Stay ConnectedEno Sarris and Derek VanRiper, along with Britt Ghiroli, Trevor May, and Jed Lowrie discuss advanced stats, strategy, prospects and more. From the first move of the Hot Stove season to the final pitch of the World Series, join us for year-round baseball talk.
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Lance Brozdowski joins Eno and DVR to discuss new pitches that should make a big long-term difference including changes to Max Fried's sinker and a larger change to Max Meyer's overall arsenal, before looking at a few Triple-A standouts and explaining why it's so difficult to analyze pitching with different baseballs in play until pitchers reach Triple-A.
Rundown
2:00 Max Fried's Adjusted Two-Seamer
7:05 Dylan Cease's New Changeup (and Sinker)
14:59 Projecting the Long-Term Outlook & Free Agent Contract for Cease
19:31 Max Meyer's Big Changes
27:35 Joe Boyle's Chances as a Long-Term Starter
32:52 The Value Added From New Pitches
38:22 Running Models with Missing Pieces
40:35 Intriguing Pitchers at Triple-A Right Now
52:09 Different Baseballs Prior to Triple-A
59:07 How Long Does an Edge Last at the Major League Level?
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Lance Brozdowski
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno and DVR discuss a big weekend for the Cubs, who took two of three from the Dodgers in Los Angeles including a blowout on Saturday night, but revealed that Justin Steele will have season-ending arm surgery. They discuss the need for more pitching in Chicago even prior to Steele's injury, and add the Cubs to the Sandy Alcantara sweepstakes. Plus, they discuss what a Pete Crow-Armstrong extension might look like down the road after the two sides put negotiations on hold, and look at changes for Joe Boyle and where the money went in fantasy baseball leagues this weekend.
Rundown
6:06 Justin Steele to Undergo Season-Ending Arm Surgery
12:42 Pete Crow-Armstrong and a Future Extension with Cubs
16:59 Eno's Concerns About Ben Brown's Two-Pitch Mix
19:48 CJ Abrams' Nice Start Slowed by IL Stint
23:51 Other News & Notes: Changes for Joe Boyle?
33:43 Level of Concern with Christian Walker, Mark Vientos, Jake Burger and Matt Shaw
40:53 The Early Struggles of Tomoyuki Sugano
46:29 Where the Money Went: Making Sense of Weekend Waiver Pickups
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno and DVR discuss the Twins' contemplation of a six-man rotation to potentially incorporate David Festa and Zebby Matthews into their starting mix, the Brewers' heavy use of fastballs for third season in a row and why (beyond a rash of injuries) they might have been interested in Quinn Priester. Plus, they look at early playing time splits from job battles and expected platoons, and answer mailbag questions about Steinbrenner Field in the summer, Tony Gonsolin's pre-injury drop-off, Justin Verlander's first few starts as a Giant, and a few intriguing names to monitor on the waiver wire this weekend.
Rundown
2:37 Twins Considering a Six-Man Rotation
6:07 Brewers Leading the League in Fastballs, Again
Curt Hogg's Story at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ($): https://bit.ly/brewersfb
15:08 What Did the Brewers See in Quinn Priester?
Mario Delgado Genzor's Piece at Baseball Prospectus ($): https://bit.ly/BPPriester
20:42 Early Playing Time Splits
32:38 Summer Expectations for Steinbrenner Field
40:10 Tony Gonsolin's Pre-Injury Slide, Expectations for 2025
43:15 What Are You Seeing with Justin Verlander?
46:21 Prospect of the Week, 2025 Debut!
51:50 Other Weekend Waiver Targets to Consider
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the surging Kyren Paris and strange feats, in the face of Jesse Chavez signing with Atlanta for the *sixth* time in his career. Plus, they look at several pitchers that have significantly altered their arm angle this season in pursuit of staying health -- including Garrett Crochet, Paul Skenes, and Cole Ragans -- MacKenzie Gore's excellent start to the 2025 campaign, and they play the third installment in this season's 'Name That Dude!' series.
Rundown
1:55 Kyren Paris' Red-Hot Start Continues
7:19 Jesse Chavez's New MLB Record
14:03 The Relationship Between Arm Angle & Health
18:40 A Look at Garrett Crochet's Changes
24:05 Paul Skenes' Adjustments
28:40 Biggest Arm Angle Changes From 2024 to 2025
41:32 Is MacKenzie Gore Making the Leap in 2025?
48:47 Name! That! Dude! (Season Series entering 4.10.25: Trevor 2, Eno 0)
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Trevor May
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno, DVR, and Jed take a spin around the league as April injuries pile up, and take a deep dive into a matchup between José Ramírez and José Soriano from Friday's Guardians-Angels matchup. Plus, they answer a mailbag question inquiring about team's patience with switch hitters despite poor splits, inspired by Elly De La Cruz.
Rundown
1:06 Jackson Merrill to the IL; Early Exits for Fernando Tatis Jr. & Jake Cronenworth
6:50 The Long-Term Maintenance From Previous Injuries
10:20 An Update on Victor Robles' Shoulder Injury
17:19 Other News & Notes: Matt McLain, Ketel Marte & Pablo López
23:30 Should Every Monday Be an 'Off-Day'?
26:40 Octavio Dotel Passes Away Following Nightclub Collapse
27:56 Did José Ramírez Set Up José Soriano?
37:59 Hitters Facing Pitchers Over Time
44:42 Why Are Teams So Patient with Struggling Switch Hitters?
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Jed Lowrie
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jen McCaffrey joins Eno and DVR to discuss a two-month stretch for the Red Sox that has been packed with a year's worth of storylines including the offseason odyssey of Rafael Devers following should injuries in 2024, the arrival of Alex Bregman, the debut and extension of Kristian Campbell, and much more. Plus, they look back at the showdown between two aces in San Francisco as Hunter Greene is laying the groundwork for another excellent season atop the Reds' rotation.
Rundown
1:02 Making Sense of Rafael Devers' Slow Start & Week 2 Turnaround
7:40 Clubhouse Dynamics w/Alex Bregman's Arrival
16:32 Kristian Campbell's Path to Opening Day & an Eight-Year Extension
20:48 Questions Around the Boston Rotation
27:35 Jarren Duran Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles
31:39 Another Orioles Pitching Injury?
36:56 Did We Underrate Hunter Greene's 2024 Breakout?
52:14 Concerns About Christian Yelich's Sprint & Bat Speed?
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Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Jen McCaffrey
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno and DVR discuss the massive deal for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays -- 14 years, $500 million -- as extension season rolls further into April. They also wonder if the Jays will be able to supplement the face of their franchise effectively and snap a postseason losing streak that stretches back to 2016.
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Rundown
4:47 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Gets 14-Year, $500M Deal w/Blue Jays
10:31 What Else Will the Jays Do to Supplement the Roster Around Vlad?
17:56 Chase Dollander's Debut; Zac Veen Promoted by Rockies
26:52 Blake Snell to the IL with Shoulder Swelling
30:28 Ketel Marte to the IL; Tim Tawa Promoted over Jordan Lawlar
32:40 Other News & Notes: Nestor Cortes Jr., Sean Murphy & Iván Herrera
45:08 Handling Slow Starts in the NFBC (and Elsewhere)
51:05 Where the Money Went: Kyren Paris, Jake Mangum, 12-Team Starting Pitcher Targets & the Closer Carousel
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno and DVR discuss a mishap that landed Freddie Freeman on the IL, a closer change in Pittsburgh with the demotion of David Bednar, a few heavily added players in ottoneu ahead of the weekend with Niv Shah, and their picks for an on-air, five-round pitcher breakout draft featuring several players that may be available in shallow leagues.
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Rundown
2:16 Freddie Freeman to the IL
5:40 David Bednar to Triple-A; Dennis Santana to Close in Pittsburgh?
9:37 Camilo Doval Still the Fallback in San Francisco
14:15 Odds & Ends: Zach Neto, Nestor Cortes Jr., Jordan Lawlar & Angel Genao
18:14 Niv Shah Joins the Show! (The Philly Dog, Ottoneu Adds & Six Picks Roster Rates)
35:39 Eno's Friday Draft: Late-Round Pitchers/Shallow League Waiver Draft
55:07 Tomoyuki Sugano: Underrated by Projections?
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss another round of extensions as the Red Sox continue to secure long-term parts of their core with Garrett Crochet and Kristian Campbell inking new deals, Ketel Marte tacks on extra years with the D-backs, Jurickson Profar takes an 80-game suspension for a positive PED test as the Braves fall to 0-7, and Esteury Ruiz gets a fresh start with the Dodgers. Plus, we wonder if 2025 will be the year of the 'kick-change', and how pitchers might adjust to Anthony Volpe as his heat maps shift with the 'Torpedo' bat.
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Rundown
1:51 Garret Crochet: Inks a Six-Year Extension with Red Sox
6:07 Kristian Campbell: Opts for Eight-Year Extension in Boston
15:09 Ketel Marte: Adds Years in Arizona (Six-Year, $116.5M)
21:42 Jurickson Profar: Suspended 80 Games for Positive PED Test
25:43 A Look Back at Other 0-7 Starts
30:58 A Fresh Start for Esteury Ruiz in Los Angeles
36:07 2025: The Year of the Kick-Change?
44:52 New Toys: Using Batter's Box Data & Bat Changes Against Hitters (How to Pitch to Anthony Volpe in 2025)
52:59 Advanced Scouts and Player Acquisition Analysts: Asking Different Questions?
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Trevor May
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jed Lowrie makes his Rates & Barrels debut to join Eno and DVR and to discuss Jackson Merrill's nine-year extension with the Padres, Jed's trip to the season opening series in Japan between the Dodgers and Cubs, the early-season struggles of Rafael Devers, and hitters that have moved their contact point up (toward the pitcher) thus far in 2025.
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Rundown
1:40 Jackson Merrill Gets Paid!
6:47 Jed’s Takeaways from Opening Series Trip to Japan
16:00 Changing and Experimenting with Bats
22:43 Why the 'Torpedo' Bat Hasn't Taken Off Sooner
25:19 Rafael Devers' Slow Start to 2025
34:04 Players Who Have Moved Their Contact Point Up (Toward Pitcher)
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Jed Lowrie
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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