 9 Continued (Parker Meadows, Sal Frelick, Giancarlo Stanton, Will Benson, Alex Verdugo, Willi Castro, Jake Fraley, Jeff McNeil, Brent Rooker)

20:48 ADP Tier 10a (Matt Wallner, Luke Raley Jr., Jose Siri, Tommy Pham, Austin Hays, Johan Rojas, Pete Crow-Armstrong)

45:42 ADP Tier 10b (Brandon Marsh, Alek Thomas, Mickey Moniak, Henry Davis, Jake McCarthy, Hunter Renfroe)

58:12 ADP Tier 10c (Ceddanne Rafaela, Mitch Haniger, Harrison Bader, Andrew Benintendi, Garrett Mitchell)

1:10:48 Outfielders Beyond Pick 400 (Jesús Sánchez, Colton Cowser, Hunter Goodman, Brenton Doyle, Estevan Florial, Edward Olivares, Jonny DeLuca, Dylan Carlson, Joey Loperfido JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler, Oscar Colás)

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2024 Outfield Preview, Part 2 Jan 26, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their 2024 Position Preview Series with the second installment of their outfield preview. From the top of the positions, to the players that might only make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only), they examine the wide range of talented options all over the draft board.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Before getting to the Outfield Preview content, Eno and DVR discussed a few recent news items including Rhys Hoskins to the Brewers, Josh Hader to the Astros, James Paxton to the Dodgers, and a developing story about a cheating scandal in the NFFC.

Rundown

0:53 Rhys Hoskins to the Brewers

4:30 Josh Hader to the Astros

7:07 Robert Stephenson to the Angels

8:54 James Paxton to the Dodgers

13:08 A Cheating Scandal in the NFFC

18:58 ADP Tier 5 (Cedric Mullins, Teoscar Hernández, Anthony Santander, TJ Friedl, Jorge Soler, Ian Happ)

35:12 ADP Tier 6 (Wyatt Langford, Riley Greene, Chas McCormick, James Outman, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida)

52:15 ADP Tier 7 (Brandon Nimmo, Daulton Varsho, Lars Nootbaar, Steven Kwan, Christopher Morel, Kerry Carpenter)

1:02:59 ADP Tier 8 (Jarred Kelenic, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Tyler O'Neill, Starling Marte, Taylor Ward, Jack Suwinski, Jung-Hoo Lee)

1:23:30 ADP Tier 9 (Nelson Velàzquez, Kris Bryant, Max Kepler, MJ Melendez, Bryan De La Cruz)

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2024 Outfield Preview, Part 1 Jan 24, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their 2024 Position Preview Series with the first installment of their outfield preview. From the top of the positions, to the players that might only make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only), they examine the wide range of talented options all over the draft board.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

1:19 ADP Tier 1 (Ronald Acuña Jr., Julio Rodríguez, Corbin Carroll, Kyle Tucker, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez)

24:14 ADP Tier 2 (Luis Robert Jr., Michael Harris II, Adolis García, Randy Arozarena, Nolan Jones, Cody Bellinger)

39:30 ADP Tier 3 (Mike Trout, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Christian Yelich, Josh Lowe, Kyle Schwarber, Bryan Reynolds)

56:03 ADP Tier 4 (Nick Castellanos, Spencer Steer, Lane Thomas, Seiya Suzuki, Jordan Walker, Esteury Ruiz, George Springer, Evan Carter, Jackson Chourio)

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2024 Catcher & UT-only Preview Jan 22, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their 2024 Position Preview Series with catchers and UT-only players. From the top of the positions, to the players that might only make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only), they examine the wide range of talented options all over the draft board.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

1:08 UT-Only ADP Tier 1 (Shohei Ohtani, 2024 Edition)

9:42 UT-Only ADP Tier 2 (Marcell Ozuna, J.D. Martinez, Eloy Jiménez & Byron Buxton)

15:51 UT-only ADP Tier 3 (Joey Meneses, Heston Kjerstad, Mark Vientos, Tyler Soderstrom & Jonathan Aranda)

33:48 Catcher ADP Tier 1 (Adley Rutschman, J.T. Realmuto, Will Smith, William Contreras & Yainer Diaz)

49:52 Catcher ADP Tier 2 (Salvador Perez, Cal Raleigh, Sean Murphy, Gabriel Moreno, Francisco Álvarez & Wilson Contreras)

1:00:05 Catcher ADP Tier 3 (Logan O'Hoppe, Bo Naylor, Jonah Heim, Keibert Ruiz, Mitch Garver & Luis Campusano)

1:10:59 Catcher ADP Tier 4 (Tyler Stephenson, Elias Díaz, Shea Langeliers, Ryan Jeffers, Danny Jansen & Alejandro Kirk)

1:16:44 Catcher ADP Tier 5 (Austin Wells to Freddy Fermin, and Beyond)

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2024 First Base Preview Jan 19, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their 2024 Position Preview Series at first base. From the top of the position, to the players that might only make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only), they examine the wide range of talented options all over the draft board.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

1:08 ADP Tier 1 (Freddie Freeman, Matt Olson, Bryce Harper, Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.)

20:46 ADP Tier 2 (Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt, Triston Casas)

32:53 ADP Tier 3 (Spencer Torkelson, Yandy Díaz, Josh Naylor, Christian Encarnacion-Strand)

50:38 ADP Tier 4 (Vinnie Pasquantino, Rhys Hoskins, Nathaniel Lowe)

55:30 ADP Tier 5 (Ryan Mountcastle, Andrew Vaughn, Justin Turner, Anthony Rizzo, José Abreu, Josh Bell)

1:03:09 ADP Tier 6 (Wilmer Flores to Joey Votto)

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2024 Third Base Preview Jan 18, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their 2024 Position Preview Series at third base. From the top of the position, to the players that might only make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only), they examine the wide range of talented options all over the draft board.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

0:51 ADP Tier 1 (José Ramírez, Austin Riley, Rafael Devers, Gunnar Henderson)

17:43 ADP Tier 2 (Royce Lewis, Manny Machado, Alex Bregman, Josh Jung, Nolan Arenado)

39:45 ADP Tier 3 (Jake Burger, Noelvi Marte, Alec Bohm, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Max Muncy, Isaac Paredes)

51:14 ADP Tier 4 (Jeimer Candelario, Junior Caminero, Maikel Garcia, Ryan McMahon, Eugenio Suárez)

1:05:21 ADP Tier 5 (Matt Chapman, Tyler Black, Michael Busch, Colt Keith, Brett Baty, Anthony Rendon, J.D. Davis, Yoán Moncada, Curtis Mead, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Jordan Diaz, Jared Triolo, Orelvis Martinez, Damiano Palmegiano)

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2024 Second Base Preview Jan 17, 2024

Eno and DVR continue their 2024 Position Preview Series at second base. From the top of the position, to the players that might only make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only), they examine the wide range of talented options all over the draft board.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

1:13 ADP Tier 1 (Mookie Betts, Ozzie Albies, Marcus Semien)

17:54 ADP Tier 2 (Jose Altuve, Ha-Seong Kim & Gleyber Torres)

30:51 ADP Tier 3 (Bryson Stott, Andrés Giménez, Ketel Marte, Zack Gelof, Thairo Estrada, Luis Arraez)

49:09 ADP Tier 4 (Nolan Gorman, Jonathan India, Edouard Julien, Brandon Drury, Brandon Lowe, Whit Merrifield, Gavin Lux, Jorge Polanco, Jeff McNeil, Brendan Donovan)

1:10:42 ADP Tier 5 (Jordan Westburg, Brice Turang, Brendan Rodgers, Michael Massey, Luis Urías, Davis Schneider, Mauricio Dubón, Luis García, Miguel Vargas, Josh Rojas)

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2024 Shortstop Preview Jan 16, 2024

Eno and DVR begin their 2024 Position Preview Series at shortstop. From the top of the position, to the players that might only make an impact in draft-and-hold and mono leagues (AL/NL-only), they examine the wide range of talented options all over the draft board.

For this series, players are grouped by recent Average Draft Position (ADP) data from the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).

Rundown

2:48 ADP Tier 1 (Bobby Witt Jr., Trea Turner, Corey Seager, Elly De La Cruz, Francisco Lindor)

24:40 ADP Tier 2 (Bo Bichette, CJ Abrams, Nico Hoerner, Matt McLain, Oneil Cruz)

46:11 ADP Tier 3 (Xander Bogaerts, Dansby Swanson, Anthony Volpe)

54:22 ADP Tier 4 (Tommy Edman, Trevor Story, Willy Adames, Ezequiel Tovar)

59:46 ADP Tier 5 (Jackson Holliday, Jeremy Peña, Vaughn Grissom, Carlos Correa, J.P. Crawford, Zach Neto)

1:14:37 ADP Tier 6 (Amed Rosario, Jordan Lawlar, Orlando Arcia, José Caballero, Javier Báez, Geraldo Perdomo, Masyn Winn, Tim Anderson, Colson Montgomery, Jackson Merrill & Brayan Rocchio)

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Shōta Imanaga Expectations, Choosing a Weakness & Early-Round Skepticism Jan 10, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss Shōta Imanaga's move to the Cubs and expectations for him in Year 1 against MLB hitters. Plus, they return to the draft room for the first time in 2024 and discuss choosing a 'weakness' in your roster foundation, early-round players they're skeptical of at their current prices, and unique considerations when playing in a draft-and-hold league (no in-season pickups).

Rundown

1:42 Shōta Imanaga to Cubs; 2024 Expectations

11:10 Choosing Your Foundational Weakness

22:13 Nolan Jones' Surprising 20-20 Campaign, Top-50 Status for 2024?

28:09 DVR Is Flip-Flopping About CJ Abrams

31:49 Choosing an Elite Closer over an Early Speedster?

35:51 Concern About Gerrit Cole's Small Skills Loss in 2023?

43:30 Looking Back at Past Earn Values; Cooling on Aaron Nola?

49:42 Trusting the Vlad Jr. Steamer Projection?

52:55 Mike Trout's Difficult Plate Appearance Projections

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A Giants-Mariners Swap, Teoscar Hernández to LA & The Mets Make a Pair of Signings Jan 08, 2024

Eno and DVR discuss a trade between the Mariners and Giants that sent Robbie Ray to San Francisco with Mitch Haniger returning to Seattle with Anthony DeSclafani. Plus, Teoscar Hernández joins the loaded Dodgers' lineup, the Rays make a pair of small trades, and the Mets sign a pair of veteran free agents.

Rundown

2:12 Robbie Ray to the Giants; Mitch Haniger & Anthony DeSclafani to Mariners

11:05 Teoscar Hernández to the Dodgers

18:38 Luke Raley Also Added to the M's Outfield Mix

26:35 José Caballeros with the Rays

33:20 Andrew Kittredge to the Cardinals for Richie Palacios

39:22 Sean Manaea Signs with the Mets

44:08 Harrison Bader Also Signs with the Mets

52:04 Other News & Notes

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the Dodgers, Chris Sale to the Braves & More Pitchers on the Move Jan 03, 2024

DVR is joined by Todd Zola of Mastersball & RotoWire to discuss the flurry of activity that took place over the past two weeks including Yoshinobu Yamamoto's decision to sign with the Dodgers, the trade that sent Chris Sale to Atlanta, Vaughn Grissom's outlook in Boston, Lucas Giolito's rebound potential in Boston, and Frankie Montas' fresh start in Cincinnati.

Rundown

1:52 Yoshinobu Yamamoto the Dodgers

11:44 Chris Sale to the Braves

17:13 Assessing Atlanta's No. 5 Starter Job Battle

20:33 Vaughn Grissom's Outlook with the Red Sox

31:53 Would You Rather: Late MI v. Grissom Edition

38:45 Lucas Giolito's Rebound Chances in Boston

43:14 Frankie Montas to the Reds

48:10 Yuki Matsui Joins the Crowded Padres Bullpen

52:08 Another Look at the Four New Padres SP Candidates

1:01:37 Mitch Garver to the Mariners; Clear Path to Regular DH Duty?

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Tigers Pitching, Max Scherzer's Injury & Putting a Bow on 2023 Dec 20, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Eno's annual piece looking at the best pitches of 2023 before cleaning out their rundown refrigerator for the end of the year. With new additions to the Tigers' rotation and a clean bill of healthy for Casey Mize, which starters in Detroit are they targeting this draft season? Plus, can the Rangers weather a lengthy absence from Max Scherzer with their current group of pitchers? Will Brett Baty step up and take a the bulk of the playing time at third base following Ronny Mauricio's ACL injury, and what should we expect from Henry Davis at the plate in 2024?

Rundown

1:00 Best Pitches of 2023 ($) https://theathletic.com/5146544

3:32 Casey Mize's Clean Bill of Health

7:36 Tarik Skubal's Impressive Projection and Early ADP

11:32 Kenta Maeda & Jack Flaherty Join Reese Olson, Sawyer Gipson-Long, and Matt Manning in the Rotation Picture Behind Skubal

22:29 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Re-Ups with D-backs

28:17 Max Scherzer Undergoes Back Surgery

39:17 Ronny Mauricio Suffers a Torn ACL; Brett Baty time?

42:51 Endy Rodríguez Out for 2024; Henry Davis Back to Catcher?

49:15 The Pirates Make Several Additions

57:49 FOMO on Oneil Cruz in 2024?

1:02:54 Nick Senzel Gets a New Start in Washington

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Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers, Jung Hoo Lee to the Giants & A More Crowded Reds Infield? Dec 18, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the four-player trade that sent Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers, the subsequent four-year extension that Glasnow signed after the deal, expectations for Jung Hoo Lee in San Francisco, the surprising addition of Jeimer Candelario to the Reds' infield, and a few other recent moves including the D-backs' addition of Eduardo Rodríguez.

Rundown

1:04 Tyler Glasnow to the Dodgers

7:53 Buying Ryan Pepiot's 2023 Skills Growth?

12:34 Rays' Rotation: Would You Rather?

17:10 Waiting on Walker Buehler This Draft Season?

21:47 Jung Hoo Lee's Outlook with Giants

29:43 Eduardo Rodríguez: Lands with Arizona

35:18 Jeimer Candelario to the Reds?!

44:57 Elly De La Cruz's Second-Round ADP, Are You In?

52:19 Weighing Early Pitchers v. Bats

55:47 Seth Lugo & Michael Wacha to the Royals

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Working in Baseball, Pt. 2: Kyle Boddy & Lance Brozdowski Dec 13, 2023

This episode is part two of a two-show series called “Working in Baseball”.

At this year’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, we had an opportunity to discuss jobs in baseball with several people in different positions around the game. Whether you’re a long-time fan interested in knowing more about the inner workings of the sport, or someone who hopes to build a career in baseball, we think you’ll enjoy these conversations.

On this episode, Eno sits down with Driveline Baseball founder Kyle Boddy, and Lance Brozdowski of Marquee Sports Network.

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Working in Baseball, Pt. 1: Sam Fuld, Ross Fenstermaker & Sean Ahmed Dec 11, 2023

This episode is part one of a two-show series called “Working in Baseball”.

At this year’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, we had an opportunity to discuss jobs in baseball with several people in different positions around the game. Whether you’re a long-time fan interested in knowing more about the inner workings of the sport, or someone who hopes to build a career in baseball, we think you’ll enjoy these conversations.

On this episode, Eno sits down with Phillies general manager Sam Fuld, Rangers assistant general manager Ross Fenstermaker, and Pirates Director of Research & Development Sean Ahmed.

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Shohei Ohtani Agrees to Record-Shattering 10-Year, $700M Deal with the Dodgers Dec 09, 2023

Shohei Ohtani is a Dodger! In an emergency podcast special, Eno and DVR discuss Ohtani’s record-shattering 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers. Plus, they take another look at the now finalized trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees, and a swap that gives Tyler O’Neill a fresh start and a nice home park for right-handed power in Boston.

Rundown

0:17 Shohei Ohtani is a Dodger with a 10-year, $700M Deal

10:12 Ohtani's 2024 Fantasy Outlook w/Dodgers

15:09 The Juan Soto Deal Goes Final

21:31 Michael King's Health and Effectiveness as Full-Season Starter

25:35 What's Next for Padres?

31:15 Concerns About Blake Snell's In-Start Workloads Are Overblown

39:08 Tyler O'Neill Traded to the Red Sox

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A Juan Soto Deal Nears Completion, Yamamoto's Market, and the Alex Verdugo Trade w/Ken Rosenthal Dec 06, 2023

Ken Rosenthal joins Eno and DVR to discuss the latest on a potential deal that will send Juan Soto to the Yankees, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's soaring price in free agency, Alex Verdugo's move to the Bronx, and the potential impact of RSN uncertainty on spending this winter.

Rundown

0:22 Is a Juan Soto Deal Between the Yankees and Padres Nearly Done?

3:38 Did the Yankees Acquire Alex Verdugo to Keep Him, or Deal Him?

4:46 Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Soaring Market

7:25 Slow Market Causes, Beyond Ohtani?

11:33 Erick Fedde Lands with the White Sox

14:17 Fallout in Boston From the Alex Verdugo Trade

17:41 Craig Kimbrel to the Orioles

24:17 Other Notes From Nashville

31:02 Jackson Holliday's Shot at the Opening Day Roster

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Early Winter Meetings Update, Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta & Jackson Chourio's Deal Dec 05, 2023

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss the reason for the slow start to moves during the Winter Meetings before digging into the surprising five-player swap that sent Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta on Sunday night. Are the Mariners' positioning themselves for a big move as a result of their recent cost-cutting? Plus, Jackson Chourio's record-setting contract for a player with zero MLB service time, a full-time move to second base for Mookie Betts in 2024, and a role change on tap for Mason Miller.

Rundown

1:12 What Is Holding Things Up in Nashville?

9:32 Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta in a Five-Player Swap

19:47 Jackson Chourio's Record-Breaking Deal with the Brewers

25:56 Can the Padres 'Win' the Juan Soto Trade?

33:40 Other Nashville Tidbits

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Sonny Gray to the Cards, Kenta Maeda to the Tigers & the Mariners Deal with the D-backs Nov 27, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Sonny Gray's move to the NL Central to head up the Cardinals' rotation, Kenta Maeda's shift to Detroit, and a swap between the D-backs and Mariners that opens up a few different paths for Jerry DiPoto, while Arizona adds thump at the hot corner with Eugenio Suárez.

Rundown

6:05 Sonny Gray to St. Louis

13:13 Gray v. Hunter Greene in Early Drafts?

17:23 Kenta Maeda to Detroit

23:45 Opportunity for Rotation Competition in Minnesota?

29:47 M's-D-backs Trade

36:29 Choosing From an Oatmealy Corner-Infield Trio

39:30 Strikeout Park Factors

45:33 Why Do We Love Seattle's Pitchers?

48:45 A Question About Fastball Shape

56:50 Shota Imanaga: Making Sense of WBC Stuff+ Numbers; Outlook as SP

1:03:45 Chris Sale, Carlos Rodón and Low IP Projections

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Links from this Episode

Alex Chamberlain's Pitch Leaderboard: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/chamb117/viz/PitchLeaderboardv5/Dashboard

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Aaron Nola Stays in Philly & November Non-Tender News Nov 20, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Aaron Nola's new deal to remain in Philadelphia, Lance Lynn's return to the Cardinals on a one-year pact, the posting of Yoshinobu Yamamoto ahead of his highly-anticipated foray into free agency, and the fallout from a non-tender deadline that led to a flurry of activity plus the potential end of Brandon Woodruff's time in Milwaukee.

Rundown

1:29 Aaron Nola Gets a New Seven-Year Deal to Stay in Philly

9:31 Lance Lynn (Back) to the Cardinals

13:43 Other Potential One-Year Deals for Free Agent Starting Pitchers

18:46 Reynaldo López: Stretching Out as Starter in Atlanta?

30:29 Yoshinobu Yamamoto: $200 Million Deal Coming?

39:22 Brandon Woodruff Non-Tendered by Brewers

43:05 Injured Pitchers to Target?

51:57 Other Movement Around the Non-Tender Deadline

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Live from First Pitch Arizona & Catching Up with Kyle Manzardo Nov 06, 2023

Eno, DVR & The Welsh are LIVE from First Pitch Arizona discussing a few interesting ideas that bubbled up during the conference, how they are trying to build roster foundations in 2024, and potentially undervalued pitchers for the first leg of draft season.

Plus, Kyle Manzardo of the Cleveland Guardians joins the show to discuss his approach, changes following his midseason trade to Cleveland, and his combination of contact and power as he's moved through the minors.

Finally, Eno, DVR & Welsh discuss the AFL Stuff+ Report and prospects that have stood out to Welsh in live looks this spring.

Rundown

5:28 Who Is the Best Pitcher in the World, Right Now?

9:32 Changes to Prioritizing Aces in 2024?

13:52 Looking at Total Pitches v. Innings Pitched

18:35 An Eno Board: Above Average Stuff, Below Average ERA in 2023

31:57 Kyle Manzardo Joins the Show!

56:37 Changing a Teams' Plans During the Spring

60:15 Arizona Fall League Stuff+ Report

66:57 Other Standout Prospects This Fall

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Making Sense of Disappointing Hitters From 2023 Oct 31, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss several disappointing hitters from the 2023 season with an eye toward their rebound potential and long-term outlook.

Rundown

4:17 Carlos Correa: Did Injuries Sap Overall Performance?

13:58 Daulton Varsho: Going Too Far with Pull-Heavy, Flyball Approach?

28:02 MJ Melendez: Is More Power on the Way?

32:47 Eloy Jiménez: Will He Hit Enough Without OF-Eligibility in Some Leagues?

39:04 Trevor Story: Optimism in Underlying Numbers Post-Injury?

47:32 Paul Goldschmidt: It's All Relative

54:01 Cedric Mullins: Is 2021 or 2022 Still in Reach?

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Missing on Adolis García & Mostly Pleasantly Surprising Hitters of 2023 Oct 26, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the upcoming World Series matchup between the Diamondbacks and Rangers, and how they drastically underestimated Adolis García when he broke through as a regular for Texas two years ago. Plus, they examine several hitters that were pleasant surprises in 2023 (and one disappointment thanks to lofty expectations).

Rundown

1:26 Assessing the D-backs-Rangers World Series Matchup

9:09 Brandon Pfaadt's Postseason Surge; 2024 Outlook

13:25 Why We Underestimated Adolis García

20:02 Chas McCormick's Breakout

27:17 Buying Lane Thomas' Career Year as Repeatable?

33:56 Spencer Steer's Future Outlook

41:57 Attempting to Make Sense of Cody Bellinger's Bounceback

48:03 Does Vlad Jr. Still Offer an Elite Ceiling?

56:40 Would You Rather Have Triston Casas than Vlad Jr.? (No....at least, probably not.)

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Jordan Montgomery, Nola v. Snell, & October Injury Updates Oct 16, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the recent success of Jordan Montgomery and changes he's made since leaving the Yankees via trade in 2021, Aaron Nola v. Blake Snell as real-life free agents and for 2024 fantasy value, and several offseason injury updates including shoulder surgery for Brandon Woodruff and Kyle Wright, knee surgery for Byron Buxton, turf toe surgery for Jazz Chisholm Jr., and more.

Rundown

1:40 Jordan Montgomery 3.0 & Future Outlook

7:53 An Intriguing Market for Free Agent Pitchers Awaits

11:05 Clayton Kershaw's Health

13:08 Shoulder Capsule Surgery for Brandon Woodruff & Kyle Wright

18:40 Justin Verlander is a Top-___ Pitcher in 2024

24:29 Nathan Eovaldi's Postseason Success; Challenging Projection

29:34 Blake Snell v. Aaron Nola

41:25 'Sitting Slow': How the Astros Hit Sonny Gray?

44:31 Byron Buxton Undergoes Knee Surgery

52:05 Kim Ng Chooses to Part Ways with Marlins

58:36 Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s Turf Toe Surgery; Chisholm v. Varsho in 2024?

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The Year in Review Oct 03, 2023

Eno and Welsh talk season winners, value risers, league offense numbers, elite average player totals and a little AFL talk around Jackson Jobe.

Rundown

Jackson Jobe - 6:14

Fantasy Awards - 13:23

Mailbag Question Jazz vs Chourio - 25:02

RP values from 2023 - 39:11

Super player averages - 44:22

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Final Streamers and Looking Back at 2023 Sep 29, 2023

Eno and Al wrap up the Friday edition of the show for 2023 by recommending a handful of streamers for the final weekend and reviewing the trends that made this season an interesting one from a fantasy perspective. Specifically, they look at how the regulation of shifts and increase in stolen bases affected the fantasy landscape, and they looked back on a busy season for prospect debuts.

Rundown

1:06 The latest news

6:26 Streamers for the final weekend

11:04 The latest news, continued

20:06 Looking back at 2023: The rule changes

33:21 Looking back at 2023: The never-ending Prospect-Palooza

45:44 Some ERA risers and fallers

48:33 Final thoughts

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The Last Week Before Fall League Sep 25, 2023

Eno and Welsh talk final week hitters and pitchers to stream and the release of the Arizona Fall League rosters.

Rundown

Zac Gallen vs Blake Snell 2024 - 6:33

Blake Snell stuff - 8:11

Felix interviews Snell - 14:35

Pitchers for Tue-Thur - 19:09

Hitters to pick-up - 30:47

AFL Roster release - 35:04

Top AFL hitting prospects - 38:48

Colson Montgomery - 48:05

Top AFL pitching prospects - 52:21

Deeper AFL prospects to watch - 57:08

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The Final FAB and Sandy Alcantara’s Possible Return Sep 22, 2023

Eno and Al take their final look at weekly FAB, identifying players to target to help out in the season’s concluding week. They also discuss Max Fried’s move to the IL as well as Shane Bieber’s return and Sandy Alcantara’s timetable, and they talk about their expectations for Rays prospect Junior Caminero, who is set to make his major league debut.

Rundown

1:24 IL comings and goings: Max Fried, Sandy Alcantara, Shane Bieber

12:42 The rest of the big news

20:47 How to approach the final FAB

24:14 Hitters to consider

37:41 Starters to target

45:03 Closer Corner

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Injuries, Awards and Prospects Sep 21, 2023

Eno and Welsh are talking Ohtani's injury, Snell's CY Young bid, streaming options Thur/Fri, prospects and more

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Heston Kjerstad’s Debut and Tommy Pham’s Late-Season Surge Sep 15, 2023

Eno and Al look into the fantasy viability of recent callups Heston Kjerstad and Pete Crow-Armstrong, and they identify several hitters who could and should still be added in 10- and 12-team leagues. They also prioritize which starting pitchers are worth adding for the stretch run and discuss the Cubs’, Rays’ and Cardinals’ bullpen situations.

Rundown

1:00 Heston Kjerstad is the latest top prospect to debut

9:58 Pete Crow-Armstrong’s debut and other big news items

27:37 Other hitters to consider

36:42 Two-start pitchers and streamers

50:53 Closer corner

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Bring up the Kids Sep 11, 2023

Eno and Welsh discuss the injury to Jasson Dominguez, Pete Crow-Armstrong's call to the majors, the Brewers almost 11-inning no-hitter, pitchers for the week and more.

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The Prospect Parade Continues with Jordan Lawlar Sep 08, 2023

Eno and Al talk about what to expect from the latest prospect callups, Jordan Lawlar and Evan Carter, and consider the fallout from injuries to Sandy Alcantara and Jorge Soler. They also sort through a lengthy list of projected two-start pitchers and discuss some recent bullpen changes for the Marlins, Rays and Rockies.

Rundown

1:17 Prospect-palooza continues with Jordan Lawlar, Evan Carter and Davis Daniel

10:54 The rest of the big news items

25:12 A few more hitters to consider

34:31 Two-start pitchers and streamers

49:26 Closer corner

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Hot Finishes, Early Starts Sep 06, 2023

Eno and Welsh discuss the posting of Shōta Imanaga, Clayton Kershaw worries, Altuve vs Jazz in 2024, a prospect to get now and more.

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Project Prospect Season Finale Sep 05, 2023

Eno and Welsh talk about what made this new Cole Ragans, who's next, Jasson Dominguez, Mason Miller and more on the season finale of Project Prospect.

Rundown

Success of under 6-foot pitchers - 4:42

Ohtani to hit and pitch in the future - 10:52

Julio Urias suspension - 17:30

How "THIS" Cole Ragans came to be - 22:16

Minor League development lacking - 29:08

Who is the next Cole Ragans? - 39:07

Mason Miller - 47:04

Dynasty: Ragans or M. Miller - 49:37

Royce Lewis and Jordan Walker - 51:05

Jasson Domginez - 54:08

Top Prospect Update - 58:10

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Jasson Dominguez’s Arrival and Reds’ Waiver Pickups Sep 01, 2023

DVR and Al discuss where they are looking to add several prospects who have made or are about to make their major league debuts, including Jasson Dominguez, Austin Wells, Ceddanne Rafaela and Ronny Mauricio. They also look at how Lucas Giolito, Hunter Renfroe and Harrison Bader might fare with their new teams and sort out a thin week for pitching on the waiver wire.

Rundown

1:22 Jasson Dominguez and a bevy of prospect debuts

18:02 The other news, including players waived by the Angels

27:21 Other hitters to consider

31:38 Pitching developments

39:43 Streamers and two start-pitchers

49:14 Closer corner

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The Halos Waive a Trade Deadline Haul & Late-Season Rebound Potential Aug 30, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the group of players placed on waivers Tuesday -- including five members of the Angels -- and try to determine if there is a need to alter the timing of the Trade Deadline, or if a return to the 'waiver trade deadline' era is necessary. Plus, they discuss causes for the recent struggles of Lucas Giolito, Alex Cobb's brush with a no-hitter, and the potential for a final month rebound in the face of disappointing 2023 performances at the plate.

Rundown

1:25 The Angels Trade Deadline Additions Get Placed on Waivers

8:03 Is a Roster Rules Refresher Needed?

10:57 What's Causing Lucas Giolito's Recent Struggles?

17:45 Finding Viable Contributors Among Other Waived Players

32:50 Alex Cobb's Brush with a No-Hitter

40:48 Evaluating Potential September Rebounds (Hitters)

55:09 Join Us in Arizona for Baseball HQ's First Pitch Event in November!

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Project Prospect - Post-Hype Bats to Target Aug 29, 2023

DVR and Welsh are looking at post-hype prospect bats to target that have exhausted their prospect eligibility, plus Ceddane Rafaela's outlook and more.

Rundown

Ceddane Rafaela - :57

Rafael vs P. Meadows - 5:17

Kyle Harrison - 7:09

Miguel Vargas - 13:46

Brett Baty - 21:45

Pete Alonso potential trade - 27:23

Matt Mervis - 29:30

Henry Davis - 34:56

Estevan Florial - 38:05

Easier in Triple-A? - 46:40

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Surprise Pitching Contributors for the Stretch Run Aug 28, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss several increasingly important pitchers for the stretch run of the 2023 fantasy baseball season -- including Cole Ragans, whose increased velocity and new slider have put him on the fast-track to a place among the league's Top 40 Starting Pitchers.

Rundown

0:43 The Rapid Emergence of Cole Ragans

10:04 Any Changes for Aaron Civale in Tampa Bay?

15:09 Cristopher Sánchez's Arrival in Philly

18:02 Seth Lugo's Renaissance with the Padres

27:28 Zach Eflin and Escaping The Glob

29:57 Kodai Senga's Improved Second-Half Walk Rate

35:58 Brandon Williamson: Lower Walk Rate in MLB than Double-A and Triple-A?

42:38 Adbert Alzolay's Move Toward the Circle of Trust

45:45 A Longer List of Reliable Closers Looking Toward 2024?

55:10 Tyler Wells' Shift to the Bullpen in the Minors

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The Angels’ Rough Week and The Yankees’ Callups Aug 25, 2023

DVR and Al discuss the fallout from Shohei Ohtani’s torn UCL and Mike Trout’s return to the IL, and they also look into the fantasy appeal of several recently-promoted players, including Oswald Peraza, Everson Pereira, Wilyer Abreu and Korey Lee. On the pitching side, DVR and Al consider the types of leagues that Cole Ragans and Ryan Pepiot should be added to, and they talk about the potential for saves in the Athletics’ bullpen.

Rundown

1:27 Bad news for the Angels

9:46 The rest of the week’s big news

24:06 Other hitters of note

35;09 Pitchers to consider

43:24 Closer corner

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An Eye Toward 2024 & Protecting v. Chasing Leads Aug 23, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss a few takeaways from the first seven rounds of the Too Early Meatball Draft -- including the myriad of great choices from the No. 3 spot on the first round, continuing to draft starting pitchers early if other teams try to wait, a potential rebound from Trea Turner, and Elly De La Cruz's push toward top-15 status for 2024. Plus, they discuss a few differences in how to approach protecting a lead at the end of the season compared to attempts to make up ground.

Link to Too Early Meatball Draft Board: https://twitter.com/deadpullhitter/status/1694203814910275867/photo/1

Rundown

1:20 The Top of the Board from the 'Too Early Meatball Draft'

6:47 Skills Growth From Fernando Tatis Jr.

10:31 Spencer Strider v. Elite Bats at Pick 3

14:54 A Smaller Circle of Trust for Closers in Early Draft Formats?

21:21 Freddie Freeman Keeps Getting Better

25:37 Chasing Power In The Current Run Environment

26:55 Elly De La Cruz's Push Toward Round 1

32:47 Interest in Re-Drafting at All-Star Break

38:07 What's Going On with Trea Turner?

43:08 Matt McLain's Great Rookie Season

51:17 How to Protect a Lead

60:35 Chasing a Lead

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Project Prospect - Time to Adjust to Faster Tracks? Aug 22, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh discuss the rapid development of prospects and how they are moving levels. Do we need to re--think the process for prospects as a whole, or is it case by case? The guys also take look at Paul Skenes stuff+ numbers and the ever debating fastball shape.

Rundown

Nolan Schanuel - 1:07

Is there much of a gap between levels anymore? - 3:43

Do we buy into age to level anymore? - 8:22

Hitters adjusting to Stuff+ - 9:54

Paul Skenes usage - 19:07

Skenes Stuff+ in MiLB - 21:02

Strasburg vs Skenes - 27:57

Team KPI - 31:20

Eno's Paul Skenes worry? - 35:01

A-ball Stuff+ pitchers - 36:45

Dylan Crews - 37:41

Fantasy approach to rookies moving forward - 40:30

Prospect Top-5 for 2024 fantasy - 46:12

Pete Crow-Armstrong - 56:29

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A Closer Look at the Location of Pitcher Whiffs Aug 21, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the local of pitcher whiffs and whether it matters if swings and misses are generated inside the strike zone, outside the strike zone, or if a truly elite pitcher needs to do both.

Rundown

2:36 Are High O-Swing% & Low Z-Contact% Pitchers Elite?

5:52 Getting In-Zone Whiffs with Fastballs

10:54 Bailey Ober's Surprising Placement in Both Categories

13:07 Whiffs In the Heart of the Strike Zone

17:45 High O-Swing% & High Z-Contact% = Great Command?

25:53 What is Justin Steele?

29:33 Low O-Swing%, Low Z-Contact%

42:03 Expecting A Unique Role for Kyle Harrison

44:37 Is There Anything Supporting Brady Singer's Recent Surge?

48:23 Making Sense of Luis Severino's 2023

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The Angels’ Surprise Call-Up and Masyn Winn’s Arrival Aug 18, 2023

DVR and Al discuss their expectations for the two latest top prospects to be called up to make their major league debuts, Nolan Schanuel and Masyn Winn. They also identify other prospects who could be promoted soon, including Jordan Lawlar and Pete Crow-Armstrong. DVR and Al also discuss some outfielders seeing increased playing time, a healthy cohort of streamable pitchers, and the bullpen situations for the Mariners, Mets, Diamondbacks and Rays.

Rundown

0:52 The big prospect debuts: Nolan Schanuel and Masyn Winn

16:59 More big stories from this week

22:53 Other hitters to consider

32:45 Streamers and two-start pitchers

47:37 Closer corner

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A Closer Look at Chase Rate & 'The Perfect Hitter' Aug 16, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss broader aspects of O-Swing% (chase rate) and whether it's a skills flaw that can draw excessive negativity -- especially with younger players. Plus, they consider whether 'The Perfect Hitter' exists, and which current player has the best case for that title.

Rundown

1:07 Do the Circumstances Matter Around Chasing

4:54 Salvador Perez & Aging Hitters

10:26 O-Swing% Leaders in 2023 (High%)

17:58 Amed Rosario

21:14 The Best $20+ Hitter Season We Haven't Talked About

26:00 Luis Robert Jr.: Elite Skills w/Chase Concerns?

31:29 Bryce Harper's Recent Increase in O-Swing%

37:46 The 2023 Version of Juan Soto

39:30 Does 'The Perfect Hitter' Exist, and Who Is That Player?

47:06 Where is Vlad Jr.'s Power?

52:45 Did 'Gather As You Go' Work for Steals?

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Project Prospect - Walking the Rookie Workload Tightrope Aug 15, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh are taking a deep dive into prospect pitcher workloads, recent call-ups and more.

Rundown

Wade Meckler - 0:58

Luis Matos - 3:35

Osleivis Basabe - 11:24

Colton Cowser - 17:04

Line Drive Rate and Vaughn Grissom - 20:32

Logan Allen - 32:45

Pfaadt vs Allen - 38:55

Taj Bradley - 41:58

Reese Olson - 50:15

6-Man rotation vs Piggy backing - 56:07

Innings Cap Alarm - 1:02:54

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Saberconference Takeaways, Late-Season Pitching Strategy & Sweepermania Aug 15, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the disturbing allegations against Wander Franco that have prompted the Rays to place him on the restricted list. Plus, Eno shares a few takeaways from this weekend's Sabermetrics, Scouting, and the Science of Baseball Conference in Chicago, before digging into several mailbag questions about late-season pitching strategy and the effectiveness of sweepers as the league-wide usage of the pitch increases.

Rundown

1:10 Wander Franco Placed on the Restricted List

3:57 Eno's Trip to the Sabermetrics, Scouting, and the Science of Baseball Conference

19:24 Training Stuff+ On Previous Years & Players Making Adjustments

31:33 Checking in on the 2023 Sweeper Craze

40:04 Late-Season Starting Pitching Strategy

51:54 The Stone Age of Arm Health?

59:26 Using Defense in Fantasy?

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Emerson Hancock Debuts and Oakland’s Rebuild Continues Aug 11, 2023

DVR and Al discuss where to add recently-promoted Mariners pitching prospect Emerson Hancock and what changes to expect in the Orioles’ rotation in the coming weeks. They also consider whether the ranks of teams to stream pitchers against has changed over the course of the season, and whether Matthew Liberatore has earned our trust in favorable matchups. DVR and Al talk about the growing ranks of young players on the Athletics’ roster, and they conclude by looking for saves in the Tigers’ bullpen.

Rundown

0:46 This week’s biggest news items

7:29 Should we be streaming against the same teams we streamed against earlier in the season?

17:48 More news items from the past week

26:53 Hitters of note

43:29 Two-start pitchers and streamers

48:37 Closer corner: Should we add Beau Brieske?

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Future Expectations for This Year's Strikeout Rate Risers & Fallers Aug 09, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Ronald Acuña Jr.'s massive improvement in strikeout rate as he continues to build a NL MVP resumé, and dig into other year-over-year risers and fallers in that category while trying to determine the future expectations for the biggest movers in both directions.

Rundown

0:49 Ronald Acuña Jr.'s Massive K% Improvement

7:50 The Value of a Good Two-Strike Approach

12:41 Other Hitters with Positive Gains in K%

18:37 Selling Out for Power

23:33 Giancarlo Stanton's xStats v. ROS Projections

29:32 Improved K% and Weight on Future Projections

33:47 Biggest Fallers in Strikeout Rate

38:28 Luis Robert Jr.: Making a Fair Trade-Off to Max Out Power?

46:58 Thairo Estrada's Uphill Battle to Stick in Everyday Role

49:28 Brett Baty's Demotion

55:34 xStats Remain Underwhelmed by Isaac Paredes

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Project Prospect - Preparing for Final Call-ups Aug 08, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh discuss how difficult pitching prospects have become to project, Curtis Mead's debut and the call-ups that could be coming soon.

Rundown

Curtis Mead - :53

Marcelo Mayer - 8:21

Masyn Winn - 14:50

Brooks Lee - 21:04

Tyler Black - 29:11

Everson Pereira - 35:18

Sept call-ups - 39:04

Prospect Pitchers tougher to value - 44:16

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A KO in Cleveland & Another Injury Shuffle Aug 07, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the fisticuffs between José Ramírez and Tim Anderson in Cleveland over the weekend, and a slew of players swapping places on the IL with the return of Brandon Woodruff and Max Fried getting offset by injuries to Shane McClanahan and Carlos Rodón.

Rundown

0:59 José Ramírez and Tim Anderson Throw Hands in Cleveland

7:15 What is Going On with the White Sox?

12:29 Carlos Rodón Undergoing MRI on Hamstring

16:53 Can Rodón Rebound in 2024?

20:10 Shane McClanahan Returns To the IL

26:19 Brandon Woodruff Returns From the IL

31:46 Revisiting the Injury-Risk Pitchers in the Pick 100-200 Range

39:28 Potential Sleepers Post Trade Deadline

47:40 Max Fried's Excellent Return

50:16 Changes for Yonny Chirinos in Atlanta?

54:15 Another Big Slump From Jose Abreu

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Shane McClanahan Injury and Post-Deadline Closer Changes Aug 04, 2023

DVR and Al consider Zack Littell’s fantasy value in light of Shane McClanahan’s trip to the IL, Tyler Wells’ recent demotion, the returns of Brandon Woodruff and Brendan Rodgers and Randal Grichuk’s appeal for 12-team leagues. They also discuss an intriguing group of streamable pitchers and the recent changes in the Mariners’, White Sox’s, Royals’, Mets’ and Cardinals’ bullpens in the aftermath of the trade deadline.

Rundown

0:42 The biggest news of the week

15:47 Hitters of note

27:49 Pitchers of note

33:18 Curtis Mead promotion

37:41 More pitchers of note

41:08 Streamers and two-start pitchers

52:35 Closer corner

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Framber's No-Hitter & Trade Deadline Fallout Aug 02, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Framber Valdez's no-hitter, changes in his profile compared to past seasons, and the fallout from the Trade Deadline as opportunities for changes on several depth charts plays out for the final two months of the season.

Rundown

1:01 Framber Valdez's 93-Pitch No-Hitter

7:25 Dominic Canzone Gets an Immediate Opportunity

10:07 DFA'd Veterans Seeking New Teams

19:33 Kyle Manzardo's Path to a 2023 Debut

22:57 The Marlins' New Depth Chart

28:14 The Rangers' Rotation, With Health

31:23 Spencer Howard's New Start with Yankees

33:44 Luis Patiño to the White Sox

37:38 YOUR Favorite Deals From This Deadline Window

42:07 Eno's Favorite Trades

56:01 Willingness to Pay a Premium for Prospects

58:29 Masyn Winn Getting the Call This Season?

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Project Prospect - Prospects on the Move Aug 01, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh discuss the prospects on the move via the MLB Trade Deadline.

Rundown

Kyle Manzardo - 1:58

Aaron Civale - 8:37

Taj Bradley optioned - 12:34

Bliss/Canzone trade - 17:48

Over valuing years of control - 21:30

Drop A. Thomas for Canzone? - 24:37

How to project power - 29:02

Robert Hassell - 32:06

1 in 4 prospects at deadline become a thing - 36:43

Tekoah Roby - 38:44

Deeper traded sleepers - 43:00

Rich Hill trade - 47:00

Hype of FYPD vs older breakouts - 53:08

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Scherzer to Texas, Lance Lynn to LA & More Bats to Anaheim Jul 31, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss a busy three-day stretch in the final weekend before the Trade Deadline as Max Scherzer was flipped to the Rangers, Lance Lynn joins the Dodgers' rotation, and the Angels add two more bats.

Rundown

0:38 Max Scherzer to the Rangers

3:34 Luisangel Acuña Heads to the Mets; Ozzie Albies Comps

13:06 The Value in Knowing 'Why' Things Do/Don't Work

17:11 A Pitch Mix Question; Lance Lynn to the Dodgers

25:48 Will Justin Verlander Get Traded Too?

33:33 Jordan Montgomery & Chris Stratton to the Rangers

40:31 Jordan Hicks to the Blue Jays

42:33 Randal Grichuk & C.J. Cron Traded Back to Angels

51:39 The Royals Trade Nicky Lopez to Atlanta

55:06 A JP Sears Question

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Deals Are Happening! Jul 28, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the big news of the week in anticipation of a busy weekend of waiver-wire pickups as Tuesday's Trade Deadline draws closer.

Rundown

0:33 Lucas Giolito & Reynaldo López to Angels

7:44 Amed Rosario to the Dodgers; Noah Syndergaard to the Guardians

16:39 Carlos Santana to the Brewers

22:44 David Roberts to the Marlins

24:31 Marco Luciano's ROS 'Would You Rathers?'

31:33 Favorite Stashes In Hopes of Post-Deadline Spike in Value

35:10 Matt Walner's Surge in Playing Time

39:32 Weekly Pitching Outlook (Jose Urquidy, Johnny Cueto)

45:53 Somewhat Available Two-Start Pitchers

51:55 Streaming Considerations

55:34 Bridging the Gap From Jordan Hicks to Ryan Helsley's Return from the IL

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Opportunities Coming From the Trade Deadline Jul 27, 2023

Eno and DVR take a spin around the depth charts of the expected sellers at the Trade Deadline in search of potential playing time winners in the fallout from swaps.

Rundown

1:22 Marco Luciano Joins the Giants

7:13 White Sox Deadline-Related Opportunities

13:38 More Bullpen Changes in KC?

20:35 Limited Options for the Tigers to Deal Away?

26:48 Any A's Worth Stashing?

33:00 AL Grab Bag

41:36 The Next Rockies Up

46:02 Will the Padres Sell?

49:13 Pirates on the Move

54:41 Tyler O'Neil & Cards Trade Chips

59:01 Are the Cubs Buyers or Sellers?

1:04:13 Finding Value In the Nats' Depth

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Project Prospect - Frelick Has Arrived and Double-A Surprises Jul 25, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh look at Sal Frelick player comps. Is Alika Williams someone to buy? Tyler Black, Everson Pereira, Austin Wells and more.

Rundown

Alika Williams - 1:03

Nick Gonzales - 8:41

Sal Frelick - 13:20

Jackson Wolf - 21:49

Austin Wells - 25:03

Brandon Barriera - 29:20

Rockies Pitcher TJ's - 31:25

Eno's Kid Guest Stars - 36:03

Organization development - 36:52

Tyler Black - 42:53

Everson Periera - 45:53

Jorbit Vivas - 50:42

Johan Rojas - 53:41

Listener Questions - 54:29

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Change Atop the AL East, Past Calendar Year Standouts & Mailbag Monday Jul 24, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the change atop the AL East with the Orioles taking first place away from the Rays over the course of a four-game series and a few movers on Eno's latest Starting Pitcher Rankings. Plus, they examine a few surprising pitchers from the past calendar year leaderboard, and answer several mailbag questions.

Rundown

4:44 O's Move to First Place in the AL East (& The Rays' Recent Slide)

13:21 What Did Baltimore See in Ryan O'Hearn?

18:48 Pitcher Improvement Amplified by Camden Yards Changes?

23:41 Surprises From the Past Calendar Year Leaderboard (SPs only)

32:33 An Inside Track to Extending Shohei Ohtani by Trading For Him Now?

39:06 Kutter Crawford's Emergence in the Red Sox's Rotation

45:57 Paul Skenes & Mound Placement

52:01 Is Alek Thomas Fixed?

56:55 Ongoing Concern About Emmanuel Clase; Is It Justified?

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Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s Playing Time and Alex Kirilloff’s Fantasy Value Jul 21, 2023

DVR and Al assess the fantasy value of several prospects who were promoted in the past week, including Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Endy Rodríguez and Cade Marlowe. They also look into the types of leagues where Alex Kirilloff and Oswald Peraza should be added, determine which pitchers are worth streaming in the coming week and highlight relievers who could become closers after the trade deadline.

Rundown

0:51 This week’s big fantasy news stories

20:50 Hitters of note

32:06 Starting pitchers to consider, including streamers and two-start pitchers

44:33 Closer corner

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Summer Scoring Surge, Trade Tips & Long-Term Considerations Jul 19, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the barrage of runs from Tuesday night and wonder if an extremely hot summer will continue to propel offense around the league. Plus, they discuss a few tips for making trades, long-term concerns about Corbin Carroll's shoulder, aging catchers, and a pitch that might be the most unusual offering in baseball.

Rundown

1:52 DVR Loses Delivery Crown

3:14 Climate Change and Baseball

9:50 Future Adjustments to Stadium Dimensions & Amenities?

14:45 A San Francisco Stumper

19:13 Trade Tips: What Actually Gets Deals Done?

27:43 Cody Bellinger's Long-Term Outlook

34:11 Corbin Carroll's Shoulder

40:38 Dynasty Value of Veteran Catchers (J.T. Realmuto & Salvador Pérez)

50:23 Trust Location+ More In-Season?

52:04 The Most Unusual Pitch in Baseball?

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Project Prospect - Minor League Bumps and Midseason Checks Jul 18, 2023

DVR is back with Eno and Welsh for a new Project Prospect! Jacob Misiorowski to double-A, and maybe the majors in the near future. Jasson Dominguez to trade or hold, interesting pitching prospects and more.

Rundown

Jacob Misiorowski - 1:29

Jackson Merrill - 7:19

Age to level Jasson Dominguez - 11:42

James Wood vs Junior Caminero - 20:09

Top of the list prospects - 25:55

Future prospect traps - 29:55

Jack Leiter - 33:20

Ben Brown - 40:24

Bryce Jarvis - 42:10

Chase Dollander and Rockies - 48:20

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Debut City Jul 17, 2023

Eno Sarris and Chris Welsh are breaking down Christian Encarnacion-Strand's debut, where he can play and who else it hurts. Grayson Rodriguez vs Andrew Abbott vs Bryan Woo, waivers and more

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Athletics Prospect Callups and Padres' Park Factors Jul 14, 2023

Eno and Al discuss the latest prospects on the cusp of their major league debuts — namely, Tyler Soderstrom, Zack Gelof and Johan Rojas. Eno talks about the good and the bad of Elly De La Cruz’s attack angle and the significance of the changing park factors at PETCO Park, and he and Al dissect the waiver wire options coming out of the All-Star Break.

Rundown

1:15 The Athletics and Phillies call up top prospects

7:17 The other notable news items

15:39 Elly De La Cruz’s attack angle and other hitter developments

32:43 What we can learn from one-year park factors

39:29 Streamers/two-start pitchers

56:15 Closer corner

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All-Star Game Takeaways and Enigmatic First Halves Jul 12, 2023

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may have won this year’s Home Run Derby, but Eno and Al are wondering why he has been hitting fewer homers so far in 2023. They also look at some takeaways from this week’s All-Star Game, including lower velocity for several pitchers and Jordan Romano’s back issues. Eno and Al also do a midseason recap of the top-15 starting pitchers in Roto value and try to better understand some enigmatic players, like Bryce Elder, Ha-Seong Kim and Joc Pederson.

Rundown

1:05 What’s going on with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s home run power?

4:34 All-Star Game takeaways

18:46 Reviewing the top 15 Roto starting pitchers

27:46 A few All-Star break news items

42:04 First-half enigmas

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Project Prospect - MLB Draft and Futures Game Jul 11, 2023

Eno Sarris and Chris Welsh are breaking down Paul Skenes big numbers, Dylan Crews comps, Jacob Misiorowski's insane Stuff+ numbers and much more.

Rundown

Jackson Holliday to AA - 9:33

Blaze Jordan to AA - 12:12

Pauk Skenes - 17:01

Driveline Stuff+ vs Eno's Stuff+ - 18:56

Where does velo pass shape? - 23:10

Dylan Crews comps - 30:27

Max Clark - 37:21

Wyatt Langford vs Max Clark - 38:15

Tommy Troy - 42:15

Mini FYPD Rank - 45:17

Jacob Misiorowski's fastball - 47:17

Mick Abel - 51:47

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Mike Trout Injury Fallout and Fantasy Free Agent and Trade Targets Jul 07, 2023

DVR and Al prepare for the final weekend before the All-Star break, recapping the week’s biggest news, including the fantasy implications of Mike Trout’s hamate surgery. They also discuss their expectations for Colton Cowser and several more widely available hitters, and they look at a few pitchers to target, including Kutter Crawford and Graham Ashcraft. DVR and Al wind up by naming the players they will target in trades as we head into the break.

Rundown

0:26 It’s not your normal fantasy baseball weekend

1:36 Mike Trout injury fallout for the Angels' roster

10:06 The week’s other news stories

21:51 Available hitters of note

33:52 Pitchers to target on waivers

43:33 Second-half trade targets

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Project Prospect - 2023 Futures Game Preview Jul 05, 2023

DVR and Welsh discuss the recent callups of Colton Cowser and Oscar Colás, plus a preview of the Futures Game rosters, and who we could see in the majors soon.

Rundown

Colton Cowser - 1:47

Where to own Coswer - 6:24

Oscar Colas - 9:24

AL Futures Game Pitchers - 19:15

NL Futures Game Pitchers - 25:53

Which FG AL positions players debut soon - 33:19

Which FG NL positions players debut soon -37:05

Who could be the surprise FG debut in the future - 45:01

Why everyone was wrong on Chris Morel - 49:33

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A Few Surprising First-Half Pitchers Jul 03, 2023

In an episode cut in half by technical difficulties, Eno and DVR discuss a few of the most surprising starting pitchers from the first half of the season including Nathan Eovaldi, Marcus Stroman and Mitch Keller. Plus, they consider a few pitchers who might benefit from adding a cutter to their arsenal.

Rundown

1:52 Nathan Eovaldi: Current Roto Value Leader Among Pitchers

7:57 Marcus Stroman's Excellent First Half

13:55 Mitch Keller: Buying a First-Half Repeat?

20:39 Giving Other Pitchers a New Cutter

25:22 Is This a Potential Fix for Alek Manoah?

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Brandon Pfaadt Returns and Tommy Pham Heats Up Jun 30, 2023

DVR and Al discuss the Diamondbacks’ big news, as Corbin Carroll deals with shoulder soreness and Brandon Pfaadt struggles in his return to the majors, They also discuss the arrival of Orioles prospect Jordan Westburg, other hitters to target, including red-hot Tommy Pham, pitchers to consider adding and the White Sox’s bullpen situation.

Rundown

1:12 The Diamondbacks lead off this week’s news items

6:57 The other news items of the week

23:06 Jordan Westburg and some other notable callups

31:34 A few hitters of note

40:03 Streamers and two-start pitchers

50:11 Closer corner

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Surprising First-Half Hitters & A Look at 'Best Speed' Jun 28, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Alek Manoah's return to the mound in the Florida Complex League before digging into some of the most surprising hitters from the first half of 2023, and considering the value of 'Best Speed' as a better snapshot of a player's quality of contact than average exit velocity.

Rundown

0:56 Alek Manoah's Game Action Resumes in FCL

5:51 Jonah Heim and Elias Díaz

9:32 Josh Naylor: Will Supporting Cast Limit His ROS Value?

14:43 Yandy Díaz: Groundball Rate Back to 2022 Levels

20:32 Spencer Steer

29:07 Targeting "Obvious Buy-Low" Players

32:45 Luis Arraez

34:54 Bryson Stott: Further Room for Improvement?

41:20 Lane Thomas & Surprising Outfielders

45:03 Esteury Ruiz: Will He Top ROS Stolen-Base Projections?

53:46 Jake Fraley's Success in Cincinnati

55:30 Jorge Soler: Buying K% Improvements?

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Project Prospect - Midseason Movers Jun 27, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh are looking at prospect promotions, Druw Jones vs Colt Keith, Dylan Crews/Paul Skenes fantasy value and more.

Rundown

Colt Keith - 1:20

Dustin Harris - 9:50

Noelvi Marte - 21:28

Jared Jones - 26:48

Druw Jones Injury - 31:33

Colt Keith or Druw Jones? - 38:56

Ronny Mauricio - 42:09

Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes fantasy rank - 48:07

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Jordan Westburg Gets the Call & Checking In on Second-Year Hitters Jun 26, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Jordan Westburg and expectations for his offensive performance throughout the second half of the season, the 2023 success of Braxton Garrett, and several second-year bats.

Rundown

4:24 Jordan Westburg Gets the Call to Baltimore

12:39 Would You Rather? (Westburg Edition)

19:17 Concerns About Tim Anderson's Shoulder

22:39 Braxton Garrett's Improved K% and BB%

31:26 Another Atlanta Rotation Flip-Flop?

36:42 Julio Rodríguez: Still a First-Rounder for Second-Half Drafts?

43:05 Bobby Witt Jr.: More AVG + OBP Coming Soon?

47:10 Michael Harris II: Getting Back on Track

49:21 Corbin Carroll: Top-10 Overall Player?

53:29 Adley Rutschman & Gunnar Henderson

59:14 Josh Jung: Everything Is Better

1:04:30 Spencer Torkelson: Big Second Half Coming?

1:08:09 A Pod Divided! CJ Abrams' Outlook

1:11:56 Shea Langeliers: Better Than Surface Numbers Suggest?

1:14:38 Nick Pratto: Some Good News in KC?

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New Catcher Options and Changes in the Diamondbacks' and Cardinals' Bullpens Jun 23, 2023

DVR and Al assess the potential fantasy impact of several recently-promoted prospects, including catchers Henry Davis and Bo Naylor. They also discuss where Joey Votto, Alek Thomas and Jesse Winker should be added, now that each is back on their active major league roster. DVR and Al size up the pitching options on waivers, including Graham Ashcraft, Jameson Taillon, Paul Blackburn and Bryan Woo, and look into the closer situations in Arizona and St. Louis.

Rundown

0:53 Top news items of the week

21:40 Hitters of note

38:04 Pitchers, including streamers and two-start pitchers

56:15 Closer corner

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Pitching Puzzles & Pull Rate Considerations Jun 21, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Vinnie Pasquantino's season-ending shoulder injury, several starting pitchers whose results don't line up with the quality of their arsenals, and the potential drawbacks of becoming too pull-happy at the plate.

Rundown

1:12 Vinnie Pasquantino's Shoulder Injury; Long-Term Outlook

9:58 Samad Taylor and Dairon Blanco Get a Look in KC

11:27 Sandy Alcantara's 2023 Struggles

21:39 Yu Darvish: Is Anything Wrong?

25:59 Kyle Bradish: What is His Ceiling With Current Fastball Limitations?

34:25 Nestor Cortes: Post-IL Expectations

37:46 Pull%: Is Their a Goldilocks Range?

48:51 Ozzie Albies' 2023: Categorical Surprises

52:49 Zach Eflin's Adjustments in Tampa Bay

56:50 TJ Friedl: How Does He Fit as Reds' Roster Improves?

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Project Prospect - Big Promotions and Dynasty Risers Jun 20, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh get breaking news as the show starts that Gavin Williams is being called up to start on Wednesday. We also take a look at Emmet Sheehan's debut, Henry Davis vs Bo Naylor and Welsh's updated Dynasty ranks.

Rundown

Gavin Williams called up - 0:50

Bo Naylor is back - 6:41

Henry Davis vs Bo Naylor - 11:34

Emmet Sheehan - 20:55

Dynasty Rank changes - 32:01

Pitchers lower in dynasty - 40:56

Jarred Kelenic in dynasty - 45:08

Minor league stat and development problems - 51:27

Grayson Rodriguez - 59:02

Jose Miranda - 1:00:00

Vaughn Grissom - 1:02:11

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Two More Prospect Callups and Spencer Torkelson's Recent Surge Jun 16, 2023

DVR and Al look into the fantasy impact of the two latest prospect callups, Emmet Sheehan and Luis Matos. They also discuss the recent improvements Spencer Torkelson has made and Spencer Strider’s home run problem. DVR and Al finish up with a preview of next week’s streamable pitchers and some analysis of the bullpen situations for the White Sox, Angels and Rays.

Rundown

0:56 Prospect promotions: Emmet Sheehan and Luis Matos

13:48 The other big news

29:34 Hitters to consider

37:03 Starting pitchers of note

44:13 Two-start pitchers/streamers

56:41 Closer corner

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Reverse Boycott in Oakland & Midseason Mulligans Jun 14, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the 'reverse boycott' put together by A's fans on Tuesday night and the future of baseball in Oakland if the team relocates to Las Vegas. Plus, they consider potential mulligans for the 2023 season as the midway point of the season draws closer.

Rundown

2:58 Eno Attends the Reverse Boycott in Oakland

12:07 Hogan Harris is Chewing Up Innings for the A's

17:56 Midseason Mulligans; Mid-Tier Middle Infielders

30:00 Underestimating Position Player Injury Risk

37:15 Incorrect Assumptions About Team Behavior

39:30 Playing More Importance on Pitcher K%

42:52 DVR's Corbin Carroll (2023) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2022) Missteps

49:53 Matt Olson's Increased Strikeout Rate

53:50 Isaac Paredes' Good Results v. Poor Statcast Numbers

1:00:37 xBA v. BABIP

1:03:09 Splitting CF From OF Positions

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Project Prospect - One Step Away Jun 13, 2023

Eno, DVR and Welsh look at how close Luis Matos and Emmet Sheehan are to the bigs. Plus Coco Montes as a deep league option, Eury Pérez timeline becomes clearer & more.

Rundown

Who is Coco Montes? - 1:15

Owen White Call-up - 9:08

Could Jack Leiter be next? - 14:41

Eury Perez's timeline - 17:46

Mike Vasil - 24:40

Emmet Sheehan - 28:36

Luis Matos - 33:09

Marco Luciano Buy-low? - 40:57

Tyler Soderstrom - 42:42

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Power Outages & Mailbag Mysteries Jun 12, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Quinn Mathews' 156-pitch complete game at Stanford, several players experiencing a downturn in power as the middle of June approaches including Tim Anderson, José Abreu, Eugenio Suárez, Kyle Tucker and Manny Machado. Plus, they answer several mailbag questions, including inquiries about Ryan Mountcastle and Bobby Miller.

Rundown

0:30 Quinn Mathews Throws 156 Pitches in College Playoff Game

6:43 A Look Back at Pitcher Abuse Points

16:01 Where Did Tim Anderson's Power Go? Will It Return?

21:21 José Abreu: Any Signs of Turnaround?

24:14 Eugenio Suárez: Summer Homer Binge Coming?

30:19 Kyle Tucker: Time to Tinker Again?

37:01 Manny Machado: Is Lost Power Entirely the Result of Injury?

42:32 Mike Trout: Zero Cause of Concern About Power?

45:37 Other Power Fallers; Fewer Reasons for Optimism

48:10 What's Up with Jeremy Peña?

55:02 Mailbag Monday: José Ramírez, Ryan Mountcastle, Bobby Miller

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Elly Week Continues and Planning for FAB in the Second Half Jun 09, 2023

DVR and Al weigh how much FAB fantasy managers should part with for Elly De La Cruz and how to plan FAB spending in leagues where managers are already running low. They look into the recent resurgences experienced by Gary Sánchez and Aaron Hicks, and identify a few starting pitchers who are worth streaming in the coming week.

Rundown

0:16 Elly De La Cruz Week continues

4:19 Navigating FAB when you’re almost broke already

11:40 Other notable news items

15:22 Hitters to consider

40:28 Starting pitchers of note

53:16 Streamers/two-start pitchers

59:02 Closer corner

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Jacob deGrom's Elbow Injury, Alek Manoah's Reset & A Barreling Surprise Jun 07, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss Jacob deGrom's upcoming elbow surgery, the outlook for his future as he tries to return in late 2024 or early 2025, the Blue Jays' attempt to press the reset button for Alek Manoah, the struggles of slow tempo starting pitchers in Year 1 of the pitch clock, the rebound of José Berríos, Austin Hays' big barrel rate improvement, and looking at recent snapshots of Statcast data in hopes of spotting trends.

Rundown

0:53 Jacob deGrom to Have Another Elbow Surgery

6:14 Planning for the Eventual Comeback

13:10 Injury Risk Tolerance is Relative

15:33 Examining Slow Tempo Starting Pitchers

20:33 Who Else Has Struggled This Much and Made It Back?

27:03 Losing Stuff & Recovering It

32:56 Buying the José Berríos Rebound?

36:03 Austin Hays' Big Barrel Rate Improvement

48:36 Splitting Statcast Numbers Into Smaller, Most Recent Samples

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Project Prospect - Expectations for Elly De La Cruz Jun 06, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh welcome in the debut and expectations for Reds top prospect Elly De La Cruz. Andrew Abbott vs AJ Smith-Shawver, listener mailbag and more!

Rundown

0:34 Elly De La Cruz

4:55 Eno is the Elly ice-man

9:08 Is Elly more Javy Baez or Tatis Jr?

21:11 Elly or Volpe ROS

22:56 Reds future lineup

29:52 Andrew Abbott

34:26 AJ Smith-Shawver or Abbott ROS

39:09 Will Eury stay in Marlins rotation?

51:11 Luken Baker

53:43 Henry Davis to Triple-A

61:00 Listener Questions

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Another Wave of Pitching, Tough June Rankings & Mailbag Monday Jun 05, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss another wave of pitching prospects that have arrived in the big leagues including Andrew Abbott, Reese Olson, Bryan Woo and AJ Smith-Shawver. Plus, they discuss a few tough rankings from Eno's June Starting Pitcher Rankings update, and mailbag questions about Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Robert, and Taylor Ward.

Rundown

1:15 Andrew Abbott Gets the Call

3:41 Reese Olson Pitches Well in MLB Debut

7:55 Bryan Woo's Tough Debut

14:32 AJ Smith-Shawver Arrives in Atlanta

19:47 Will the Yankees Continue to Show Patience with Anthony Volpe

27:48 Two Bad Months, Four Good Ones

35:18 Bad Injury Luck for the Brewers?

39:15 Jackson Chourio's Chances of a 2023 Debut

41:16 Banking on a Big Summer From Freddy Peralta?

49:12 Where Did Aaron Nola's Strikeouts Go?

54:47 Tough Rank: Nathan Eovaldi

58:13 Can We Trust Michael Kopech's Turnaround?

1:02:43 Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s Long-Term Outlook

1:07:18 Where Are Luis Robert Jr.'s Stolen Bases?

1:10:57 Taylor Ward's Disappointing 2023

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Adding Royce Lewis and Jordan Walker and Pitching Start/Sit Dilemmas Jun 02, 2023

DVR and Al weigh their interest in adding Royce Lewis and Jordan Walker in shallower leagues and discuss their approaches to FAB bidding for AJ Smith-Shawver. They also gauge their interest in adding the Tigers’ Akil Baddoo and Zach McKinstry, as well as Reds righty Ben Lively and Braves southpaw Jared Shuster. DVR and Al conclude with some difficult two-start dilemmas and a few closer candidates to consider.

Rundown

0:59 Top developments heading into the weekend

16:54 Hitters to consider

31:48 A few starting pitchers of interest

38:47 Start/sit dilemmas for two-start Hunter Greene and Nestor Cortes

45:40 Two-start pitchers

55:26 Closer corner

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Tough Breaks for the Tigers & Second-Chance Surprises May 31, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of AJ Smith-Shawver, a pair of key injuries for the Tigers with Eduardo Rodriguez and Riley Greene heading to the IL, another injury for Harrison Bader, the pitch mix of Grayson Rodriguez, and several second-chance league surprises -- including big risers Joe Ryan, Esteury Ruiz, Josh Lowe, and Merrill Kelly.

Rundown

1:10 AJ Smith-Shawver Joins the Braves

7:55 Eduardo Rodriguez's Finger Injury; Tarik Skubal Nearing Rehab Assignment

12:28 Opportunity for Reese Olson?

16:56 Riley Greene's Breakout Slowed by Tibia Injury

20:42 Colt Keith Time?

30:08 Harrison Bader Goes Back to the IL

37:43 Grayson Rodriguez's Pitch Mix

42:20 Second-Chance League Surprises

48:02 A Detour to Discuss Luis Medina

53:05 Esteury Ruiz Rising Up Boards in Second-Chance Leagues

58:20 Josh Lowe's Move Up; ROS Expectations

64:17 Merrill Kelly's Strikeout Rate Surge

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Trade Season Is Here May 30, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh are back for a Project Prospect trade edition. We're looking at long-term trade for and away options. We're also discussing Royce Lewis' rest-of-season value, Bobby Miller and more.

Rundown

3:27 Royce Lewis

12:59 Royce vs McLain and Elly talk

18:36 Bet on Royce or Elly ROS

19:32 Bobby Miller

21:25 Rank these prospect pitchers ROS

28:11 Hunter Brown

34:04 Pitchers to target in trades

37:22 Nick Lodolo

38:22 Trading Justin Verlander

41:31 Buying Pfaadt and Grayson

43:38 Oneil Cruz

44:45 wRC+ buys

50:00 Drew Gilbert

59:27 wRC+ vs age/level

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Bobby Miller's Debut and Two-Start Pitchers Galore May 26, 2023

Eno and Al discuss Bobby Miller’s major league debut and consider if he needs to be added to all leagues where he is available. They also discuss Julio Teheran’s return to the majors, a pair of widely-available leadoff hitters, Eno’s ongoing fascination with Rougned Odor and a surprisingly robust week for streaming two-start pitchers.

Rundown

0:42 Bobby Miller debuts

4:30 Other recent news items

17:21 Lineup developments

34:16 Pitchers of note

42;38 Streamers/two-start pitchers

55:03 Closer corner

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Are Statcast Pages Pointless? May 25, 2023

Eno and Welsh discuss a couple of Statcast anomalies, and deep dive into a listener question of the how trust worthy Statcast pages really are. We're also digging into Bryce Miller, Michael Kopech and more.

Rundown

1:53 - The curious case of Ke'Bryan Hayes Statcast page

8:21 - Will Ke'Bryan ever live up to his Statcast page?

12:13 - Top and Bottom 10 Barrel % leaders

14:20 - What Eno looks for to determine future power

19:09 - The curious case of Bryce Elder's Statcast page

20:27 - Eno's first time looking at Statcast pitcher sliders

26:20 - Statcast percentile screen shots

28:27 - Prospect who beat projection

34:22 - Expected stats and Projections

36:12 - Stuff+ variance over the season

39:08 - Bryce Miller

42:45 - Bryce Miller release point vs the league

46:07 - Bryce Miller vs Jacob DeGrom pitch release points

50:42 - Michael Kopech success

54:57 - Andrew Abbott's 21 WHIFF Wednesday

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Project Prospect - Opportunity in LA May 23, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh look into the big opportunity in LA for prospect pitchers. Is Patrick Bailey someone to watch? Is George Valera underrated? Is this the time to buy Jordan Lawlar? Plus plenty more!

Rundown

1:10 - Gavin Stone's odd outing

9:05 - Rookie pitching game. Welsh vs Eno

15:51 - Bobby Miller debut

22:08 - Emmett Sheehan

25:08 - Is Hayden Wesneski a hold?

30:59 - Is Luis Ortiz good?

35:44 - Forrest Whitley

44:30 - Patrick Bailey

49:42 - George Valera

55:35 - Is now the time to buy Jordan Lawlar

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Dodgers Promotions, Logan Gilbert's Step Forward & May Disappointments May 22, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Bobby Miller and the return of Gavin Stone as the Dodgers turn to their pipeline of starters to backfill from injuries to Dustin May and Julio Urías. Plus, they examine the 2023 step forward from Logan Gilbert, pushing starting pitchers more aggressively in the early rounds of 2024 builds, the recent struggles of Jameson Taillon and Graham Ashcraft, and the potential value of hard-hit averages.

Rundown

4:47 Bobby Miller En Route to Los Angeles

8:06 Reservations About Gavin Stone?

11:23 Why Don't Projections Like Logan Gilbert More?

17:08 DVR Gets Too Cute with a Keeper League Deal, Likely Falls on Face

21:02 Planning A More Pitching-Heavy Approach in 2024 Drafts?

31:52 What's Wrong with Jameson Taillon?

41:39 Graham Ashcraft Slams the Breaks on April's Breakout

47:37 Any Concerns About Julio Rodríguez

51:03 Looking at Batting Average on Hard-Hit Balls

55:34 Power Outages: Ke'Bryan Hayes, Ryan McMahon & Andrew Benintendi

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Matt McLain Arrives and Jake Burger Stays Hot May 19, 2023

DVR and Al look into how Matt McLain and Casey Schmitt stack up against other hitters in the shortstop pool, and they make the case for adding Jake Burger in a wide swath of leagues. They also consider the fantasy impact of the returns of Matthew LIberatore, Gavin Stone and Taj Bradley to the majors, and sort through a less-than-inspiring group of streamable pitchers.

Rundown

0:29 Where should Matt McLain and Casey Schmitt be rostered?

12:28 Jake Burger’s return and other lineup developments

23:33 Josh Lowe is the No. 4 Roto outfielder?

28:09 Rotation developments

42:33 Streamers/two-start pitchers

54:34 Closer corner

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Another Sticky Stuff Suspension, Deviating From the Pack & Playing for Now May 18, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the sticky stuff suspension for Domingo Germán, a new source of saves for the Yankees, a few surprisingly valuable pitchers, the actual benefit of LODEM, treating Jacob deGrom like an elite reliever, Emmanuel Clase's low strikeout rate, and more.

Rundown

0:56 Domingo Germán's Sticky Stuff Suspension

12:43 Wandy Peralta is Getting Saves

17:22 Surprising Pitchers: Earned Auction Values

22:54 The Actual Case for LODEM

27:51 Alek Thomas Demoted to Triple-A

33:24 Lance Lynn's Gradual Decline

38:05 The Importance of Updating & Adjusting Models

48:16 Matthew Liberatore is Back

52:13 Concerned About Emmanuel Clase's Strikeout Rate?

55:28 Should We Value Jacob deGrom Like an Elite Reliever?

59:06 Shallow League Decisions & Gunnar Henderson

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Project Prospect - McLain Joins Rookie Shortstop Class May 16, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh breakdown Matt McLain's Reds debut and his value rest of season. We're also talking Dynasty strategies, how to approach prospect pitchers and more.

Rundown

0:52 Matt McLain

10:11 Souring on Tovar

12:17 Elly De La Cruz

14:25 More prospects coming for the future

18:58 What happened to Brandon Williamson

20:53 Eury Pérez

25:31 Eury Pérez's Curveball

28:34 Today's run environment

32:26 Pitching prospects in dynasty

38:02 Investment in pitching prospects

41:12 Lodem or Ledom?

43:10 Jake Eder

47:40 Listener dynasty questions

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Another Test for the Rays' Pitching Depth and Battling ROS Projections May 15, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the injury to Drew Rasmussen and another test for the Rays' pitching depth, the return of James Paxton , the growth of Mitch Keller, and the tension between rest-of-season projections and growing samples of over- and underperforming players.

Rundown

6:41 Drew Rasmussen's Injury

11:01 Taj Bradley & The Rays' Pitching Depth

20:31 James Paxton is Back! Is James Paxton Back?

25:32 Mitch Keller's Past Calendar Year

34:22 DVR Joins Eno's Skeptical View of Alek Manoah

40:40 Rest of Season Projections: Navigating Risky Rebounds & Coping with the Buzzkill

53:41 Buying High Despite ROS Projections?

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Hello Eury Pérez, Goodbye FAB? May 12, 2023

DVR and Al discuss how much FAB they think should be dedicated towards adding just-promoted Marlins pitching prospect Eury Pérez and consider the fallout from Max Fried’s forearm injury. They also look at several infield options, including Orlando Arcia, Nick Pratto, Casey Schmitt and Andy Ibáñez. DVR and Al walk through the pitching options on waivers (other than Pérez) and assess the Phillies’ closer situation.

Rundown

0:32 How much FAB should we dedicate to Eury Pérez?

6:15 Other news items of note

23:56 Lineup developments

37:51 Pitchers of interest

44:54 Streamers/Two-start pitchers

51:49 Closer Corner

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Miranda Optioned, Another Round of Pitching Injuries & Waiting for a Corbin Burnes Rebound May 10, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the Twins' decision to send Jose Miranda to Triple-A, Casey Schmitt's place in the Giants' infield mix, the rapidly rising number of injured pitchers, a Phillies bullpen bracing for the absence of Jose Alvarado, budgeting in-season FAB resources, the struggles of Corbin Burnes and the likelihood of a rebound back toward previous levels, and much more.

Rundown

0:55 Jose Miranda: Optioned to Triple-A

8:34 Casey Schmitt: Homers in Debut, DVR's Corrected Comp

13:08 Brett Wisely v. David Villar

18:48 Jacob deGrom: Could Return in 2-3 Weeks; Then What Happens?

21:52 Significant Injuries Mounting Among Starting Pitchers

25:07 Changing Pitching Strategy in the Future?

34:44 Jose Alvarado Placed on IL with Elbow Injury

38:28 Becoming More Disciplined with In-Season Resources

44:16 Examining Corbin Burnes' Strange Start to 2023

51:26 Will Pitch Clock Push Older Starters Out of the Game Sooner than Expected?

57:23 IP Leaders Since 2017

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Project Prospect - Unusual Minor League Results May 09, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh talk about Bryce Miller's pitch mix, Eno's conversation with him and why he struggled at Double-A. Are the Rays messing with Taj Bradley? Plus we've got some listener questions and tons more.

Rundown

0:34 - Bryce Miller

2:23 - What is a Gyro slider

3:53 - What Savant says about Millers pitch mix vs what it really is

6:55 - Why Bryce Miller struggled at AA according to Bryce

13:14 - What's going on with Taj Bradley

20:23 - If minot league stats aren't sticky, can we trust stat driven prospect lists?

26:21 - Ben Brown

30:06 - Is Liberatore the next big FAAB pitcher

30:42 - DVR only likes bad pitchers

35:51 - Eury Perez

37:01 - Can a high K and high BB pitcher like Edward Cabrera work?

44:09 - Can Chase Silseth be DVR's bad pitcher?

46:47 - Casey Schmitt

50:53 - Can Dominic Fletcher take real time away from Alek Thomas?

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Strange Times in St. Louis, Opportunity for Ortiz & Morel, Mailbag Monday May 08, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the Cardinals' unusual decision to move Willson Contreras out of the catcher rotation (at least temporarily), the struggles of Jack Flaherty, a return to the big leagues for Christopher Morel and Luis Ortiz, and several mailbag questions.

Rundown

1:14 Willson Conteras: Moving Off Catcher, For Now?

7:59 Failures in Logic

12:44 Jack Flaherty's Ongoing Struggles

20:31 Luis Ortiz Back in the Pirates' Rotation

23:41 Christopher Morel is Back with the Cubs

28:02 Matt Strahm to the Bullpen?

30:09 Jack Suwinski Comp?

32:46 Cody Bellinger's Rebound; Statcast Numbers

36:47 Brandon Woodruff Injury Update

40:33 Jarren Duran: Post-Hype Sleeper?

44:45 Drew Rasmussen: Model Numbers v. Ranking

48:28 Falling Behind Season IP Pace

52:25 Aaron Judge is Coming Back on Tuesday

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Matt Mervis and Brandon Pfaadt Arrive At Last May 05, 2023

DVR, Eno and Al discuss the latest round of prospect callups, including Matt Mervis, Bryce Miller, Brandon Pfaadt and Gavin Stone, and share their approaches for determining FAB bids. They also talk about the two latest additions to the Twins’ rotation and assess the coming week’s cohort of streamable pitchers.

Rundown

1:04 This week’s big callup news

16:59 Deeper-league hitter callups

22:33 Should we stash Christian Encarnacion-Strand?

26:24 Lineup developments

28:35 Notable pitchers

45:10 Streamers/two-start pitchers

55:42 Bullpen report

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Miller v. Miller and April's Rising & Falling Hitters May 03, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss an excellent battle between rookie starters Bryce Miller and Mason Miller in Oakland on Tuesday night before a rookie pitcher installment of 'Would You Rather'. Plus, they examine some of the biggest risers among starting pitchers from the first month of the season.

Rundown

0:35 Mason Miller v. Bryce Miller

6:11 Would You Rather? Rookie Pitchers Edition

14:21 Per-Pitch Stuff+ Question

19:09 Hayden Wesneski's Low K%

22:16 Will Smith Takes Over As Rangers Closer

29:29 Shifting Toward Rostering Non-Closer Relievers?

35:55 April Risers & Fallers: Hitters

46:34 Jack Suwinski's Rise to Shallow League Relevance

52:48 Brandon Lowe's Elevated K%, Power Returns

57:47 Any Concerns About J.D. Davis & Michael Conforto?

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Project Prospect - 2023 Rookies After One Month May 02, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh review some of the biggest rookie performances from April. Who to buy and sell, plus some Dynasty rank overall changes.

Rundown

1:27 - Outman production vs K rate

12:45 - Corbin Carroll

18:28 - Esteury Ruiz

22:31 - Josh Jung's adjustment for more power

26:39 - The "who got demoted" game

29:25 - Oscar Colas

34:04 - Outman vs Colas

42:34 - Could Evan Carter get called up?

50:45 - Wander Franco's dynasty rise

59:33 - What pitchers are left to speculate on in the minors

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April's Starting Pitcher Risers & Fallers May 01, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss some of the biggest risers -- and a few fallers -- among starting pitchers from the first month of the season.

Rundown

0:45 Jacob deGrom Returns to the IL

6:23 Nathan Eovaldi's First Month in Texas

13:51 Dustin May's Rise Up Eno's Rankings

18:50 Freddy Peralta's Velo Returns; Pitch Mix is Strong

23:08 Jesús Luzardo's Step Forward in Miami

26:26 Joe Ryan New Arsenal

28:54 Zac Gallen's Continued Dominance

31:20 Other Big Movers

44:10 JP Sears: Sneaky Fallback Add From April?

50:30 Hunter Brown's First 50 MLB Innings

57:04 Big Fallers in the Rankings

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Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen and Other Top Waiver Targets Apr 28, 2023

DVR and Al consider how aggressively they want to pursue Guardians pitching prospects Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen, now that they have made their major league debuts. They also discuss the shallow-league appeal of Jack Suwinski and Jason Heyward and identify the streamable pitchers with the best upcoming matchups.

Rundown

0:54 Prospect promotions and demotions

22:13 Injury fallout

28:35 Hitter developments

40:14 Notable pitchers

51:09 Streamers and two-start pitchers

1:02:13 Bullpen update

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A Delayed Breakout, Taj Bradley's Demotion & In-Game Command Monitoring Apr 26, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the excellent start to 2023 for Jarred Kelenic, other young players who may be on the brink of breaking through after initial struggles at the big league-level, Jake McCarthy's demotion, the Rays' approach with Taj Bradley, monitoring command in-game, Pete Alonso's power binge, and the 2023 version of Charlie Morton.

Rundown

0:56 Jarred Kelenic's Year 3 Step Forward

6:27 Looking for Other Young Players Nearing Breakout

14:47 Jake McCarthy's Demotion = Alek Thomas' Extended Opportunity

18:26 An Attempt to Understand the Rays' Approach with Taj Bradley

31:32 What Are Teams Using to Monitor Command During Games?

40:44 Pete Alonso's Early Power Binge

50:32 The 2023 Version of Charlie Morton

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Project Prospect - A Pitching Wave In Cleveland Apr 25, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh breakdown some Stuff+ factors to consider for Triple-A pitchers, the latest call-ups and prospects to stash.

Rundown

1:07 - Welsh was on Logan T. Allen before Bibee

3:15 - Tanner Bibee

8:14 - Stuff+ numbers for pitchers who go 50 pitches vs 80 pitches

12:31 - Altitude and it's affect on Stuff+ in the minors

18:16 - Tanner Bibee vs Brandon Pfaadt

31:05 - Michael Busch to the Majors

36:09 - Pirates prospects that could be on their way up

46:14 - Liberatore vs Silseth

52:!6 - Jordan Westburg vs Connor Norby vs Joey Ortiz

1:00:00 - Heston Kjerstad

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Swing Changes, Overlooking Tools in the Face of Flaws & Searching for Cheap Power Apr 25, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss several players with significantly changed swing rates to begin 2023 before considering the possibility of some toolsy players getting overlooked due to a flaw. They also answer a few mailbag questions, including one in pursuit of cheap sources of power via trade or waivers.

Rundown

1:08 Swing Rate Changes; Juan Soto Concern Level?

6:15 Jorge Mateo's Big Adjustments

9:23 ROS Would You Rather: Mateo or Gunnar Henderson?

12:43 Learning From Adolis García's Continued Success

18:07 Defense Buying Players Longer Opportunities to Adjust

21:53 Scouting + Stats: Finding Extreme Tools

24:56 A Look Into the Future of Will Benson

31:03 Making Sense of Josh Lowe's Changes

36:58 Hitters Going the Wrong Direction with Swing Rate Changes

41:47 Should Jazz Chisholm Jr. Be More Aggressive at the Plate?

44:58 Pitching Drops in 12-Team Leagues

56:08 The Early-Season Pursuit of Power

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Mason Miller Week and Streamable Pitchers Apr 21, 2023

DVR and Al discuss how much to bid on Mason Miller and when to start anticipating the major league debuts of Brandon Pfaadt and Tanner Bibee. They also look at several hitters benefitting from expanded roles and assess the pool of streamable pitchers for the coming week.

Rundown

0:31 It’s Mason Miller Week

6:05 Other pitching prospects to consider

14:20 News items: Bryce Harper/Max Scherzer/Mookie Betts

19:44 Lineup matters

30:20 Notable pitchers to target

39:48 Streamers/Two-start pitchers

53;50 Bullpen update

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Promotions, Extensions, and New Opportunities Apr 20, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Mason Miller to Oakland, Brayan Rocchio and a potentially brief look in Cleveland, an extension for Hunter Greene, another impressive outing from Taj Bradley, Mike Soroka's comeback bid, A.J. Puk's early results in Miami, and a few mailbag questions.

Rundown

1:17 Mason Miller Promoted!

9:20 Brayan Rocchio Gets the Call to Cleveland

11:30 Hunter Greene Extension

13:53 Taj Bradley Continues to Impress

19:01 Adjusting for Alek Manoah's Disappointing Start to 2023

25:45 Josiah Gray's New Pitch Mix

33:49 Trusting A.J. Puk

37:10 Jake Burger's Impressive Power Profile

42:22 Statcast v. FanGraphs' Hard-Hit Rates

49:12 Other Factors to Consider w/Pitching Model

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Project Prospect - Prospects on the Fast Track Apr 18, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh are taking a look at Prospects on the fast track. Is Brett Baty here to stay? Zach Neto or Edouard Julien? Plus a now hilarious conversation about Mason Miller vs Brandon Pfaadt minutes before Mason Miller is called up.

Rundown

0:46 - Brett Baty

6:20 - Minor league hard hit hard leaderboard

11:46 - Yeison Morrobel hard hit numbers

14:39 - Lenyn Sosa a thing?

17:39 - Zach Neto

20:24 - Volpe vs Tovar vs Neto

32:29 - Edouard Julien

33:50 - Of course Welsh brings up Corbin Carroll

36:21 - Could Vaughn Grissom go to the outfield?

42:38 - Old crusty vs lottery tickets

45:24 - Matt Mervis vs Nolan Jones

51:28 - Mason Miller vs Brandon Pfaadt

56:38 - Ricky Tiedemann vs Kyle Harrison

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Early Drops, Unlucky Hitters, A Gorman Breakout & Weekend Pickups Apr 18, 2023

DVR and Eno discuss a few sluggish early bats that have been on the radar to be dropped before examining some unlucky hitters. Plus, they break down the great start to 2023 for Nolan Gorman, the ongoing struggles of José Berrios, and the step forward for Louie Varland and several other Twins starters.

Rundown

3:14 Terrestrial v. Aerial Movers

6:57 Early-Season Drop Decisions

8:49 Jean Segura Falling Toward Waiver Wire

12:37 Chris Taylor's Ongoing Contact Woes

16:29 Trey Mancini's Slow Start in Chicago

21:24 Nick Gordon: King of the Unlucky Hitters?

26:21 Byron Buxton: Regular DH Now

31:02 Is This a Nolan Gorman Breakout?

35:47 Tyler O'Neill's Slipping Playing Time

43:52 José Berrios: Is This It?

48:33 Stuff+ on FanGraphs

54:07 Big Bids From the Weekend

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Taj Bradley Debut and Shortstop Replacements Apr 14, 2023

DVR and Al assess the short- and long-term fantasy value of Taj Bradley and Edouard Julien, both of whom debuted this week, and they look at at the pool of free agent shortstops who could replace Corey Seager or other injured shortstops. They also look at other free agent hitters and pitchers to target in FAB.

Rundown

1:22 Shortstop injury replacements

9:05 Edouard Julien and Taj Bradley debut

17:17 Rotations in flux: Diamondbacks, Guardians, Brewers

23:39 DVR makes a case for Brad Keller

29:54 Streamable pitchers to pursue

37:30 Hitters to target

44:06 Have these fantasy zombies come alive?

52:54 Who are we targeting for saves?

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Biggest Movers in Stuff+, Searching for Meaningful Early Adjustments & Taj Bradley's Debut Apr 13, 2023

DVR and Eno discuss some of the biggest movers in Stuff+ according to Eno's pitching model, early K-BB% laggards to target (and a few to worry about), and Taj Bradley's impressive arrival and potential for more starts due to another injury in the Rays' rotation.

Rundown

0:44 2023 Changes to the Run Environment

4:20 Stuff+ Improvers, No. 1 Graham Ashcraft

9:30 Looking for Differences Between Low-End Starters & Waiver Options

13:30 Ashcraft v. Bubic

17:17 Fastball Movement Impacted By Park Factors?

21:23 Good in the Model, Bad Results

32:12 Improved Command From Hunter Greene?

38:42 K-BB% Laggards; Potential Buy-Low Targets?

49:25 DVR Sticking with Chris Sale, Eno Sticking with Blake Snell

53:12 Taj Bradley's Debut; Chances to Stick Around w/Three Rotation Injuries

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Project Prospect - Triple-A Stuff+ Numbers Apr 12, 2023

DVR, Eno and Welsh dig into some Triple-A stuff+ numbers. The guys look at what these numbers mean and how much more we need, as well as the latest prospect news, call-ups and graduations.

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Oneil Cruz Injury, Early Starting Pitcher Pickups, and the Value of Two-Start Weeks Apr 10, 2023

DVR and Eno discuss the lengthy absence on tap for Oneil Cruz, another frantic weekend of free-agent pickups in fantasy baseball, the value of two-start weeks in weekly leagues, and several players of interest as the second week of action winds down.

Rundown

1:47 Oneil Cruz's Injury & Lengthy Absence

6:40 A Woefully Thin Waiver Wire Position

13:26 Pitchers of Interesting From Weekend Pickups

22:41 A Wide Range of Outcomes for Kris Bubic?

25:51 Why Two-Start Weeks Are So Valuable

34:02 JP Sears: A Second Viable Starter in Oakland?

44:28 Digging for Deep League Bats

52:29 Francisco Álvarez's Opportunity to Stick

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Grayson Rodriguez Debut and Waiver Wire Preview Apr 07, 2023

DVR and Al explore this weekend’s waiver wire options, starting with top prospects Grayson Rodriguez and Francisco Álvarez. They also discuss several hot-hitting Brewers, Seth Lugo’s impressive return to starting, a thin cohort of streamable starters and some bullpen developments.

Rundown

0:41 Breaking news, including Grayson Rodriguez and Francisco Álvarez promotions

16:07 Notable lineup developments

30:18 Pitchers of note: Seth Lugo, Kris Bubic, Braxton Garrett

40:24 Streamable pitchers

50:32 Bullpen check-in

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Playing Time Analysis With Mike Kurland Apr 06, 2023

DVR and Al are joined by Mike Kurland of The Athletic and Gaining The Edge Fantasy to talk about playing time analysis. Mike reveals his process for analyzing lineups and batting orders, and the group sorts through some rest-of-season player toss-up dilemmas.

Rundown

0:39 Mike talks about his process for analyzing playing time

4:47 How important is it to track pinch-hitting trends?

6:49 How does Mike use lineup analysis in order to give him an edge?

18:50 How does Mike handle making decisions in the absence of larger samples?

22:36 How far ahead in the schedule should we be looking?

27:05 Player toss-ups

39:18 Looking for stability in fluid roster situations

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Project Prospect - Impact Upon Arrival Apr 04, 2023

DVR and Welsh discuss some prospect impact in the majors with Brice Turang and others. The Triple-A season is underway with some interesting performances, plus a look at a few minor league assignments.

Rundown

1:03 - Brice Turang

8:47 - Esteury Ruiz vs Brice Turang

15:47 - Jhony Brito

24:24 - Jared Shuster

26:59 - Are we back in on MacKenzie Gore?

36:48 - Brandon Pfaadt's less than great Triple-A debut

39:57 - Brett Baty

45:00 - Tyler Soderstrom's 113.5 Max EV

48:36 - Interesting Minor League Assignments

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Early Arsenal Changes & Big Splashes for Saves Apr 03, 2023

DVR and Welsh discuss takeaways from the Opening Series, including a closer look at the arsenal of Kodai Senga, the 'new' Noah Syndergaard, the significant increase in steals right out of the gate, plus a few massive free-agent bidding pickups from the first in-season waiver run in many leagues.

Rundown

4:30 Kodai Senga's Mets Debut

7:23 New Pitches & Velo Spikes Drive Quick Decisions

14:27 Jeffrey Springs & 'Buy High' Considerations

22:04 Noah Syndergaard Version 3.0

36:27 Ranking Dodgers Starting Pitchers By Expected Innings Pitched

42:52 By the Numbers, Early Impact of New Rules

47:04 Weekend FAB Takeaways

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Opening Day Reactions and Waiver Options Mar 31, 2023

DVR and Al look at some actionable news items from opening day, including IL stints for Justin Verlander, Max Fried and Ryan Pepiot, and they consider players worth pursuing on the waiver wire, such as Elehuris Montero, Clarke Schmidt and Hunter Gaddis.

Rundown

0:34 A new approach to the waivers show

1:40 Opening day lineup Implications

31:37 Injury news impacting waiver options

35:42 Other pitching options on waivers

42:33 Which teams should we stream pitchers against?

47:12 Two-start pitchers to stream

55:53 Opening day bullpen observations

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Final Draft 2023 Season Takeaways Mar 30, 2023

DVR returns to join Eno and discuss their takeaways from the 2023 draft season including teams' varying processes for promotion prospects on Opening Day, a few of their most heavily-rostered players, and a few things they need to go right to have a successful season.

Rundown

3:45 Taking a Moment to Look Back at Draft Season

8:34 Was DVR's Heavy Targeting of Fringe Top-100 SPs Too Risky?

15:28 Leaning Into Mid-Tier First Basemen

20:55 Did Spring Performances in WBC Have Elevated Impact on Drafts?

23:02 Rookie Helium: Anthony Volpe & Jordan Walker

30:42 What Puts Prospects Over the Top for a Roster Spot During Spring Training?

37:39 Team Factors Are Critically Important and Tough to Read

43:32 What Needs to Go Right For You in 2023?

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Project Prospect - Spring Prospect Stat Standouts Mar 28, 2023

Welsh and Eno are discussing Grayson's option to the minors and discussing prospects with stand out stats from spring training.

Rundown

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Eno's Bold Predictions Mar 28, 2023

Eno dropped his top-10 bold predictions for the season on the Athletic this weekend. Welsh is picking to find which makes Eno nervous, plus a breakdown of Eno's main event draft.

Rundown

3:10 - Which prediction made Eno nervous

8:00- Bold Ryan McMahon call

10:38 - Votto story and the Reds pitching staff

16:03 - Welsh wonders about pitch shape manipulation

26:23 - Prospects make the bigs

32:21 - Welsh watched Juan Soto on the backfields Monday

37:47 - Eno's Main Event roster breakdown

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Replacing Rhys Hoskins and The First FAB Mar 24, 2023

Eno and Al look at the Phillies’ roster in the aftermath of Rhys Hoskins’ season-ending injury and consider first base replacements in fantasy. They also discuss FAB options for both 12- and 15-team leagues.

Rundown

1:20 Replacing Rhys Hoskins

7:47 Spend early in FAB or save up?

13:06 12-team FAB hitting targets

26:36 12-team FAB pitching targets

32:32 15-team FAB hitting targets

42:00 15-team FAB pitching targets

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Adam Wainwright Injury and ADP Refresh Mar 23, 2023

Eno and Al look at the players who have moved up and down the farthest in NFBC ADP over the last week, and they also discuss the fantasy fallout from the injuries to Adam Wainwright and Raisel Iglesias.

Rundown

1:24 Who takes Adam Wainwright’s spot in the Cardinals’ rotation?

7:44 Who gets saves for Atlanta with Raisel Iglesias out?

10:36 Top ADP risers overall

27:34 Top ADP hitting risers

41:29 Top ADP fallers

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Project Prospect - Optioned, But Not Forgotten Mar 21, 2023

Eno and Welsh react to Roki Sasaki's electric stuff in the WBC. Project Prospect continues as the guys look at players that were optioned, but could still be up soon, as well surprising names still in camp.

Rundown

3:20 - Roki Sasaki reactions

14:35 - Brandon Pfaadt

23:10 - Christian Encarnacion-Strand

27:12 - Addison Barger

33:37 - Kyle Manzardo

38:52 - Gavin Stone

41:52 - Bryce Miller

47:09 - Ben Joyce

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MLB Weekend News and WBC Stuff+ Numbers Mar 20, 2023

So much news one little weekend can pack in. Eno and Welsh discuss Altuve's injury, should we be worried about Soto's oblique and Eno digs into some of the biggest Stuff+ numbers from the WBC.

Rundown

4:19 - Jose Altuve's injury and how to draft him

22:34 - Juan Soto's oblique

29:45 - Jacob DeGrom's first spring start

32:55 - Brandon Nimmo

34:43 - Jurickson Profar to the Rockies

39:34 - Weird Vaughn Grissom situation

44:57 - WBC Stuff+ numbers

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News Roundup and Position Battles Mar 17, 2023

Eno and Al discuss the latest news items, including some positive developments for Kyle Wright and Byron Buxton, and they look at several position battles that are still looming with opening day less than two weeks away. Eno also identifies several pitchers who are Stuff+ laggards.

Rundown

1:08 News updates: Edwin Díaz, Kyle Wright, Byron Buxton, Mitch Haniger, David Villar, Eric Haase, Jackson Jobe

20:12 Position battles - hitters: NYM 3B, LAD CF, MIA OF, CHC OF/DH, KC OF, OAK CF

37:03 Position battles - rotations: OAK, ATL, ARI, TB, CIN

49:06 Stuff+ laggards

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Injury Updates and Spring Training Stats Mar 16, 2023

Eno and Al talk about the latest injury updates, including Edwin Díaz’s knee injury, Tony Gonsolin’s return from a sprained ankle and Harrison Bader’s strained oblique. They also consider whether certain spring training stats have meaning, such as Michael Toglia’s playing time and Oscar Colás’ lack of strikeouts.

Rundown

1:16 The media reaction to Edwin Díaz’s knee injury

6:05 Implications of Díaz’s injury for the Mets bullpen

9:34 Implications of Díaz’s injury for the reliever pool

15:36 Mark Melancon’s shoulder injury and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen

18:49 Starting pitcher injury updates (Tony Gonsolin, Garrett Whitlock, Ranger Suárez, José Quintana, Cade Cavalli)

36:11 Harrison Bader’s oblique strain and the Yankees’ roster crunch

39:45 Do these spring stats mean anything?

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Prospects to Target in Re-draft Mar 14, 2023

Welsh watched Jacob DeGrom pitch his first live game on the Rangers backfield Tuesday, so Welsh and Eno breakdown the videos. We've also got 10 prospects to watch for re-draft leagues that don't currently have a set job.

Rundown

5:10 - Welsh's live look and video of Jacob DeGrom's first game against live hitters

12:21 - Where and how to draft DeGrom

27:05 - Jasson Dominguez

35:10 - Mark Vientos

37:06 - Zac Veen

44:03 - Ricky Tiedemann

49:07 - Brett Baty

51:17 - Matt Mervis

53:45 - Sal Frelick

57:12 - Bradon Pfaadt

59:56 - Christian Encarnacion-Strand

1:03:37 - Anthony Volpe

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Crazy March ADP Data Mar 13, 2023

Eno returns from his Florida trip with some wild tales for Welsh, as well as some great conversations and perspectives with players. Eno and Welsh also dig into some interesting March ADP trends from the NFBC.

Rundown

6:18 - Eno talks with Clay Holmes, Pete Fairbanks and more

14:36 - Can a starter have one pitch to a righty or lefty and succeed?

19:56 - Is adding a pitch tangible enough to up someone's rank?

24:27 - Crazy high min picks on NFBC

48:40 - NFBC guys inside the top 100 min, with a post 130 ADP

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Spring Training Injuries and Stuff+ Mar 10, 2023

Eno is at the trop recording live on location. Welsh and Eno are talking about the latest spring training injuries and the new stuff+ release. **Warning: Welsh is a dummy, and had a mic issue that is less than we normally expect**

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Interview with Driveline's Chris Langin Mar 09, 2023

Eno interviews Chris Langin, the Director of Pitching at Driveline Baseball. They discuss whether this season’s rule changes will impact pitchers’ preparations, and they also delve into the process behind the creation of unique pitch shapes. Eno and Al then discuss some fantasy-relevant perspectives to take away from the interview.

Rundown

0:46 Eno introduces his interview with Chris Langin

2:21 Chris talks about how pitchers prepare to throw at Driveline

5:52 Chris discusses Driveline’s approach to addressing the rule changes

13:35 Chris explains the process pitchers undertake to create new pitch shapes

21:30 How important is it for pitchers to create unique pitch shapes?

30:35 Chris talks about working with pitchers on command

34:47 Chris addresses some recent trends in pitchers’ arsenals

39:21 Eno and Al discuss some fantasy takeaways from the interview

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FYPD Ranks with James Anderson Mar 07, 2023

First Year Player Draft ranks can be tricky. How do you value the newest coming prospect class, and how do they relate to overall prospect lists? Chris Welsh and James Anderson talk about to tiers of FYPD ranks, what happened to the pitchers and some deep names to watch.

Rundown

2:48 - Druw Jones and Jackson Holliday

3:49 - Welsh and Druw Jones Snippet

8:07 - James Wood

14:49 - Kodai Senga and Masataka Yoshida

17:12 - James breaks down Senga's start

22:10 - Tier 2 of FYPD

23:53 - Zach Neto

32:26 - Kevin Parada

38:26 - Jett Williams

40:59 - Ethan Salas

44:26 - Dalton Rushing

46:25 - Where are the pitching prospects?

50:58 - Deeper FYPD prospects to target

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AL LABR Draft Recap Mar 06, 2023

Fresh off of drafting his AL LABR team, Eno discusses his process and assesses his results, and he and Al talk about some of the more interesting winning bids.

Rundown

1:33 What did Eno take away from his title-winning 2022 season in AL LABR?

5:53 Eno talks about his preferences for his endgame players

8:05 Eno discusses how he allocated his budget

12:35 Al asks Eno about some winning bids that surprised him

25:03 Eno and Al talk about some of the players on Eno’s roster

28:29 Eno assesses his draft

39:05 Takeaways for mixed league managers

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Closer Potpourri with Greg Jewett Mar 03, 2023

Greg Jewett joins Al to discuss his general approach to drafting relievers this season and to discuss likely opening day closers who could lose their jobs and relievers who could emerge from committees to become primary closers.

Rundown

1:45 How is Greg approaching getting saves in his drafts this year?

7:25 ADP conundrums: Félix Bautista, Clay Holmes, Jason Adam

18:00 Closers who are potentially at risk of losing their job during the season: Daniel Bard, José Leclerc, Alex Lange, Carlos Estévez

25:40 What should we look for from relievers in spring training?

27:59 Can anyone emerge as a primary closer from these committees: Dodgers, Angels, Phillies, Twins, Cubs, Marlins, Diamondbacks?

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Early Spring Training News Analysis Mar 02, 2023

Eno and Al dig into the biggest news items from the early portion of spring training and assess the fantasy impacts.

Rundown

1:47 News impacting pitchers (Tyler Glasnow, Joe Musgrove, Chris Sale)

12:33 Gavin Lux and Yordan Alvarez updates

22:05 A position battle on the Cardinals

25:43 Injury news in the NL Central: Seiya Suzuki and Tyrone Taylor

31:00 How will the Rockies replace Brendan Rodgers?

34:15 Clean-up surgeries for Rhys Hoskins and Ozzie Albies

39:39 Early sluggers and Stuff+ standouts

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2023 Rookies to Target: Pitchers Edition Feb 28, 2023

Which rookies should you target in your 2023 drafts? Eno and Welsh breakdown all the pitchers, from the guys who have a locked down job to speculative adds.

Rundown

4:13 - Grayson Rodriguez

13:01 - Hunter Brown

18:45 - Kodai Senga

26:29 - Cade Cavalli

34:00 - Andrew Painter

40:42 - Hayden Wesneski and Ken Waldichuk

44:41 - Brandon Pfaady, Ryne Nelson and Drey Jameson

51:00 - Ricky Tiedemann and other speculations

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Spring Training Reactions and The Latest News Feb 28, 2023

Spring training is here and Eno and Welsh react to it all. How do the Padres pay everyone, who is on the outs? Pitch clock mania, stolen base numbers are up and lots of player reactions.

Rundown

6:36 - Machado contract

15:20 - Pitch clock

25:24 - Spring training stolen base numbers

34:56 - Yordan Alvarez still not swinging a bat

38:51 - Suzuki oblique injury worries

40:55 - Masataka Yoshida NOT going to leadoff

44:01 - Sean Manaea velo uptick

46:43 - Nathan Eovaldi velo and moving up draft boards

49:03 - Joe Ryan's new sweeper

52:04 - Nolan Gorman's new approach

54:15 - Spring Training at-bat leaders

57:00 - Can we believe in Jarred Kelenic?

1:00:00 - Corbin Carroll's stolen base in first spring training at-bat

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Lars Nootbaar Interview Feb 24, 2023

Eno interviews Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar, and they talk about the work that Nootbaar has done at Driveline and how it helped him at the plate. Eno and Al also look at other hitters who share Nootbaar’s proclivity for pulling flyballs and discuss the degree to which they weigh news of changes in players’ offseason training regimens.

Rundown

1:17 - Eno talks about Lars Nootbaar’s 2022 breakout

5:00 - Eno takes a lesson in how to identify sleepers from Nootbaar’s progression

7:31 - Eno provides a primer on some training techniques

13:22 - Eno’s interview with Lars Nootbaar

34:12 - Eno and Al discuss the 2023 outlook for some hitters who frequently pull flyballs (Nootbaar, Nolan Arenado, Juan Yepez, Jonah Heim, José Ramírez, Isaac Paredes, Wilmer Flores)

52:44 How skeptical should we be of offseason reports of players adopting new techniques?

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2023 Deep Sleepers: Pitchers Feb 23, 2023

Eno and Al talk about processes for finding deep pitching sleepers, and then they discuss several pitchers whom fantasy managers should tuck away as late-round targets, especially in deeper league. They consider three groups of pitchers who may be undervalued: contact managers, pitchers on lesser teams and rookies.

Rundown

1:12 - Eno talks about the projection system he uses to identify sleepers

7:05 - Is contact management actually a thing?

9:14 - Deep sleepers: contact managers (Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, Graham Ashcraft, Hayden Wesneski, Nick Martinez)

30:22 - Deep sleepers: starters on lesser teams (Spencer Turnbull, Matthew Boyd, Michael Lorenzen, Shintaro Fujinami, Drew Rucinski, Paul Blackburn, Braxton Garrett, Ryan Yarbrough)

48:56 - Deep sleepers: rookies (Andrew Painter, Luis Ortiz, Ryne Nelson)

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2023 Rookies of Interest: Hitters Edition Feb 22, 2023

Which rookies/prospects should you pay attention to for 2023 drafts? Eno and Welsh discuss players the have locked down jobs, some of the fringe to break camp and a dart throw or two if you're feeling lucky.

Rundown

3:53 - Pitching + projections

15:16 - Corbin Carroll

24:52 - Gunnar Henderson

32:45 - Masataka Yoshida

37:12 - Triston Casas

40:46 - Triston Casas vs Josh Jung

43:53 - Ezequil Tovar and Esteury Ruiz

47:35 - Is Miguel Vargas the most underrated rookie/prospect to own this year?

51:10 - Can Jordan Walker, Oscar Colas, Oswald Peraza and Matt Mervis break camp?

101:30 - Speculative rookie adds? Anthony Volpe? Elly De La Cruz? Brett Baty? Colt Keith?

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New Stolen Base Rules and Stephen Vogt Interview Feb 17, 2023

Eno and Al look at the potential impact of some of the new MLB rules on stolen base production. Eno also discusses the new rules and catcher preparation routines with former major league catcher and Mariners bullpen coach and quality control coach Stephen Vogt.

Rundown

0:21 Some big Rates & Barrels news

3:20 Summary of the new rules that could impact stolen bases

6:53 How much will the rules really help with steals?

9:23 What are the stolen base ceilings for Oneil Cruz and Trea Turner?

13:12 Will Eno approach drafting steals differently this season?

Eno’s interview with Stephen Vogt:

16:11 Stephen discusses his new position with the Mariners

17:30 Stephen talks about his daily preparation routines as a catcher

23:42 Stephen recounts his preparations for containing the running game

28:25 Eno and Stephen theorize about how teams will adapt to the rule changes

32:20 Stephen talks about his efforts to improve his ability to contain baserunners

37:09 Stephen anticipates more stolen base attempts in 2023

38:29 How much stealing should we expect during spring training?

41:07 Does Stephen like the pitch clock?

Stolen base expectations for:

42:49 Andrés Giménez

47:55 Xander Bogaerts

50:18 Wander Franco

52:32 Javier Báez

54:52 Jon Berti/Jorge Mateo

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2023 Outfield Preview, Part 3 Feb 16, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the outfielders going outside the Top 200 overall in early fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

0:45 Riley Greene: Can We Learn Anything From Jarred Kelenic & Dylan Carlson?

7:14 Alex Verdugo: Steady Value as OF4 or OF5

8:42 Joey Meneses: More Intriguing Than Previously Acknowledged?

13:34 Digging Through Oakland's Outfield (Ramón Laureano, Seth Brown & Esteury Ruiz)

23:24 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. & Andrew Benintendi: Where Did the Power Go?

26:08 Bryan De La Cruz & Christopher Morel: Intriguing Skills, Can They Hold PT?

34:24 Joc Pederson: Thriving in Platoon Role, Does It Work in Weekly Leagues?

38:30 Good Oatmeal, Bad Oatmeal? (Randal Grichuk, Wil Myers, Austin Hays, Jesse Winker)

49:55 Brandon Marsh: Is There One More Level?

55:07 Jose Siri: Trust the Glove to Drive Playing Time?

56:55 Late, Late Darts: Outside the Top 300 (Jarred Kelenic, Dylan Carlson, Trent Grisham, Jake Fraley, Oscar Colas, Alex Kirilloff, Alek Thomas, Jesus Sánchez)

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2023 Outfield Preview, Part 2 Feb 15, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the outfielders in the Pick 100 to 200 overall range in early fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

0:47 Bryan Reynolds & Potentially Improved Supporting Cast

8:36 Tyler O'Neill's Quiet Improvement

12:00 Byron Buxton and the Neverending Hope for a Healthy Season

18:00 Seiya Suzuki: A Year 2 Step Forward Coming?

22:43 Jake McCarthy: Risky Because of D-backs' Outfield Depth?

30:45 Lars Nootbaar: Moving Up Draft Boards

34:24 Steven Kwan: Undraftable In Top-125 Overall?

40:11 Taylor Ward: Trusting a Late Breakout?

42:43 Christian Yelich: DVR Hype Machine Malfunction -- or -- Good Value?

45:49 Anthony Santander: Big Power in More Difficult Home Park

47:17 Nick Castellanos & Kris Bryant: Rebound Candidates?

50:27 Giancarlo Stanton: Easy Power, Lower Draft-Day Cost

53:57 Harrison Bader: Full Season in the Bronx!

1:01:30 Brandon Nimmo: Christian Yelich with Fewer Steals?

1:04:31 Oscar Gonzalez: Viable Power & Everyday Role?

1:08:55 Cody Bellinger's Fresh Start in Chicago

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Dynasty Ranks Breakdown Feb 15, 2023

DVR is officially out and on baby watch, so Eno and Welsh hold down the fort to talk about Welsh's dynasty ranks release and some of the most interesting players.

Rundown

2:33 - Dynasty Ranks overall talk

6:30 - Bobby Witt in dynasty

7:36 - Witt vs Jose Ramirez

11:50 - Bryce Harper

13:11 - What players rank Eno likes and doesn't like in Welsh's top-15

23:31 - Jordan Lawlar vs Jordan Walker

29:25 - Elly De La Cruz

32:15 - Jackson Chourio

41:17 - Miguel Vargas and Kyle Manzardo

51:29 - Andrew Painter, Grayson Rodriguez, Ricky Tiedemann and Brandon Pfaadt

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2023 Outfield Preview, Part 1 Feb 13, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the outfielders within the Top 100 overall in early 2023 fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

1:41 Early Round 1 Outfielders (Acuña, Julio Rodríguez & Aaron Judge)

8:52 Mid/Late Round 1 Outfielders (Kyle Tucker, Juan Soto, Yordan Alvarez & Mookie Betts)

19:44 A Quick Drop to Round 2-3 Outfielders? (Mike Trout, Michael Harris II, Randy Arozarena)

32:46 Cedric Mullins, Luis Robert, Kyle Schwarber, Adolis García & Corbin Carroll

39:24 Eloy Jiménez: Undervalued Early-Round Target?

41:54 Does a Small Sample Low Barrel Rate Shape Short-Term Expectations? (Corbin Carroll)

44:10 DVR is Still Skeptical of Adolis García & Teoscar Hernández

49:44 Starling Marte & George Springer at Relative Discounts?

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Digging Deep for Endgame Hitters Feb 10, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss several endgame hitters of interest for those playing in deeper leagues in 2023.

Rundown

0:38 Aaron Ashby Shoulder Fatigue, Behind Brewers' Other Pitchers

4:36 DL Hall Entering Spring as a Starter

9:16 A.J. Puk Stretching Out This Spring

14:42 Will Benson Traded to Cincinnati

22:32 Adam Frazier, Good Deep League Oatmeal?

27:04 Opportunity in LA: Trayce Thompson v. James Outman

29:13 Nolan Jones' Role in Colorado

32:02 The Late, Late Rays (Jonathan Aranda, Kyle Manzardo, Curtis Mead, Josh Lowe & Vidal Bruján)

45:17 Brice Turang and Surprising 2022 Power

49:30 David Villar v. J.D. Davis

58:30 Scouring the Nats' Depth Chart for Bargains

1:01:26 Aaron Hicks & David Peralta

1:11:50 Conner Capel's Opportunity in Oakland

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2023 Catcher & UT-Only Preview Feb 09, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the catchers and Utility-only players ahead of 2023 fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

1:00 ADP Tier 1: J.T. Realmuto, Daulton Varsho, Will Smith, Adley Rutschman & Salvador Perez

15:08 ADP Tier 2: Willson Contreras, Alejandro Kirk, MJ Melendez, William Contreras, Sean Murphy & Tyler Stephenson

25:42 ADP Tier 3: Cal Raleigh, Danny Jansen, Keibert Ruiz, Travis d'Arnaud

36:27 ADP Tier 4: Gabriel Moreno, Logan O'Hoppe, Jonah Heim, Christian Vázquez, Yasmani Grandal, Eric Haase

42:21 Beyond the Top 300 Overall

52:49 Shohei Ohtani & Unparalleled Positional Flexibility

1:01:22 Bryce Harper & Waiting for a Lengthy Recovery

1:06:10 UT-Only Players Headed for Catcher Eligibility

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Introducing Chris Welsh and the Rates & Barrels Prospect Project! Feb 07, 2023

Eno and DVR welcome Chris Welsh to the Rates & Barrels crew as they introduce a new prospect-centric weekly episode focusing on keeper and dynasty leagues, prospects, scouting, and player development.

Rundown

2:08 Preferred Keeper/Dynasty League Formats

11:40 International Free Agent Bonus Money v. Draft Slot Money

15:42 Dynasty Rankings Are Incredibly Hard to Do Well; Welsh's Process

31:11 Exit Velocity & The Challenge of Finding Robust Prospect Batted Ball Data

44:27 Who Do You Like More Than Their Current Stat Lines?

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Have mailbag questions or ideas for future episodes, drop us a note!

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2023 Second Base Preview Feb 06, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the second base position for 2023 fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

3:03 ADP Tier 1: Top-50 Overall Second Basemen (Jose Altuve, Marcus Semien, Jazz Chisholm Jr. Ozzie Albies)

18:18 ADP Tier 2: Tommy Edman, Andres Giménez & Gleyber Torres

31:34 ADP Tier 3: A Large Group of Multi-Position Players (Jorge Polanco, Brandon Lowe, Vaughn Grissom, Thairo Estrada, Jonathan India, Max Muncy, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Drury, Jake Cronenworth & Whit Merrifield)

55:13 ADP Tier 4: Beyond the Top 200 (Ketel Marte, Gavin Lux, Luis Urías, Jean Segura, Nick Gordon, Brendan Rodgers)

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2023 Shortstop Preview Feb 03, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the shortstop position for 2023 fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

1:25 ADP Tier 1 (Trea Turner, Bobby Witt Jr., Bo Bichette, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Francisco Lindor)

14:15 The Fernando Tatis Jr. Problem(s)

27:56 ADP Tier 2 (Corey Seager, Oneil Cruz, Tommy Edman, Dansby Swanson, Wander Franco, Xander Bogaerts, Tim Anderson, Willy Adames)

46:43 ADP Tier 3 (Jeremy Peña, Carlos Correa, Amed Rosario, Nico Hoerner)

55:24 ADP Tier 4 (Thairo Estrada, Javier Báez, Adalberto Mondesi, Bryson Stott, Jorge Mateo)

1:01:17 ADP Tier 5 (Ezequiel Tovar, CJ Abrams, Luis Urías, Anthony Volpe, J.P Crawford)

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2023 First Base Preview Feb 02, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the first base position for 2023 fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

1:07 ADP Tier 1-1.5: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Freddie Freeman, Paul Goldschmidt & Pete Alonso

15:24 Does Matt Olson Belong In This Group?

17:02 Tier 2: José Abreu, Rhys Hoskins, C.J. Cron, Christian Walker, Vinnie Pasquantino & Nathaniel Lowe

27:40 Is Andrew Vaughn Overpriced?

36:30 Tier 3: Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell, Josh Naylor, Ty France, Rowdy Tellez & Miguel Vargas

49:10 Tier 4: Young Players & Late Darts (Triston Casas, Spencer Torkelson, Jared Walsh, Brandon Belt and Matt Mervis)

1:02:37 Kyle Manzardo: Capable of a Late 2023 Arrival & Impact?

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2023 Third Base Preview Jan 31, 2023

Eno and DVR examine the third base position for 2023 fantasy baseball drafts.

Rundown

0:53 Tier 1-1.5: José Ramírez, Bobby Witt Jr., Manny Machado, Rafael Devers & Austin Riley

10:15 Tier 2: Nolan Arenado & Alex Bregman

17:37 Gunnar Henderson: Expectations For First Full Season?

21:53 Tier 3: Henderson, Max Muncy, Jose Miranda, Eugenio Suárez, Matt Chapman, Ke'Bryan Hayes & Ryan McMahon

32:04 Tier 4: Outside the Top 200 Overall (Luis Urías, Justin Turner & Yoán Moncada)

39:24 Young Players to Consider (Josh Jung, Miguel Vargas, Jordan Walker, Isaac Paredes & Brett Baty)

58:35 Tier 5: Late, Late Darts (Jeimer Canderlario, J.D. Davis, Josh Donaldson v. DJ LeMahieu, Brian Anderson & Spencer Steer)

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Late January Deals & Signings, Managing Young Starting Pitchers Jan 30, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss several noteworthy news items including a few recent trades, signings, and proclamations about opportunities for a pair of interesting 2023 rookies.

Rundown

2:53 Adalberto Mondesi: Buying Into Opportunity in Boston?

10:40 Adam Duvall's Chances of a 2021 Repeat

13:57 Grayson Rodriguez Expected to Opening in O's Rotation

26:54 Miguel Vargas: On Track for Second-Base Job?

35:15 Breaking Down the Twins-Marlins Swap

43:11 Luis Arraez: What You See, Is What You Get?

53:28 More Stability for Alex Kirilloff & Trevor Larnach

59:56 Lightning Round Signings! (Josh Harrison, Jesús Aguilar, Ian Kennedy, Nelson Cruz, Aroldis Chapman, Ian Kennedy & Zack Greinke)

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2023 Relief Pitcher Preview Jan 28, 2023

Eno and DVR close out Pitcher Week with their 2023 Relief Pitcher Preview.

Rundown

0:53 ADP Tier 1: Edwin Díaz, Emmanuel Clase, Josh Hader

12:48 ADP Tier 2: Jordan Romano, Devin Williams, Ryan Pressly, Raisel Iglesias, Félix Bautista, Ryan Helsley & Kenley Jansen

23:46 ADP Tier 3: Camilo Doval, Scott Barlow, David Bednar, Daniel Bard, Alexis Díaz, Jhoan Durán

29:47 ADP Tier 4: Andrés Muñoz, Liam Hendriks, Paul Sewald & Pete Fairbanks

36:41 Unsettled Situations Without Top 200 ADP Relievers

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2023 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 3 Jan 27, 2023

Eno and DVR continue Pitcher Week with a look at the starting pitchers typically available outside the Top 200 overall in early drafts.

Rundown

1:46 Pick 200-250 Overall Starting Pitchers (Lance McCullers Jr. Patrick Sandoval, Jack Flaherty, Sonny Gray, Edward Cabrera, Reid Detmers, Jameson Taillon, Aaron Ashby, José Berríos, Trevor Rogers, Jose Urquidy)

26:03 Pick 250-300 (Eric Lauer, Marcus Stroman, Michael Kopech, Miles Mikolas, Merrill Kelly, Justin Steele, Zach Eflin, Noah Syndergaard, Roansy Contreras)

43:44 Beyond Pick 300 (Martín Pérez, Carlos Carrasco, Cal Quantrill, Taijuan Walker, Aaron Civale, Eduardo Rodriguez, Steven Matz, Adam Wainwright)

52:18 Rookies of Interest Available in Late Rounds (Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Drey Jameson, Ken Waldichuk, Eury Perez, Ricky Tiedemann, Daniel Espino, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Andrew Painter, Kyle Harrison, Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Taj Bradley)

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2023 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 2 Jan 24, 2023

Eno and DVR continue Pitcher Week with a look at the starting pitchers with Top 100-200 overall ADP in January drafts.

Rundown

1:37 A Quick Breaking News Item (Adalberto Mondesi Traded to Boston)

4:20 ADP Tier 3: Robbie Ray, George Kirby, Logan Gilbert, Hunter Greene, Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes, Logan Webb, Kyle Wright, Blake Snell, Clayton Kershaw, Nick Lodolo

19:50 The Clayton Kershaw 'Problem'

36:58 Lingering Questions About the Ball (Related Reading: https://www.insider.com/mlb-used-two-balls-again-this-year-and-evidence-points-to-a-third-2022-12 - by Bradford William Davis w/research from Dr. Meredith Wills)

42:01 ADP Tier 3.5 - Lance Lynn, Joe Ryan, Freddy Peralta, Jesús Luzardo, Lucas Giolito, Chris Bassitt

50:05 ADP Tier 4 – Dustin May, Luis Garcia, Pablo López, Jordan Montgomery, Chris Sale, Charlie Morton, Tony Gonsolin

1:11:07 ADP Tier 4.5 - Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, Brady Singer, Grayson Rodriguez, Jon Gray

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2023 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 1 Jan 23, 2023

Eno and DVR begin Pitcher Week with a look at the starting pitchers with Top 100 overall ADP in January drafts.

Rundown

5:34 ADP Tier 1: Elite of the Elite: Corbin Burnes, Gerrit Cole, Sandy Alcantara, Jacob deGrom

14:43 ADP Tier 1.5: Spencer Strider, Brandon Woodruff, Aaron Nola, Shane McClanahan, Dylan Cease, Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodón, Max Scherzer, Zack Wheeler, Julio Urías

53:25 ADP Tier 2: (Pick 60-80) Mostly SP2s: Shane Bieber, Luis Castillo, Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, Cristian Javier, Zac Gallen, Max Fried

1:18:08 ADP Tier 2.5: (Pick 80-100): Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Framber Valdez, Triston McKenzie, Tyler Glasnow

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The New Crew, Offseason Health Updates & Risky Early-Round Decisions Jan 19, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the potential impact of Brian Anderson and Jesse Winker during in the Brewers' lineup, a new fan on the way in February, Alex Kirilloff's health winter, Tommy Pham and Adam Duvall in new outfields, and Julian Merryweather's fresh start in Chicago before discussing early-round strategy including high-risk, high-reward players in the top-20, and working backward through the draft board while making decisions on draft day.

Rundown

2:05 Jesse Winker's Healthy Winter

7:38 (Another) Brian Anderson in Milwaukee

14:27 A Show & Life Update!

23:20 Alex Kirilloff Progressing From Wrist Injury; Twins Depth Chart

28:57 Tommy Pham Joins the Mets

32:56 Adam Duvall to the Red Sox

37:05 Jullian Merryweather Enters the Cubs' Closer Picture?

44:50 Early Risk Considerations

48:22 Problem Solving Roster Foundations

1:04:20 Waiting on Speed, Without Relying on Esteury Ruiz

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Rounding Out Rosters & Depth Chart Diving Jan 17, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the Yankees' rotation depth with Frankie Montas expected to miss time at the start of the season, Trey Mancini's impact on the Cubs' depth chart, Brandon Belt's ripple effect in Toronto, and the addition of Miguel Rojas to an unsettled playing-time mix in Los Angeles. Plus, the A's addition of Shintaro Fujinami, Andrew McCutchen's reunion with the Pirates, and Jorge Alfaro's move to Boston.

Rundown

2:00 Frankie Montas' Shoulder Injury

10:27 Trey Mancini to the Cubs

18:11 Brandon Belt's Role in Toronto; Impact on Kirk & Jansen

27:02 Miguel Rojas & The Unsettled Dodgers Depth Chart

35:28 Jacob Amaya's Path in Miami

39:00 Shintaro Fujinami to the A's

46:50 Andrew McCutchen Returns to Pittsburgh

52:30 Jorge Alfaro to the Red Sox

58:44 Luke Weaver to the Reds; Future Reliever?

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A Phillies-Tigers Deal, Questionable First-Rounders & Roster Construction Problems Jan 09, 2023

Eno and DVR discuss the still unsettled status of Carlos Correa and the Twins' move back into the fray, a trade between the Phillies and Tigers, Michael Conforto as a high-volume player in Year 1 with the Giants, current first-round picks that appear to be overdrafted, and a few roster construction concerns that have surfaced in the early portion of the 2023 draft season.

Rundown

4:29 Carlos Correa: Twins Back in the Mix?

8:41 Phillies-Tigers Trade: Closer Questions All Around

19:19 Making Sense of Matt Vierling & the Tigers' OF Playing Time Mix

24:59 Michael Conforto Officially a Giant

28:57 A.J. Pollock to Seattle

31:26 Eric Hosmer to Chicago

35:43 Dodgers DFA Bauer, MLB Reinstates John Coppolella

37:33 Best Wishes to Liam Hendriks

40:49 Current First-Rounders of Concern?

56:18 Roster Construction Questions

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Uncertainty with Carlos Correa, Jays-D-backs Trade, Mid-Range Free Agent Moves Jan 04, 2023

Eno and DVR start the new year by discussing Carlos Correa's unexpected lingering free-agent status, a blockbuster trade between the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks, Brandon Drury's chances of a 2022 repeat, Jameson Taillon's move into a more pitcher-friendly environment, Nathan Eovaldi in Texas, and potential changes to the closer picture in Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Rundown

5:09 Carlos Correa in Limbo

8:19 Blue Jays-Diamondbacks Trade

19:18 Jean Segura Lands in Miami

25:45 J.D. Martinez & Justin Turner Switch Coasts

31:03 Brandon Drury to the Angels; Chances of 2022 Repeat?

38:43 Wil Myers Wins Park Factors Lottery

44:11 Jameson Taillon to the Cubs

46:38 Nathan Eovaldi Joins Rebuilt Rangers Rotation

54:04 Craig Kimbrel to the Phillies

58:44 Taylor Rogers: Save Chances in San Francisco w/Camilo Doval?

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Moves, Moves & More Moves: Carlos Rodón, Carlos Correa & Sean Murphy Relocate Dec 19, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the latest round of moves including Carlos Rodón's six-year pact with the Yankees, Carlos Correa's move to the Bay Area, Dansby Swanson's new deal with the Cubs, a three-team swap that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta, William Contreras to Milwaukee, and another group of young players to Oakland, and much more.

Rundown

1:18 Carlos Rodón Gives the Yankees Another Ace

9:37 Chris Bassitt to the Blue Jays

12:32 Ross Stripling to the Giants

16:02 Noah Syndergaard to the Dodgers

21:34 Other Pitchers on the Move

26:51 Carlos Correa to the Giants

31:33 Dansby Swanson to the Cubs

40:22 The Three-Team Sean Murphy Trade

52:24 Esteury Ruiz & The A's Return

1:04:23 Oakland's New Pitchers

1:07:10 Andrew Benintendi to the White Sox

1:13:55 Justin Turner & J.D. Martinez Switch Coasts

1:18:24 Joey Gallo to the Twins?

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Kodai Senga to the Mets, Xander Bogaerts to the Padres & Another Flurry of Hot Stove Moves Dec 12, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a very busy week of movement around the league including Kodai Senga's five-year deal with the Mets, other pitchers on the move including Andrew Heaney, Sean Manaea, Kenley Jansen and Carlos Estévez, plus Xander Bogaerts' move to the Padres, Willson Contreras as a St. Louis Cardinal, Mitch Haniger to the Giants, and Josh Bell in Cleveland.

Rundown

1:38 Kodai Senga Signs with the Mets

11:11 Other Free-Agent Deals for Starting Pitchers (Andrew Heaney, Sean Manaea)

25:37 Kenley Jansen to Boston

34:07 Xander Bogaerts: Rebound Coming in San Diego?

41:25 Masataka Yoshida: Expectations in Year 1 with Red Sox

47:30 Willson Contreras, Cardinal

52:35 Making Sense of the St. Louis Lineup in 2022

1:01:43 Mitch Haniger Lands in San Francisco

1:05:50 Josh Bell to the Guardians

1:11:14 A Few More Starts for Shohei Ohtani?

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Winter Meetings Fun: Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander & Trea Turner On the Move! Dec 05, 2022

The Winter Meetings are underway! The Rangers swooped in with a five-year pact to land Jacob deGrom, and the Mets quickly backfilled in their rotation by signing Justin Verlander. DVR and Eno discuss those moves, their process for building rankings, Zach Eflin to the Rays, and a swap between the Mariners and Brewers. Plus, the Phillies provided a late breaking news segment for the episode with an 11-year, $300 million deal for Trea Turner.

Rundown

1:04 Jacob deGrom to the Rangers

10:26 Justin Verlander to the Mets

15:24 Expecting a Longer Deal for Carlos Rodón

23:28 Building Rankings From Scratch

35:14 Zach Eflin's Three-Year Deal with the Rays

42:12 Accessing Pitching+ Leaderboard (https://theathletic.com/3356328 'In this Google Doc')

43:16 More to Come From Isaac Paredes?

51:06 Mariners-Brewers Trade: Kolten Wong, Jesse Winker & Abraham Toro

62:12 Breaking News: Trea Turner to Philly

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2022 Catcher & UT-only Review Nov 22, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the 2022 catcher and utility-only hitter pool. If two-catcher leagues remain a standard, should you push for top-end talent at the position in the early rounds? Can Yasmani Grandal stay healthy with less time behind the plate? Was there enough value in the middle and later rounds for second catchers? On the UT-only side, is there anything left for Shohei Ohtani to unlock? And, can J.D. Martinez adjust his approach and get to more consistent pull-side power?

Rundown

6:11 A Plea for One-Catcher Leagues

11:49 2022 Bust: Yasmani Grandal

14:09 Strong Returns Overall From Early Catchers

19:10 Prioritizing Top-End Options?

27:41 Finding Value Later

35:06 Other Catchers of Interest?

39:42 Shohei Ohtani's Brilliant 2022 Campaign

49:42 Bryce Harper Joins UT-only Club; Surgery On Tap

52:08 Can J.D. Martinez Get to 25+ Homers Again?

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2022 First Base Review Nov 14, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the 2022 first base pool. How much can we trust Paul Goldschmidt's incredible season? Can Vlad Jr. get back to his 2021 levels? How reliables are mid-round and late values at the position? And, what is next for Vinnie Pasquantino, Spencer Torkelson, Triston Casas, and Joey Meneses?

Rundown

2:19 Paul Goldschmidt's Incredible 2022

12:54 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s Small Step Down

19:16 Uneaten Hats: Freddie Freeman

24:58 Mid-Round & Late First Base Surprises (Good & Bad)

35:09 Vinnie Pasquantino's Arrival

44:04 Spencer Torkelson's Disappointing Debut

51:29 Triston Casas' Late Look

58:20 Joey Meneses' Impressive Performance

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2022 Third Base Review & Arizona Fall League Observations Nov 10, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the 2022 third base pool after Eno shares some of his observations from his annual trip to the Arizona Fall League. They examined the surprising consistency atop the position, the injuries that limited the value in the middle tier, and the handful of intriguing late options that will carry significantly higher ADP looking ahead to 2023.

Rundown

0:30 Arizona Fall League Observations

19:13 Third Base Review

26:09 Focusing on Elite Options in 2023?

33:17 Rafael Devers' Second-Half Slide

40:03 The Fallback Players Are Fine

45:40 Jose Miranda and 2022's Late Risers

56:23 Better Prospects Coming in 2023?

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2022 Second Base Review Nov 01, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the 2022 second base pool. With a steady supply of mid-round value, does it make sense to wait at the position in the future? How much rebound potential will there be across the group of second basemen that missed considerable time with injuries?

Rundown

1:46 Ozzie Albies' Lost 2022 Season

6:23 DVR Confessions

15:59 Andrés Giménez: What's Next?

23:49 Mid-Round Value

32:07 Brandon Drury's Out of Nowhere Excellent Season

39:49 Vaughn Grissom's Debut

52:25 Mulligans for These Injuries?

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2022 Shortstop Review Oct 24, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the 2022 shortstop pool. Was the position as deep and productive as expected? How can the shape of shortstop be leveraged in future seasons? What should we make of Wander Franco's injury-shortened campaign? Will Adalberto Mondesi find a path to full-time plate appearances?

Rundown

6:04 Dansby Swanson's Massive Walk Year, Big FA Class

15:02 Injury Impact on 2022 Early Shortstops

20:25 Neverending Value at the Position?

25:05 Preparing for Oneil Cruz Helium

32:32 Swinging-Strike Rate Surprises

38:05 What to Make of Wander Franco's 2022?

48:45 Early Optimism for Adalberto Mondesi in 2023?

55:33 Favorite 2022 Pop-Up Shortstops

66:30 CJ Abrams and Early Underwhelming Statcast Numbers

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2022 Outfielder Review Oct 17, 2022

Eno and DVR battle a sinus infection and microphone issues take a look back at the Outfielder pool from 2022. From a group that fared well overall, are there any early rebound candidates to target at potential discounts? Can we apply anything from the success of this year's rookie class to future prospects?

Rundown

3:07 Reasonable Regression From a Historically Great Season

10:43 Yordan Alvarez & Best Hitter v. Best Fantasy Player

15:06 Looking Back for Early Disappointments

17:55 Cedric Mullins' Breakout Year Follow-Up

19:42 Mike Trout's High Volume of PT Post IL

27:10 Underperforming Top-25 Outfielders

37:01 Nick Castellanos & Roller Coaster Players

40:28 Can We Learn Anything From Michael Harris II & Steven Kwan?

45:15 Making Sense of AVG-heavy Players (Jeff McNeil)

51:17 2022 Rookie Class Success Impact on Future Rookies?

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2022 Starting Pitcher Review Oct 11, 2022

Eno and DVR take a look back at the Starting Pitcher pool from 2022. Is the group getting better at assessing pitching in general? Does that make it more difficult to wait on pitching going forward? What adjustments (if any) should we make coming away from this season given the relative dead zone for pitching around the back of the Top 200 overall?

Rundown

0:54 The Elite of the Elite

6:09 Older Pitchers Holding Skills Longer Than Expected?

11:11 Is the Market Getting Better at Evaluating Pitching?

17:11 Underperforming v. Overperforming the Pitching+ Model

23:40 Finding Another Shane McClanahan in the Pick 100 Range

31:58 More Comfortable Taking Injury Discounts with Pitchers?

38:35 A One-Year Blip or a Bigger Trend?

47:52 Pitching Hits Outside the Top 200 Overall

50:22 Looking for Future Breakouts

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2022 Relief Pitcher Review Oct 03, 2022

Eno and DVR begin their 2022 Positional Reviews series with relievers. As the top closer shuffle places, does it make sense to target top-end sources of saves? Will the implementation of the Pitch Clock prove particularly costly for older relievers? Which young risers will catch the most helium on the heels of productive 2022 seasons?

Rundown

1:24 Final Roster Adjustments

7:26 Lessons Learned from Josh Hader & Liam Hendriks

10:32 Re-Ordering the Top-End Options?

16:04 Treading Carefully Around the Back of the Top 100

23:40 Aiming for 70 Saves in 2023?

27:22 Role Uncertainty From the Third Tier

32:48 Draft-and-Hold v. Leagues w/Moves

39:13 Aging Curves on Relievers

45:23 Embracing (Or Not Fearing) Committees

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Learning From 2022 Roster Builds, Title or Bust & Timing Rebuilds Sep 29, 2022

Eno and DVR looks at two of their teams with wildly different outcomes in 2022 in an attempt to mold future strategies and avoid repeating mistakes. Plus, Eno's best Halloween costumes, diminishing returns when too many teams execute the same strategy, choosing a direction in long-term leagues.

Rundown

1:36 Best Halloween Costumes

8:34 Learning from Eno's AL LABR Build

16:48 Preparing to Pivot

22:46 Adjusting to Other Strategies in the Room

27:19 DVR's Disastrous TGFBI Squad: Avoiding Repeat Mistakes

42:17 Is It Championship or Bust?

49:11 Timing Contending v. Rebuilding

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Finale Strategy, Triston McKenzie's Big Step Forward & the Impact of Rule Changes on Catchers Sep 26, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a few more difficult aspects of endgame strategy with just 10 days left to play in the 2022 fantasy baseball season. Plus, they examine the long-term outlook for Triston McKenzie on the heels of his breakout, optimism about Brandon Marsh's first full campaign in Philadelphia, and the impact of rule changes on how catchers might be valued in the long run.

Rundown

5:12 Endgame Strategy: Protecting Ratios v. Chasing Wins and/or Strikeouts

11:56 Putting on Your Opponents' Shoes

17:25 Fighting Back Against Instincts, Late FOMO

23:22 Triston McKenzie's Long-Term Outlook

29:25 Does a Pitcher's Frame/Body Type Matter?

36:06 Are Top-End Speedsters More Desirable in H2H Leagues?

41:29 Brandon Marsh & Mickey Moniak in New Organizations

48:08 Rule Changes & Impact on Catchers

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New Steals Sources, Late Promotions & Endgame Help Sep 22, 2022

Eno and DVR consider the implications of new 2023 rules on stolen bases. Will players who currently run occasionally end up with bigger increases than top-end speedsters? Plus, they look at several potential late-season additions capable of making a positive impact in the final weeks of the season.

Rundown

1:21 How Stolen Base Opportunities Might Change

9:12 Unfortunately, You Can't Switch Defenders That Way

15:33 Ezequiel Tovar Gets a Late Promotion to Colorado

20:21 Jordan Diaz's Look from the A's

27:36 Eno Speaks Italian

32:23 Bubba Thompson: Is This Real?

38:08 Edward Olivares...Again?

44:16 DVR Finally Gives Up on Nick Senzel

47:08 Late Pitching Help!

55:17 Weird Season: Chris Taylor

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Shift Rule Winners, Breaking WAR & Superstar Fatigue Sep 19, 2022

Eno and DVR dig into potential winners from the restrictions on shifting that will go into effect in 2023. Can José Ramírez become even more productive in batting average in the new landscape? Will teams swap defensive positions to counteract shift rules? How does Shohei Ohtani break WAR, and is 'superstar fatigue' a real thing?

Rundown

4:37 Searching Statcast for Potential Shift Rules Winners

10:51 José Ramírez: Slightly Higher Ceiling in 2023?

18:45 Will Defenders Swap Positions Regularly?

23:05 An Increasing Number of Multi-Position Players?

25:43 Are Any Player Types Susceptible to Lose Playing Time?

31:06 Will the Market Overcorrect for Players Losing Hits to Shifts?

39:06 Shohei Ohtani & Breaking WAR

52:12 Superstar Fatigue

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When to Give Up on Young Players, Spin Rate Check-In & Making Sense of Morel Sep 15, 2022

Inspired by the 2022 struggles of Jo Adell and Jarred Kelenic, Eno and DVR discuss when they give up on young players, what they look for while trying to determine a player's future power potential. Plus, spin rates are ticking up as sticky stuff appears to be alive and well, an update to the tempo data for pitching pace, and an attempt to make sense of Christopher Morel's rookie season.

Rundown

-- When to Give Up on Young Players

-- Looking Back at the Early Years Dansby Swanson

-- What to Look For While Seeking Future Pop

-- Spin Rates Are Healthy

-- Revisiting the Rule Changes; Clarity on the Tempo Data

-- Making Sense of Christopher Morel's Rookie Season

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Second Half Pitching Risers & Fallers Sep 12, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss some of the biggest risers and fallers among pitchers in the second half of the season in search of late-season pitchers to trust, others to avoid, and potential bargains for those looking ahead to draft-and-hold season for 2023.

Rundown

-- New Role, Big Improvement

-- Michael Wacha's Adjustments

-- Blake Snell's Turnaround

-- Bailey Falter's Run in the Philly Rotation

-- Spenser Watkins

-- David Peterson is Pretty Good

-- Trevor Rogers is Returning to 2021 Form?

-- Drew Rasmussen Improving In-Season?

-- Could the O's Consider Dillon Tate as a Starter in 2023?

-- Second-Half Fallers

-- Craig Kimbrel's Slide Out of Regular Saves in LA

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Quality Speed Sources, Rule Changes On Tap & Pitch Clock Considerations Sep 08, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the pleasant surprise of having many sources of stolen-bases that are good all-around offensive players, plus Cody Bellinger's future, the risky speed profiles to avoid, underrating Jon Berti, and the potential impact of rule changes looming for the 2023 season.

Rundown

7:30 Stolen-Base Leaderboard Packed with Good Players?

12:30 Cody Bellinger's Future; Brighter Leaving LA?

20:08 Low OPS, Good Speed, High Risk

24:02 Underrating Jon Berti

27:16 Potential Impact of Rule Changes on Stolen Bases

31:09 Cedric Mullins' Breakout Follow-Up

35:56 Pitch Clock Coming in 2023? Pitchers Primed to Gain/Lose

45:45 The Pie Slice Rule, Shifting

49:55 Joey Bart's Second-Half Turnaround

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An Impressive Debut & Fun with xStats Sep 06, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the strong debut from D-backs pitcher Ryne Nelson before examining a few surprises on the xStats leaderboards including José Ramírez, Alex Bregman, Bo Bichette, Paul Goldschmidt, José Abreu, and much more.

Rundown

4:06 Ryne Nelson’s Debut

8:10 xStats Recalibrated for 2022

12:16 Making Sense of José Ramírez's xStats

15:59 Alex Bregman’s Second-Half Rebound

21:27 Bo Bichette's Huge Monday; Slight Step Back in 2022

24:25 O-Swing% v. Great Hit Tools

30:59 What's Next For Paul Goldschmidt?

34:43 José Abreu's Lost Homers

42:21 Luis Patiño’s Two-Strike Approach

52:41 Too Many Lefty Bats in Shallow Leagues?

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Promotions, Roster Expansion & The Julio Rodríguez Megadeal Sep 01, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several recently promoted players in the wake of September roster expansion including Gunnar Henderson, Spencer Steer, Garrett Mitchell, Hunter Brown, and Ken Waldichuk -- plus a few second-half pitchers competing for long-term opportunities with their respective clubs.

Rundown

2:02 Gunnar Henderson is Up!

8:33 Spencer Steer's Late-Season Opportunity

16:55 Nick Senzel's 2023 Role?

19:58 Spencer Torkelson, Round 2

22:59 Miguel Vargas Returns

27:17 Michael Toglia's Regular Run

33:57 Hunter Brown's Promotion in Houston

37:31 Ken Waldichuk Debuts

46:03 Brayan Bello, Cade Cavalli & Javier Assad

54:54 Julio Rodríguez's Long-Term Deal with the Mariners

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Corbin Carroll Gets the Call, Misjudging Paul Goldschmidt, and Late-Season Bullpen Help Aug 29, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Corbin Carroll, his chances of being relevant in all league formats down the stretch, second-half risers in contact quality, how we missed on Paul Goldschmidt's MVP-worthy 2022 campaign, and a few late reliever pickups capable of making meaningful contributions.

Rundown

-- Corbin Carroll Gets the Call

-- Jesús Aguilar DFA'd by the Marlins

-- Second-Half Barrel & Hard-Hit Surgers

-- What's Next for Rowdy Tellez?

-- How Did We Miss on Paul Goldschmidt?

-- The Timing of Taking Chances on Young, Breakout Players

-- Ketel Marte's Pursuit of His 2019 Peak

-- Waiting on Shortstop Worked Out

-- Late-Season Bullpen Help

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Tough Late-Season Decisions, Finding First Base Help & Throwing Too Many Strikes Aug 26, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a few challenging late-season decisions, how to potentially avoid the issues in the future, a disappointing 2022 from Jared Walsh, the search for help at first base, their latest installment of Prospect of the Week, pitching in the zone 'too much' and more.

Rundown

-- Tough Late-Season Decisions

-- How to Avoid Chasing Pitching in the Future

-- Making the Difficult Drop

-- Jared Walsh's 2022: What Went Wrong?

-- Finding First Base Help

-- Prospect of the Week

-- More Info on Cade Cavalli

-- Removing Bias Against Old Pitchers

-- Pitching In the Zone Too Much?

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Long-Term Outlooks for Buehler & Tatis, Late Promotions & Oneil Cruz Feats of Strength Aug 25, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the long-term outlook for Walker Buehler following his second career Tommy John surgery, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s decision to undergo shoulder surgery while serving his suspension, a few approach similarities between Bo Bichette and Michael Harris II, late-season promotions thanks to new CBA rules, Oneil Cruz's Statcast-breaking feat, and much more.

Rundown

-- Walker Buehler Undergoes a Second Tommy John Surgery

-- Fernando Tatis Jr. Set for Shoulder Surgery

-- Michael Harris II and Similarities to Bo Bichette's Profile?

-- Cade Cavalli & Late Promotions

-- Oneil Cruz Sets New Max Exit Velocity Record

-- Has Amed Rosario Finally Reached His Ceiling?

-- What's Next for Yoán Moncada?

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Fishing for Pitching: Overlooked Veterans, Relievers w/Starter Potential & Young Risers Aug 18, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several late-season pitchers to monitor in hopes of finding undervalued arms for stretch run, and potential big movers in 2023 -- including young starters, relievers w/the chance to move into larger roles, and the next group of elite closers.

Rundown

-- Starters with Stuff+ Improvements From Last Season

-- Jake Junis' Emergence in San Francisco

-- Potential Movers from Current Bullpen Role to Future Starting Opportunities

-- Making Sense of DL Hall's Debut

-- Nick Lodolo in the Face of Sinkers Disappearing

-- Edward Cabrera's Recent Success

-- The Next Group of Elite Relievers

-- Yusei Kikuchi as a Bullpen Arm?

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Tatis' Suspension, CJ Abrams' Power Outlook, Slugging Risers & Fallers Aug 15, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss Fernando Tatis Jr.'s positive PED test and subsequent 80-game suspension, CJ Abrams' long-term power outlook, the biggest risers and fallers in slugging percentage from 2021 to 2022, and much more.

Rundown

4:07 Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Suspension, Future Outlook

12:27 CJ Abrams' Long-Term Power Trajectory; Early-Career Comps

21:05 Stat Traps?

25:59 Slugging Percentage Year-over-Year Risers

28:35 Andrés Giménez's Step Forward

33:41 Nick Gordon's Surprising Power

42:04 Yasmani Grandal's Plummeting Pop

45:26 Better Rebound Candidate: Castellanos v. Winker

51:25 Marcus Semien's Mid-Season Turnaround

58:45 Moves Allowed for Non-Playoff Teams in Keeper League?

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Stretch Run Value Targets, Stashes to Consider & Warming to Combined Saves and Holds? Aug 11, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several second-half standouts that they are optimistic about beyond 2022, factors to consider when looking for deep pitching stashes late in the season, the possibility of two massive contracts for Juan Soto given his age, and whether it's time to shift more leagues to a combined 'Saves + Holds' stat to remedy closer inflation.

Rundown

-- Bullish On Young KC Bats?

-- Targeting Jose Barrero Despite Elevated K%?

-- J.D. Davis' New Opportunity in San Francisco

-- Holding Out Hope for Luis Rengifo?

-- Interest in JJ Bleday?

-- What to Consider with Keeper/Dynasty Pitcher Stashes?

-- Two Massive Deals for Juan Soto?

-- Why Hasn't There Been a Shift to More Saves+Holds Leagues?

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Closer ROI & 2023 Expectations, Projecting Risk & Jesse Winker is the Next Jesse Winker? Aug 08, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the value provided (or lack thereof) from the top-end closers in the pool so far this season, and whether that might lead to a less aggressive draft market toward the saves category in 2023. Plus, they consider what would go into a calculation that better quantifies risk, expectations for a few pitchers making late-season returns from injury, and candidates to be the 'next Jesse Winker'.

Rundown

-- Early Alternatives to Josh Hader and Liam Hendriks

-- Are Relievers Valued Incorrectly?

-- Overshopping the Bargain Bin

-- Will Sanity Return to Closer ADPs Next Season?

-- A Lot of Disappointment: Pick 100-200 Range

-- Quantifying Risk

-- Expectations for Late-Season SPs Returning From Injuries

-- An Approach to Hitters

-- Finding the Next Jesse Winker

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Related Reading 'Inter-Projection Volatility & The ATC Projections' by Ariel Cohen (@ATCNY): https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/inter-projection-volatility-the-atc-projections/

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Trade Deadline Takeaways, Threading the Needle, and Remembering Vin Scully Aug 04, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss Trade Deadline takeaways, the frustration when teams try to 'thread the needle' in the wake of the Brewers' recent moves, the seemingly light activity of the Mets, a fascinating Brandon Marsh-Logan O'Hoppe trade, the absence of Ronald Acuña Jr.'s power (so far) this season coming off of a torn ACL, Walker Buehler's pre-injury struggles, and their favorite Vin Scully stories.

Rundown

-- All-In v. Threading the Needle

-- Wild Card Bubble v. First Place Team in Deadline Decisions

-- Shorten Service Time to Free Agency, Push More Teams to Play For Now?

-- More Disappointment Per Capita: Mets Fans or Brewers

-- Was the Mets' Deadline Really *That* Bad?

-- Most Intriguing Deals

-- Eno's Bad Mike Trout Trade

-- Prospect of the Week

-- Getting Dunked On By Kids & A Ronald Acuña Jr. Question

-- Injury Risk in Long-Term Trade Targets?

-- Walker Buehler's Pre-Injury Woes

-- Remembering Vin Scully

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Luis Castillo to Seattle, A Surprise Josh Hader Trade to San Diego & Eno's Updated Pitcher Rankings Aug 01, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Luis Castillo to Seattle, big surprises in the latest update to Eno's Starting Pitcher Rankings, a breaking news(!) trade that sent Josh Hader to San Diego, and much more.

Rundown

-- Getting Luis Castillo Out of Great American Ballpark

-- Cincinnati's Future Focus

-- David Peralta to the Rays

-- Eno's Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings (Subscribers to The Athletic can view the rankings here: https://theathletic.com/3458778)

-- Chris Bassitt's Ascent

-- Breaking News: Josh Hader Traded to the Padres!

-- Jon Gray, Year 1 in Texas

-- Nick Lodolo: Young Starting Pitcher on the Rise?

-- Is Corey Kluber a Younger Adam Wainwright?

-- Lucas Giolito's 2022 Slide

-- The New Reid Detmers

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Anticipating Deadline Deals in Search of Late-Season Opportunities & Value Changes Jul 28, 2022

Eno and DVR comb through several rosters ahead of the Trade Deadline in search of current backups and upper level minor leaguers with paths to more playing time in the near future. Plus, they consider the implications of Mike Trout's injury on the Angels in the future, and the importance of the A's hitting on the likely trades of Frankie Montas, Sean Murphy and Ramón Laureano.

Rundown

0:00 It Starts (Intro Music)

1:47 Andrew Benintendi to the Yankees

4:23 PT for Kyle Isbel, Edward Olivares (Once Healthy)?

8:59 Finding Replacement in Chicago

14:36 Will Jose Barrero & Jake Fraley Play More for the Reds?

19:04 Who Moves in Baltimore, Who Steps Into Larger Roles?

24:06 Still Interested in Jack Suwinski?

31:13 Cheap Stolen Bases Coming from D.C.?

42:04 The Mike Trout Situation

52:33 Uncharted Territory in Oakland?

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Statcast Bat Tracking, Struggling Starting Pitchers, and Pitching Model/Results Disagreements Jul 25, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the early applications of Statcast Bat Tracking data, as well as what they hope to learn as the dataset grows in the future before examining several struggling starting pitchers, and a few Pitching Model v. Results disagreements.

Rundown

-- Statcast Bat Tracking

-- Max Swing Speed & Max EV for Power, Barrel Precision for Hit Tool?

-- A Closer Look at Astros & Dodgers

-- Ian Anderson, We Were Warned, But Can He Be Fixed?

-- Yusei Kikuchi: Any Reasons for Rebound Optimism?

-- Aaron Ashby: Extended by Brewers, Big Breakout Looming?

-- Daniel Lynch: Still Frustrating, Still Offers Potential

-- Pitching Model v. Results

-- Nathan Eovaldi's Brutal Weekend Start

-- Prospect of the Week!

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Related Reading: Mike Petriello 'What you need to know about Statcast bat tracking' https://www.mlb.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-statcast-bat-tracking

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Second-Half Rebound Hitters, the 'Pie Slice' Rule & the Marlins' Offensive Woes Jul 22, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several hitters with the potential to rebound in the second half -- with the emphasis on players whose value has fallen since the start of the season -- the potential impact of the "Pie Slice" Rule on current big leaguers, and the Marlins' offensive slide with Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jon Berti on the IL.

Rundown

-- DVR Makes Another Spreadsheet

-- Another Drop on the Joey Votto 2022 Rollercoaster

-- Biggest Difference: ROS Projection v. Earn Value So Far

-- Josh Smith: Deep Leagues Only?

-- Vinnie Pasquantino v. Nolan Gorman, Long Term?

-- Nick Castellanos, Rebound Coming?

-- Seiya Suzuki is Healthy Again

-- The 'Pie Slice' Rule

-- Who Would Benefit From This Change?

-- Adjustments Coming in Miami?

-- Four-Man Outfields/Outfield Shifts

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Related Reading: Jayson Stark on The "Pie Slice" Rule: https://theathletic.com/3417955

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Second-Half Pitcher Workload Concerns & Searching for Midseason Help via Trade & Waivers Jul 21, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several pitchers facing potential workload limitations in the second half -- including a large group of rookie pitchers, and a few veterans who have lost time in recent years due to significant injuries. Plus, they attempt to find a few solutions via trade and waivers to help remedy an expected shortcoming of innings during the final two-plus months of the season.

Rundown

-- Young Pitchers Facing IP Concerns

-- George Kirby & 2021 Injury Impact

-- Any Reason to Worry About Shane McClanahan?

-- What If You Have Multiple Pitchers In This Situation?

-- Veterans w/Major Injuries

-- The Downside in Pushing Starting Pitcher Volume From Waivers

-- Helpful Changes for Aaron Civale?

-- Max Meyer Pops in Pitching Model

-- Short Relievers of Interest

-- Long-Term Ceiling of Glenn Otto?

-- Any Signs of Slowing Down for Nestor Cortes?

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Young Hitters to Target & Why the Stabilization Point for Barrel Rate Feels Slippery Jul 13, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss why Esteury Ruiz might have a difficult time becoming Jon Berti 2.0 despite blazing speed and a growing path to playing time with the Padres, before examining several young hitters whose underlying skills point to future success, and why the stabilization point of a hitter's barrel rate still messes with our minds.

Rundown

-- It Starts (Intro Music)

-- Esteury Ruiz: Stolen Bases Galore on the Waiver Wire?

-- Spencer Torkelson: Second-Half Turnaround On Tap?

-- More Likely to Improve Barrel Rate: Andrew Vaughn or Ke'Bryan Hayes?

-- Andrés Giménez: Is This His Ceiling?

-- Where is Gavin Lux's Power Amidst a Breakout?

-- More Power Coming From Nico Hoerner

-- DVR is Still In on Brandon Marsh

-- Raw Power Search: Below Average Barrel Rates, Top 20 Max EV

-- When to Trust a Dramatic Shift in Barrel Rate for a Veteran Player?

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Midseason Problems, Young Pitchers to Target & Trying Making Sense of Byron Buxton Jul 11, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a few different midseason problems and try to determine which is the easiest to solve in the second half, plus they examine several young pitchers that might be worth acquiring via trade or pickup for the long-term future before attempting to make sense of Byron Buxton's unusual 2022 season (so far).

Rundown

-- Midseason Roster Flaws

-- Where Have Steals Come From This Season?

-- Pricey Closer Panning Out (So Far)

-- Fighting Tanked Ratios with Trades, Young Pitchers

-- MacKenzie Gore's First Half

-- Other Pitchers to Target

-- Paying Up for George Kirby in Long-Term Leagues?

-- Has Reid Detmers Changed with the Return of His Slider?

-- Who Is Byron Buxton?

-- Did Brendan Rodgers Figure It Out?

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Luis Castillo's Ace Case, Stuff+ Risers & First-Half Pitching Movers Jul 07, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss Luis Castillo's case for 'ace' status and the possibility that he's the best pitcher moved at the August trade deadline before examining other Stuff+ risers from June to July, and a few big movers on the pitching front from the first half of the season.

Rundown

-- It Starts (Intro Music)

-- Luis Castillo's Recent Changes

-- Castillo as a Seasonal Streamer?

-- Taijuan Walker's First-Half Adjustments

-- Jackson Kowar: Deep League Help in the Second Half?

-- Is Mike Clevinger 'Back'?

-- Other Recent Stuff+ Risers

-- Sandy Alcántara's Continued Ascent

-- Trust Level in Luis Severino's Health?

-- Kyle Wright: Long-Term SP2?

-- Framber Valdez is Better Than DVR Thought

-- Joe Ryan v. Projections & The Model

-- Shane Bieber 3.0?

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J-Rod to the First Round, Barrel Rate Risers & Other Big Movers Jul 05, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the increasing likelihood of Julio Rodríguez becoming 2023 first-round pick, other movers into the early rounds, recent barrel rate surgers -- including Ryan Mountcastle and Dylan Carlson -- the unique challenge of trading for currently injured players, and a handful of mailbag questions.

Rundown

-- Maybe the Pitch Clock Will Reduce Pitcher Injuries?

-- Julio Rodríguez: First-Round Bound in 2023?

-- A Very Brief J-Rod v. Acuña Comparison

-- Ryan Mountcastle: DVR's Perpetual Skepticism, BB/K Laggards

-- Real-Life Replaceable Power?

-- Dylan Carlson's Adjustments

-- Yordan Alvarez & Other Big Movers

-- A Significant Jump for Jazz Chisholm Jr.?

-- Eno Turns the Tables

-- Trading for Injured Players

-- Making Sense of Triston McKenzie

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Searching for Second-Half Role Changes Jun 30, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several struggling players who may open up opportunities for significant role changes during the second half of the season. Plus, the latest installment of Prospect of the Week & Beer of the Month!

Rundown

-- Opportunities in the Cards' Rotation?

-- Brad Keller as a Reliever Would Be Interesting

-- Concerns About Cal Quantrill, Despite Good Ratios?

-- Looking Forward to a New Closer in Arizona?

-- How Safe is Ryan Pressly?

-- Joe Barlow: Time to Buy?

-- Germán Márquez: Would Teams Still Trade For Him?

-- Jonathan Schoop Replacements?

-- Second-Half Expectations for Max Muncy & Justin Turner

-- Prospect of the Week

-- Beer of the Month

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Replacing Injured Stars, Chasing Average & An Opportunity in KC Jun 27, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the challenge of replacing a star in the wake of Bryce Harper's thumb injury, Alejandro Kirk as an 'unusual' player having a breakout season, the surprising lack of second-half leagues, a messy roster management situation in Pittsburgh, when to chase (and when to punt) batting average, and a promotion Kansas City on the heels of a small trade with Seattle.

Rundown

-- The Beginning of the Episode (Music)

-- Replacing Bryce Harper (and Other Stars)

-- Alejandro Kirk: Top-15 Position Player?!

-- An Increasingly Crowded Pittsburgh Depth Chart

-- Where Are the Second-Half Drafts?

-- Chasing Batting Average; Who to Target?

-- Breaking News! Carlos Santana to Seattle + Vinnie Pasquantino Promoted

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Buy-High Pitchers, Baffling Berríos & Spencer Strider as a Starter Jun 23, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several potential 'Buy High' pitchers, on the heels of very strong performances through the first two-and-a-half months of the season. Which starters have taken big steps forward in 2022? Which relievers are sneaky-good trade targets as the deadline approaches? Plus, what is Spencer Strider's ceiling as a starter?

Rundown

-- Shane McClanahan: Elite of the Elite?

-- Tony Gonsolin: What Will the Second Half Bring?

-- Alek Manoah & The Value of a Good Four-Seamer + Two-Seamer

-- Finally Believing in Nestor Cortes Jr.!

-- Martin Pérez, Miles Mikolas

-- Buy-High Relievers?

-- New Bats in San Francisco

-- Spencer Strider's Ceiling as a Starter

-- What's Up with José Berríos?

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Buy-High Hitters, Paying the Steals Tax & Describing the Number 8 Jun 21, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several potential 'Buy High' hitters, on the heels of very strong performances through the first two-and-a-half months of the season. Will C.J. Cron stay in Colorado beyond the trade deadline? Should you believe in Tommy Edman's step forward? Is Dansby Swanson likely to continue stealing bases at his current clip?

Rundown

-- Anthony Rizzo and Yankees Barrel Rate Risers

-- C.J. Cron: Top-10 Player (So Far) in 2022

-- Did DVR Whiff on Adolis García?

-- Tommy Edman, 2.0?

-- Dansby Swanson: 20+ Steals Coming?

-- Other 'Buy-High' Bats to Consider

-- Paying the Steals Tax?

-- Will Smith is Underperforming his xStats

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Surprising Park Factor Changes, Recent Barrel Rates & Two Ways to Lock In a Speeding Ticket Jun 17, 2022

Eno and DVR are back to discuss a few major shifts in park factors thanks to a myriad of changes for 2022, why trusting smaller volumes of park data can be risky, and how it might be effectively leveraged despite limitations going forward. Plus, questions about rolling barrel rates, Corey Seager's lagging slash line, Freddie Freeman's missing homers, Ranger Suárez, Logan Gilbert, and more.

Rundown

-- Park Factor Changes

-- St. Louis is Completely Different; Will It Last?

-- How Might We Take Advantage of Parks Playing Differently?

-- Rolling Barrel Rates; Recent Standouts

-- Corey Seager's Disappointing Slash Line

-- Freddie Freeman's Missing Homers

-- Want to Make Sure You Get a Speed Ticket? Do This!

-- Ranger Suárez & Logan Gilbert Mailbag Questions

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper

e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

(Query referenced during show: https://atmlb.com/3QurM63)

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Italian Beef, Chasing Future Value & Avoiding Prospect Traps w/Clay Link Jun 09, 2022

DVR is joined by Clay Link, Senior MLB Editor of RotoWire.com to discuss Vinnie Pasquantino, the pursuit of future value, avoiding prospect traps while taking appropriate risk with young players, and much more.

Rundown

-- Italian Breakfast or Italian Beef?

-- What Matters to Clay When Seeking Future Value?

-- Christopher Morel's Arrival

-- Shifting K% Marks at Double-A for Elite Hitting Prospects?

-- The New Cody Bellinger Baseline?

-- Balancing Prospect Risk Appropriately

-- Ezequiel Duran's Opportunity in Texas

-- A 2022 Mulligan?

-- Finding Joy in This Season's Cincinnati Reds

Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper

Follow Clay on Twitter: @claywlink

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Growing Pains, Opportunity, Triple-A Power Surges & Pitchers to Target Jun 07, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the challenging balance of giving young left-handed hitters ample opportunities against same-handed pitching, a few interesting power surges from hitters at Triple-A, pitchers that have underperformed through the first two months relative to the Pitching Plus model, and more.

Rundown

-- Jazz Chisholm Jr. v. Lefties

-- Noise in the Very Limited Split Samples

-- Jesús Sánchez & Growing Pains

-- Nolan Gorman & Future Strikeout Rates

-- Luis García and Triple-A Power Surges

-- The Tigers' Lack of Hard Contact

-- Pitching Plus Targets (Current Underperformers)

-- Bat Fitting Like Golf Clubs?

-- How Are Taylor and Tyler Rogers *So* Different?

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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2022 First-Round Mulligans: Risers & Fallers Jun 02, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss how the top of the draft board would look different today compared to the final ADP of 2022. How much would Vlad Jr. and Bo Bichette slide? Who would replace Walker Buehler in the Top 15 overall? And how much would Aaron Judge's injury history factor into his re-do ROS draft slot?

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Goodbye to Hitter's Counts, the Importance of Handling Sliders & Fastball Laggards May 26, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the disappearance of hitter's counts thanks to reduced fastball usage, hitters that are better equipped to take advantage of a more slider-heavy environment, struggling hitters that continue to lag in production as the end of May draws closer, and a few pitchers in need of adjustments due to poor fastballs.

Eno's story about the loss of hitter's counts as fastball use changes: https://theathletic.com/3331525/

Rundown

-- Goodbye to Hitter's Counts

-- Hitters With Good Results Against Sliders

-- Good Against Sliders, Bad Against Fastballs?

-- Struggling Bats: What To Do?

-- Where Did Robbie Grossman's Power Go?

-- Making Sense of Nelson Cruz's 2022

-- Rebound Coming from Yasmani Grandal?

-- Making Sense of Jeffrey Springs

-- Fastball Laggards

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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In-Season Player Valuations, the Trade Itch, Tommy Edman's Surprising Season & A Summer Homer Surge? May 23, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the ongoing challenge of finding common ground with in-season player valuations, the arrival of the annual 'Trade Itch', Tommy Edman's surprising start to 2022, the possibility of a summer home-run surge, and more.

Rundown

-- Finding Common Ground with In-Season Player Values

-- Managing Ratios When Doing Well

-- Dealing with Roster Surplus

-- Tommy Edman's Great Start; Similarities to Ozzie Albies

-- Joey Votto: Bat Change + Return to Health = Summer Turnaround?

-- Gary Sánchez: Any New Adjustments?

-- Expecting A Summer Home-Run Surge

-- Ballpark Shadows; Advantages for Pitchers?

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Digging Deep for In-Season Upgrades, Shane McClanahan to Ace Status & Breakouts in Progress May 20, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Matthew Liberatore and Nolan Gorman, Shane McClanahan's rise to 'ace' status, a few potential breakouts in progress, the value of xStats as a comparative tool, and more.

Rundown

-- Steps Forward From Josh Naylor & Manuel Margot?

-- Hard-Hit Rate Laggards

-- Nolan Gorman & Matthew Liberatore: Short-Term Expectations

-- Pavin Smith & Willi Castro as Deep League Darts

-- Shane McClanahan & Tarik Skubal Move Way Up

-- Prospect of the Week!

-- Using xStats as a Comparative Tool?

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Fixing Broken Rosters, Finding Value in Unique Roles & Assessing Launch Angle May 19, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss ways to consider making adjustments for struggling teams now that the calendar has progressed to the second half of May. Plus, opportunities to find value with pitchers in unique roles, and reasons for optimism about Ke'Bryan Hayes' future power contributions.

Rundown

-- How to Fix a Struggling Squad

-- Accepting a 'Sell Low' Situation

-- Pitching Profiles to Target

-- Stuff v. Role & Non-Closer Pitchers

-- Felix Bautista's Future

-- Ke'Bryan Hayes, Launch Angle & Future Power

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Future of Sports Pt. 2 May 15, 2022

In episode two of the Future of Sports series, The Athletic's Mike Smeltz looks at how the team experience may change in the future: increased use of technology in gameplay, robotic umpires and the unique initiatives of a startup sports league.

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Future of Sports Pt. 1 May 14, 2022

In episode one of the Future of Sports series, The Athletic's Mike Smeltz looks at how the fan experience may change: how going to games, watching games at home and how memorabilia is shifting from physical to digital.

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When to Sell in Dynasty League, Top Prospects Targets & Young Major Leaguers on the Fringe May 12, 2022

Eno and RotoWire's James Anderson to discuss when to decide to sell in dynasty leagues, which prospects will be big movers on his prospect list next week, what his ranking process is like, how organizational context matters for prospects, and end with a would you rather between two veteran pitchers who have been pitching well.

Rundown

-Deciding when to sell in your dynasty league

-What types of prospects to rebuild around

-James Anderson’s top prospect target

-Young major leaguers on the fringe that might take a job

-Organizational contexts for prospect ranking

-More Twins depth chart discussion

-Three top-ten prospect outfielders?

-Learning from Jeremy Pena and Hedbert Perez

-Moxie, pitch mix, and minor league Stuff+

-Max Meyer vs. Grayson Rodriguez

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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George Kirby Arrives, Opportunity in Minnesota and St. Louis, & Exceeding Expectations May 09, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the impressive debut of George Kirby, several prospects emerging to find playing time at the big-league level, players exceeding their scouting grades and expected production, bat humidors, Justin Verlander's post-surgery arsenal, and more.

Rundown

- George Kirby's Debut; Future Expectations

- Interest in Josh Winder?

- Royce Lewis & Jose Miranda

- Can Juan Yepez Maintain an Everyday Role?

- MJ Melendez & The Royals' C-1B-DH Crowd

- A Boring Pickup in Cincinnati?

- Grit+ & Exceeding Expectations

- Bat Humidor Technology

- Justin Verlander Pre v. Post-Surgery Stuff

- Odds & Ends: Yadiel Hernandez, Michael King v. Luis Gil & Stuff+ Laggards

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Underperforming Pitchers & The Problem with Not Swinging May 06, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the value of not swinging the bat, and why that might be a big problem for baseball to solve. Plus, they examine several slow-starting pitchers in search of underlying problems that could persist, and potential trade targets.

Rundown

- Swinging Is Bad, Mmmm K?

- Is Something Wrong With Freddy Peralta?

- José Berríos' Slow Start

- Fading Interest in Targeting Charlie Morton?

- What's Up with Trevor Rogers?

- Tyler Mahle: Not an SP1 (Shocker)

- "You Can't Go Rapid Fire On José Urquidy!"

- Taking the 'L' with Kyle Hendricks

- Germán Márquez's Awful Start

- Scouting & Projections

- xStats v. ROS Projections

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Slow-Starting Hitters, Roster Shrinkage Fallout & Joe Ryan Defies the Model May 02, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several slow-starting bats and try to determine where there are opportunities to make viable trades, and where the early downturn in performance might be a warning sign of a disappointing 2022 season. Plus, they discuss some of the fallout from rosters shrinking, and Joe Ryan's success despite underwhelming pitching model numbers.

Rundown

- Making Sense of Marcus Semien's April

- Is Anything Actually Wrong with Whit Merrifield?

- Randy Arozarena's GB% & O-Swing% Spike

- Is Ketel Marte Broken?

- Trent Grisham's Post 2020 Stumble

- Jesse Winker's Quiet Start in Seattle

- Franmil Reyes & Max Muncy

- Justin Turner v. Time

- Willie Calhoun Wants a Trade; Would You Trade For Him?

- Josh Lowe Heads Back to Durham

- Joe Ryan v. the Pitching+ Model

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Streaming Steals, Mondesi's ACL Injury, Early Fallers & Stabilization Points Apr 28, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a the idea of streaming stolen bases, Adalberto Mondesi's ACL injury, early fallers and subsequent shallow-league drop considerations, stabilization points, and the potential value of foul balls, and more.

Rundown

Streaming Steals in Daily Leagues?

Adalberto Mondesi Suffers a Torn ACL

When Can You Determine a Player is Droppable Based on Statcast Numbers?

Stuff+/Pitching+ Stabilizing

Is Charlie Morton a Buy Low?

Foul Balls & Hit Probability

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Opportunity for Cristian Javier, Hard-Hit Surprises & Another Eloy Injury Apr 25, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss their weekend roster churn -- including another low-cost closer dart in the wake of a poor outing Sunday -- early hard-hit rate surprises, another major injury for Eloy Jiménez, whether the ball has historically been in a state of flux, and more.

Rundown

- Taking a Chance on Tanner Scott in the Face of a Sunday Meltdown

- Cristian Javier Moves Back Into the Houston Rotation

- Early Hard-Hit Ball Leaders

- Admiration of the Yankees' Pitching Depth

- Keeping the Faith in Brandon Marsh (& Christian Yelich)

- Has the Ball Always Been Fluctuating?

- Micro Decisions: Daily League Lineups

- Opportunities in the White Sox's Lineup with Injuries

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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The Search for Innings, A New Early-Season Hitting Metric & Situational Velocity as a Sweet Spot? Apr 21, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss their ongoing search for quality innings, how to adjust if you're already looking to make up ground in pitching categories, a new early-season hitting metric to consider, reaching maximum velocities on a situational basis, and more.

Rundown

- Finding Starting Pitchers Early in the Season

- Beyond the Streamers

- Regrets About an Early Tyler Wells Drop?

- Prospect of the Week is Back!

- A New Early Sample Hitting Metric (From Dorsey)

- Situational Max Velocity?

- An Exercise in Pickup Decisions

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Early Worry, Fast-Rising Pitchers & Jacob deGrom's Velocity Conundrum Apr 18, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss early worry, weekend drops, fast-rising starting pitchers, Jacob deGrom's long-term approach with velocity, Alex Verdugo's impressive start to the season, and Jarren Duran's eventual path back to a prominent role in Boston.

Rundown

When to Worry: Early Slump v. Problematic Underlying Numbers

Healthy Drops From Week 12

Is Owen Miller a Significant Upgrade?

Fast-Rising Starting Pitchers

Am I Mad at Jacob deGrom, or Am I Just Wrong?

Kyle Wright's Adjustments

Pitching_Bot's 2022 Team Pitching Summaries

Alex Verdugo's Early Statcast Numbers & Jarren Duran's Path

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Kershaw is Back! A New Stuff+ Leader, Jesús Luzardo 2.0 & Drop Decisions Apr 14, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss Clayton Kershaw's gem in Minnesota, playing the long game with his health, changes made by Jesús Luzardo in Miami, a new Stuff+ Leader, making early drop decisions, and more.

Rundown

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Opening Weekend Observations: Disappointing Aces, Committee Madness & Electric Firemen Apr 11, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a busy Opening Weekend including a few disappointing performances from fantasy aces, more confusion with multiple teams deploying closer committees, in-season tools they use for managing their rosters, and much more.

Rundown

Disappointing Aces: Brandon Woodruff, Shane Bieber & Julio Urías

Do Foul Balls Matter in Pitching Performances?

More Committee Questions & Electric Firemen

Weekend Starting Pitcher Stuff+ Leaders

Bigger Leadoff Bats

In-Season Management Tools & Projections

Plate Discipline & Quality of Contact

Steven Kwan's Power Ceiling

Hector Neris Appeal w/Ryan Pressly's Velo Dip

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An Opening Day Trade, Draft Season Takeaways & DVR's Bold Predictions Apr 07, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the Opening Day swap between the Twins and Padres, and the fallout for each team's bullpen and rotation. Plus, their takeaways from draft season, most rostered players for 2022, and a few bold predictions from DVR.

Rundown

The Free-Agent Frenzy in LABR

An Opening Day Twins-Padres Swap

Late Draft Season Helium: Bobby Witt Jr. & Julio Rodríguez v. CJ Abrams

Most Rostered Players

Draft Season Takeaways

DVR's Bold Predictions (Judged by Eno)

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Jacob deGrom's Shoulder Injury, Torkelson & Brash Make Opening Day Rosters & Weekend Updates Apr 03, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the Jacob deGrom shoulder injury, Spencer Torkelson and Matt Brash making the Opening Day rosters, Craig Kimbrel's bumpy spring debut with the Dodgers, the Angels' decision to DFA Justin Upton, and more.

Rundown

Jacob deGrom's Shoulder Injury

Opportunity for Tylor Megill

Spencer Torkelson Makes Opening Day Roster

Craig Kimbrel-AJ Pollock Trade

Gavin Lux is DVR's New Victor Robles

Justin Upton DFA's by Angels

Matt Brash & Reid Detmers Earn Rotation Spots

Important Show Links!

Swab for Caryn: https://linktr.ee/SWABFORCARYN

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Closer Committees, Reliever Strategy, Pitcher Workload Considerations & Forgotten Players Mar 31, 2022

Important Show Links!

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Eno and DVR sort through the growing number of closer committees around the league and discuss their approach to build teams with enough saves potential. Plus, they discuss a question about the predictability of starting pitcher's workloads, opportunities for a few forgotten players, and a chance to help friends of Rates & Barrels (links above).

Rundown

Bullpen News, Bullpen Blues?

Cubs, Padres, Rockies, Reds

It Gets Worse!

Rangers & Pirates

Clarity in Tampa Bay?

Predicting Starter Workloads

Greg Allen & Forgotten Players Battling for Time This Spring

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Draft Market Movement From NFBC Main Event Weekend, Cody Bellinger's Spring Slump Mar 28, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a few takeaways from another weekend of drafts including the first wave of NFBC Main Event drafts. Closers continue to rise, Jacob deGrom shoots back into the first round, and early oatmeal players take a tumble down the board. Plus, is it time to target Cody Bellinger amidst a strikeout-heavy spring? And, how will the use of humidors in all 30 MLB parks change offensive output?

Rundown

Eno Main Event; Being 'Ready' On Draft Day

Another Bump in Closer Prices

Discounts on Injured Players

Seiya Suzuki & Logan Gilbert Move Up

Cody Bellinger's Spring Struggles

All 30 MLB Parks to Use Humidor

Fantasy Baseball Category Ideas

Dakota Hudson and the Pitching+ Model

Cleveland's Pitching Development

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Draft Season Lessons, Risky Injury Profiles, and Pham, Grichuk & Tapia On the Move Mar 24, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a few takeaways from draft season so far including the choice between overpaying for early speed v. early steals, risky injury profiles, and new teams for Tommy Pham, Randal Grichuk and Raimel Tapia.

Rundown

What Have We Learned This Draft Season? (So Far)

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Injury Discount

Innings & Injury Risk

Lingering Concerns About Shane Bieber?

Randal Grichuk to Colorado, Raimel Tapia to Toronto

Tommy Pham Signs with the Reds

Tommy Edman's Hold on the Leadoff Spot

Shane McClanahan's Hard Contact Issue

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Trevor Story to the Red Sox, Carlos Correa to the Twins & Another Flurry of Activity Mar 21, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a busy weekend that included more big signings as Trevor Story (Boston), Carlos Correa (Minnesota), Nicholas Castellanos (Phillies), and Jorge Soler (Marlins) found new teams, Luke Voit gets traded to San Diego, Kenley Jansen relocates to Atlanta, and MacKenzie Gore impresses in his first outing of the spring.

Rundown

Trevor Story Chooses the Red Sox

Carlos Correa to Minnesota w/Multiple Opt-Outs

Kyle Schwarber & Nicholas Castellanos to Philly

Jorge Soler: An Undervalued Masher in Miami?

Kenley Jansen to Atlanta?!

Luke Voit Traded to San Diego

Tyler Anderson Signs with Dodgers

Drew Smyly to the Cubs

Injury Update

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Freddie Goes to Hollywood, Kris Bryant in Colorado & Seiya Suzuki Picks the Cubs Mar 17, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the latest round of signings, trades and injury updates including Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers, Kris Bryant to the Rockies, Seiya Suzuki to the Cubs, and big trades that sent Matt Chapman to Toronto, and Jesse Winker + Eugenio Suárez to Seattle.

Rundown

Freddie Freeman to the Dodgers

Kris Bryant to the Rockies!(?)

Seiya Suzuki to the Cubs

Matt Champan Traded to Toronto

Jesse Winker & Eugenio Suárez to Seattle

Anthony Rizzo Returns to the Yankees

Injury Updates: Jack Flaherty, Chris Sale, Zac Gallen, Jacob deGrom

Minor Moves

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2022 Catcher & UT-Only Player Preview Mar 16, 2022

Eno and DVR finish their 2022 Position Preview series with a breakdown of catchers, and a few UT-only players including Shohei Ohtani, Franmil Reyes & Nelson Cruz.

Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1 – Top 50(ish) Overall Catchers

Salvador Perez, J.T. Realmuto & Will Smith

Tier 2 – Top 50-110 Overall Catchers

Daulton Varsho, Yasmani Grandal & Willson Contreras

Tier 3 – Top 110-200 Overall Catchers

Tyler Stephenson, Keibert Ruiz, Mitch Garver & Adley Rutschman

Tier 4 – Top 200-300 Overall Catchers

Christian Vázquez, Travis d’Arnaud, Elias Díaz, Alejandro Kirk, Mike Zunino, Omar Narváez, Gary Sánchez, Sean Murphy, Carson Kelly, Joey Bart & Max Stassi

Late Darts

UT-Only Bats

Shohei Ohtani, Franmil Reyes & Nelson Cruz

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Half of One Offseason in Three Days! Mar 14, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss the flurry of activity since the end of the lockout including injury updates on Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ronald Acuña Jr., several trades involving the Yankees, Twins, Rangers and Reds, a new home for Carlos Rodón, Clayton Kershaw's return to the Dodgers, on-air breaking news with a Matt Olson blockbuster with Atlanta, and much more!

Rundown

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Wrist Surgery; Possible Surgery

Ronald Acuña Jr. Targeting a May Return?

Trades, Trades & More Trades

Sonny Gray in Minnesota

Mitch Garver in Texas

Clayton Kershaw Stays with the Dodgers

Carlos Rodón's Deal with the Giants; Rising ADP

Chris Bassitt to the Mets

Yusei Kikuchi to the Jays

Breaking News! Matt Olson to Atlanta

Quick Takeaways on Smaller Transactions

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2022 Outfield Preview, Part 3 Mar 10, 2022

Eno and DVR examine outfielders being drafted outside the Top 200 overall including a few prospects and late sleepers to consider in the endgame at the position.

Players discussed on this episode include...

A.J. Pollock, Ian Happ, Max Kepler, Adam Duvall, Jesús Sánchez, Jo Adell, Andrew Vaughn, Charlie Blackmon, Michael Brantley, Harrison Bader, Austin Hays, Lane Thomas, Raimel Tapia, Wil Myers, Garrett Hampson, Tommy Pham, Mark Canha, Mike Yastrzemski, Anthony Santander, Julio Rodríguez, Riley Greene, Vidal Bruján, Josh Lowe, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Nimmo, Kyle Lewis, Brandon Marsh, Nick Senzel, Tyrone Taylor, Aaron Hicks, & Steven Kwan

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Salary Cap Draft Strategy + LABR Weekend Review Mar 07, 2022

Eno and DVR take a quick break from the Position Previews series to discuss Salary Cap Draft strategy in the wake of their AL- and NL-only LABR experience over the weekend.

Rundown

- Choosing a Path: Stars & Scrubs v. Balanced Builds

- Limited Pre-Determined Targets

- When to Consider Overpaying For a Player Early

- Eno's AL Pitching Build

- Position Depth Is Key!

- The Downside of a Cheap Infield

- Our LABR Mid-Draft Missteps

- Staying Organized Amidst Chaos

- Stephen Strasburg: Forgotten Ace or Former Ace?

- Mulligan Considerations

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2022 Outfield Preview, Part 2 Mar 03, 2022

Eno and DVR continue to break down the outfield position, focusing on the players currently going in the Top 100-200 overall range in NFBC drafts.

Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 4 – Top 100-150 Overall Outfielders

Mitch Haniger, Jesse Winker, Ryan Mountcastle, Kyle Schwarber, Chris Taylor, Jarred Kelenic, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Austin Meadows, Myles Straw & Trent Grisham

Tier 5 – Top 150-200 Overall Outfielders

Alex Verdugo, Hunter Renfroe, Akil Baddoo, Joey Gallo, Adolis García, Avisaíl Gárcia, Alex Kirilloff, Eddie Rosario, Dylan Carlson, Marcell Ozuna, Jorge Soler, Andrew Benintendi, Seiya Suzuki, Robbie Grossman & Michael Conforto

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2022 Outfield Preview, Part 1 Feb 28, 2022

Eno and DVR begin to break down the outfield position, focusing on the players currently going inside the Top 100 overall in NFBC drafts.

Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1 – First Rounders & Near First-Rounders

Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Bryce Harper, Kyle Tucker, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts & Luis Robert

Tier 2 – Top 50 Overall Outfielders

Yordan Alvarez, Starling Marte, Teoscar Hernández, Whit Merrifield, Aaron Judge, Cedric Mullins & Tyler O'Neill

Tier 3 – Top 50-100 Overall Outfielders

Byron Buxton, George Springer, Nick Castellanos, Randy Arozarena, Eloy Jiménez, Ketel Marte, J.D. Martinez, Tommy Edman, Daulton Varsho, Bryan Reynolds, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger, Kris Bryant & Christian Yelich

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2022 Relief Pitcher Preview Feb 24, 2022

Eno and DVR break down the Relief Pitcher pool in hopes of navigating an increasingly difficult landscape to find viable sources of saves.

Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1 – Top 30 OV Relief Pitchers

Liam Hendriks & Josh Hader

Tier 2(2a) – Top 30-70 OV Relief Pitchers

Raisel Iglesias, Emmanuel Clase, Ryan Pressly & Edwin Díaz

Tier 3(2b) – 70-120 OV Relief Pitchers

Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, Jordan Romano, Will Smith & Giovanny Gallegos

Tier 4 – 120-170 OV Relief Pitchers

Mark Melancon, Craig Kimbrel, Corey Knebel & Camilo Doval

Tier 5 – 170-250 OV Relief Pitchers

Scott Barlow, Blake Treinen, Taylor Rogers, David Bednar, Gregory Soto, Lucas Sims

Tier 6 – 250-300 OV Relief Pitchers

Dylan Floro, Lou Trivino, Jake McGee, Andrew Kittredge, Matt Barnes, Paul Sewald & Ken Giles

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2022 Late-Round Starting Pitchers Feb 24, 2022

Eno and DVR wrap-up their Starting Pitcher series by taking a look at several late-round and endgame targets from young risers such as Casey Mize and Luis Patiño, to ultra deep league considerations like Griffin Jax and Corbin Martin.

Rundown

Casey Mize's Puzzling 2021 Pitch Mix

Luis Patiño: Time for the Breakout?

A Case for Corey Kluber

Taijuan Walker's Quiet Return to Fantasy Relevance

Cristian Javier's Role Uncertainty

DVR Makes Another Plea for Adbert Alzolay

Luis Gil & Miguel Yajure

Cheap SPs in KC

Cincy Starting Pitcher Depth

Eno's Ultra Deep League Sleepers

Rookie Pitcher Stashes?

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2022 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 3 Feb 17, 2022

Eno and DVR continue Pitcher Week by breaking down the Starting Pitchers going off the board in the Pick 200-300 range of 2022 drafts (based on NFBC ADP).

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Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 7 – Top 200-250 OV Pitchers

Hyun Jin Ryu, Patrick Sandoval, Tanner Houck, Adam Wainwright, Jordan Montgomery, Noah Syndergaard, Anthony DeSclafani, José Urquidy, Alex Wood, John Means, Joe Ryan, Triston McKenzie, Huascar Ynoa, Jon Gray, Alex Cobb & Steven Matz

Tier 8 – Top 250-300 OV Pitchers

Germán Márquez, Bailey Ober, Aaron Civale, Cal Quantrill, Kyle Hendricks, Casey Mize, Aaron Ashby, Josiah Gray, Stephen Strasburg, Drew Rasmussen, Carlos Carrasco, Jesús Luzardo, Andrew Heaney

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2022 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 2 Feb 17, 2022

Eno and DVR continue Pitcher Week by breaking down the Top 31-50 Starting Pitchers going off the board in 2022 drafts (based on NFBC ADP). Whether you're waiting to address pitching, or simply looking to stabilize your core of starting pitching, this is a very important group of players to dig into as part of your draft prep this winter!

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Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 5 – Top 100-150 OV Pitchers

Blake Snell, Shane McClanahan, Zac Gallen, Tyler Mahle, Nathan Eovaldi, Framber Valdez, Chris Bassitt, Shane Baz, Sean Manaea, Pablo López & Luis Garcia

Tier 6 – Top 150-200 OV Pitchers

Eduardo Rodriguez, Ian Anderson, Logan Gilbert, Michael Kopech, Lance McCullers Jr., Ranger Suárez, Clayton Kershaw, Sonny Gray, Luis Severino, Marcus Stroman, Tarik Skubal & Mike Clevinger

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2022 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 1 Feb 14, 2022

Eno and DVR start Pitcher Week by breaking down the Top 30 Starting Pitchers going off the board in 2022 drafts (based on NFBC ADP). Whether you're building heavily with early pitching, or trying to wait to start building a rotation, getting the right foundation in place is a key to dominating in your leagues this season.

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Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1 – Top 30 OV Pitchers

Gerrit Cole, Corbin Burnes, Walker Buehler, Max Scherzer, Brandon Woodruff, Jacob deGrom & Zack Wheeler

Tier 2 – Top 30-50 OV Pitchers

Shane Bieber, Julio Urías, Aaron Nola, Lucas Giolito & Sandy Alcantara

Tier 3 – 50-75 OV Arms

Robbie Ray, Freddy Peralta, Chris Sale, Logan Webb & Lance Lynn

Tier 4 – 75-100 OV Arms

Max Fried, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Jack Flaherty, Joe Musgrove, Dylan Cease, Trevor Rogers, Luis Castillo, Frankie Montas, Charlie Morton, Yu Darvish, Alek Manoah & Justin Verlander

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2022 First Base Preview Feb 10, 2022

Eno and DVR break down the first base position, where playing time shares could be increasing at the bottom end of the player pool with the expected return of the DH to the National League. Once again, the position features a few undervalued sluggers, overvalued veterans, and mid-tier targets (and players to avoid).

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Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. & Freddie Freeman

Tier 2

Matt Olson, Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso & Jose Abreu

Tier 3

Ryan Mountcastle, DJ LeMahieu, Jared Walsh, Jake Cronenworth, C.J. Cron, Josh Bell, Rhys Hoskins, Ty France, Tyler Stephenson, Joey Votto & Max Muncy

Tier 4

Anthony Rizzo, Alex Kirilloff, Trey Mancini, Jonathan Schoop & Yuli Gurriel

Tier 5

Bobby Dalbec, Brandon Belt, Frank Schwindel, Nate Lowe, Luke Voit, Miguel Sanó, Spencer Torkelson, LaMonte Wade Jr., Jesus Aguilar & Rowdy Tellez

Best of the Rest

Seth Beer, Dominic Smith, Mike Moustakas, Juan Yepez, Keston Hiura & Eric Hosmer

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2022 Third Base Preview Feb 07, 2022

Eno and DVR break down the third base position, which offers a handful of intriguing mid-round values, but might require some early attention given the drop-off at the position outside the Top 200 overall. Is Austin Riley catching too much helium coming off of an excellent 2021? Should you pay the Adalberto Mondesi Tax? Is there still early-round potential in the likes of Nolan Arenado, Alex Bregman, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rendon? Plus, if you wait at the position, where you can find undervalued players outside the Top 100?

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Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1

José Ramírez, Rafael Devers & Manny Machado

Tier 2

Austin Riley & Adalberto Mondesi

Tier 3

Nolan Arenado, Alex Bregman, Kris Bryant & Anthony Rendon

Tier 4

DJ LeMahieu, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Yoán Moncada, Luis Urías, Justin Turner, Ryan McMahon, Matt Chapman, Eduardo Escobar & Eugenio Suárez

Tier 5

Josh Donaldson, Jeimer Candelario, Abraham Toro, Cavan Biggio, Gio Urshela, Josh Jung, Jonathan Villar, Alec Bohm

Best of the Rest

Jose Miranda, Kevin Smith, Mike Moustakas, Evan Longoria & Brian Anderson

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2022 Second Base Preview Feb 02, 2022

Eno and DVR finish the middle infield with their breakdown of the second base position. With plenty of viable options inside the Top 100 in ADP, is it wise to hold off on early rounders like Ozzie Albies and Whit Merrifield? And, how steep is the drop-off if you wait until the 100-200 range to address the keystone?

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Groups by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1

Trea Turner & Ozzie Albies

Tier 2

Whit Merrifield & Marcus Semien

Tier 3

Javier Baez, Jose Altuve, Jazz Chisholm, Brandon Lowe, Ketel Marte, Jorge Polanco, Tommy Edman & Jonathan India

Tier 4

DJ LeMahieu Jake Cronenworth, Ty France, Chris Taylor, Max Muncy Brendan Rodgers, Luis Urías, Ryan McMahon, Eduardo Escobar & Kolten Wong

Tier 5

Jonathan Schoop, Jean Segura, Enrique Hernández, Gavin Lux, Josh Rojas, Abraham Toro, Andres Gimenez, Garrett Hampson & Nick Madrigal

Best of the Rest

Jeff McNeil, Ramon Urías, Andy Ibañez, Rodolfo Castro, Tucupita Marcano & Robinson Cano

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2022 Shortstop Preview Jan 31, 2022

Eno and DVR kick off their annual Position Preview series with their breakdown of the shortstop position. The position is as loaded as it has ever been, and there are a lot of ways to leverage that depth throughout drafts and auctions this season.

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Groups Discussed by NFBC ADP Tiers

Tier 1 (The First Rounders)

Trea Turner, Fernando Tatis Jr. & Bo Bichette

Tier 2

Tim Anderson, Marcus Semien, Trevor Story, Xander Bogaerts, Francisco Lindor & Wander Franco

Tier 3

Javier Baez, Jazz Chisholm, Corey Seager, Jorge Polanco, Bobby Witt Jr. & Carlos Correa

Tier 4

Jake Cronenworth, Dansby Swanson, Willy Adames, Chris Taylor, Gleyber Torres, Luis Urías, Brendan Rodgers & Amed Rosario

Tier 5

Eugenio Suarez, Brandon Crawford, Oneil Cruz, Josh Rojas, Gavin Lux, Nicky Lopez, Andres Gimenez, Gio Urshela & Jonathan Villar

Best of the Rest

Jose Barrero, Jeremy Pena, Bryson Stott, CJ Abrams, Didi Gregorius & Paul DeJong

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Playing Along with the Pitching Model, Pricey Prospects in Redraft Leagues + Draft & Hold Basics Jan 27, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss a few questions surrounding the Stuff+, Location+ and Pitching+ model, ways to 'play along', fear of the unknown with 2022 Clayton Kershaw, how to utilize draft capital effectively with prospects in redraft leagues, and a few basic strategy guidelines for draft-and-hold leagues.

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Forgotten Players, Mailbag Fun + the Ultimate Sandwich Condiments Jan 24, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss several 'forgotten' players -- including Angels starter Griffin Canning -- plus their 2022 expectations for Josh Donaldson and Dylan Cease, leadoff hitters in danger of taking a tumble down the batting order, and more.

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Eno's Optimism, Britt's Realism & Non-Playoff Teams of 2021 Destined to Reach the 2022 Postseason Jan 20, 2022

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the current state of the MLB lockout, Rachel Balkovec’s move into the manager position for the Yankees’ Low-A Tampa affiliate, changes at Camden Yards, and the non-playoff teams of 2021 that they see as playoff teams in 2022.

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Pivoting In the Wake of Injuries, Beating BABIP & Timing Risk Jan 19, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss how leagues can consider making structural changes to account for the 2021 rise in time lost to injuries, using BABIP as a launching point to dig deeper on a player's batted-ball profile (and the viability of xBA as a BABIP alternative), and taking an appropriate amount of injury risk in lieu of high-risk, high-reward prospects in redraft leagues.

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Multi-Position Eligibility, Dollar Values & Precision, and Seeking Challenges in 2022 Jan 11, 2022

Eno and DVR discuss players with multi-position eligibility, and the necessity of finding at least a few players with that flexibility to fit on draft-and-hold rosters. Plus, they examine Brandon Lowe's 2021, and answer questions about dollar values, limitations of WAR in a small sample, and the types of leagues to consider for those seeking a greater fantasy baseball challenge in 2022.

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It's Resolution Season! Jan 07, 2022

Eno, Britt & DVR, inspired by Andy McCullough, share their New Year’s Resolutions and set a few for teams with varying levels of expected success in 2022. Along the way, they attempt to make a few blockbuster trades as the A's prepare to shake things up after the lockout.

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A Return to 'On the Clock' Status: Breakouts v. Rebounds, Joe Musgrove as an SP1 & Luis Robert Love Jan 05, 2022

Eno and DVR begin the 'On the Clock' phase of the year as another batch of slow drafts gets underway. They discuss how Draft & Hold formats modify their roster builds -- including a willingness to pay premiums for closers -- along with their thoughts about several early-rounders. Plus, they weigh the possibility of a step forward from Jazz Chisholm against the possibility of a rebound from Cody Bellinger or Christian Yelich, Joe Musgrove's bid for SP1 status, Aaron Ashby's Stuff+ shortcomings, and more.

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2021 Disappointments, 2022 Bouncebacks: Pitcher Edition Dec 27, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss several pitchers who underperformed expectations in 2021, but are primed for a big rebound in 2022.

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2021 Disappointments, 2022 Bouncebacks: Hitter Edition Dec 20, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss several hitters who underperformed expectations in 2021, but are primed for a big rebound in 2022.

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2021 Favorites + A Holiday Adjacent Movie Draft Dec 15, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR share their favorite baseball and non-baseball stories from 2021, as well as their top moments from the show this year, before proceeding to a five-round draft of movies that take place around the holidays.

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Swapping Pitchers for Hitters, Re-Thinking Saves + Holds, and KC Optimism Dec 13, 2021

Eno & DVR discuss the balance of trading pitching for hitting in real baseball -- and in long-term league formats -- before taking a closer look at a few pitchers of interest from the mailbag, a softening stance on Saves + Holds as a category thanks to Ron Shandler's article in the Baseball Forecaster, whether max Exit Velocity can help us see players in decline, and a few reasons for optimism about the Royals in 2022.

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An Attempt to Find Solutions in the Negotiations for a New CBA Dec 08, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR make an attempt to "solve" some of the issues pending in the ongoing negotiations toward a new CBA. Will the players' 'War Chest' help speed up the process of reaching an agreement? How likely is a significant bump to league minimum salaries? Can the players end up with a faster path to reach free agency? If the luxury tax threshold is raised and penalties are reduced, will the teams willing to spend the most gain an advantage?

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More Issues with the Baseball, Home-Run Rate Questions & An Eno Barrel-ISO Concoction Dec 06, 2021

Eno & DVR discuss the latest issues with the supply of baseballs used during the 2021 season as first reported by Bradford William Davis, the potential implications of inconsistencies with the ball when reviewing home-run rates, plus Eno unveils as a ISO-Barrel Rate formula in attempt to find players who underperformed their barrel rates last season. Plus, did the Padres quietly sign a closer during last week's flurry of activity?

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The Final Free-Agent Signings and Trades Before the Music Stopped Dec 03, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the last wave of signings and trades prior to the start of the lockout including Rich Hill to Boston, Marcus Stroman to the Cubs, Mark Melancon to Arizona, Corey Knebel to Philadelphia, and a Red Sox-Brewers swap that sent Jackie Bradley Jr. and two prospects to Boston for Hunter Renfroe. Plus, how much does playing 'close to home' factor into a free agent's decision-making process?

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More Moves! Seager, Ray, Ozuna's Suspension, Báez, Iglesias and Trades Dec 01, 2021

Eno & DVR examine another 48-hour flurry of activity including Corey Seager to the Rangers, Robbie Ray to the Mariners, MLB's retroactive 20-game suspension for Marcell Ozuna, Javier Báez to the Tigers, a catcher carousel, Raisel Iglesias' return to the Halos, and more.

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An Early Free Agent Frenzy: Scherzer, Semien, Marte, Gausman & Extensions! Nov 29, 2021

Eno & DVR return from a two-week break to a massive haul of free-agent signings and extensions including Max Scherzer and Starling Marte to the Mets, Marcus Semien to the Rangers, Kevin Gausman to the Blue Jays, an 11-year extension for Wander Franco, and a seven-year deal for Byron Buxton to remain in Minnesota.

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Heaney to the Dodgers, Verlander's Workout, and Changes in Oakland, Cincinnati & Texas Nov 10, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the early happening at this week's GM Meetings, Justin Verlander's workout and comeback bid, Andrew Heaney to the Dodgers, the Mets' ongoing search for a new general manager, and big changes in store for the A's, Reds and Rangers this winter.

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Qualifying Offers, New First-Rounders & Getting Right Back Into Drafts Nov 08, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the players on the receiving end of Qualifying Offers, as well as a few notable omissions including Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Rodón and Jon Gray, before examining the first round of their very early 2022 Draft Champions Leagues.

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Atlanta Brings Home the 2021 World Series! Nov 03, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Atlanta's dominant 7-0 win over Houston to capture the franchise's first World Series title since 1995 on the strength of a massive Jorge Soler homer and an excellent Game 6 start from Max Fried.

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World Series Game 6 Preview & Bob Melvin Heads to San Diego Nov 02, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR preview Game 6 of the World Series as the Astros try to keep their season alive, and discuss the latest changes in San Diego including the hiring of new manager Bob Melvin.

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Atlanta Heads Back to Houston With a 3-2 World Series Lead Nov 01, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss a busy three-game weekend in the World Series as the Astros did just enough to avoid elimination in Atlanta despite facing a 4-0 deficit after the first inning of Game 5. Should Ian Anderson have been left in the game longer in Game 3? How did Game 4 not play out more like Game 5?

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The Astros Tie Up the Series at 1-1, Expectations for Games 3-5 Oct 28, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Houston's Game 2 World Series win over Atlanta on the strength of a nice outing from José Urquidy and a seven-run outburst from the Astros' lineup before setting expectations for the three-game weekend stretch as the series heads to Georgia.

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Atlanta Takes a 1-0 Lead, Charlie Morton's Injury & Game 2 Preview Oct 27, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss a Game 1 win for Atlanta that also included the loss of Charlie Morton for the rest of the playoffs, and take a look ahead to Wednesday's Game 2.

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World Series Game 1 Preview, Series & MVP Predictions Oct 26, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Game 1 of the World Series between the Astros and Braves, and share their expectations for the series as a whole.

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It's a Houston-Atlanta World Series?! Oct 25, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss a Houston-Atlanta World Series on the heels of LCS clinching wins over the weekend, and say goodbye to the 2021 Dodgers and Red Sox.

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Chris Taylor's Three-Homer Game Extends NLCS & Boston's Path to Winning Twice in Houston Oct 22, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Chris Taylor's three-homer Game 5 as the NLCS heads back to Atlanta, and the Red Sox's paths to two road wins in Houston to rally back in the ALCS.

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The Astros Go Up 3-2, Atlanta Pushes L.A. to the Brink of Elimination Oct 21, 2021

Eno & DVR discuss the Astros' 3-2 ALCS lead on the strength of Framber Valdez's Game 5 performance in Boston, and Atlanta's bid to close out the NLCS in just five games after taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the Dodgers on Wednesday.

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Dodgers, Astros Wins Tighten Up LCS Series Oct 20, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the Dodgers' Game 3 awakening, uncertainty about Atlanta's bullpen game plans for Game 4, a late surge by the Astros in Boston, and what teams might be learning from this Postseason.

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The Red Sox Take a 2-1 Lead Over the Astros & The Dodgers Return Home Down 2-0 Oct 19, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the Red Sox's Game 3 outpouring of offense, their opportunity to open up a two-game lead in the ALCS on Tuesday night, and the Dodgers' bid to claw back from a 2-0 deficit in the NLCS against Atlanta.

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A Wild Weekend in the LCS Matchups Oct 18, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss a busy weekend in the LCS round including Atlanta's 2-0 lead over the Dodgers, a Red Sox-Astros series knotted up at one game apiece, and the mounting pitching injuries for Houston.

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The Giants-Dodgers Game 5 NLDS Matchup, Houston's ALDS Dominance & Atlanta's Path to the World Series Oct 14, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the Game 5 matchup between the Dodgers and Giants, Houston's dominance (and the White Sox short list of flaws despite their elimination), and Atlanta's chances to advance through the NLCS against the winner of Dodgers-Giants.

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Chad Jennings on the Red Sox's Run, Atlanta Advances, Dodgers-Giants Heads to Game 5 Oct 13, 2021

Chad Jennings joins Britt and DVR discuss how the Red Sox match up with the Astros ahead of the ALCS, and whether the script they used to oust the Rays in a five-game series can be effective over a best-of-seven. Then, Britt and DVR examine Atlanta's series win over the Brewers, and the Dodgers' series-tying victory in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

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Red Sox Eliminate Rays | Dodgers, Brewers & White Sox Face Elimination Oct 12, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the Red Sox's series clinching-win over the Rays, what's next for Tampa Bay, and three teams -- the Dodgers, Brewers and White Sox -- all trying to avoid elimination in Game 4 matchups Tuesday.

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Weekend LDS Fun | Rays and White Sox Face Elimination; NLDS Matchups 1-1 Oct 11, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR review a great group of weekend playoff games as the Astros and Red Sox try to close out their ALDS series to begin the week, while home-field advantage has shifted in each of the NLDS series with the Brewers-Braves and Dodgers-Giants knotted up at one game apiece.

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Rays, Astros Roll in Game 1 & NLDS Matchups Get Underway Oct 08, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the Rays' Game 1 win over the Red Sox, the continued October greatness of Randy Arozarena, Houston's cruise control series opener against the White Sox, and expectations for the NLDS matchups between the Braves-Brewers and Dodgers-Giants.

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The Dodgers Walk Off the Cards & ALDS Game 1 Previews Oct 07, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the Dodgers' walk-off win over the Cards in the NL Wild Card Game, and the Game 1 matchups for the ALDS as the White Sox-Astros and Red Sox-Rays series begin Thursday night.

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The Red Sox Advance & NL Wild Card Game Preview Oct 06, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the Red Sox's win over the Yankees in the AL Wild Card Game, a few possible changes in the Bronx this offseason, and Wednesday's NL Wild Card matchup between the Cardinals and Dodgers.

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Playoff Predictions & AL Wild Card Matchup Oct 05, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR share their playoff predictions as the 2021 Postseason gets underway with Tuesday night's AL Wild Card Game between the Yankees and Red Sox.

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The Last Weekend, Atlanta's surprising NL East win, and expecting an amazing White Sox-Astros series Oct 01, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the state of the final playoff spots entering the last weekend of the regular season, Seattle’s bid to bump an AL East team out of the Postseason, an Atlanta team that might be slightly underrated heading to the playoffs, and an outstanding first-round matchup in the ALDS with the White Sox and Astros.

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2021 Pleasant Surprises, Part 4 Sep 29, 2021

Eno and DVR wrap up their pleasant surprises series with the rest of the NL Central and the entire NL East.

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2021 Pleasant Surprises, Part 3 Sep 27, 2021

Eno and DVR continue their pleasant surprises series to discuss the previously skipped Tigers, the NL West, and the rebuilding Pirates.

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Rooting for Chaos, Changes in San Diego, & Britt's St. Louis Victory Lap Sep 24, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR make their plea for chaos in a bid to join Team Entropy for the final 10 days of the 2021 season, before discussing the changes brewing in San Diego in addition the still bright outlook for roster coming back in 2022. After a lengthy attempt to avoid the subject, Eno & DVR eat crow in the wake of Britt's Cardinals prediction, and lament the likelihood of future playoff expansion.

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2021 Pleasant Surprises, Part 2 Sep 22, 2021

Eno and DVR continue their pleasant surprises series by closing out the AL Central with Cleveland and Chicago, and digging through the AL East to discuss Carlos Rodón's renaissance, Cedric Mullins' run at a 30/30 season, Amed Rosario's long-term ceiling, and more.

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2021 Pleasant Surprises, Part 1 Sep 20, 2021

Eno and DVR being a new series, take a team-by-team look at pleasant surprises from the 2021 season. This episode begins at the bottom of the AL West, and wraps up part way through the AL Central. The Mariners have found several regulars via trade in the past year-plus, The A's rotation as a whole has exceed expectations, and the Astros continue to hold a place among the league's best organizations for pitching development.

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The Puzzling Mets & Surprising Journeyman Hitters Sep 15, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the Mets' puzzling plan to retain Sandy Alderson for another year and why choosing a first-time GM makes more sense than pursuing Theo Epstein, before digging into several surprising journeyman hitters, and the massive second half from Red Sox first baseman Bobby Dalbec.

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3,000 Strikeouts for Scherzer & Attempting to Find the Next Corbin Burnes Sep 13, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Max Scherzer's brush with perfection as he passed the 3,000-strikeout milestone, Scherzer's case to be the top pitcher off the board in 2022, and a few candidates to emerge as the next Corbin Burnes on the heels of a combined no-no from Burnes and Josh Hader over the weekend in Cleveland.

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The soaring Blue Jays, dangerous Wild Card teams, and a trip inside the mind of Eno Sep 10, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the red-hot Toronto Blue Jays, the most dangerous potential Wild Card teams, the hope of avoiding one-number Hall of Fame cases, Eno’s FanGraphs dashboard preferences, and more.

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Cooperstown Cases & Examining 'New' Starting Pitchers Sep 08, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss current players (and a few recently retired ones) with Cooperstown worthy resumés and dig into the profiles of several pitchers that have recently received opportunities to hold big-league rotation spots -- including a new trio in Texas, Luis Gil, and Bailey Ober.

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The playoff race heats up, new NL MVP candidates, and the ceiling in Seattle Sep 03, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR try to determine the three best teams in each league, their World Series picks with just over one month to go in the regular season, new candidates emerging for the NL MVP award, the brightness of the future in Seattle, and more.

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Taking L’s: Players we were wrong about in 2021 Sep 01, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the players they were wrong about in 2021 -- and several others than the fantasy community in general misjudged including Gleyber Torres, Yoán Moncada, Blake Snell, and several others.

This is the episode where DVR officially takes the 'L' for his Victor Robles calls.

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Vlad Jr.'s quiet second half, a 'better' reach rate, and late-season decision-making Aug 30, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the quieter second-half version of Vlad Jr., Austin Riley’s recent power surge, improving reach rate (O-Swing%), late-season decision-making, John Means and potentially flawed location strategy, before Beer of the Month makes it’s triumphant return.

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Late-season fades, staying positive in a tailspin, and searching for a surprise playoff team Aug 27, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the teams fighting against late-season fades, attempts to stay positive when things are not going well, which current non-playoff teams they think are most likely to find their way to the playoffs, and more.

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Working backwards, looking for late-season help, and searching for this year's K-Rod Aug 25, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss O-Swing% movers (in both directions) in search of late-season help and future shifts in value, the league's most effective bullpens with just over a month to go before the postseason, and candidates to become 'this year's K-Rod'.

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Another promotion, August Stuff+ leaders, and what happened to 2021 workload concerns? Aug 23, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Edward Cabrera, and set expectations for the Miami rookie for the stretch run before taking a look at the August Stuff+ Leaderboard. Is Logan Webb’s 2021 breakout sustainable? Is Madison Bumgarner good again? Plus, are we on the brink of seeing a lot of pitchers get shut down because of workload concerns?

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An eye toward future pitcher rankings, and quantifying the value of a hitting coach Aug 20, 2021

Eno and DVR attempt to answer some long-term questions about their expectations for Kevin Gausman after his excellent 2021 campaign, Robbie Ray's hold on improved control, Shohei Ohtani's value as a pitcher next season, and provide ways to quantify the value of a hitting coach.

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The Mets' blame game, 2021 team disappointments, and finding future speed Aug 18, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the blame game in the Big Apple -- including the hope of potential rebounds at the plate from a few key Mets bats -- before attempting to find paths to the future sources of stolen bases in 2022 and beyond.

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Returning stars, chaos atop the board in 2022, and a bright future in KC? Aug 16, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the return of Chris Sale, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s move to the outfield, a messy top of the board for 2022 fantasy baseball drafts, a Field of Dreams Game that overdelivered on expectations, Baseball America's updated top-five MLB farm system rankings, the possible value of Stuff+ 'max', and more.

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Finding baseball joy in the playoff race, the Field of Dreams game, and hoping for better days for minor leaguers Aug 13, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the baseball things bringing them the most joy as the second half of August approaches, the remaining intriguing playoff battles for the stretch run -- including the NL East, the AL East, and the AL Wild Card spots -- plus, the Field of Dreams game, continued frustration with living conditions for minor leaguers, and a few of their favorite Project 70 cards from this year's set.

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Balancing barrels and plate discipline, finding late-season upgrades, and a few Stuff+ risers Aug 11, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the balance between great barrel rates, and ample contact skills, and seek out difference-makers for redraft leagues and long-term formats. Plus, they look at a few pitchers with significantly improved Stuff+ numbers over the course of the season.

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Moving tips, contact quality and predictive value, and lineups to stream against Aug 09, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss moving tips, contact quality -- including the value of high exit velocity batted balls, different sources for hard-hit rates, team performances against particular pitches, lineups to target for streaming pitchers down the stretch, and whether it's worth moving on from Adalberto Mondesi and Byron Buxton in long-term leagues as a result of another injury-riddled campaign.

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Draft musings, deadline winners, MiLB changes, and prospects to watch Aug 06, 2021

Baseball America's Matt Eddy joins Eno for this episode of Rates & Barrels. The duo, unsurprisingly, digs deep into the minors, discussing this year's amateur draft, the minor leaguers who were on the move at the trade deadline, and the sellers that did a good job of restocking or reinforcing their farm systems.

After that, they discuss the changes at the minor league level this season and prospects to watch at the MLB level for the rest of the season.

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The post-deadline paths for the Mariners and White Sox Aug 05, 2021

Eno welcomes Michael Ajeto from Lookout Landing and Janice Scurio from NBC Sports Edge and South Side Sox to this episode of Rates & Barrels. The trio gets into a wide-ranging discussion that focuses mostly on the post-deadline paths for the Mariners and White Sox, but gets into many other corners of the baseball world.

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Trade Deadline Day 2021! Jul 30, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss a busy two-day stretch of activity leading into Friday's trade deadline including a potential blockbuster between the Dodgers and Nationals that will send Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to Los Angeles, the Yankees' addition of Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, and a big deal between the Twins and Blue Jays that sent Jose Berríos to Toronto for prospects Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson.

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A Marte-Luzardo deal, the Mariners are 'doing stuff', and finding fits for Max Scherzer Jul 28, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the first wave of Trade Deadline moves with just two days left for teams to wheel and deal. Starling Marte to the A’s, Jesus Luzardo to the Marlins, Adam Frazier to the Padres, potential landing spots for Max Scherzer in the NL West, and growing concerns about the start of Jarred Kelenic’s MLB career.

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The Rays add Nelson Cruz, playing matchmaker, and saying hello to the Cleveland Guardians Jul 23, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Nelson Cruz to the Rays before an attempt to play matchmaker ahead of next week's trade deadline. Plus, the Dodgers' increasing list of needs in the wake of a big series loss to the Giants, and welcoming the Cleveland Guardians into the world.

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Lance Lynn re-ups with the White Sox, Brandon Marsh and Josiah Gray debut, and DVR celebrates a championship Jul 21, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the White Sox's extension with Lance Lynn, the debuts of Brandon Marsh and Josiah Gray, expectations for Touki Toussaint, Brandon Lowe's erratic splits against lefties, and finding a balance between rostering depth and trading a surplus in keeper leagues.

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Finding future aces, Max Scherzer's continued dominance, and just how good is J.D. Davis? Jul 19, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss what they're looking for in pitchers while trying to find future value, Max Scherzer's shifting Stuff+ and continued elite status in his age-36 season, and expectations for Chris Sale coming back from Tommy John surgery. Plus, a simple question: "How good is J.D. Davis?"

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Joc Pederson to Atlanta, Byron Buxton's future in Minnesota, and Eno's vision for the future Jul 16, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the Joc Pederson trade, the Twins' attempt to sign Byron Buxton, and their plan to trade him without an agreement, Eno's new preferred mode of transportation, Tyler Mahle and similarly undervalued pitchers, and our collective miss on Nomar Mazara.

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Pete Alonso wins another Home Run Derby, the commish talks, and a second half preview Jul 13, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Pete Alonso's second Home Run Derby crown, commissioner Rob Manfred's media session from All-Star week, and their expectations for each division and Wild Card race for the second half of the season.

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Day 1 Draft Observations, the puzzling Chris Paddack, and has Statcast stolen the magic out of fantasy baseball? Jul 12, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the surprises from Day 1 of the MLB Draft, a few observations from the Futures Game, the puzzling case of Chris Paddack, and if Statcast has stolen some of the magic out of fantasy baseball.

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Home Run Derby picks, Futures Game excitement, and our favorite first-half storylines Jul 09, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss their picks for the Home Run Derby, the players they are most excited to see in Sunday's Futures Game, and their favorite storylines from the first half of the season.

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Vidal Bruján gets the call, Rowdy Tellez has a new home, and a lost season for Sixto Sánchez Jul 08, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the Rays' promotion of Vidal Bruján, his chances of sticking on the crowded depth chart after Manuel Margot returns from injury, Rowdy Tellez as a Brewer, a lost season for Sixto Sánchez, and the White Sox's decision to part ways with Adam Eaton.

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All-Star Game starters, snubs, and Vlad Jr.'s Triple Crown bid Jul 02, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the All-Star Game starters as voted by the fans, including their surprise that Adam Frazier earned a nod while Cedric Mullins did not. Plus, Vlad Jr.'s bid for the Triple Crown, Team USA Olympic Roster selections, and more.

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The search for second-half risers and rebound candidates Jul 02, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss hitters and pitchers who have underperformed through the first half of 2021 with projections that point toward a bounce back during the second half.

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A closer look at newish starting pitchers, the value of velocity, and the search for the next Jesse Winker Jun 28, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss several newish pitchers of some interest to fantasy managers, the possibility of velocity being overrated for pitchers, the lofty rest-of-season projection for C.J. Cron, the search for the "next" Jesse Winker, finding balance with trade rules in long-term leagues, and more.

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Britt talks to The Commish, the Astros' case for Best Team in MLB, and dismantling bottom feeders Jun 25, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Britt's recent interview with Commissioner Rob Manfred, a birthday no-no to Eno courtesy of the Cubs, the Astros' case to be considered the best team in baseball, Jacob deGrom's bid for the NL Cy Young and NL MVP awards, and the most likely candidates to be dealt by the O's, Pirates and Rangers.

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Would you Wander, quantifying injury risk, and preparing for a fresh set of pitching ranks Jun 24, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss a few Wander Franco fantasy trade scenarios, as well as several difficult dynasty toss-ups before exploring the possibility of a more quantifiable way to measure and account for injury risk when setting expectations for players. Plus, Eno previews his upcoming Starting Pitcher rankings update, before examining the recent performances of Corbin Burnes, including his weekend trip to Coors Field.

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It's Wander Time! Jun 21, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the promotion of Wander Franco, expectations for the 20-year-old rookie, and a few ways to take advantage of his promotion even if he's not on your roster. Plus, a check-in on how we approached stolen bases on draft day as the midway point of the season draws closer, the risk of added fatigue for Shohei Ohtani in the second half, and the importance of setting innings milestones in leagues that have a minimum requirement.

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Teams primed for a surge, AL MVP & Cy races, and 'Strike Three!' Jun 18, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the latest chapter of the sticky-substance enforcement saga before taking a look at the teams most likely to make a run to the postseason despite low playoff odds. Plus, the trio discusses the AL MVP and Cy Young Award races, before DVR indulges his lifelong dream of being a gameshow host by introducing 'Strike Three!'.

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Another injury spike, the Rays' Glasnow replacements, and confusing roster decisions Jun 17, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Tyler Glasnow's injury in the wake of MLB's sticky stuff enforcement, the Rays' options to step into Glasnow's place, how teams might come to surprising conclusions with in-season roster decisions, Aaron Nola's ordinary-looking results to this point, the struggles of Matt Chapman, and more.

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Eno's Hierarchy of Consideration vs. Ron Swanson's Pyramid of Greatness Jun 15, 2021

Eno and DVR unveil 'Eno's Hierarchy of Consideration' and discuss the role of Statcast in their smaller in-season lineup decisions, balancing xStats vs. ROS projections, the continued excellence of Framber Valdez, the relative struggles of Shane Bieber before he landed on the injured list, and more.

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The impact of enforcement, Marcus Semien's excellence, and emerging deadline sellers Jun 11, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss how MLB may try to implement the enforcement of rules outlawing sticky substances, the impact on different players, Marcus Semien's excellent season, Arizona as a clear-cut trade deadline seller, seasonal park effects, and more.

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Expectations with xStats, a broken metronome, and keeping an eye on the Atlanta outfield Jun 09, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss xStats and the limited appeal of using them for in-season evaluations while examining the first-half performances of Nathan Eovaldi, Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado and Anthony Rendon. Plus, expectations for Atlanta outfield prospect Drew Waters, Jackson Kowar's brief debut, and whether the time is right to pick up or target Logan Gilbert in a trade.

Rundown

2:18 Nathan Eovaldi & Pitcher xStats

11:07 Sonny Gray, WTF?

18:48 Nolan Arenado's Ugly xStats = Sell High?

26:33 Is Anthony Rendon Broken Metronome?

32:36 A Big Surprise in ROS Top-10 for Projected wOBA

37:07 Expectations for Drew Waters?

44:29 Jackson Kowar's Brief Debut

57:41 Time to Target Logan Gilbert

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Making better in-season decisions w/Vlad Sedler Jun 08, 2021

DVR is joined by Vlad Sedler (@RotoGut) of FantasyGuru.com to discuss in-season decision-making, in-season hits (and misses), the demotions of Keston Hiura and Jarred Kelenic, the results of the Memorial Day Weekend second-chance drafts, and more.

Rundown

4:14 What Matters on a Week-to-Week Basis?

12:17 Newest Tools You Rely On

21:26 In-Season Hits, So Far

28:23 Keston Hiura, Jarred Kelenic, and In-Season Misses

38:08 Second-Chance League Draft Results

46:05 Recency Bias in First-Half Surgers

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The future of baseball research and how to get into a MLB front office with xSTATS' Andrew Perpetua Jun 04, 2021

Eno Sarris welcomes Andrew Perpetua, founder of xSTATS to the show. Andrew explains his unorthodox path into the Mets' front office after an accident kept him out of medical school. Eno and Andrew also discuss why he started xSTATS, what is the future of baseball research and where he's headed next.

Rundown

2:27 Andrew's education background and journey into baseball

10:50 Realizing that the data is not perfect

17:25 The three types of people that do baseball analytics

21:12 How baseball front offices need to change

31:45 What Andrew learned once he was "inside the game"

34:00 Improving technology for visual tracking

40:20 The next frontier is meshing all the technology together

47:00 What's coming next for Andrew

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Blind spots, midseason FAB strategy, and rotation questions in Oakland and Houston Jun 02, 2021

Paul Sporer of Fangraphs joins Eno for this episode of Rates & Barrels. The guys discuss the blind spots in their player analysis, and how they attack FAB in the middle of the season.

From there, they get into discussions on José Urquidy, Ketel Marte, and Sporer's idea of a "kitchen sink" player. They also discuss organizations that regularly develop MLB talent, rotation questions in Oakland and Houston, and buy/sell/bench cases for Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Jameson Taillon and Eduardo Rodriguez.

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Second-chance leagues, Alek Manoah's debut, and El Mago's latest trick May 28, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss second chance leagues, long-term struggling players they are interested in adding, a few others they're ready to move on from, Alek Manoah's impressive debut, El Mago's incredible baserunning in Pittsburgh, and elite advertising placement.

Rundown

2:03 Second-Chance Leagues

11:55 Big Movers: 'New Aces'

25:01 Tough Adjustments: Starting Pitchers

28:22 Biggest Non-Injury Busts So Far

49:34 Alek Manoah's Impressive Debut

58:55 El Mago's Greatest Trick Ever?

63:07 Ad Optimization

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Stabilization of barrel rates, sinkers vs. two-seamers, and the 'Corbin Boom' May 26, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the stabilization of barrel rates, sinkers v. two-seamers, Corbin Burnes as a potential outlier ace, the Giants' improving offense, and more.

Rundown

4:44 Barrel Rate Stabilization

17:55 Sinkers vs. Two-Seamers

27:54 Why Are There So Many Corbins?

29:18 Is Austin Gomber Getting Better?

40:48 Corbin Burnes: An Outlier Ace?

50:59 Digging Deep: Tyler Ivey & Edward Olivares

61:46 (No, DVR Isn't Really on Joe West's Side)

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Willy Adames to the Brewers, in-season adjustments, and expectations for Spencer Howard May 24, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the four-player swap between the Rays and Brewers that sent Willy Adames to Milwaukee, Taylor Walls' promotion, organizational brain drain, making in-season decisions nearly two months in, expectations for Spencer Howard, and a surprising development with changeups.

Rundown

1:02 A Meaningful May Trade!

8:02 Taylor Walls Gets the Call

14:02 Joey Wendle is On Fire

16:01 Organizational Brain Drain

26:45 Making Better In-Season Decisions

33:01 Rallying in Roto Leagues

38:18 Spencer Howard is Back!

47:34 Concerns About Changeups w/Current Baseball?

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It's not fun to be a hitter right now, a no-hitter draft, and accounting for the unquantifiable May 21, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the current league-wide edge to pitching and the likely related six(!) no-hitters that we've seen in the first two months of 2021 before drafting pitchers in an effort to predict who will throw the seventh no-hitter of the year. Plus, the return of Stephen Strasburg, another unwritten rules violation, projections and different run environments, and an inquiry about the unquantifiable.

Rundown

1:14 Hitters Are Not Having Much Fun

11:50 The Sixth No-Hitter of 2021(!)

17:51 The Bottom End Offenses

23:01 The No-Hitter Draft!

34:25 Expectations for Stephen Strasburg

43:23 That Rule is Written Somewhere

53:14 The Weight of the Unquantifiable

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Replacing a star, Turnbull's no-no, and the skill of home-run suppression May 19, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the challenges of replacing a star, Spencer Turnbull's no-no, the skill of home-run suppression, and more.

Rundown

1:11 Replacing Mike Trout (or any star during a prolonged absence)

11:18 A Plea for Mid-Week Injury Replacements

18:43 Spencer Turnbull's No-Hitter Against Seattle

25:46 The Challenge of Selling High on Pitching

33:24 Recent Pitching Debuts

43:58 Home-Run Suppression as a Skill

49:06 Buy, Sell or Hold: Jameson Taillon

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Surprising rebounds, year-over-year barrel rate risers, and overcoming less than elite stuff May 17, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss several surprising 2021 rebounds, the limitations of using launch angle as a standalone stat, year-over-year risers in barrel rate and wOBA, and more.

Rundown

3:00 Surprising 2021 Bouncebacks

10:43 Buying the 'new' Madison Bumgarner?

19:54 Launch Angle Changes: Kris Bryant, Mike Trout, and Ronald Acuña

27:24 Year-over-Year Barrel Rate Risers

35:47 DVR Sticking with JVM + Other Undervalued Bats

43:11 Great Deliveries & Spin Direction, Less than Elite Stuff

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Bonus Episode: The Athletic’s Small Business Story | Part 3 of 3 May 15, 2021

Part Three of The Athletic’s Origins story for Dell Technologies ‘Small Business Podference’ series. In this episode The Athletic’s co-founders Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann continue on about the company’s expansion into the U.K., how the team got through the shutdown of sports and challenges that lay ahead. Writers, Marcus Thompson, Anthony Slater, Zach Harper and David Aldridge give their thoughts on that process as well.

For the complete lineup of episodes, visit delltechnologiespodference.com

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Bonus Episode: The Athletic’s Small Business Story | Part 2 of 3 May 15, 2021

Part Two of The Athletic’s Origins story for Dell Technologies ‘Small Business Podference’ series. In this episode The Athletic’s co-founders Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann continue on about the company’s first steps into the marketplace. The challenges they met selling this idea to investors, and journalists they were trying to recruit, specifically with the expansion into the Bay Area. Writers, Marcus Thompson and Anthony Slater give their thoughts on that process as well.

For the complete lineup of episodes, visit delltechnologiespodference.com

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Bonus Episode: The Athletic’s Small Business Story | Part 1 of 3 May 15, 2021

Part One of The Athletic’s Origins story for Dell Technologies ‘Small Business Podference’ series. In this episode we hear from The Athletic’s co-founders Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann about how they met, how an idea for better sports coverage materialized into a significant media player in the sports landscape and the spirit at the heart of The Athletic’s culture. For the complete lineup of episodes, visit delltechnologiespodference.com

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Staying awake for Seattle, Luis Castillo's struggles, and avoiding a duel May 14, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the debuts of Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert, the ongoing struggles of Luis Castillo, Jack Flaherty's continued to push toward 'ace' status, the Yankees' COVID situation, the Astros' decision to do something good, and the show's first brush with getting challenged to a duel.

Rundown

0:27 New Names?

2:08 Day 1 in Seattle for Jarred Kelenic & Logan Gilbert

9:45 A Change in West-Coast Watchability Rankings

16:28 Luis Castillo Continues to Struggle

18:42 How Does Jack Flaherty Outperform His Underlying & Advanced Metrics?

23:40 What's Going On with the Yankees & COVID?

31:09 The Astros Do Something Good

39:00 An Attempt to Avoid a Duel

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Jarred Kelenic gets the call, prospect projections, stashy-worthy minor leaguers, and a new Kyle Gibson? May 12, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Jarred Kelenic's promotion to Seattle, the limitations (and benefits) of projections for prospects, stash-worthy minor-leaguers, the struggles of Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and the quiet success of Kyle Gibson in Texas to begin 2021.

Rundown

1:01 Jarred Kelenic Gets the Call

9:24 Kelenic vs. Andrew Vaughn for the Rest of 2021?

13:50 Which Prospects Are Next?

27:32 Expectations for Khalil Lee

31:58 What Should the Angels Do for a Spark?

38:29 Wood Bats in College?

46:02 Is Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Just Not That Good?

50:46 Will Shane McClanahan's Workload Increase?

56:11 Kyle Gibson 3.0

60:13 Dynasty League GM Woes

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Early assessments, lost command, trusting Robbie Ray, and ROS over/unders! May 10, 2021

Eno and DVR answer an excellent group of mailbag questions including the difference between 'reach rate' and 'chase rate', the details of Alex Verdugo's step forward, Dominic Smith and Gleyber Torres' quiet starts, the "new" Robbie Ray, Triston McKenzie's missing command, and a few over/unders for the rest of the season.

Rundown

0:58 Reach Rate vs. Chase Rate

6:17 Examining Alex Verdugo's Step Forward

18:20 Dominic Smith: Have Pitchers Figured Him Out?

23:19 What's Up with Gleyber Torres?

27:33 Can We Trust the New Robbie Ray?

32:31 Anything Good in Dylan Cease's Start to 2021?

35:34 Where Did Triston McKenzie's Command Go?

41:27 What's Next for Aaron Civale?

46:01 Can Jonathan Loaisiga Work Effectively in a Larger Role?

52:21 Over/Unders!

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The end for Albert Pujols in Anaheim, John Means business, and digging into pitcher injuries May 07, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss a tough exit for Albert Pujols in Anaheim, his dominant decade upon arriving in the league in 2001, John Means' ascent to the top of the Baltimore rotation, pitcher injuries as a result of sitting too close to max velocity, and DVR faces the music in the wake of V*ctor Robles' slow start.

Rundown

1:15 Albert Pujols Doesn't Really Fit on Another Team

5:37 On Deserving a League-Wide Parade into the Sunset

11:07 The Machine's Greatness & Humble Beginnings

15:49 John Means Business

20:54 Pitcher Injuries & Sitting Too Close to Max Velocity

36:53 DVR Eats Crow

41:27 Who/What Do We Collect?

49:19 Congrats, Britt!

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Minor league games return, trading for floor, drafting for ceiling, and xStats outliers May 05, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the start of the minor-league season, what they're looking for in prospects early in the year, the continued patience necessary with Wander Franco in redraft leagues, xStats outliers, and more.

Rundown

1:03 The Value in Starting Assignments

14:58 Is Raw Power an Overvalued Tool?

19:30 If You Think He's a Star....

24:00 Trade for Floor, Draft Ceiling?

33:07 Prospect of the Week!!!

41:29 Eno Steals From DVR

50:03 A Masterclass in Managing

54:31 Matt Carpenter, Tommy Pham and xStats

62:43 Is Alex Wood Back?

66:21 A Surprising Change in Splits by Pitch

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Early fallers, the Dodgers' rotation depth, and starter vs. closer roster balance May 04, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss early fallers among hitters and pitchers, the Dodgers' replacement options for Dustin May, the new look Ryan McMahon, and the viability of banking more saves in the first half of the season with a reliever-heavy lineup before making up ground in the second half with more starting pitchers.

Rundown

2:25 Mookie Betts

8:44 Francisco Lindor

16:46 Marcell Ozuna

21:56 Kyle Tucker

25:03 Jose Abreu

28:55 DJ LeMahieu

31:53 Lucas Giolito

37:45 Luis Castillo

41:18 Kenta Maeda

43:38 Blake Snell

45:46 Kyle Hendricks

51:31 Frankie Montas

57:15 Dodgers Replacement Options for Dustin May

64:01 Is Ryan McMahon for Real?

67:20 Closer Balance Early v. Late

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Moving the mound, April awards, and walk-up music selections Apr 30, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the potential drawbacks of moving pitching mounds further away from the plate, why 'Pace of Play' is no longer a concern for MLB, several April awards, and walk-up music selections.

Rundown

1:30 Potential Drawbacks From Moving the Mound Back

8:39 The Pace of Play Concerns Are Going to Vanish

13:42 Early Parity = More Fun!

29:00 April Hardware

53:28 Mike Trout is Still Better Than Everybody Else

62:45 Walk-Up Music

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April risers, and an early look at previously unsettled closer situations Apr 29, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss April risers on among hitters and pitchers, and take a look at previously unsettled closer situations to see if the dust as settled as the first month of the season comes to a close.

Rundown

0:51 Jesse Winker is Mashing

3:11 Nick Solak's Power Surge

8:27 Carson Kelly's Excellent April

13:06 Nate Lowe Cashing In with Opportunity in Texas

18:13 Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s Massive Leap

24:55 DVR Gets Yuli Gurriel Wrong Again

28:33 Carlos Rodón's Return to Prominence

33:11 Cristian Javier Continues to Shine

36:49 Trevor Rogers' Underwhelming Stuff+ Number

40:33 Danny Duffy Holds Early Velo Gains

44:07 Michael Kopech to the Rotation?

49:31 Skeptical of Steven Matz?

51:47 John Means, MLB Trade Candidate?

57:29 A Look Back at Previously Unsettled Closer Situations

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Baseball's best rivalry, building a winner in Colorado, dealing with early injuries, and making sense of slow starts Apr 26, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the second round of Padres-Dodgers, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s huge weekend, Ryan Weathers' bid to keep a spot in the San Diego rotation, changes in the Rockies' front office, pitchers with good stuff and command, but without a rotation spot, and several players of interest through the first month of the season.

Rundown

1:35 Padres-Dodgers Continues to Deliver

5:59 The Braves' Offense Woes Continue

11:00 Ryan Weathers' Bid to Stick in the San Diego Rotation

17:43 Building a Winner in Colorado

28:47 Good Stuff and Command, Need Starting Role

33:32 How to React to a Roster Plagued by Early Injuries

45:19 Another Royal Records a Save

48:50 Sixto Sánchez's Long-Term Ceiling

55:07 Concerned About Kyle Tucker's Slow Start?

59:11 Still Believing in Austin Riley?

64:12 Alec Bohm vs. C.J. Cron vs. Joey Votto

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Rotation rankings, Votto & Mullins adjustments, and reliever-starter interactions Apr 23, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss Britt's recent rankings of all 30 teams' rotations, Joey Votto's surprising late-career adjustment, Cedric Mullins' decision to give up switch-hitting, and the interactions between starters and relievers.

Rundown

1:05 Britt’s Rotation Rankings

8:34 Jon Gray: 2021 Trade Target for Contenders?

16:52 Biggest Potential Movers

18:38 Making Sense of Oakland

26:48 Joey Votto’s Unusual Late Career Adjustments

37:21 Cedric Mullins III Gives Up Switch Hitting

44:23 Leody Taveras’ Struggles

49:58 Reliever/Starter Interactions

61:25 Replay on Stolen Bases is Brutal

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Re-ranking early starting pitcher movers and projecting upcoming prospect callups Apr 21, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Corbin Burnes' excellent start to 2021, where he ranks among starting pitchers for the rest of the season, plus early starting pitcher rankings changes, ETAs for several top prospects weighing service time considerations.

Rundown

4:08 Corbin Burnes' Historically Great Start to 2021

13:10 What's Wrong with Zach Plesac?

23:06 Other Early SP Movers

34:24 When Are We Going to See Jarred Kelenic In Seattle?

43:08 Waiting on Wander in Redraft?

48:44 Is Kirilloff Coming Up Soon?

53:08 Luis Patiño vs. Rich Hill

63:17 Fast Starts From Carlos Rodón, Alex Cobb & Zach Eflin

69:26 Where is Aaron Sanchez's Velocity?

71:57 An Appreciation for DVR's Brewers Leak

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Round 1 of Dodgers-Padres delivers, and examining reach rate risers and fallers Apr 20, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Round 1 of Dodgers-Padres, the Jays' surprisingly effective pitching, and reach rate risers and fallers -- including Victor Robles, Cedric Mullins, Keston Hiura, and Javier Báez, among others.

Rundown

2:04 Round 1 of Dodgers-Padres Delivers

12:36 The Jays’ Surprising Early Pitching

22:37 An Excuse to Talk About Victor Robles?

27:19 Buying Into Amed Rosario’s Shifting Approach

32:01 Omar Narváez & Colin Moran Are Exceeding Expectations

35:51 Cedric Mullins’ Quiet Improvement

40:43 Carlos Santana’s Increased Reach Rate

44:33 Another Look at Keston Hiura’s Flaws

50:43 Javier Báez Finds Rock Bottom

58:56 Confident in Randy Arozarena Despite Low Z-Contact%?

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Early panic in D.C. and the Bronx, fast starts from Ramón Laureano and Jazz Chisholm, and celebrations of choice Apr 16, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the early struggles of key rotation members for the Nationals and Yankees, Chris Paddack, Ramón Laureano's fast start on the basepaths, the Atlantic League rules labs, bringing new ideas to the broadcast booth, Jazz Chisholm's start to 2021, an injury-free career redo, and how they might celebrate doubles.

Rundown

2:19 Concerns about the Nats’ Rotation Beyond Strasburg?

12:00 April Trade Rumors; the Yankees' Slow Start

21:44 Chris Paddack’s Early Struggles

24:29 Ramón Laureano's Fast Start on the Basepaths

27:05 An Opportunity to Run More Often League-Wide?

31:33 Atlantic League Experiments & The Quest for More Balls in Play

39:02 Bringing Something New to TV

47:31 Jazz Chisholm's Strong Start to 2021

52:25 An Injury-Free Career Redo?

59:12 Celebrations at Second Base

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New pitches, Stephen Strasburg's adjustments, and early velocity changes Apr 15, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss pitchers working with new offerings this season -- including Lance McCullers and Eduardo Rodriguez -- concerns about Stephen Strasburg, league-wide shifts in velocity, the struggles of Ryan Yarbrough, and the pitch-recognition skills of Jake Cronenworth.

Rundown

1:59 Lance McCullers’ New Toy

8:11 Eduardo Rodriguez’s Altered Pitch Mix

9:41 Jeff Hoffman in Cincinnati

13:37 Is There Any Reason to Believe in Huascar Ynoa?

17:57 Reduced Velo, and Pitch Mix Changes for Stephen Strasburg

23:45 League-Wide Velocity Shifts

31:40 Danny Duffy is...Rosterable?

34:07 What’s Up With Ryan Yarbrough?

39:00 Joey Lucchesi as a Met

47:14 Jake Cronenworth’s Plate Discipline

52:37 Called Strikes and Whiffs…for Hitters?

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Battling the injury bug, early-season adjustments, and the traits of the 2021 baseball Apr 13, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the early increase in injuries around the league, churning the bottom of rosters in the opening weeks of the season, balancing tough matchups against rapidly improving skills, and more.

Rundown

2:40 Injuries Are Up; How Are We Coping?

5:36 Brandon Marsh vs. Jo Adell in Short Term

10:13 Churning the Bottom of the Roster

17:46 Tough Matchups vs. Improving Skills

23:46 Early K-BB% Leaders

29:49 Some Insight on the 2021 Baseball

32:46 Early Surprises on the Max Exit Velo Leaderboard

44:00 The Thin Margin Between Waiver Players & Bench Players

48:23 Opposite-Field Barrels?

52:48 Buying Very Early Swinging-Strike Rates?

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Encouraging news for Tatís, an extension for Ross Atkins, the A's brutal week, and Akil Baddoo's opportunity in Detroit Apr 07, 2021

Britt and DVR discuss the Fernando Tatís Jr. injury, two small early-season trades, an extension for Ross Atkins in Toronto, James Paxton's early exit, a sluggish start for the A's, and a few first-week surprises including Akil Baddoo and Mark Melancon's emergence as the Padres' closer.

Rundown

2:37 A Tatís Injury Update

9:58 Rougned Odor Goes to the Yankees

15:14 Benches Clear Again in the NL Central

20:38 Ross Atkins Gets a Five-Year Extension

27:25 James Paxton's Early Exit

33:51 It's Too Early to Panic, but the A's Have Had a Brutal Week

41:44 Akil Baddoo Getting PT on the 'Fun Bad' Tigers

45:47 Can Yermín Mercedes Keep the DH Job?

49:42 How Long Will Mark Melancon Hold the Closer Role in San Diego?

57:25 Doug Jones and Unorthodox Closer Arsenals

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An exciting Opening Weekend featuring Shohei Ohtani and Yermín Mercedes!? Apr 05, 2021

Britt & DVR discuss an exciting Opening Weekend of baseball including the theatrics of Shohei Ohtani in his 2021 season debut, the emergence of Yermín Mercedes, flaring tempers between the Cardinals and Reds, and more.

Rundown

1:07 Shohei Ohtani is Amazing

5:17 Yermín Mercedes Goes 8-for-8 to Open 2021

10:07 Benches Clear in Cincinnati; Is It a Brawl Without Punches?

18:26 An Update on the Nats' COVID Outbreak

23:27 César Valdez's Approach is Highly Unusual

29:46 Making Sense of the Jays' Bullpen Roles

37:36 Berrios vs. Burnes

43:59 MLB Moves the 2021 All-Star Game Out of Atlanta

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Opening Day Takeaways: What matters on a granular level? Apr 02, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss a busy Opening Day and dig through the box scores while attempting to sift through the noise to find meaningful indicators as the 2021 season gets underway. How concerned should we be with batting orders, early velocity readings, and reliever usage from the jump?

Rundown

6:15 Gregory Soto’s Bumpy Save

10:29 Does Lineup Position Matter?

17:22 Making Sense of the Twins’ Bullpen

25:13 Keeping an Eye on David Bednar for Future Saves

31:07 Stashing Jose Alvarado over Archie Bradley

40:52 Regrets on Avoiding Jake Cronenworth?

43:14 Tyler Glasnow’s Slider Usage is Up!

48:13 Luis Castillo’s Velocity Drop

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2021 Season Predictions! Mar 31, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR make their predictions for the 2021 season including division winners, playoff matchups, World Series Champions -- plus, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP selections -- and the teams they're most excited to watch this season.

Rundown

1:22 NL West Predictions

8:02 AL West Predictions

17:32 NL Central Predictions

27:23 AL Central Predictions

36:34 NL East Predictions

46:33 AL East Predictions

54:51 Playoff Predictions

62:04 ROY Predictions

66:55 Cy Young Predictions

74:01 MVP Predictions

80:43 Teams We're Most Excited to Watch This Season

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Final Opening Day roster cuts, balancing immediate need vs. long-term value, & reconsidering co-closers Mar 29, 2021

Eno & DVR discuss the fallout from the final round of roster cuts -- including Jazz Chisholm, Taylor Trammell, Alejandro Kirk and Logan Allen earning roster spots -- plus the balancing immediate needs against long-term value, drawing a draft-day road map, co-closers, and more.

Rundown

5:26 Jazz Chisholm Wins a Job!

12:43 Taylor Trammell’s Opportunity in Seattle

15:38 Alejandro Kirk in one-catcher league

19:43 Logan Allen Wins Fifth Starter Role

27:53 Balancing Immediate Need vs. Long-Term Expectations

40:23 Can Co-Closers Work for Fantasy Players?

49:35 Drawing a Draft Day Road Map

55:07 How Do You Identify Streaming Targets This Early?

62:52 Shelby Miller and Comeback Candidates

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Spring injuries strike, our biggest misses, and Lance McCullers Jr.'s new deal Mar 26, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss a difficult week of spring training injuries, including Eloy Jiménez, Zac Gallen, Kirby Yates, and Nick Anderson, the new deal for Lance McCullers Jr. in Houston, some of the biggest misses, and more.

Rundown

4:17 The White Sox Lose Eloy Jiménez For 5-6 Months

13:13 Zac Gallen’s Unusual Stress Fracture; Our Plea for Universal DH

18:27 The Jays Lose Kirby Yates

23:23 Nick Anderson’s Injury

30:02 Lance McCullers Jr.'s New Deal

35:25 (Some of) Our Biggest Misses

47:17 Time to Shorten Spring Training?

54:15 Tarik Skubal & Casey Mize Make the Tigers' Rotation

60:51 Does Command Improve with Age?

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MLB's latest attempt to reduce foreign substances on the ball, spring velocity risers & 2021 pitching management Mar 24, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss MLB's latest plan to crack down on the use of foreign substances on the ball,

Rundown

2:11 MLB’s Attempt to Crack Down on Foreign Substances

11:21 Fantasy Adjustments; Great Straight Changeups

21:13 Spring Velocity Risers

30:24 Pitching Management

36:28 Interest in Rich Hill?

45:20 Garrett Crochet as a Future Starter?

48:47 Non-Closer Relievers of Interest

53:42 In-Season Projections & Player Valuations

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Throwing smart darts, the new Ohtani Rules, Zac Gallen's injury, and high value replacements Mar 23, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the importance of bench construction in the late stages of drafts, messy closer situation as a result of injuries, potential changes to the Ohtani Rules, Zac Gallen's forearm injury, and some of the next players up as injuries thin out lineups between now and Opening Day.

Rundown

2:09 The Importance of Bench Construction

9:59 Messy Closer Situations: Toronto, Texas & Pittsburgh

21:04 Josh Jung’s Foot Injury

26:48 Changes to the Ohtani Rules; Yordan Alvarez’s Return

35:26 Zac Gallen’s Forearm Injury; Sixth Starters To Watch

43:58 Any Interest in Joe Ross?

53:20 Let’s Build a Bench (A Real MLB One)!

67:46 Buying in on Mike Brosseau as an Injury Replacement?

69:31 Optioned Prospects & Estimating Callups

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Rookies of interest, digging deeper for surprises and making sense of platoon splits Mar 19, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the challenges of projecting MLB arrivals in the wake of a lost minor league season in 2020 before digging deep for some potential surprises additions to the 2021 player pool.

Rundown

2:55 Impact Rookies: Retroactively Fitting 2020 Minor League Seasons

10:12 What If CJ Abrams Had a Clearer Path?

15:49 Prospects of the Month

22:41 Digging Deep for Surprise Players

32:05 When Can You Believe Platoon Splits?

41:34 Can We Learn Anything From Previous Shortened Seasons?

53:41 A Surprising Eno Rivalry

56:47 Beer of the Week!

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March ADP risers and 2021 bounce-back targets Mar 17, 2021

Eno and DVR looks at March ADP risers -- including Tejay Antone, Myles Straw and Bobby Witt Jr. -- and try to make sense of Cristian Pache's steals projection, the importance of lineup position in relation to stolen-base opportunities, 2021 bounce-back targets, and more.

Rundown

3:14 March ADP Risers

8:46 A Promise DVR Can't Keep

11:47 Making Sense of Cristian Pache's Stolen Base Projections

19:34 Bobby Witt Jr.'s Excellent Spring

25:16 Is a Playing Time Path Opening Up for Jonathan India

28:33 Bounceback Targets for 2021

38:36 A+ Makeup

47:20 Adjusting Auction Values for Reserves

51:14 Looking for New Leagues

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Pitcher Wars w/Nick Pollack & Alex Fast of Pitcher List Mar 16, 2021

It's a Rates & Barrels -- Pitcher List mash-up! The heated battle in the Baseball Pods tournament Championship Game was ruined by bots, so we collaborated for a podcast episode! Eno and DVR are joined by Nick Pollack and Alex Fast of Pitcher List to discuss the pitchers we disagree about the most this draft season.

Rundown

3:57 Finally, Dissent About Brandon Woodruff

9:20 Is the League-Wide Innings Concern Overblown?

14:33 Does José Berríos Have One More Level?

22:43 Concerns About Julio Urías

30:25 Jose Urquidy and Pitch Type Whiff Rate vs. Overall Whiff Rates

38:47 A 100% Happiness Guarantee on Aaron Civale

47:26 Are the Strikeouts Coming From Sandy Alcantara?

51:38 Josh Lindblom’s Second Year in Milwaukee

59:13 Max Fried vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu

63:03 Ian Anderson vs. Chris Paddack

70:50 Sixto Sánchez vs. Patrick Corbin

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Breakout Players & Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: AL East & NL East Mar 12, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR look for breakouts and sleepers from each team in the AL & NL East, before discussing several tweaks that MLB is experimenting with at various minor-league levels in 2021.

Rundown

6:10 Still Buying Austin Riley?

11:12 Excited About Trevor Rogers & Edward Cabrera

15:12 Is there a Great Marlins’ Hitter On the Way?

19:48 Do the Mets Have Any Undervalued Players?

25:22 Can the Phillies Get it Right with Spencer Howard?

30:16 A Pod Divided: Victor Robles

36:48 An Opportunity for Yusniel Diaz in Baltimore?

44:58 When Will Jarren Duran Arrive? Buying Dalbec?

50:33 Banking on a Deivi García Breakout?

53:37 Can the Rays Fix Francisco Mejía?

59:51 Get Rowdy

63:12 Minor League Rules Experiments

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Breakout Players & Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: AL Central & NL Central Mar 11, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss a round of intriguing spring news items before looking for breakouts and sleepers from each team in the AL & NL Central.

Rundown

3:59 Carlos Carrasco Injury

6:24 Frankie Montas Progressing Well

13:20 Kirby Yates Nearing Spring Debut

15:39 100-Inning Relievers, Starters Later?

25:47 Taking One More Chance on Nick Pivetta?

25:09 Xander Bogaerts "Pretty Close" to 100 Percent

32:00 Faith in Andrew Vaughn

39:39 Cheap Speed in Cleveland's Outfield?

45:19 Plenty of Fun, Late Options in Detroit

51:53 A Benintendi Bounce Back?

54:58 DVR's Case For Luis Arraez

60:04 Digging Deep on the Cincinnati Depth Chart

63:35 Finding Fantasy Gold in Pittsburgh

67:07 Obligatory Freddy Peralta Talk

70:56 Why Not Now for Tyler O'Neill?

74:42 Closing It Out with the Cubs

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Breakout Players & Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: AL West & NL West Mar 09, 2021

Eno and DVR recap their LABR auctions from the weekend and share their selections for breakouts (or sleepers, if those still exist) from each team in the AL West and NL West.

Rundown

4:16 Eno's AL LABR Plan

17:24 DVR's NL LABR Plan

33:05 Logan Gilbert's ETA; Ty France Love

36:22 Is Josh Jung Primed to Take Over at Third Base?

42:48 Digging Deep for Luis Rengifo

47:24 Concerns About Jared Walsh's Playing Time?

50:13 Don't Forget About Ka'ai (Blaze) Tom

56:46 Myles Straw vs. Chas McCormick

60:57 Mauricio Dubón Time in San Francisco?

65:02 Time To Buy In on Brendan Rodgers?

70:04 Will the Zack Greinke Deal Bear Fruit in Arizona?

74:17 Are There Any Overlooked Players in San Diego?

79:14 Will This Year's Kyle Tucker Come From Los Angeles?

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AL LABR Results: https://www.rtsports.com/labr-al-auction

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Jackie Bradley Jr. joins The Crew, looking for Jake Odorizzi suitors, and spring training things we're excited about Mar 05, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Jackie Bradley Jr. in Milwaukee, the Brewers' improved defense and loaded bullpen, how things are shaping up in a four-team NL Central battle, potential suitors for Jake Odorizzi, spring training things they are excited to see, and more.

Rundown

1:03 Jackie Bradley Jr. to Milwaukee

10:55 A Four-Team Race in the NL Central

14:06 Jake Odorizzi to Houston?

20:26 Is Spring Training Worth the Risk?

26:04 What We're Hoping to See This Spring

33:59 Get Well Soon, Aaron Boone

36:42 Brad Hand and the Nats' Bullpen

39:58 Re-Thinking 90 Feet Between Bases

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Framber Valdez's injury, 2021 rookies, and how to use auction values in snake drafts Mar 04, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Framber Valdez's finger injury, the potential impact of the delayed start of the Triple-A season, tiers for rookie pitchers, how the Padres may handle MacKenzie Gore in 2021, how to utilize auction values in a snake draft, and the role that luck may play in barrel rates.

Rundown

2:24 Framber Valdez's Spring Finger Injury

7:33 A Delayed Start to the Triple-A Season

13:52 Building Tiers for Rookie Pitchers

20:25 Prospect of the Week is Back!

26:02 How Will the Padres Handle MacKenzie Gore?

40:13 Using the Auction Values for Snake Drafts

53:34 Are Barrels Somewhat Luck Based?

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Shane Bieber doubts, processing spring training news and auction strategy thoughts Mar 01, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the first wave of March drafts — including their hesitation to draft Shane Bieber as a mid first-round pick — how to deal with news and other information during spring training, auction strategy thoughts ahead of this weekend’s LABR auctions, platoon splits for prospects, and more.

Rundown

2:11 Early March Drafts Begin!

4:41 Why Do We Hesitate to Draft Shane Bieber in Round 1?

13:02 How Should We Handle Spring Training News?

22:39 What Else Moves the Needle in March?

33:49 Auction Strategy & Observations

50:02 Prospect Platoon Splits & Jarred Kelenic

57:27 A Failed Attempt at Bribery

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The best shape of our lives, another entry into baseball's weird injury club, and Seattle's bright future Feb 26, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the value of players being in the 'best shape of their life', Spencer Torkelson's arrival in the Weird Injury Club, and say goodbye to Kevin Mather and hello to a great group of young players on the brink of contributing in Seattle.

Rundown

3:19 Who Isn't In the Best Shape of His or Her Life Right Now?

10:29 What Do the Numbers Say?

19:51 Spencer Torkelson Joins the Weird Injury Club (We're All Members)

31:02 Goodbye, Kevin Mather. Hello, Great Players En Route to Seattle

42:55 Remember Four-Man Rotations?

53:07 Lowering IP Floors

56:23 The Original Ben Zobrist

61:34 February Beer of the Month

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Preferred 2021 draft positions, keeper league strategies, Tatis v. Soto, and ditching saves completely Feb 25, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss their preferred draft positions (KDS) based on the unique shape of the 2021 player pool, before discussing keeper and dynasty league strategies, Fernando Tatis Jr. vs. Juan Soto, possibility eliminating the saves category, and more!

Rundown

4:09 Preferred Draft Slots (KDS)

21:18 Keeper League Startup Strategy

33:06 Open Player Universe Considerations

39:59 How to Approach Keeper Leagues w/Diluted Player Pools

44:43 Tatis vs. Soto as a Keeper Dilemma

51:00 Is This the Peak in Tatis’ Keeper/Dynasty Value?

56:36 Positional Priorities in Draft Tools

60:43 When Are We Going to Ditch Saves?

63:54 Ranking For Job Security Over Skills w/Closers

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2021 Relief Pitcher Preview Feb 23, 2021

Eno and DVR finally take the plunge into the pool of relievers as they wrap up their 2021 positional preview series.

Rundown

3:30 How Many Elite Closers Are There?

10:15 Is it Necessary to Pay Up for a Top Option?

15:20 Second-Tier Closer Targets

29:03 Third-Tier Closers

35:04 Minnesota's Unsettled Ninth Inning

41:36 Taking Shots in San Diego & St. Louis

54:07 Any Interest in Jake McGee as San Francisco's Closer?

73:09 SPaRPs and Bulk Relievers of Interest

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Fernando Tatis Jr.'s new deal, the next young stars primed for an extension, and the next Ben Zobrist Feb 19, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the Padres' 14-year extension with Fernando Tatis Jr., the next young star capable of getting a similar deal, teams with good (and bad) depth, and history's lack of appreciation for Ben Zobrist's 2009 season.

Rundown

4:51 Fernando Tatis Jr. Early Career Comps

9:13 A Potentially Team-Friendly Deal for the Padres

14:49 Why Tatis Staying in San Diego Isn't Bad for Baseball

18:46 Looking for the Next Long-Term Deal for a Young Star

33:17 Over/Under 3.5 Starting Pitchers with 200+ IP in 2021?

41:58 Teams In Good at Bad Poor Positions with Depth

56:39 Revisiting Ben Zobrist's Incredible 2009 Season

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Late starting pitchers to target and actual starting pitcher sleepers! Feb 18, 2021

Eno and DVR move on to Part 3 of their Starting Pitcher Preview and focus on their favorite late-round pitching sleepers, before discussing several of your late-round targets and pitchers of interest.

Rundown

2:59 What’s Next for Tarik Skubal?

11:26 Banking on a Rebound From Josh Lindblom

15:44 Which Luke Weaver Will Show Up in 2021?

18:49 Should We Have Interest In J.T. Brubaker?

24:26 Current Interest in Cal Quantrill

30:10 Late Late Options

36:59 Tejay Antone's Improvement in the Cincinnati System

39:56 Is There Another Level For Justus Sheffield?

43:52 Looking for the Next Kevin Gausman in San Francisco

52:02 Any Interest Elieser Hernández?

56:25 Pocket Aces — Yay or Nay?

64:12 Quality of Stuff vs. Command Late

69:36 Brailyn Marquez's Path to the Cubs' Rotation

71:16 Best-Case Scenario for Severino, Syndergaard & Sale

83:30 Spring News Updates

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2021 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 2 Feb 16, 2021

Eno and DVR continue their starting pitcher preview series before discussing a busy weekend of news including the signings of Justin Turner, James Paxton and Rich Hill.

Rundown

2:36 Targeting Mike Soroka

5:58 Is Tyler Mahle’s 2020 Skills Growth Sustainable?

14:26 Are The Strike-Throwers Underrated?

20:15 Stephen Strasburg & Injury Risk

29:59 Spencer Turnbull is One of “Eno’s Guys”

35:29 Expectations for Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes

44:40 James Paxton Returns to Seattle

49:29 Rich Hill Heads to Tampa Bay

54:58 Jake Arrieta’s Reunion with the Cubs

59:36 Justin Turner Stays in LA

65:32 Asdrúbal Cabrera in Arizona

68:05 Have We Seen Nomar Mazara’s Best Season Yet?

74:06 C.J. Cron Goes to Colorado

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The Andrew Benintendi deal, PECOTA win projections, and Juan Soto's ridiculous ceiling Feb 12, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the surprising three-team deal that sent Andrew Benintendi to Kansas City, a frugal winter in Boston, the release of the PECOTA projections, home run derby leagues, and Juan Soto’s ridiculous ceiling.

Rundown

3:06 Andrew Benintendi in Kansas City

10:20 A Frugal Winter in Boston

17:19 Cubs Over White Sox in 2021?

28:31 Other Interesting PECOTA Projections

37:10 Home Run Derby League

42:55 Pitchers Most Likely to Benefit w/New 2021 Baseball

48:14 Juan Soto’s Ridiculous Ceiling

59:47 Thank You — For the Hardware!

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2021 Starting Pitcher Preview, Part 1 Feb 10, 2021

Eno and DVR kick off their Starting Pitcher preview series by examining the arms in the Top-30 range of Eno's pitcher rankings, before discussing the return of in-game video for 2021, and decreased chances of the Universal DH this season.

Rundown

1:21 A DH Update and the Impact on Pitchers

5:13 Shane Bieber’s Ascent to the Elite Tier

11:18 Luis Castillo Cracks Eno’s Top 5

20:26 One More Great Year From Max Scherzer?

26:25 The Case for Framber Valdez

32:13 They Really Are Eno’s Astros Now

39:34 The Zach Plesac “Problem”

45:15 Two Young Marlins that Eno is High On

48:33 Jonathan Villar to the Mets

51:48 Follow-Up: Is There Another Level Coming from Alex Verdugo?

55:39 In-Game Video is Back!

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2021 Outfield Preview, Part 2 Feb 09, 2021

Eno and DVR get caught up on a busy weekend of signings and trades -- including Trevor Bauer's new deal with the Dodgers, Marcell Ozuna's return to Atlanta, and the Rangers-A's swap -- before wrapping up their preview of the 2021 outfield pool.

Rundown

2:23 Trevor Bauer to the Dodgers

12:21 Yu Darvish vs. Bauer

20:46 Marcell Ozuna return to Atlanta

28:30 A Surprising AL West Deal

39:24 The Baseball is Changing, Again!

47:33 Outfield Preview, Part 2

51:10 In On Dylan Carlson Around Pick 150?

57:26 Intriguing Cheaper Alternatives to Carlson

63:48 Joey Gallo & Punting Batting Average

69:10 Prospects on the Early 2021 Radar

75:03 How DVR's Brain Works

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Check out Eno's story with Ken Rosenthal about the latest changes to the baseball:

https://theathletic.com/2375121/2021/02/08/mlb-changes-baseball-deadening/

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The need for institutional change, Colorado's lack of direction, and teams most likely to surprise and disappoint in 2021 Feb 05, 2021

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the troubling accusations of lewd behavior by former Mets manager and current Angels pitching coach Mickey Callaway before exploring the Rockies' lack of direction under Jeff Bridich, and sharing their picks for surprising teams (good and bad) in the upcoming season.

Rundown

1:05 The Mickey Callaway Story & Another Ugly Side of Baseball Culture

8:06 A Clear Need for Institutional Changes

17:23 Colorado's Lack of Direction In the Jeff Bridich Era

22:56 Nolan Arenado's Potentially Long Stay in St. Louis

26:32 Our Final Trevor Bauer Free Agency Check

35:01 Examining the Flaws of the 2021 Mets

39:54 Teams Most Likely to Surprise & Disappoint

52:30 An Early Look at World Series Odds

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2021 Outfield Preview, Part 1 Feb 04, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Kolten Wong's move to Milwaukee, Nelson Cruz staying put in Minnesota, Chris Archer's reunion with the Rays, and Sean Doolittle in the Reds' bullpen, before Part 1 of their 2021 outfield preview.

Rundown

2:22 Kolten Wong Goes to Milwaukee

7:18 Nelson Cruz Returns to Minnesota

13:55 Chris Archer’s Reunion with the Rays

19:18 Sean Doolittle Joins the Reds’ Bullpen

22:00 The Elite Outfielders

29:40 Can Christian Yelich and Cody Bellinger Return to MVP Levels?

35:38 Trust Levels with Kyle Tucker & Luis Robert

41:19 Outfield Targets In the Back of the Top 50

48:48 A Very Surprising Highly Projected Veteran Outfielder

50:33 Comfortable with Trent Grisham at Current ADP?

56:18 Expecting a Rebound From Austin Meadows?

66:43 Victor Robles, Byron Buxton & Ramon Laureano

73:51 Avoiding Lourdes Gurriel & Teoscar Hernández?

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2021 Third Base Preview Feb 02, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the Cardinals' deal for Nolan Arenado, Eddie Rosario's move to Cleveland, and Alex Cobb's move to the Angels before breaking down the third base position for the 2021 fantasy baseball season.

Rundown

0:51 Projecting Nolan Arenado in St. Louis

15:03 Eddie Rosario Goes to Cleveland

22:17 Alex Cobb Gets Out of Baltimore

29:53 An Apology to José Ramírez

35:53 Early-Round Options: Machado, Rendon, Bregman & Devers

43:49 Strong Second-Tier Depth

53:22 Buying Alec Bohm as a Fringe Top 100 Player in 2021?

57:33 Is Josh Donaldson Undervalued?

62:53 Options Outside the Top 200

70:35 Prospects at Third Base: Torkelson & Jung

78:11 Beer of the Month Selections

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Joc Pederson to the Cubs, dynasty league auction values and strategy, and the elusive Inbox Zero Jan 30, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Joc Pederson as a Kyle Schwarber replacement, and several mailbag questions including dynasty league strategies, prospect rankings vs. fantasy prospect rankings, and more.

Rundown

3:39 Joc Pederson in Chicago

10:22 Dynasty League Auction Values & Approach

18:46 New to Dynasty Leagues: Tools & Sources to Utilize

23:55 Julio Rodriguez, Cristian Pache & Prospect Rankings v. Fantasy Prospect Rankings

27:50 12-Team Strategy vs. 15-Team Strategy

32:41 Dismissing Yelich’s Poor 2020, Accepting Bauer’s Great 2020?

39:17 Making Sense of the Angels’ Starting Rotation

44:40 Andres Giménez in Keeper Leagues

46:56 Jake Cronenworth’s 2021 Outlook

51:01 The Orlando Arcia Slander Will Not Stand

55:55 Eno’s Scouting Report on Rays Pitcher Joe Ryan

66:16 Kohei Arihara & Normal 2020 Workloads

70:51 Jo Adell vs. Byron Buxton in Keeper Situations

74:16 Root Beers of Interest

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2021 Shortstop Preview Jan 28, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss J.T. Realmuto's return to the Phillies before breaking down the shortstop position for the 2021 fantasy baseball season.

Rundown

1:50 J.T. Realmuto Re-Ups with Philadelphia

8:45 Wilson Ramos in Detroit

10:59 Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Case for No. 1 Overall

15:58 Continued Love for Trea Turner

18:59 Trevor Story & Value Outside of Colorado

27:24 Francisco Lindor as a Met

30:12 Bo Bichette and Concerns About Toronto Steals Sources

34:54 Adalberto Mondesi Thoughts, Vol. 3

40:37: Xander Bogaerts, Corey Seager & Tim Anderson

47:22: Gleyber Torres & Javier Baez Rebounds?

53:36 Is Carlos Correa Undervalued Outside the Top 100?

55:48 Marcus Semien in Toronto

59:30 Late Options & Playing Time Concerns

70:06 Prospects On the Brink

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2021 Second Base Preview Jan 26, 2021

Eno & DVR discuss the possible hurdles to spring training in Arizona, the trade of Jameson Taillon to the Yankees, Brad Hand's new opportunity in D.C., and a handful of moves for the Red Sox -- including the addition of Garrett Richards -- before previewing the second base position for the 2021 fantasy baseball season.

Rundown

2:21 Spring Training in Arizona in Question

8:41 Jameson Taillon in the Bronx

13:07 A Look at the Pirates' Haul in the Taillon Deal

22:12 Brad Hand Goes to Washington

25:34 The Red Sox Add Garrett Richards, Enrique Hernandez & Adam Ottavino

35:52 Second Base Preview: No First-Rounders. but Love for Albies

41:55 Mike Moustakas: Old, Boring & Undervalued?

45:30 Cavan Biggio vs. Keston Hiura vs. Brandon Lowe

50:17 Is Jeff McNeil as Similar to DJ LeMahieu as Projections Suggest?

56:24 Do You Trust Dylan Moore in 2021?

61:55 Will Tommy Edman Ever Match His 2019 Debut?

69:01 Buying In (Again) on Gavin Lux

75:16 Options Outside the Top 300 Overall

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Hank Aaron's legacy, the next steps in Toronto, and Hall of Fame voting fatigue Jan 22, 2021

Eno, Britt, DVR discuss the legacy of Hank Aaron before considering the next steps for the Blue Jays, J.T. Realmuto as a possible fit in Atlanta, Eno's recent article about seam-shifted wake, and fatigue with the Hall of Fame voting process.

Rundown

1:18 Hank Aaron's Legacy

10:17 What's Next for the Blue Jays?

18:33 Trevor Bauer and Starting Every Fourth Day

29:34 Assessing Atlanta's Interest in J.T. Realmuto

33:46 Is the Universal DH Situation Holding Up a Marcell Ozuna Deal?

36:19 Eno's Latest Article: Seam-Shifted Wake

43:58 The History of the Baseball

50:31 Hall of Fame Voting Fatigue

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2021 First Base Preview Jan 20, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the Blue Jays' addition of George Springer and Kirby Yates before breaking down the 2021 first base pool.

Rundown

1:00 Sorting Out the Blue Jays’ Updated Lineup & Depth Chart

6:46 Is Kirby Yates Top-10 Closer Again?

10:09 George Springer’s Updated Projection From The BAT X

18:33 Freddie Freeman in the First Round & Opportunity Cost

26:23 DJ LeMahieu & Jose Abreu At Increased Price

34:00 Vlad Jr., Luke Voit & Pete Alonso

38:03 Looking for Red Flags: Olson, Muncy, Rizzo & Goldy

48:14 Joey Votto and the “Last Acceptable First Basemen”

53:44 Buying In On a Josh Bell Rebound?

59:50 Prospects & Deep League Options

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2021 Catcher Preview Jan 20, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the firing of Jared Porter, and the three-team trade that sent Joe Musgrove to San Diego before breaking down the 2021 catcher pool.

Rundown

0:41 Jared Porter Fired by the Mets

8:36 Joe Musgrove to San Diego in a Three-Team Swap

15:08 J.T. Realmuto Stands Alone (again)

24:02 Willson Contreras & Yasmani Grandal as Optimal Targets?

27:30 The 6-12 Range Catchers

32:32 Is Gary Sánchez Undervalued Despite His Flaws?

38:59 Looking Outside the Top-12 Catchers

43:59 Digging Deep for Players We Like at the Position

50:07 Prospect Catchers of Interest

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DJ LeMahieu stays with the Yankees, Toronto as a fit for Trevor Bauer, international free agency, and MLB's pursuit of the sticky ball Jan 15, 2021

Eno, DVR & Britt discuss DJ LeMahieu's new deal with the Yankees, the Blue Jays' struggle to land a top free agent, the potential fit with Trevor Bauer, Theo Epstein as a consultant to Commissioner Manfred, sticky stuff, and more.

Rundown

1:02 DJ LeMahieu Stays in the Bronx with a Six-Year Deal

5:10 The Blue Jays Take Another Silver Medal

9:41 International Free Agency Opens

19:13 Is MLB Relegation a Pipe Dream?

26:05 Theo Epstein Moves Into Consulting Role for Commissioner Manfred

33:56 Considering The Double Hook Idea for the DH Rule

38:46 Learning from the NFL-Nickelodeon Simulcast

43:20 Pine Tar & The Quest for the Sticky Ball

51:04 Does Owner Wealth Matter with Respect to a Team's Payroll?

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Liam Hendriks to the White Sox, a filthy closer pool, making sense of select 2020 pitching surprises, and six-man rotations Jan 14, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Liam Hendriks' move to the White Sox, their current top-five closers in a filthy 2021 closer pool, what to expect from a few of 2020's surprising pitchers, the viability of six-man rotations as teams look to limit workloads, and more.

Rundown

6:00 Liam Hendriks Joins the White Sox

14:50 Current Top-Five Closers

18:00 The Closer Mess

25:27 Blake Treinen Returns to the Dodgers; Kenley Jansen Trust Level?

31:29 2020 Breakouts: Setting Expectations for Spencer Turnbull, Elieser Hernández, Justus Sheffield

45:02 Brad Keller & Seam-Shifted Wake

48:35 Six-Man Rotations & Workload Management

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Kyle Schwarber heads to D.C., Sung-bum Na & Tomoyuki Sugano stay put, and fantasy fallout from the Lindor blockbuster Jan 11, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss Kyle Schwarber's move to the Nationals, MLB teams being unable to work out agreements with Sung-bum Na and Tomoyuki Sugano, the fantasy fallout of the blockbuster trade that sent Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets last week, and a new leaderboard at Baseball Savant.

Rundown

3:01 Kyle Schwarber in D.C.

12:23 Treading Carefully with Lower Batting Average Early-Rounders

17:29 Sung-bum Na & Tomoyuki Sugano Stay in KBO & NPB

20:23 Robbie Grossman, the Detroit Outfield and Victor vs. Victor (vs. Oscar)

35:05 Fantasy Fallout of the Francisco Lindor Blockbuster

51:54 The Back of the Cleveland Rotation

60:50 Baseball Savant's Spin Direction Leaderboard

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Francisco Lindor is a Met, and ideas to prevent MLB teams from tanking Jan 07, 2021

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Francisco Lindor to the Mets, plus ideas from Britt's recent piece about how to prevent MLB teams from tanking, Eno's look at the impact of missing in-game video in 2020, overdue changes to the Drug of Abuse provisions of the Joint Drug Agreement, and more.

Rundown

6:07 Ideas for Preventing Tanking in MLB

14:59 A Likely Explanation for the Padres’ Recent Spending Spree

30:41 Breaking News: Francisco Lindor is a Met!

39:51 Cleveland Following the Cubs' Lead?

46:06 The Impact of No In-Game Video in 2020

59:10 Overdue Changes to the Drug of Abuse Provisions in the JDA

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

Stories mentioned on this episode:

Britt on stopping MLB teams from tanking: https://theathletic.com/2301860

Eno on the impact of missing in-game video in 2020: https://theathletic.com/2294118

Britt on changes to the Joint Drug Agreement: https://theathletic.com/2298953

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Blake Snell, Yu Darvish & Ha-seong Kim to the Padres, buying low on new Rays, and the Cubs at the crossroads Jan 04, 2021

Eno and DVR discuss the Padres' two blockbuster trades, whether the Rays will spend any money at all this winter, the Cubs' first step toward a potential teardown, Ha-seong Kim's decisions to sign in San Diego, and Josh Bell's move to the Nationals.

Rundown

3:58 Adjusting Blake Snell's Projection in San Diego?

11:52 Luis Patiño’s Clear Path to the Rotation in Tampa Bay

20:32 Francisco Mejia’s Restart

26:22 Will the Rays Spend On Any Free Agents?

32:32 Is Yu Darvish Being Over-drafted?

42:30 More Moves to Come From the Cubs?

48:34 Josh Bell to the Nationals

54:32 Ha-seong Kim Chooses San Diego

64:11 Other Somewhat Interesting Late December Moves

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In-game video, renaming Cleveland's baseball team, Marcus Semien's foray into free agency, and holiday movie toss-ups Dec 18, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the importance of supporting local food banks, in-game video and the potential impact on overall team offensive performances, new names for the Cleveland Baseball Team, free-agent landing spots for Marcus Semien, the potential benefits of a condensed MLB offseason, holiday movie toss-ups, and traditions they're looking forward to as 2020 comes to a close.

Rundown

0:44 Community Spotlight: Food Banks

11:50 In-Game Video & Team wRC+

22:53 Jersey Number Trivia!

27:05 Best Facial Hair in Baseball?

31:15 Renaming Cleveland’s MLB Franchise

39:49 Did the Mariners Add a Closer?

45:14 Marcus Semien’s Potential Landing Spots

48:28 Should MLB Utilize Moratorium or Transfer Windows?

55:28 Listener E-mails: You Can Order Cheesesteak in the Mail

56:52 Would You Rather? Holiday/Christmas Movie Edition

73:23 Holiday Traditions We’re Looking Forward To

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Popularity vs. production, finding fits for Trevor Bauer, Masahiro Tanaka and Tomoyuki Sugano, and weighing options for the Blue Jays Dec 16, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss player popularity against production in hopes of finding undervalued players, and look at potential fits for Trevor Bauer, Masahiro Tanaka and Tomoyuki Sugano, before considering the Blue Jays' offseason options -- including a potential trade for Nolan Arenado -- as they aim for a deep October run.

Rundown

1:28 Fresh Concerns About 2021 Season Length

8:08 An Examination of Popularity vs. Production

15:51 Seeking Young Overlooked Players

20:04 ‘Boring’ = Value?

26:55 Where is Trevor Bauer Going & For How Long?

36:14 Finding a Fit for Masahiro Tanaka

44:29 Could the Angels Pursue Two FA Starters?

46:36 What Will the Jays Do in Free Agency?

52:33 Sending Nolan Arenado to Toronto?

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The Mets make more moves, J.T. Realmuto and George Springer suitors, and a mystery team for DJ LeMahieu Dec 15, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss James McCann to the Mets, the new GM in the Big Apple, suitors for J.T. Realmuto and George Springer, a possible mystery team fit for DJ LeMahieu, and Chris Flexen's return to the big leagues after a successful one-year stint in the KBO.

Rundown

1:55 Buying James McCann’s 2019-20 Offensive Production?

5:05 Would You Rather? Fringe Top-10 Catchers

13:35 Jared Porter is the Mets’ New GM

17:15 Where Does J.T. Realmuto Fit Now?

26:43 David Dahl Heads to Texas

34:26 Hunter Renfroe Goes to Boston

43:03 Chris Flexen Signs with Seattle After One Year in KBO

47:25 Best Fits for George Springer

51:55 A #MysteryTeam for DJ LeMahieu?

56:31 Can You Draft Too Many Players From One Team?

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The lost 2020 minor league season and A's talk w/Melissa Lockard, and Dave Dombrowski takes the reins for the Phillies Dec 12, 2020

Melissa Lockard joins Eno, Britt and DVR to discuss the lost 2020 minor league season, changes to the minors, the A's Rule 5 picks, and expectations for A.J. Puk. Then, Eno, Britt & DVR examine the Nate Lowe trade, before discussing the team position-by-position WAR projections, and Dave Dombrowski's move to Philly.

Rundown

1:07 What Are Teams' Greatest Concerns Coming Out of Lost 2020?

9:05 Will Teams Promote Prospects More Aggressively Going Forward?

15:32 How To Determine Assignments for Minor Leaguers to Begin 2021

19:44 Did Some Young Prospects Benefit From Time Spent at Alternate Sites?

23:18 Blaze Tom, Dany Jiménez and the A's Decision to Select Two MLB Rule 5 Players

26:11 Expectations for A.J. Puk & Jake Diekman

32:01 The Rays Give Action and Trade Nate Lowe to Texas

40:41 Team-by-Team WAR Projections: How Many Teams Are Trying?

45:53 The Nats Need to Spend Money

50:39 Dave Dombrowski & The Phillies' Short-Term Direction

58:52 In or Out on Cheesesteaks?

Check out the story from Melissa, Britt & Eno about the lost minor league season on The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2246205/2020/12/08/minor-league-baseball-lost-season/

Follow Melissa on Twitter: @MelissaLockard

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Lance Lynn to the White Sox, and talking pitching and sandwiches w/Trevor May Dec 10, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the Lance Lynn-Dane Dunning swap, Adam Eaton's return to the south side of Chicago, and Carlos Santana's move to Kansas City. New Mets reliever Trevor May joins the show to discuss the evolution of pitching during his time in Minnesota, his role in the new Fan Controlled Football League, sandwiches, and more!

Rundown

0:58 The Rangers Send Lance Lynn to the White Sox

5:40 Dane Dunning in Texas

9:56 Who Is The Most Valuable White Sox Starting Pitcher After Lucas Giolito?

16:58 Adam Eaton Returns to the South Side

20:01 Carlos Santana Heads to Kansas City

23:46 Trevor May Interview Intro

24:00 Changes in Pitching Development During Trevor's Time with the Twins

27:10 Bullpen Workload Management & Relief Role Flexibility

33:28 Can You Throw Too Many High Fastballs?

37:37 Ditching the Curveball for the Slider

43:44 What Did You Learn From 2020?

46:17 Trevor's Role in the New Fan Controlled Football League

52:16 Sandwich Talk!

55:46 Mailbag Q: Caleb Cotham in Philly

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Check out Fan Controlled Football (fcf.io) on Twitch -- games begin in February: https://www.twitch.tv/fcf/about

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Raisel Iglesias to the Angels, buy-low candidates, and aging curves for late breakouts Dec 08, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss Raisel Iglesias' move to Anaheim, buy-low candidates, keeper and dynasty league strategy, aging curves for late breakouts, and more.

Rundown

1:25 Raisel Iglesias to the Angels & Reds Bullpen Thoughts

14:23 Is Tomoyuki Sugano a Good Fit in Anaheim?

17:08 Gio Urshela Has a Bone Chip Removed From His Elbow

22:08 What Characteristics Age Well in Young Hitters?

25:01 Buying Low on Bryan Reynolds?

28:15 Finding a Balanced Approach in Long-Term Leagues

32:22 Targeting Rebound Candidates

40:32 Backing Up the David Dahl Love; Still Interested in Sam Hilliard?

46:45 Teoscar Hernández & Aging Curves for Late Breakouts

57:34 Dustin May and Betting on the Breakout

69:19 Dynasty League Setup Ideas

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Making sense of non-tender decisions, avoiding arbitration, and Len Kasper's surprising move to the White Sox Dec 04, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR break down the moves made at this week's non-tender trade deadline including the Rockies' puzzling decision to let David Dahl go, the impact of uncertain 2021 budgets on free agency, Len Kasper's move from the Cubs to the White Sox, and more.

Rundown

1:23 Making Sense of Non-Tender Decisions

9:52 The NL DH & Future Leverage

12:07 Teams Don’t Have Budgets Yet?

16:54 Agents & Teams Trying Harder to Avoid Arbitration

23:23 Time to Recalibrate WAR for Relievers?

27:36 Len Kasper’s Move to the South Side of Chicago

33:31 What Is the Ideal Play-by-Play Opportunity: Location & Medium

37:02 Wander Franco Injury Follow-Up

40:26 Winds of Change in the Pie Rankings

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Eddie Rosario, the non-tender deadline, changes in Texas, and early draft observations Dec 02, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the non-tender deadline, Trevor May's move into the Mets' bullpen, concerns about pitcher injuries in 2021, early NFBC draft observations, and more.

Rundown

1:14 The Non-Tender Deadline & $/WAR

8:48 Alex Kirilloff's Path to Playing Time Opens Up

10:51 Trevor May Heads to the Mets

12:09 2021 Pitcher Injury Concerns

19:25 Changes Around the Rangers' Infield

25:31 Catcher Is Still Pretty Rough

30:35 Matt Moore & Other International Free Agents of Interest

42:52 Early NFBC Drafts: deGrom, LeMahieu & Arenado

54:08 Digging Deep: Adbert Alzolay & JT Brubaker

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Mike Minor goes back to KC, finding fits for a Blake Snell trade, and free agents from the KBO Dec 01, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the Royals' addition of Mike Minor and Michael Taylor, Wander Franco's arm injury, Blake Snell trade rumors, and a few KBO players seeking opportunities in the big leagues.

Rundown

1:14 Smaller Thanksgiving Missteps

7:39 Mike Minor Signs with Kansas City

12:54 Michael Taylor Joins a Weirdly Crowded Royals Outfield

19:46 Minor League Changes & Possible Delayed 2021 Start

28:37 Wander Franco Leaves Dominican Winter League with Arm Injury

32:49 Finding Fits for a Blake Snell Trade

39:33 KBO Players Seeking MLB Opportunities This Winter

51:20 Fantasy Leagues That Didn't Play 2020

55:56 Severino, Sale & Thor in Keeper/Dynasty Leagues

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An attempt to fix MLB's broken hot stove and a pitcher stats draft Nov 24, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss a few ideas to fix MLB's broken hot stove as a flurry of NBA activity takes center stage, before holding their pitcher stats draft and discuss a few beer options for Thanksgiving.

Rundown

2:26 Can MLB Speed Up Offseason Player Movement?

12:06 Some Interesting Difference in Top Salaries Between MLB and the NBA

17:10 How Long Should It Take to Develop a Big League Player?

23:42 The First Pick of the Pitcher Stats Draft

30:15 A Newer Metric Moving Up the Board

36:33 Round 2 Begins

40:16 A Great Complementary Metric

53:07 Final Round Selections

63:43 Beer of the Week -- Thanksgiving Edition

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Theo's future, Cano's suspension, Arenado trade rumors, and a Thanksgiving draft Nov 21, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Theo Epstein's future, Robinson Canó's 162-game suspension, trade rumors swirling around Nolan Arenado, and the work ahead for Kim Ng with the Marlins' current roster before holding their first annual Thanksgiving sides and appetizers draft.

Rundown

1:52 What’s Next for Theo Epstein?

10:12 What’s Next for the Cubs?

16:46 2021 Unknowns

21:33 Robinson Canó’s Positive PED Test

33:27 Nolan Arenado Trade Fits

49:14 Kim Ng’s Path Forward with the Marlins

56:40 Thanksgiving Day Sides & Apps Draft

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Surgery for Bellinger, a cure for Luke Voit's foot stuff, and a hitter stats draft Nov 19, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss Cody Bellinger's shoulder surgery and relief for Luke Voit's 2020 foot trouble before drafting hitting stats.

Rundown

1:34 Cody Bellinger Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

9:22 A Cure for Luke Voit's Foot Stuff

14:11 A Hitting Stats Draft!

18:28 DVR's First-Round Selection

26:45 Eno's First-Round Selection

34:32 Round 2 Begins

48:07 Round 3!

64:06 Matt Chapman and an Altered Approach

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Clevinger out for 2021, Drew Smyly to Atlanta and early rankings feedback Nov 17, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss Mike Clevinger's absence for the 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery, Drew Smyly's quick move to Atlanta, injury risk for pitchers, overrating and underrating the same player simultaneously, and more.

Rundown

2:15 Mike Clevinger Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

6:06 Drew Smyly to Atlanta for 2021

8:41 Reassessing Injury Risk for Pitchers in the Wake of Clevinger News?

13:35 Or, Pushing Zac Gallen Up?

17:49 Where to Take Young Pitchers

23:44 Is He Underrated or Overrated?

30:48 Joey Bart’s Surprisingly Quiet Rookie Campaign

38:21 How Will Teams Handle Players Who Skipped Triple-A in 2020?

50:02 Targeting Austin Riley Late

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Kim Ng breaks a major barrier, evaluating strengths and weaknesses after a season, and reconsidering stolen bases in fantasy baseball Nov 13, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss Kim Ng's rise to become the general manager of the Marlins, before sharing their evaluation process after a season, a push to remove or modify stolen bases as a common fantasy baseball category, and what we can glean from teams' on-field decisions.

Rundown

1:15 Kim Ng Hired as GM of Marlins

7:13 Self Evaluation After a Season

21:42 Re-Tracing Your Draft Day Steps

33:32 Reconsidering Stolen Bases as a Category

43:24 Looking for Team Evaluations in Decision-Making Process

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Starting pitcher rankings preview! Nov 12, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss several starting pitcher rankings issues -- including reduced expectations for Max Scherzer, Z-Contact% surprises, Aaron Nola's move back into fantasy ace status -- and the impact of groupthink on rankings.

Rundown

1:36 Max Scherzer & Aging Aces

7:36 2020 Trevor Bauer is Baseline Trevor Bauer Now

10:44 The Influence of Groupthink On Rankings

14:35 Kenta Maeda: Top-15 Starting Pitcher

17:59 Aaron Nola: An Ace Again?

22:24 Other Top-End Starting Pitcher Risers

27:23 Z-Contact% Surprises

31:43 What Can Kevin Gausman Bring?

38:53 When Can Two-Pitch Starters Be Successful?

42:47 Command First Innings-Eaters

48:27 Ian Anderson & Effective Changeups

54:14 The Prospects Who Didn't Pitch in 2020

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MLB's sticky situation, Rookie of the Year selections, and looking forward to Awards Week Nov 10, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss pitchers' widespread use of foreign substances for grip, spin and movement, Trevor Bauer's bid for the NL Cy Young Award, and their thoughts on the Rookie of the Year winners and nominees.

Rundown

0:54 MLB’s Sticky Problem

5:51 Other Ways to Reduce Strikeouts

14:45 Trevor Bauer’s Experiments & 2020 Cy Young Bid

19:45 Why Not Just Legalize the Substances?

21:10 AL Rookie of the Year

25:26 NL Rookie of the Year

30:00 What Does the Future Hold For Jake Cronenworth?

36:33 Ke’Bryan Hayes Could Have Been a Contender

45:18 Anything Else You're Looking For During Awards Week?

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Free agency begins, new ownership for the Mets, and Hinch, Cora and La Russa are managers again Nov 06, 2020

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss the start of free agency, the big changes for the Mets with Steve Cohen's purchase of the team, the return of A.J. Hinch, Alex Cora and Tony La Russa to the dugout, and more.

Rundown

2:15 The 2021 Free Agent Class

5:50 Non-Tenders Are Still To Come

12:40 Questions About Team Finances After 2020

18:53 Steve Cohen Purchases the Mets

26:32 Francisco Lindor Trade Rumors

34:54 Hinch to Detroit, Cora to Boston and La Russa to Chicago

45:15 The Gold Glove Awards Should Be Fun!

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2021 Fantasy Baseball draft prep begins! Nov 05, 2020

Eno and DVR begin their 2021 fantasy baseball draft prep episodes and discuss how they plan to work with the shortened 2020 season when putting together rankings for the new year.

Rundown

3:59 How Are We Accounting for the 2020 Season?

11:51 Prioritizing Steals in First-Round Picks

17:57 Is the Industry Wrong to Pass on Trout at 1.1?

21:07 Re-Thinking Tim Anderson

25:47 The Adalberto Mondesi 'Problem' Isn't Going Away

28:49 The Challenge of Early Hitters Without a pre-2020 Track Record

38:05 Beware the Swinging-Strike Leaders

41:05 Where Did Ketel Marte's Power Go?

49:11 Gavin Lux and Sample Size Theatre

55:50 Is Wil Myers Fool's Gold?

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The Dodgers are World Series champions, Kevin Cash takes heat for his removal of Blake Snell, and Justin Turner tests positive for COVID Oct 28, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR wrap up their playoff episodes as the Dodgers take Game 6 and win the World Series on a night where third baseman Justin Turner was removed from the game due to a positive COVID test, and Rays manager Kevin Cash gets hammered for pulling Blake Snell instead of allowing him to face the Dodgers' lineup a third time.

Rundown

3:58 Blake Snell and Kevin Cash's Decision

10:21 Looking Ahead to the Rays' 2021

14:08 The Playoffs Were Great

19:29 Snell's Dominance & A Huge Night for the Dodgers' Bullpen

25:40 Corey Seager Wins the World Series MVP

33:21 Suspensions for Hinch & Cora Are Over

38:11 Is This Championship Tainted by the 60-game Season?

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The Dodgers are one win away, an attempted straight steal of home, Brett Phillips' place in October history, previewing Game 6 of the World Series Oct 26, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss an excellent weekend of World Series games -- including the incredible finish to Game 4 -- and their predictions for Game 6 as the Dodgers attempt to snap their 32-year World Series drought.

Rundown

1:56 Never Go Home Early

6:21 Returning to the Grid with Brett Phillips as a Postseason Hero

13:13 Manuel Margot's Attempt to Steal Home

20:11 Clayton Kershaw Pitches Well in Game 5

25:39 Tony Gonsolin vs. Blake Snell; Game 6 Preview

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Brandon Lowe's bat wakes up, Blake Snell rolls early, and the Rays take Game 2 of the World Series Oct 22, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss Game 2 of the World Series including the adjustments made by Blake Snell, Brandon Lowe's big night, the disappointing outing from Dustin May, and more.

Rundown

1:12 The Dodgers' Bullpen Plan Unravels

5:41 Blake Snell’s Adjustments

9:25 Who Should Have Received the Win?

14:03 Is Tony Gonsolin the New Ross Stripling?

24:27 Mid-Series Predictions & Charlie Morton Love

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Kershaw deals, Tyler Glasnow throws a ton of pitches, and the Dodgers take Game 1 of the World Series Oct 21, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss Clayton Kershaw's excellent Game 1 outing against the Rays, the curious handling of Tyler Glasnow, Mookie Betts' big night, and predictions for Game 2.

Rundown

1:42 The Rays’ Curious Handling of Tyler Glasnow

8:18 Clayton Kershaw Finds His Slider and Delivers a Gem

13:34 Mookie Betts' Big Night

15:47 'Who Would Trade Mookie Betts?'

23:06 The Importance of Speed

25:43 The Dodgers’ Pitching Plan for Game 2

28:27 Nick Anderson & Reliever Velocity

34:38 Game 2 Predictions

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World Series Preview | Rays vs. Dodgers Oct 19, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the excellent weekend Game 7s from the LCS matchups and break down the World Series matchup between the Rays and Dodgers.

Rundown

1:04 LCS Game 7s Delivered!

3:33 Morton’s Hook & Nick Anderson’s ALCS Struggles

9:02 Did the Braves Ask Too Much of A.J. Minter?

12:11 Stacking Up the Rays and Dodgers

14:31 The Rays and the Underdog Narrative

19:15 The Importance of Blake Snell

22:22 Patching Together a Potential Dodgers Pitching Plan for Game 2

30:53 Series Predictions

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Playoff series without off-days, pitching on throw days, and 2021 workloads w/Jake Odorizzi Oct 19, 2020

Eno is joined by Twins pitcher (and former Ray) Jake Odorizzi to discuss the postseason so far, the challenge of pitching without off-days, pitching in games on a ‘throw-day’, pitcher workloads in 2021, and more.

Rundown

1:40 Are You Enjoying This Postseason So Far?

2:56 How Difficult Is It to Handle Pitching Without Off-Days?

5:18 2020 Injuries & A Partial Spring Training

7:43 What Would It Be Like To Start a Game on a Throw Day?

13:05 How Much of a Workload Can You Handle in 2021?

15:51 Matching Up the Rays with the Dodgers and Braves

19:22 On Shifting & Defensive Positioning

25:21 The Aesthetics of Rays Baseball

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Correa walks it off, Bryse Wilson delivers a gem, and the Dodgers unravel Oct 16, 2020

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss the implications of the Rays and Astros choosing to bullpen their way through Game 5, an unexpected gem from Bryse Wilson, another highly questionable in-game decision involving Clayton Kershaw, and their predictions for the remaining LCS games.

Rundown

1:57 Thoughts on the Rays' Decision to Bullpen Game 5

6:25 Which Relievers Will the Astros Turn to in Game 6?

8:02 How Good is Framber Valdez?

11:53 Final ALCS Predictions

16:20 More Randy Arozarena Facts (courtesy of @smada_bb)

20:11 What Is Driving the Decision-Making Around Pulling Kershaw?

22:10 How Did Bryse Wilson Turn In a Gem?

28:37 The Braves Face the Same Decision as the Rays in Game 5

31:28 Final NLCS Predictions

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The LCS matchups heat up Oct 15, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the Dodgers' offensive explosion in Game 3, the Astros' first win of the ALCS, and the questions surrounding several pitching plans for Thursday's matchups.

Rundown

0:54 The Dodgers’ Offense Erupts

7:01 A Successor for Hunter Pence

12:18 Springer’s Big Homer; Greinke’s Start Lead Astros to Win

12:54 Which Relievers Do You Trust in Houston?

17:51 The Rays’ Starting Pitcher Options for Game 5

23:26 How Close Was Willy Adames to a Game-Tying Homer?

25:36 Concerns About the Rays’ Offense?

28:56 Predictions for Thursday’s Matchups

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Kershaw's back, the Braves hold on in Game 2, and the Rays prepare for a sweep Oct 14, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the status of Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin's spot start in his absence, the Braves' 2-0 lead in the NLCS, the Rays' elite defense, and the Astros' uphill battle facing a 3-0 deficit.

Rundown

0:35 Clayton Kershaw's Status; Tony Gonsolin's Spot Start

5:04 The Dodgers' Offense is Waking Up

9:00 Re-Thinking the Usage of Dustin May

16:04 Will Smith, the Catcher

19:12 Jose Altuve Wades Into Chuck Knoblauch Territory

22:56 The Rays' Reasonably Fresh Bullpen for Game 4

32:29 Are These LCS Series Good?

36:41 Trivia for Charity!

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Margot joins October highlight reels, McCullers' excellent start, Atlanta throws the first punch Oct 13, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the Rays' outstanding defensive effort, Lance McCullers' excellent outing in defeat, and Atlanta's Game 1 triumph over Walker Buehler and the Dodgers behind Max Fried and a late-inning push against the Braves' bullpen.

Rundown

0:48 Manuel Margot Secures His Place in October Highlight Reels

6:08 A Closer Look at a Gem From Lance McCullers

8:24 Revamped Arsenals for the Playoffs?

14:27 Alex Bregman and the Best 0-for-5 Ever?

17:07 Atlanta Quiets the Dodgers' Offense

20:51 The Importance of Jake McGee

23:40 Austin Riley & 'The Sound'

29:54 Questions About the Dodgers' Bullpen Plan Behind Kershaw in Game 2

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LCS Previews, Asteroids & Chickens? Oct 12, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the ALCS and NLCS matchups, Mike Brosseau's classic battle with Aroldis Chapman in Game 5 of the ALDS, the importance of having different looks in a bullpen, and more.

Rundown

0:51 Do We Deserve Having the Astros in the ALCS?

4:20 Encino Man Would Love This!

10:18 At Least One of Us Picked Game of the ALDS Correctly

15:43 Brosseau vs. Chapman: An All-Time Great Postseason At-Bat

21:45 Velo, Velo and More Velo

25:29 NLCS Preview

36:22 Bullpen Construction and Varying Looks

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The Rays and Yankees go to Game 5, the Padres, A's and Marlins hit the links Oct 09, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the Yankees-Rays Game 5 matchup, the quick exits of the Padres and Marlins from the Division Series round, and the A's ongoing October woes.

Rundown

0:36 Yankees Pitchers Deliver in Game 4 Win

9:40 Home Runs Are Good!

14:14 A Fortunate NLDS Draw for Atlanta

16:44 More October Woes in Oakland

20:51 Love for Dusty Baker

25:37 A Disappointing Ending for the Padres' Great 2020 Campaign

36:09 Game 5 Predictions!

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The A's stay alive, the Yankees face elimination, the Braves roll, and Dodgers-Padres drama heats up Oct 08, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the state of all four Division Series, which could all draw to an end Thursday as the A's, Yankees, Marlins and Padres all face elimination.

Rundown

3:24 The A's Mash Their Way to Game 4

9:04 Did We Undersell Atlanta's Bullpen?

16:32 The Yankees Face Elimination

27:44 The Randy Arozarena Experience

30:40 A Robbed Home Run, Blowing Kisses, and a Near Blown Save

41:09 Why Didn't the Padres Add MacKenzie Gore to the Roster?

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Division Series Scuttlebutt Oct 07, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the Yankees’ curious decision to use Deivi Garcia as an opener, the A’s attempt to stave off elimination, Ronald Acuña’s feud with the Marlins, and a rough series opener for the Padres.

Rundown

1:09 Yankees-Rays

10:11 Astros-A’s

17:01 Marlins-Braves

25:02 Padres-Dodgers

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Astros, Yankees win ALDS openers, and Deivi Garcia gets a big opportunity Oct 06, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the opening games of the ALDS matchups, and try to make sense of a mediocre outing from Blake Snell, Austin Meadows' disappointing 2020, and their appreciation for Enoli Paredes as an unheralded arm in the soft underbelly of the Houston bullpen.

Rundown

0:39 Giancarlo Stanton Puts Game 1 Out of Reach

3:02 How the Fifth Innings Shaped the Rays’ Bullpen Usage

9:18 Austin Meadows’ Oblique Injury and 2020 Struggles

11:44 A Pivotal Error Flips Game 1 On the A’s

20:08 Enoli Paredes: A Reliever for Stuffists

21:16 Deivi Garcia Gets the Nod for Game 2

25:59 Aaron Judge Did an Aaron Judge Thing

31:52 When the Play-by-Play Tweet Goes Spoiler

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ALDS & NLDS previews, predictions, and building better booths Oct 05, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the four Division Series matchups and make predictions for each series before discussing how baseball broadcasting booths could be improved, and the impact of empty stadiums on players this season.

Rundown

2:30 Astros vs. A's

12:42 Yankees vs. Rays

25:34 Marlins vs. Braves

34:03 Padres vs. Dodgers

44:32 Series Predictions

53:16 The Varying Impact of Empty Stadiums on Players

57:15 How To Improve Baseball Booths

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The Padres rally to force Game 3, the A's advance and the Reds can't score Oct 02, 2020

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the Padres' thrilling Game 2 win over the Cards, the A's triumph over the White Sox, and the Reds bowing out of the postseason without plating a run.

Rundown

1:20 Who Pitches for San Diego in Game 3?

6:33 The A's Advance to the ALDS

10:49 Does Rick Renteria Deserve This Much Criticism?

15:50 Ian Anderson Delivers

18:06 Will the Reds' Offense Be a Strength in 2021?

24:27 Marcell Ozuna's Fake Selfie & Mic'ing Up Players in a Playoff Game?

33:35 The Dodgers Cruise, But What Happens with Kenley Jansen Going Forward?

37:04 What's Next for the Brewers?

39:28 Marlins-Cubs & Cards-Padres Predictions

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Pitching shines in Atlanta and early exits for Minnesota and Cleveland Oct 01, 2020

Eno, Britt, and DVR discuss Wednesday's loaded eight-game playoff slate, including an excellent pitching matchup in Atlanta, the A's effort to push their Wild Card Series to a decisive Game 3, and a collapse in Cleveland.

Rundown

2:51 Braves-Reds & Trevor Bauer, Villain

8:03 The Twins' Early Exit

11:00 Chris Bassitt's Strong Start, Liam Hendriks Usage

13:02 Starling Marte's Injury & Sixto Sánchez's Chance to Advance the Marlins

17:27 The Future is Bright in Toronto

21:09 Cleveland’s Latest Collapse

26:02 The Dodgers Hold Serve in Game 1

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Clevinger's Injury, Kirilloff's Surprising Promotion & Bieber Gets Hit Sep 30, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the impact of Mike Clevinger's absence for at least the Wild Card round, Alex Kirilloff's MLB debut coming in the postseason (rare!), the Yankees' approach against Shane Bieber, and more!

Rundown

0:35 Mike Clevinger’s Uncertain Status Beyond Wild Card Round

3:39 Alex Kirilloff Debuting in the Postseason

10:22 Framber Valdez Shines Behind Zack Greinke

13:57 How The Yankees Hit Shane Bieber?

20:29 Did the Jays Deserve Better in Game 1?

25:09 Lucas Giolito's Dominant Start

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NL Wild Card series breakdowns and LCS, World Series predictions Sep 29, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss their picks in the NL Wild Card Series matchups, and share their predictions for LCS and World Series winners as the 2020 Postseason gets underway.

Series Breakdowns

1:51 Dodgers vs. Brewers

10:35 Padres vs. Cardinals

15:03 Braves vs. Reds

20:15 Cubs vs. Marlins

Big Predictions

27:55 LCS & World Series

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Preparing for a different, imperfect postseason with Ken Rosenthal Sep 28, 2020

Ken Rosenthal joins Eno, Britt & DVR to discuss the different and imperfect 2020 postseason and consider the teams best suited for the unique twists of this October.

Interview w/Ken Rosenthal

4:05 Are the Rays Optimally Suited for This Postseason?

5:02 Atlanta's Tough Wild Card Round Draw

6:22 Does Home Field Advantage Even Matter?

7:39 Is Previous Playoff Experience Less Important?

9:09 Tactical Adjustments to a Packed Schedule

11:04 Are the Cubs Getting Overlooked?

12:23 The Impact of Neutral Parks After Round 1

14:17 Ken's American League Predictions

17:08 The Brewers & Having a Puncher's Chance Against the Dodgers

Series Breakdowns

20:38 Rays vs. Jays

24:08 A's vs. White Sox

27:27 Twins vs. Astros

30:09 Indians vs. Yankees

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A few things we learned in 2020 Sep 24, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss some of their takeaways from the 60-game 2020 season -- including the need for making quicker decisions and their plans to increase the value placed on multi-position players in the future -- before answering a series of mailbag questions.

Rundown
4:57 Roster Churn & Quick Decisions
9:56 Tony Gonsolin’s 2021 Outlook
13:17 Increasing Weight on Multi-Position Players
17:22 Projecting Jake Cronenworth in 2021
21:16 Revisiting 'Punting' Saves
30:59 Adjusting to Universal DH
36:03 Kyle Lewis as a Fringe Top-25 Hitter?
46:40 Keston Hiura & Second-Base Depth Concerns
54:08 Is Edwin Rios a 2021 Sleeper?
59:20 Future Interest in Justin Dunn

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Rising Hitters & Early Round Starting Pitchers Sep 22, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss another wave of rising hitters with an eye toward 2021 before contemplating some of the projected early-round starting pitchers as forecasted by friend and brilliant fantasy baseball mind, Vlad Sedler.

Rundown
1:53 Buying Conforto's 2020 & Machado's Push Back Up the Board
9:31 Thinking About Position Eligibility Again
18:06 Luke Voit is Mashing Despite ‘Foot Stuff’
21:54 Game Show! (wRC+ Leaders Since 2018)
25:49 Nitro: A Large Bucket View of Hitters
30:55 Makes Sense of Teoscar Hernandez, Ian Happ & Dominic Smith
43:35 The Early Round SPs
60:03 Trevor Bauer’s Workload Dream

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The Playoff Push & Awards Predictions Sep 21, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss their expectations for the final week of the season as several National League teams jockey for the four available playoff spots, before making their picks (and predictions) for Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP winners in each league.

Rundown
1:43 A Futile Attempt to Understand 2020 Playoff Tie-Breakers
7:20 The National League Playoff Race
18:24 A High Stakes Week in Philadelphia
24:20 Is the Expanded Postseason Here to Stay?
34:27 Rookie of the Year Selections
43:00 Cy Young Selections
51:43 MVP Selections

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Early Bats for 2021 & Endgame Arms for 2020 Sep 17, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the changes expected among the top-20 hitters for 2021 — including potential risers into that group — and widely-available pitchers that might help in the final 10 days of the season.

Rundown
2:41 What Drops a Hitter Coming Out of 2020?
8:56 Cody Bellinger & Christian Yelich Similarities
11:00 Top-Five for 2021 (and Next Five)
17:58 Will Early Pitching Fall?
23:48 A Graceful Decline for Starling Marte?
26:04 Potential Newcomers in the First Two Rounds
33:13 Luis Robert & Elevated Swing Rates
38:50 Should Bo Bichette Go Even Higher than Luis Robert?
43:37 Xander Bogaerts' Case for a Move Up
57:03 Endgame Pitching Help to Consider

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Setting the Table for 2021 Pitcher Rankings Sep 15, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss how they're going to build 2021 pitcher rankings coming out of the shortened 2020 season, in an effort to balance risk with injuries, skills, stuff and command.

Rundown
5:25 Early 2021 Starting Pitcher Rankings Thoughts
10:50 Age, Injuries & Decline
18:10 The ‘Flawed’ Pop-Up Pitchers of 2020
23:46 Which Pitchers Don’t Have Any Flaws
30:45 The Surprising Season From Dakota Hudson
35:50 Avoiding Red Flags Early
40:47 Are You More Comfortable Betting on Stuff or Command Improvement?
49:25 How to Handle Prospect Pitchers with Poor Command
53:14 Good Control without Good Command?
58:33 Various Considerations in Defining Athleticism
64:26 Matt Chapman’s Season-Ending Injury

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Roberto Clemente Day & Erasing the Stigma Sep 12, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss Roberto Clemente Day, erasing the stigma around mental health, and using baseball as a way to cope.

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month and Sep. 6 — Sep. 12 is National Suicide Prevention Week. If you or somebody you know is dealing with mental health issues, please reach out to the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Rundown
3:45 Roberto Clemente Day
12:31 Erasing the Stigma
22:40 Baseball as an Escape
27:48 The Battle for the AL Central
37:03 Are You Buying the Marlins, Rockies or Mets?
43:31 Wild & Crazy Stats

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Struggling Stars & The Sophomore Slump Sep 10, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss several struggling stars -- including a mix of hitters and pitchers -- the 'Sophomore Slump', an intriguing pitching prospect with very good command, and more.

Rundown
4:29 Hitters Are Missing In-Game Video Availability
9:10 Swing Rate Variations Over Time
13:43 Kris Bryant & Long-Term Ailments
20:35 Making Sense of Adalberto Mondesi’s Ugly 2020
26:19 J.D. Martinez Bounceback Potential
30:33 Marcus Semien & Regression
37:28 Pete Alonso & ’Sophomore Slumps’
44:03 Matthew Boyd’s Slide
47:41 Concerns About Luis Castillo’s Inflated WHIP
50:09 Flaws for Chris Paddack
53:41 Patrick Corbin's Step Back
55:54 The Sixto Sánchez Hype is Deserved
59:05 George Kirby, Ljay Newsome & Mariners’ Command-Heavy Prospects
64:42 Triston McKenzie and Fading Velocity

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Big Misses & Re-Thinking How We Project Future Fantasy Value Sep 08, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the collective 'miss' on Shane Bieber, the challenge of using the 20-80 scale to set expectations for players from a fantasy perspective, the demotion of Dylan Carlson, and more.

Rundown
5:12 Why Did I (We) Miss on Shane Bieber?
10:55 What Is the Most Important Tool for a Hitter and for a Pitcher?
16:34 Hit Tool as a Measure of Future Success
20:44 Listener Collin Turns Our Secret Sauce Into Z-Scores
28:13 Is Hit Tool Too Subjective?
35:29 What Do We Make of Forrest Whitley Now?
41:11 Dylan Carlson Demoted
45:36 Choosing Keepers in Shallow Long-Term Leagues
49:13 How Much Will We Value 2020 Results Going Forward?

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Yankees-Rays Drama & The Most Fun Teams in Baseball Sep 04, 2020

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss this week's drama in the Yankees-Rays' series, the most fun teams in baseball, MLB's improved process for managing the pandemic, Evan Drellich's piece about commissioner Rob Manfred, and what they're looking forward to during the long holiday weekend.

Rundown
1:41 Yankees-Rays Rivalry, Aroldis Chapman & Intent
8:24 Are the Rays the Best Team in the American League?
12:19 What Makes a Team Fun to Watch?
20:50 Clevinger Debuts with Padres & Optimal Clubhouse Dynamics
28:53 The A's Return to Play; Has MLB Improved Its Management of the Pandemic?
36:27 Reflecting on Rob Manfred's Time as Commissioner

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Ideal Hitter Profiles & Using Statcast to Find Undervalued Players Sep 03, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss what they're looking for in hitter profiles, Statcast-driven Buy Low targets, differences in changeups, and more!

Rundown
6:13 What Are We Looking For in Hitter Profiles?
10:55 Examining Z-Contact% Leaders
17:50 Z-Contact% Laggards
23:50 Why O-Swing% is More Useful than O-Contact%
31:37 Hitters Who Avoid Chasing (Low O-Swing%)
34:50 Brendan Rodgers as a Buy Low Candidate
43:51 Using Max Exit Velo to Find Undervalued Players
56:30 Why Didn't Teams Move Top Prospects at the Deadline?
66:02 Differences in Changeups

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2020 Trade Deadline Pu Pu Platter Sep 01, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the fallout from the 2020 trade deadline, including their biggest surprises, individual winner and losers, more messy bullpen situations, and a few intriguing prospects on the move.

Rundown
1:21 Deadline Surprises
5:50 Were Teams More Hesitant Than Usual to Add Payroll?
10:14 Arizona Adds Another Pitcher From Miami
13:10 Starling Marte is a Marlin
16:32 The Padres Steal the Show (Again)
24:46 Can A Breakout Happen in Fewer Than 400 Plate Appearances?
29:43 Mike Clevinger in San Diego
38:04 Individual Trade Deadline Winners
40:40 Bullpens in Question
50:28 Franklin Barreto's Fresh Start in Anaheim
55:09 Prospect of the Week

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The Latest Mets Mess and a Trade Deadline Without Scouts Aug 28, 2020

With DVR on vacation, Eno attemps to Wall Pipp him as lead host. Eno and Britt start off with the latest Mets PR nightmare. They discuss the nations social unrest and how it can effect MLB clubhouses. Then it's on to the trade deadline and what impact a lack of scouting in 2020 will have on moves before Monday's deadline.
1:00 - Brodie Van Wagenen the Wilpons and the Mets
9:48 - Baseball teams make the decision to not play on Thursday
19:00 - Biggest holes teams are facing at the trade deadline
26:00 - How do you trade for prospects without scouts
45:15 - Are scouts sneaking into team facilities?

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Buy-High and Buy-Low Trade Candidates Aug 27, 2020

Michael Beller fills in for the vacationing DVR on this episode of Rates & Barrels. Beller and Eno dive into buy-high and buy-low trade candidates on this episode, but first they address walkouts across the league, as MLB players use their platforms to give voice to the call for racial justice.
Rundown
1:52 Eno and Beller on the Walkouts
9:26 Taijuan Walker Traded to the Blue Jays
12:15 The Effects of Cuts to Player Development Staffs
17:34 Buy-Low Candidates, Led by Mike Yastrzemski
20:23 Teoscar Hernandez and Cavan Biggio
24:20 Ian Happ and Kyle Lewis
28:51 Lance Lynn
33:50 Who NOT to Buy Low: Christian Yelich, Francisco Lindor or Nolan Arenado?
40:00 Javier Báez
41:51 Eugenio Suárez
43:39 Ketel Marte
44:22 José García
45:45 Gleyber Torres
48:48 Chris Paddack and Luis Castillo
52:22 Listener Questions: Sell Dylan Cease?
54:31 What's up with Zach Davies?
57:02 Trade Walker Buehler, Blake Snell, Kenta Maeda or Germán Márquez?
59:52 Beer of the Month
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A Different Ball, Hitters with Improved K% & Relievers w/Starting Potential Aug 25, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the latest changes to the baseball, hitters with improved strikeout rates in the first half of 2020, relievers with the potential to become starters, and more.

Rundown
0:47 How Much Should We Weight Fantasy Performance in 2020?
12:34 The Baseball Has Changed (Again)
20:21 Hitters with Improved Strikeout Rates
24:01 A Brandon Lowe Breakout in Progress?
28:53 What Do Teams Care About in Small Samples?
37:42 Relievers with Future Potential as Starters
45:50 Who Stole Dustin May's Strikeouts?
50:36 Choosing Between Jose Berrios & Zac Gallen Long Term
55:25 Devin Williams' Changeup
60:24 Is Brad Keller the Real Deal?

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Baseball's Ratings Bump & The Youth Movement Continues Aug 21, 2020

Eno, Britt & DVR discuss the elevated ratings for early-season baseball, the continued promotion of top prospects -- including Joey Bart and Sixto Sanchez -- Slam Diego, a Subway Series on hold and what they're looking forward to seeing on the field this weekend.

Rundown
2:36 Baseball Consumption is Up!
10:22 The Youth Movement Continues
20:17 Difficulties with Player Development at Alternate Sites
25:47 Slam Diego & A Challenge for Trade Deadline Buyers
33:40 Mets-Yankees Weekend Series Postponed
41:23 Thom Brennaman's Homophobic Slur & Failed Apology
51:22 What We’re Looking Forward to This Weekend

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Bullpen Breakdowns & Problems with High Fastballs Aug 20, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the stability (and lack thereof) in each team's closer situation, plus the changing outlook for Kyle Lewis, Keston Hiura and struggling with high fastballs, micro fantasy baseball, and more.

Rundown
1:23 Pickleball!
5:21 Is It Too Early to Punt Saves?
8:20 Stable Ninth-Inning Situations
14:50 Predictable, But Not Entirely Stable Situations
26:22 Picking a Direction: Do You Trust Taylor Rogers & Brad Hand?
37:52 Cover Your Eyes & Ears — The Unstable Situations; Faith Restored in Kimbrel?
47:15 Has Our Kyle Lewis Outlook Changed?
51:12 What is the Long-Term Value of J.D. Martinez?
59:48 Keston Hiura & Problems with High Fastballs
67:58 Micro Fantasy Baseball?

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Fernando Tatis Jr. is Awesome. Unwritten Rules are Stupid. Aug 18, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss Fernando Tatis Jr.’s greatness despite a violation of ridiculous unwritten rules, the ongoing pursuit of steals from the waiver wire, the Tigers’ top pitching prospects, spin rate increases, and more.

Rundown
1:10 Fernando Tatis Jr. is Awesome. Unwritten Rules are Stupid.
6:05 Looking for Speed in the Wake of More Injuries
14:12 Concern About Yordan Alvarez’s Ongoing Knee Trouble
18:22 Tigers Promote Skubal, Mize & Isaac Paredes
27:02 Keeper Considerations: Alec Bohm & Casey Mize
32:51 The Importance of Timing When Trading Away Great Players
41:39 Trevor Bauer & How Pitcher Can Increase Spin Rate

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The Cards Take Flight, A Playoff Bubble & Zack Meisel Breaks Down a Strange Week in Cleveland Aug 14, 2020

DVR and Britt discuss the packed schedule for the Cardinals as they attempt to resume play Saturday, the possibility of a postseason bubble, and Zack Meisel joins the show to discuss the very unusual week in Cleveland after Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger broke curfew in Chicago.

Rundown
2:40 The Cardinals' Highly Unusual Schedule
7:31 Baltimore's Surprising Start
14:14 Surging in San Diego
17:38 Appreciating the New Uniforms Around the League
23:31 Is It Ever OK To Change Fanhood?
28:34 The Viability of a Postseason Bubble
39:45 Zack Meisel Explains What's Going on in Cleveland
44:50 How Does This Organization Develop Pitching So Well?
48:07 Could James Karinchak Take Over the Closer Role?

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Surprising Bats, Bohm Promotion & Broken Profiles Aug 13, 2020

Eno and DVR take a look at several surprising performers near the top of hitter leaderboards, Trevor Story’s attempt to move into the elite of the elite, the promotion of Alec Bohm, and players with concerning batted-ball profile and approach changes to begin the season.

Rundown
3:31 Austin Slater Making Most of Opportunity in San Fran
6:45 Interest in Dylan Moore?
12:47 What’s Up with Robbie Grossman?
16:25 Andres Gimenez Offering Immediate Speed
20:15 Still Skeptical of Isiah Kiner-Falefa
23:06 Erik Gonzalez Quietly Making Better Contact
31:02 Alec Bohm Gets the Call
40:37 Trevor Story’s Improved Plate Skills
44:27 Batted Ball Profile Concerns
55:14 Statcast and Command

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Pitcher Rankings Risers, Fallers & Hitter K% Concerns Aug 11, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss Eno's updated pitcher rankings -- including prominent risers and fallers -- hitters with early-season strikeout rate concerns, buy-low targets for dynasty leagues, and more.

Rundown
2:44 Pitcher Rankings: Early Risers
9:35 Streamlining Game Prep Process
18:41 The Dylan Bundy Adjustments
21:31 Continued Concern About James Paxton
25:59 Hitters Striking Out More & Offense Down Early
30:46 Swing Rates Outside the Strike Zone
44:09 Looking For Changes in Astros' 2020 Hitters
47:17 Dynasty League Trade Targets: Hitters
53:46 Dynasty League Trade Targets: Pitchers

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The Difference A Week Makes Aug 07, 2020

Eno, DVR & Britt discuss the change that has taken place in the span of a week, socially distanced celebrations, the difficulty of breaking life-long habits on the field, the Braves' rotation following Mike Soroka's season-ending injury, and more.

Rundown
1:39 How Much Have Things Changed In A Week?
6:37 Nick Markakis Walk-Off & Socially Distanced Celebration
11:25 Ryan Christenson’s Apparent Straight-Arm Nazi Salute
16:50 Players Trying to Break Habits
22:05 Energy & Clubhouse Chemistry
31:21 Mike Soroka’s Season-Ending Injury
38:26 It’s Never Too Early in a 60-game Season to Talk About the Trade Deadline
41:28 More Prospects On the Way?
46:02 Eno’s Problems Get Worse

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Reach Rates, Getting Hitters to Chase & Streakiness Aug 06, 2020

Eno and DVR take a look at reach rate leaders and laggards, as well as chase rates leaders and laggards, and try to determine what thriving (or struggling) in these metrics might mean for future performance.

Rundown
1:41 Water Is Good
6:09 Reach Rate Leaders
9:52 Reach Rate Laggards
15:47 Re-Thinking Cavan Biggio
20:20 Trent Grisham in Keeper/Dynasty, Projected 2021 ADP
25:49 Concerns About Rafael Devers’ Sluggish Start?
30:27 Why Teams Don’t Buy In on Corey Dickerson
37:05 Chase Rate Leaders
47:20 Chase Rate Laggards
52:07 Josh James’ Quick Move Back to the Bullpen
55:49 Streaky vs. Consistent Players in Short Season

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Playing Through the Mess Aug 04, 2020

Eno and DVR discuss the chaos that has become weekly pickups every Sunday amidst the constantly dwindling pitching pool before getting excited about the arrival of Jo Adell and Luis Patiño to the big leagues, pitchers working with significantly reduced velocity this season, and more!

Rundown
1:47 It's All a Mess
9:03 Listener Jim Expresses How We All Feel
13:12 Concerns About Kirby Yates?
18:20 Pitchers Dealing with Significantly Reduced Velocity
26:40 Expectations for Pablo López
30:49 Jo Adell Gets the Call
39:47 More Closer Concerns
45:28 How Will Atlanta Replace Mike Soroka?
53:02 What Is Fastball Ride?
57:26 Where Have the Wins Been for Multi-Inning Relievers?

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Paging Dr. Sarris Jul 31, 2020

Rundown
0:52 We've Reached Nightmare Status
4:21 Reality Setting In for Players & Team Personnel?
7:38 Coverage at the Park Is Strange
12:16 Do You Like This Year's Extra Innings Rules?
18:51 Shortened Doubleheaders, How Many Will We See?
25:32 You Shouldn't Throw Baseballs At People's Heads
28:07 Already Thinking About 2021 & A Baseball Bubble
36:44 'Can't Let This All Crumble'
42:11 Andrelton Simmons Looks Like A Cowboy?

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Pearson's Debut, Javier Shines & Cleveland Does It Again Jul 30, 2020

Rundown
3:30 Nate Pearson’s Impressive Debut
12:26 Cristian Javier Shines Against Dodgers
16:45 David Peterson Gets the Call From the Mets
19:21 Aaron Civale & Zach Plesac Dominate In 2020 Debuts
24:35 Early Surprises On the Updated Stuff List
28:14 The Royals Call Up Another Pitching Prospect: Kris Bubic
36:37 Pitching Injures Are Way Up
41:00 Running on the D-backs Continues
47:44 What Are We Looking At This Early?
54:54 Beer of the Week!

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Baseball in America in 2020 Jul 28, 2020

Rundown
4:18 The Marlins’ COVID-19 Outbreak
10:57 A Need To Fix Old Habits
21:52 Ohtani’s 2020 Pitching Debut
26:36 Tommy Pham & The Padres Are Running!
31:12 A Closer Look at Houston’s Pitching
40:09 Mike Foltynewicz Gets DFA’d
45:29 Nate Pearson Coming Up Wednesday; Stephenson Arrives in Cincy
55:23 Statcast Is Working!

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Juan Soto, Expanded Playoffs, & The Buffalo Jays w/Britt Ghiroli Jul 24, 2020

Rundown
1:24 Juan Soto's Move to the COVID-19 IL
4:09 Changing Protocols For Return to Play
8:45 We're Tier 3
12:07 Adjusting Workouts?
17:18 Unnecessarily Pinching Pennies
23:35 Excited For Expanded Playoffs for 2020?
34:29 The Blue Jays Head to Buffalo
46:11 What Are You Looking Forward to During Opening Weekend?

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Opening Day is Here! Jul 23, 2020

Rundown
1:23 Opening Day Traditions
7:33 Show News!
14:38 More Unusual Information Patterns
18:22 Why, Rockies?
25:51 Mookie Betts’ 12-Year Extension with the Dodgers
29:42 How Speed Ages
38:07 Cy Young Predictions
51:12 MVP Predictions
56:52 Playoff Predictions
76:54 Beer of the Week

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Lux, Roles in Flux & 2020 Predictions Jul 21, 2020

Rundown
1:43 Displaced Jays
4:45 Gavin Lux Optioned; Costly Re-draft Drop?
8:25 Closer Carousel: Houston, St. Louis, Pittsburgh & Seattle
18:22 Moving Up: Sean Newcomb & Corbin Burnes
26:45 Robbie Ray: A Changed Man?
34:34 NL ROY Predictions & Favorites
42:07 AL ROY Predictions & Favorites
50:44 NL Comeback Player of the Year Predictions & Favorites
53:31 AL Comeback Player of the Year Predictions & Favorites

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Final Draft Prep Weekend Jul 17, 2020

Rundown
1:18 Issues with 2020 Statcast Data
5:57 Latest Pitching Rankings Adjustments
15:09 More Unusual Math
18:47 Confidence Levels Across Rankings
23:52 Buying In On Amed Rosario For Another Step Forward?
28:11 How Long Will Multi-Inning Relievers Hold Value?
35:24 Pushing Up Closers in Best Ball Drafts?
47:37 Deep Points League Pitching
53:04 Unexpected Appreciation For Evan Longoria

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New Projections & Pitching Questions Jul 14, 2020

Rundown
2:19 The BAT X vs. The BAT: Risers Among Hitters
7:24 Expecting a Bounce Back From Andrew Benintendi?
12:38 Rougned Odor, Nick Solak and Rangers in Flux
17:37 Danny Santana In a 60-Game Season
21:29 Are All Pitch Mixes Created Equal?
28:55 More Value With Increased Velocity or New Pitches?
33:33 The Evolution of Multi-Inning Relievers
40:05 Increasing Defensive Versatile
44:10 NL Pitchers Who Fared Best Against Other Pitchers
49:38 Injured Players to Stash for the Future

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2020 Pitcher Rankings, Part 2 Jul 10, 2020

Rundown
2:49 K-BB Skills Without a Strong Home-Run Rate
7:28 Revisiting 2019 For Craig Kimbrel & Edwin Diaz
13:36 All-In On Kenta Maeda?
17:53 Alex Wood's Surprisingly Low Projected Strikeout Rate
21:41 Grouping the Prospect Pitchers
26:45 Limited Downgrades For Absences (For Now)
38:58 Players Buying In For Each Other?
43:04 Problem Pitcher: Carlos Martinez
48:01 Garrett Richards: Mid-Round Bargain?
53:03 Pushing Up Pearson, Howard & Kopech

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2020 Pitcher Rankings, Part 1 Jul 07, 2020

Rundown
3:05 David Price Opts Out of 2020 Season
11:29 The Difficulty of Gathering & Tracking Information
22:12 A Few 'Normal' News Items
31:28 Pitcher Rankings; Mike Clevinger vs. Shane Bieber
40:04 Patrick Corbin vs. His Projections
50:27 Buying Stability Early, Finding Overachievers Late

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Back to the Draft Board! Jul 02, 2020

Rundown
2:44 José Quintana Suffers Thumb Injury
7:53 Pitcher List Mock Draft Observations
11:33 Avoid Overpaying for Steals Early?
15:53 Re-Examining Position Depth
20:08 Choosing Your Weakness While Playing to Strengths
28:49 Going Old and Boring in the Late Rounds
36:35 What Happened to Teams That Waited for Pitching?
47:18 Adjusting Values for Colorado Hitters & Pitchers?
50:37 Speculating On Illness Is Terrible
58:18 Prohibition Baseball in Palm Beach

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Wading Into the Pool Jul 01, 2020

Rundown
3:23 Minor League Season Officially Cancelled
10:22 Desmond, Zimmerman, Ross & Leake Opt Out
24:08 60-Man Player Pool Observations
44:17 Prospect of the Week!
58:36 Rankings Adjustments for Universal DH
64:27 Breaking News -- Jorge Mateo Traded

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Embracing the Unknown Jun 25, 2020

Rundown
0:37 Getting Used to Saying 'I Don't Know'
11:11 Proceeding with Caution & Adjusting Rules
17:07 The NFBC's Ruling
21:14 Taking More Chances in High Variance Environment
23:55 Revisiting the TGFBI Drafts
33:58 Starting Pitcher Strategy Guide for 2020
43:31 The Pirates' Starting Pitchers Are Stretched Out
48:52 Community Spotlight: Mentorship Program & Resource Kit
56:08 Beer of the Month

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This Podcast is Written in Pencil Jun 23, 2020

Rundown
0:50 There's Still So Much to Figure Out
5:19 The Universal DH is a Small Win for Players
9:12 What Do the Players Have to Give?
13:07 The Difficulty of Projecting Timetables to Start
18:20 The Fantasy Strategy Adjustments to Consider (So Far)
23:35 How Stretched Out Will Starters Be?
27:18 Adjusting Wins for 2020 Season
34:22 Judging Performance in a 60-Game Season
38:46 Injury Risk & Limited Info While Ramping Up
50:27 Peak Age for Pitchers
59:18 Listener Idea: A Lemonade League

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Passing Through the AL East Jun 18, 2020

Rundown
0:38 Obligatory 2020 Season Update
5:00 Front Offices Are Still Highly Motivated in Shortened Season
13:20 What is Teoscar Hernandez's Ceiling?
16:21 The Case for Derek Fisher
20:51 Nate Pearson & Taxi Squads
32:09 Yandy Díaz is Undervalued
35:40 Brendan McKay's Projections vs. Short-Term Role
43:16 Alex Cobb's Changeup is Back, But...
48:24 Hunter Harvey to Close?
53:02 Austin Hays: Leadoff Hitter?
56:25 Boston's Lack of a Complete Rotation
60:05 Darwinzon Hernandez or Josh Taylor?
64:51 Outlook For A Healthier Alex Verdugo
68:59 Giancarlo Stanton & Pushing Reset
74:44 Jordan Montgomery vs. Jonathan Loasiga

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Escaping to the NL East Jun 16, 2020

Rundown
0:37 It's Always There When You Don't Want It
7:23 Waning Fantasy Interest with 50ish Game Season?
16:34 We Should All Like Howie Kendrick More
22:45 The Victor Robles Obsession Continues
32:47 Buying Austin Voth?
37:15 Max Fried & Career-Best Walk Rate
41:26 Looking For the Howie Kendrick of 2020
49:09 It's Not J.D. Davis
52:38 Warming Up to Pete Alonso
62:03 Andrew McCutchen: Obvious Rebound Candidate
64:18 Drafting a Phillies Pitcher at Current ADP
69:56 Closing It Out in Miami

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Day 1 Draft Thoughts Jun 11, 2020

Rundown
8:09 Spencer Torkelson at 1.1
11:21 Heston Kjerstad at #2 & Draft Strategy
17:50 The Red Sox and Nick Yorke at 17th Overall
22:20 The Case for Max Meyer
27:28 Austin Martin Lands in Toronto
31:13 Reid Detmers and Projection
35:11 All Nick Gonzales Does is Hit
40:26 Garrett Crochet and the Chris Sale Comp
49:02 Mets & Brewers Get Pleasant Surprises at 19 & 20
56:02 Bryce Jarvis Goes to Arizona
61:53 Carson Tucker and Preparing with Big Leaguers

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A Return to the AL West Jun 09, 2020

Rundown
2:43 Re-Thinking Jose Urquidy
6:24 Josh James & Variance
16:25 Jesús Luzardo Helium Check
25:40 Looking for Faults in Ramón Laureano
34:20 Dylan Bundy Approaching the Top 200 Overall
47:28 Justin Upton, Obvious Rebound Candidate?
52:41 Kyle Gibson & Trusting Texas
56:49 Jordan Lyles: Do the Rangers Have a Type?
62:45 Looking Beyond Kyle Lewis' Minor-League Numbers

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Following Through Jun 04, 2020

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Let's Try to Listen to Each Other Jun 02, 2020

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Looking Back at the NL West May 28, 2020

Rundown
4:06 Appreciating Max Muncy
7:59 Corey Seager and the Kris Bryant Problem
13:00 Built for Expanded Rosters
21:43 Eric Hosmer Actually Hits the Ball Hard
27:46 Some Love for Josh Naylor
32:02 Cal Quantrill, Glue Guy?
37:12 Eduardo Escobar & Non-Barrel Homers
42:22 Zola Finding: Luke Weaver on 2019 Championship Rosters
48:33 Josh Rojas & Tim Locastro: Interesting Bench Players
55:43 Are the Rockies the Biggest Winners w/Universal DH?
60:27 Garrett Hampson's Playing Time Outlook
66:10 Right Long-Term Direction, But...
68:33 Mauricio Dubon's Path(s) to Regular Time
75:47 Beer of the Week: Toughest Beers to Track Down

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Strolling Back Through the AL Central May 26, 2020

Rundown
3:44 Re-examining Mitch Garver's 2019 Breakout
9:26 DVR Makes Another Plea for Byron Buxton
10:03 Favorite Depth Starting Pitcher in Minnesota?
12:49 Best Fallback Option for Saves
15:38 50-Man Chances: Kirilloff, Larnach & Lewis
19:19 Re-Considering Carlos Carrasco
23:11 Who Gets Saves if Hand Falters?
26:13 Roster Expansion Winners in Cleveland
31:16 Warming Up to Domingo Santana
37:28 Can You Justify Tim Anderson's 2020 ADP?
41:27 Does Nick Madrigal Have 2020 Redraft Appeal?
46:02 Dylan Cease & Falling In Love with GIFs
53:01 Is Reynaldo Lopez Bullpen Bound?
58:58 The Royals Like Ryan O'Hearn, Should You?
61:56 Looking for a Spark in the KC Bullpen
65:53 JaCoby Jones' Previously Ignored Improvement
70:39 Why Do Good Teams Give Away C.J. Cron?
73:35 Deciding on Skubal, Mize & Manning

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Turning Over Stones in the NL Central May 21, 2020

Rundown
7:04 Why is Jon Koncak Our Center?
11:25 Anything Left for Jon Lester or Jose Quintana?
17:03 Buying a Craig Kimbrel Rebound?
20:54 Warming Up to Steven Souza Jr.
27:17 Setting Expectations for Jesse Winker
34:36 The Sim Does Not Like Nick Senzel
38:49 Brewers Old, High-Floor Depth Players
45:32 Luis Urías Should Be Healthy Again
52:47 Will the Pirates Let Cole Tucker Play Regularly?
57:44 Prospects on the Cusp in Pittsburgh
60:45 Dylan Carlson Time, but Lane Thomas Too?
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Running Bananas & Show-Me Pitches May 19, 2020

Rundown
2:45 A Reading of MLB Rule 5.09a (11)
6:39 Steve Buscemi in Mr. Deeds & Aaron Judge's Ribs
10:13 A Quick Look Back at Frank Thomas
14:06 Our Memories of Ryne Sandberg Rookie Cards are Foggy
18:47 Several Injury Updates
25:45 Quick Glance: May ADPs
29:57 Buying Clevinger as a Top-10 SP Again?
33:51 Getting Rowdy
39:58 'Show-Me' Pitches
51:35 Eno Quits Jorge Lopez
56:23 Impact of Shortened 2020 on 2021 Workloads
62:49 Keeper Q & Prospect Development

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Surprise Aces & Learning From the Past May 15, 2020

Rundown
1:36 Eno is Still Chippy
9:32 Awaiting a Proposal
17:26 Are We Really This Divided?
22:29 Follow-Up: What Makes an Ace?
28:15 Surprise 'Aces'
34:19 Reasons to Doubt Lucas Giolito's 2019 Breakout
45:05 What DVR Is Learning From Retro Drafts
59:23 Beer of the Week

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Let's Start Using More Chisels May 12, 2020

Rundown
4:44 Owners & Players Head to the Table
13:36 Impact of the Five-Round First-Year Player Draft
26:01 Fantasy Impact of Expanded Rosters
29:54 Looking Back at Great Half-Seasons
46:16 Jeff Zimmerman's Piece on Hard-Hit Angles
54:08 Concerns with Low Exit Velocity at Young Ages

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How About New Year's on July 4th? May 07, 2020

Rundown
7:28 The Difficulty of Predicting Anything
15:03 Maintaining Health in Restarting MLB
21:06 More than Escapism
28:05 The Impact of Changing Reliever Usage
41:41 A New Project Goat 2.0 Winner!
46:31 Long-Term Strikeout Rates (Update)
57:58 Beer of the Week
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KBO Opening Day, Project GOAT Round 2 & Aces May 05, 2020

Rundown
1:02 KBO Opening Day!
9:53 Resources: MyKBO.net & MyKBOStats.com
14:31 Project GOAT: Round 2 Champions
24:10 What Constitutes a 'No. 1 Starter'?
30:31 Changing Fastball Movement with Small Changes
38:59 Ideal World Series Ring
44:48 Beer Bracket Championship Matchup
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The Birds Are Back in Town Apr 30, 2020

Rundown
1:10 Eno Needs Rice
4:34 Birds 1, DVR 0
7:35 Another Temporary Realignment Proposal
13:11 Will Some Teams Need Alternative Home Parks?
21:45 Raising Expectations for Pitching Prospects?
31:08 (Still) Unsettled Closer Situations
42:03 Beer Bracket Update

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Updated Prospect ETAs Apr 28, 2020

Rundown
1:39 Searching for Salsa in South Korea
7:33 Developing Better Habits
14:32 Updating Top Prospect ETAs
21:08 Increased Playoffs = More Aggressive Callups?
29:21 Which of the Top Teams Falls Most in Shortened Season?
41:01 Why Do Some Pitchers Still Use Wind-Ups?
50:09 Can Mitch Keller 'Fix' His Fastball?57:31 Problems with Pitching-Heavy Rosters?
61:06 Beer Bracket Update
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New Maxes & Different Projections Apr 23, 2020

Rundown
4:29 Searching for Light at the End of the Tunnel
10:47 Turn on the Video Feed!
16:38 More Structural Wrinkles to Consider
24:06 The Depths of Eno's Closet
26:13 Increased Velocity = Increased Injury Risk?
33:21 Jeff Zimmerman's Statcast-based Projections
39:19 Predicting Future Strikeout Rates for Hitters

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Back in '82... Apr 21, 2020

Rundown
2:56 Retro Fantasy Baseball Draft: 1982
10:10 The Different Shapes of Each Position in '82
22:05 KBO Sets an Opening Day
28:51 Losing the Feel of a Pitch
35:41 Alec Bohm's Path to 2020 Time with Phillies
46:37 How Do Players Feel About Fantasy Baseball?

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What About the Minor Leaguers? Apr 17, 2020

Rundown
3:10 How Do Minor Leaguers Fit Into 2020 Proposals?
14:14 Tommy John Surgery Honeymoon Period
27:39 Does It Make Sense to Use Vickrey for FAAB?
34:29 A Creative, Competitive Solution
38:27 KBO Fantasy League Status Update
46:36 The Beer Bracket is Ready!

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NL DH Options & Hope Tingles Apr 14, 2020

Rundown
1:45 A Good Idea to Use DH in NL This Season?
12:11 Austin Riley on the Rise?
15:53 The Wide Range of Outcomes for Ryan Braun
20:31 What Will the Cubs Do?
25:18 Opportunity for Jake Lamb & Kevin Cron in Arizona?
30:15 Why Not Give Jaylin Davis the Extra PAs?
37:24 Obligatory Marlins Talk
42:47 The Return of Cespedes!
46:05 Is This Franchy's Chance?
52:56 Aquino & Hilliard Time?
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The Mark Eichhorn Gambit Apr 09, 2020

Rundown
3:02 Project GOAT, Round 1 Results!
9:08 The Mark Eichhorn Gambit
16:33 Appreciating Todd Helton's Peak
22:38 Drafting Past Seasons for a Simulation?
29:59 Nick Castellanos & Happiness
40:05 Who Was Blocking Francisco Lindor in 2014?
47:38 Can Players' Emotions Be Effectively Measured?
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An Entire Season in Arizona? Apr 07, 2020

Rundown
7:20 Project GOAT Update
16:10 A Contained MLB Season in Arizona?
27:13 Cactus League Park Factors
33:32 Potential Impact on Specific Pitch Types
44:50 Keeper/Dynasty Pitching Targets
52:29 SupportBeer.com is Live!

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Wonka Aside... Apr 02, 2020

Rundown
3:53 Project GOAT for Music?
11:26 Spring Pitching Observations
22:11 Daniel Norris, Future Dominant Reliever?
31:17 Time to Discount Starting Pitching as a Whole?
44:04 Which Baseball Will Be Used in 2020?
48:04 Beer of the Week (Check out: SupportBeer.com)
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We're All Howard Hughes Mar 31, 2020

Rundown
9:16 March Movers
18:47 Re-Thinking the Shape of Production in a Shortened Season
24:45 Empty Stadiums & Performance
33:47 Increased Interest in Top Closers?
40:57 Ranking Organizations for Talent Development
51:23 Talent Development Laggards

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Infallible Inflatables Mar 27, 2020

Rundown
3:55 Unsolicited Working From Home Tips
9:26 Noah Syndergaard Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
15:29 Michael Kopech, Brendan McKay & Nate Lowe to Triple-A
20:26 Spencer Howard to Phillies' Rotation, Cutch Ready To Go
27:29 "The J-Lo A-Rod Family"
32:45 Still Concerned About Aaron Judge
45:51 Re-playing the 2019 Fantasy Season?
52:44 Fantasy Analyst Street Cred
59:45 Advanced Pitching Metrics & Great Pick-Off Moves?
68:46 Beer of the Week
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Training In Isolation Mar 24, 2020

Rundown
3:51 What Are Malasadas?
5:47 The Big Sim: 30-Team Out of the Park League
15:36 Making New Opening Day Plans
23:03 Enjoying the KBO Streams (Thanks, Dan Kurtz! - @MyKBO)
28:03 The Challenges of Training In Isolation
37:21 Increased Depth and Potential Intrasquad Training?
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The Mind Wanders Mar 19, 2020

Rundown
1:28 Why Is There Animosity Between R2-D2 and Yoda?
3:49 Is Fleetwood Mac Yacht Rock?
7:23 AlbumGraphs?
12:48 Answering Questions About a Shortened Season
24:22 More Aggressive Promotions for Rookies?
31:31 Draft & Hold, Best Ball Thoughts
46:59 How to Prevent Reliever-Heavy Builds
50:30 Keeper/Dynasty Preparing for a Future Run
64:10 Incentivizing Mid-Pack Teams?

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Professional Men of Leisure Mar 18, 2020

Rundown
6:35 Introducing Project G.O.A.T.
28:19 Snake vs. Non-Snake vs. Auction
37:31 Who Went to Driveline?
43:46 ACES Leaders & Laggards
51:02 Who Loses with a Return to a Non-Juiced Baseball?

Want to join our contest? E-mail ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com, use the subject line "Project GOAT Worksheet" to receive the sheet and written version of the rules. -- and -- Thank Pierre for sharing his awesome idea (@pbecquey on Twitter)!

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Rapid Changes Mar 12, 2020

Rundown
0:27 Rapid Changes to Day-to-Day Life
9:12 Finding New Escapes
16:58 Finishing the Outfield Preview
20:18 Avisaíl García's Role in Milwaukee
23:50 The People's Sleeper: Brian Anderson
29:32 Mark Canha's Encore
33:42 Making Sense of Cincinnati's Plans for Senzel & Akiyama
39:26 Did Injuries Curtail Hunter Renfroe's Best Season?
44:07 Buying Ian Happ?
51:49 Jo Adell & Dylan Carlson
61:34 Other Late Names of Interest

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Outfield Breakdown, Part 1 Mar 10, 2020

Rundown
2:17 Choosing From the Big Three
7:25 Cody Bellinger & Mookie Betts
11:49 Buying Juan Soto as a First-Round Pick?
16:45 Old & Boring: Charlie Blackmon & George Springer
19:23 Concerns About Jorge Soler
22:11 Luis Robert vs. Victor Robles vs. Tommy Pham vs. Ramon Laureano
30:07 Is Aaron Judge Discounted Enough?
32:18 2019 Surprises: Austin Meadows & Ketel Marte
38:28 Buying Benintendi?
48:58 Outside the Top 30 in the Outfield
54:46 Eno Finds Something to Not Like About Max Kepler
61:17 Byron Buxton Returning From Surgery
69:16 Bryan Reynolds vs. Lorenzo Cain
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Catcher & Utility-Only Breakdown Mar 05, 2020

Rundown
1:11 Re-Thinking Two-Catcher Leagues
7:07 Marveling at Nelson Cruz
12:43 Setting Expectations for Yordan Alvarez
18:48 A Bounce Back for Khris Davis
22:04 Miguel Andujar's Path to Playing Time Opens Up
31:07 Sorting Out Nick Solak's Role
37:27 OK, We'll Talk About Catchers
42:26 Concerns About Will Smith?
45:45 Buying on Jorge Alfaro?
52:06 Oakland's Enviable Catcher Depth
62:10 Catching Prospect Outlooks
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Auction Strategy & LABR Review Mar 03, 2020

Rundown
2:51 Eno's AL Strategy
7:48 Are Low IP Starters More Viable in Mono Leagues?
10:47 The Bat Plan
21:19 Managing the Middle Stages of an Auction
27:47 Other AL LABR Observations
33:29 DVR's NL Strategy
39:19 The Pitching Staff
48:44 Figuring Out Catchers in Deep Two-C Leagues
54:59 Other NL LABR Observations
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/25VZGGQ
AL LABR Results: http://bit.ly/LABR-AL
NL LABR Results: http://bit.ly/LABR-NL

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Draft Strategy & Thinking Ahead Feb 28, 2020

Rundown
2:02 How To Determine Draft Order Preferences (KDS)
9:39 Taking Risks for Overall Titles
17:01 Game Theory w/Early-Round Selections
22:35 Discipline w/In-Season Drops
28:13 Balancing Risk & Reward with In-Season Pickups
34:07 Building the Right Pitching Staff
40:12 Monitoring the Schedule on a Weekly Basis
46:42 Beer of the Month

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Shortstop Breakdown Feb 25, 2020

Rundown
1:20 Top-End Options: Story, Lindor & Turner
18:05 What Should You Do With Fernando Tatis Jr.?
27:11 Re-Thinking Adalberto Mondesi
34:31 When Did Xander Bogaerts Become Old and Boring?
37:35 Buying Bo Bichette as Prices Rise?
42:21 2020 Expectations for Tim Anderson
48:04 Mid-Round Options
53:44 Sleepers, Late-Round Considerations
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Second Base Breakdown Feb 20, 2020

Rundown
2:15 Gleyber Torres & Volatility
7:26 One More Level from Ozzie Albies?
10:26 Does Jose Altuve Still Belong in the Top 40?
13:43 Can Ketel Marte Repeat His 2019 Breakout?
18:39 Will Whit Merrifield's Steals Come Back?
22:21 Paying Up for Jonathan Villar?
28:00 Projecting K% Improvement for Keston Hiura
31:41 Thinking Twice About Jeff McNeil?
35:31 How Much Playing Time Will the Dodgers Give Gavin Lux?
43:11 More Power to Come From Luis Arraez?
47:20 Cavan Biggio vs. Tommy Edman
58:27 Depth Options at Second Base
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Third Base Breakdown Feb 18, 2020

Rundown
1:10 Looking for Red Flags Up Top
5:52 Buying at Slight Discounts on Kris Bryant & Vlad Jr.?
16:11 Is Justin Turner the Best Value Play at Third Base?
22:26 Can Yoan Moncada Reach Another Level?
29:30 Building Around a Batting Average Liability
36:32 Playing Time Concerns for Kingery & Edman?
43:46 Best Options Cheap & Late
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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First Base Breakdown Feb 13, 2020

Rundown
5:24 Looking for Red Flags in Bellinger's 2019
14:35 What's Next for Pete Alonso?
21:13 Properly Utilizing ADP & Tier-Driven Rankings
25:47 Playing Time Concerns with Max Muncy?
34:22 The Case for Anthony Rizzo
43:03 Considerations Outside the Top 100
55:22 Endgame Dart Throws

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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The Closer Episode Feb 11, 2020

Rundown
2:54 What Matters to Teams When Choosing a Closer?
6:34 Which Early Closers Do You Trust?
13:05 The Value of Josh Hader, With Fewer Saves
17:45 Considering Rogers, Hand & Jansen
25:45 Messy Closer Situations: Seattle, San Francisco & Pittsburgh
37:04 Preferred 'Discounted' Closer
39:18 Buying Hand or Giles?
49:57 Getting Caught on the Wrong Side of a Run
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Pitcher Week, Part 2! Feb 06, 2020

Rundown
1:16 Assessing the Pending Mookie Betts Deal
14:09 Adjusting Expectations for David Price in LA?
27:07 Back Surgery for James Paxton
37:54 'Sleeper' Starters
47:23 Choosing the Astros' No. 5 Starter
55:52 Will MacKenzie Gore Make the Opening Day Roster?
60:59 Digging Deep

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Pitcher Week, Part 1! Feb 04, 2020

Rundown
3:51 Eno's Methodology
10:42 Cole vs. deGrom Up Top
14:37 Concerns About Lucas Giolito
25:04 Command vs. Control
34:25 Buying a Kluber Rebound?
44:45 What Can Prevent a Dinelson Lamet Breakout?
55:31 A Limitation of Rankings
62:56 A Pod Divided: Matthew Boyd & Lance Lynn

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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On Playing Time & Upside Jan 30, 2020

Rundown
2:35 Playing Time & Challenges with Projecting It
18:42 Finding Overvalued and Undervalued Players Based on PT Projections
29:39 How One Type of Sausage is Made (Spoiler Alert: It's Tough)
42:27 Aligning Opportunity & Skills Growth
53:46 Beer of the Month
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Searching for Post-Hype Breakouts Jan 28, 2020

Rundown
1:14 More Marte Par-tays in Arizona
10:28 Assessing Pittsburgh's Return
25:58 Castellanos Goes to Cincinnati
34:58 Searching for Post-Hype Breakouts: Hitters
43:45 Searching for Post-Hype Breakouts: Pitchers

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Ozuna to Atlanta & Tatis to the First Round Jan 23, 2020

Rundown
0:55 Marcell Ozuna in Atlanta
5:16 Fernando Tatis Jr. is a Late First-Rounder Now
20:44 Couldn't You Be Aggressive in Other Early Rounds?
26:37 Is the Need for Speed Excessive?
32:11 How to Handle Half-Season Stretches of Dominance

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Describe Your Utopia Jan 21, 2020

Rundown
1:23 Josh Donaldson Lands in Minnesota
9:40 What Will Atlanta Do at Third Base?
22:00 Unexpected Cards-Rays Trade
31:50 The Most Improved Team in 2020
40:42 Prospect of the Week
55:20 Utopian Fantasy Baseball League
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e-mail the show: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Pondering Projection Adjustments Jan 15, 2020

Rundown
6:30 Looking Forward: Adjust Houston Hitters?
15:21 Using Projections to Find Bounce-Back Candidates
22:09 Vlad Jr. vs. Similarly Priced Third Basemen
29:24 Adjusting Appropriately for Injuries
37:12 Does Pedigree Matter When Throwing Late Darts?
46:53 Hitter/Pitcher Split in Draft & Hold vs. Other Formats
58:26 On Big Contracts
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E-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Robert's Rising Price & Shogo in Cincinnati Jan 07, 2020

Rundown
1:42 Luis Robert's Rising ADP
11:08 How Does Shogo Akiyama Fit in Cincinnati?
20:33 The Nats Fill Several Roster Holes
32:47 One Draft-and-Hold in the Books
43:22 PT Concerns for Nate Lowe?
49:00 Atlanta's Most Interesting Young Starters
57:50 Adjusting For Different League Formats
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e-mail the show: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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More Teams Enter the Free-Agent Fray Dec 23, 2019

Rundown
3:14 Hyun-Jin Ryu Goes to Toronto
13:36 Travis Shaw: Rebound Candidate?
18:03 Dallas Keuchel Chooses the White Sox
24:03 Setting 2020 Expectations for Shohei Ohtani
33:01 Is There Anything to Like About Julio Teheran?
38:07 Tigers of Interest?
45:22 Relationship Between WAR Projections & Fantasy Busts
56:07 Beer of the Year!
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Show E-Mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Rendon, Bumgarner & Kluber Change Zip Codes Dec 18, 2019

Rundown
5:32 Anthony Rendon Chooses the Halos
9:51 An Optimistic Projection for Andrew Heaney
14:04 Corey Kluber: Texas Ranger
21:15 The D-backs Add Madison Bumgarner
26:22 Avisaíl Garcia to the Brewers
31:33 Competition for Free Agents is Fun
39:03 Projecting Josh Lindblom's 2020
44:39 How Does Yoshi Tsutsugo Fit in Tampa Bay?
52:03 Miley, Porcello and Wacha on the Move
60:30 Cheap Speed in Boston
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Show E-Mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Eno Battles San Diego Dec 12, 2019

Rundown
3:45 Gerrit Cole: A $324 Million Bargain?
9:13 Stephen Strasburg Stays in D.C.
12:27 Zack Wheeler to Philly
19:02 Didi Gregorius, Also a Philly Now
26:30 Nomar Mazara Gets a Fresh Start
33:32 Dylan Bundy Leaves the AL East
37:52 The Rangers Add Two Starters
42:41 Cole Hamels Goes to Atlanta
45:49 Pineda Stays in Minnesota
49:49 Rays-Padres Trade
59:06 Omar Narváez & Fighting Blue Ink
72:17 The Giants "Buy" a First-Round Pick
74:59 Beer of the Week

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Million Dollar Musical Chairs Dec 04, 2019

Rundown
4:06 Urías-Grisham Trade
16:25 Profar to San Diego
20:05 Grandal Joins Rising White Sox
27:39 Do Moose Eat Cincinnati Chili?
31:09 Non-Tender Fallout
57:41 Beefed Up Bullpens
68:40 Beer of the Week
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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The 2010s: The Fantasy Baseball All-Decade Team Nov 27, 2019

Rundown
2:51 Catchers
4:29 First Basemen
7:47 Second Basemen
12:31 Shortstops
14:24 Third Basemen
17:13 Corner Infielders
18:47 Middle Infielders
20:32 Outfielders
36:02 Trivia!
38:10 Starters
44:34 Relievers
53:37 One-Hit Wonders
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E-Mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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The Biggest Chip Nov 20, 2019

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Rundown

3:58 Discounts on Voit & Other First-Base Thoughts
15:37 Most Underrated Early-Round Pick?
20:59 Modifying Position Eligibility Rules
32:05 Deep Dynasty League Roster Strategy
44:07 Prospect of the Week
55:40 Loaded Keeper Options
63:52 Holding Keepers Near Auction Price
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Show E-Mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com

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Early 2020 Mock & Optimal Dynasty League Settings Nov 13, 2019

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Rundown
5:53 Pitcher List Mock Update
14:00 Middle & Late-Round Speed
19:52 Kris Bryant's Slide Down the Board
32:39 Is Kyle Gibson Good?
39:36 Optimal Dynasty League Settings
49:15 Prospect of the Week
58:32 Beer of the Week
Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris
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Mock Draft Board: clickydraft.com/draftapp/board/168639

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Fire Up the Stove! Nov 06, 2019

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Rundown
6:30 Gerrit Cole Suitors
13:45 If Nats Only Keep One, Is It Strasburg or Rendon?
20:00 Pondering Zack Wheeler Offers & Fits
27:07 Should the White Sox Copy the Twins?
37:38 Yasmani Grandal: What Has Changed In a Year?
45:43 Potential Bargains in Free Agency
55:58 Prospect of the Week

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