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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Eno and DVR discuss the Dodgers' season-opening win over the Cubs in Tokyo, which featured five strong frames from Yoshinobu Yamamoto and an excellent showing from the bullpen. They also discuss a great piece from David Adler highlighting Shohei Ohtani's unique contact point as a possible explanation for his excellent all-fields power. Plus, they look at the return of Spencer Strider, who pitched in a game Monday for the first time this spring, Cam Smith's chances of making the Opening Day roster, and big movers from the NFBC Main Event drafts, which Eno recently took part in.
Rundown
3:22 Dodgers Win Series Opener in Tokyo
9:57 Freddie Freeman's Reduced Playing Time Ceiling
13:48 Shohei Ohtani's Unique Contact Point
(Story from David Adler, MLB.com: https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-contact-point-statcast-analysis)
21:42 Concerns About Mookie Betts' Health Beyond Tokyo?
26:44 Spencer Strider is Back! (Is the ADP Going to the Moon?)
34:34 Cam Smith's Path to the Opening Day Roster in Houston
43:45 David Bednar: Still Hasn't Been Named Pirates' Closer
48:46 Adjusting to Unique Rooms: The NFBC Main Event
55:33 Reframing a 'Necessary' Overpay
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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.
James Anderson of RotoWire joins DVR to discuss a few news items from the weekend including Mookie Betts' absence from the Japan Series and the playing time outlook for Andy Pages, an early-season IL trip for Royce Lewis, and another pitching injury to watch coming out of Yankees camp. Plus, they discuss several under-the-radar prospects capable of making an impact in 2025 -- including one of James' favorites climbing the organizational depth chart in Minnesota -- an ETA for Chandler Simpson, and keeping an open mind about pitching development for non-elite prospects.
Rundown
1:57 Mookie Betts' Japan Series Absence; Andy Pages' 2025 PT Outlook
7:04 Royce Lewis: Will Begin Season On the IL
12:57 Clarke Schmidt: Should Be Ready for Regular Season
15:40 Balancing Ceiling with Proximity in Top 100 Rankings
22:07 Which Prospect Hitters Could Make a Surprisingly Large Impact in 2025?
38:56 Chandler Simpson's ETA
45:14 Which Prospect Pitchers Could Make a Surprisingly Large Impact in 2025?
1:01:42 A Few Pitching Stashes for 2026?
Follow James on Bluesky: @realjranderson@bsky.social
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper
With: James Anderson
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
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Eno and DVR discuss a few spring news items including a shoulder injection for George Kirby, before looking at a few deep league pitching sleepers and wondering if we'll ever see Reid Detmers put everything together for a full season in Anaheim.
Rundown
4:22 Bobby Witt Jr.: OK After HBP on Wednesday
8:36 George Kirby: Had Biologics Injection in Shoulder
14:40 Tyler Stephenson: Headed to the IL to Start Season
17:43 Eno's Stop at Brewers Camp in Maryvale
29:15 Deep League Pitching Sleepers
44:36 Craig Yoho & Other Future Closers to Watch
53:29 Utilizing NFBC Main Event Draft Results in Prep for Other Leagues
1:01:14 A's 3B Job Battle & Eno's Love for Jerar Encarnacion
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
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss spring news including an opportunity for Brett Baty at second base (!?) before sharing their top-10 rotations for the upcoming season and the unique challenges of grading pitching groups this way. Plus, Eno shares a few new training tools he's seen and heard about while in Arizona this spring.
Rundown
1:35 Spring News & Notes: Max Scherzer, Lucas Giolito & Jeff McNeil
10:24 Our Picks for the Top 10 Rotations in Baseball
14:00 Eno's Three Category Approach (The Dodgers Third?!)
21:01 Disagreement About the Rangers
27:08 Do You Buy Trevor's Concerns About the Braves' Rotation Depth?
36:30 A Would You Rather Toss-Up Steeped in Regression
45:04 New Things and Unique Processes Being Implemented This Spring
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: Trevor May
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
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Eno and DVR discuss Jacob deGrom's bid to work with slightly less velocity in an effort to stay healthy in 2025, two pitching injuries that popped up in Rangers camp, Brandon Woodruff's steps toward a return to the Brewers' rotation, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s pursuit of a $500 million payday. Plus, Eno checks in from Mariners camp in Peoria before John Fogerty crashes our party over the PA system.
Rundown
2:08 Jacob deGrom: Attempting to Dial Back Velocity to Preserve Health?
(Jeff Passan's story at ESPN: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44195572/)
11:23 Brandon Woodruff Progressing in Rehab; Spring Debut Sunday
15:08 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Seeking $500M Deal
27:29 Rob Manfred & Several Owners Pressuring Stu Sternberg to Sell the Rays
31:34 Eno in Peoria at Mariners Camp
43:15 Mailbag Q: Unique League Formats
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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 and DVR share a follow-up confirming that Gerrit Cole will undergo Tommy John surgery and discuss Francisco Alvarez's hamate injury, another delay for Rafael Devers' spring debut amidst a round of updates from Red Sox camp, before examining some of this spring's biggest bat speed risers.
Rundown
3:52 Gerrit Cole: Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery
6:46 Francisco Alvarez: Out 6-8 Weeks with Hamate Fracture
10:45 Rafael Devers' Spring Debut Pushed Back; More Red Sox Updates
18:49 Follow-Ups: Jurickson Profar, Daulton Varsho, Tony Gonsolin & Dustin May
25:13 Spring Bat Speed Risers
42:59 Eno in Surprise at Rangers Camp
55:46 Let Billy Cook, A Personal Story
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
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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 a weekend packed with spring injury news including Gerrit Cole facing a potential Tommy John surgery, George Kirby's delayed start to the 2025 season, and lingering questions about a timetable for Grayson Rodriguez to return from a triceps injury. Plus, they discuss a few changes for Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams as Eno visits Guardians camp, before answering a few mailbag questions.
Rundown
2:20 Gerrit Cole: Tommy John Surgery Recommended
16:48 George Kirby: Won't Be Ready for Opening Day
21:42 Awaiting More Details About Grayson Rodriguez
25:50 Shohei Ohtani Slows Down Pitching Progression
30:47 Eno in Goodyear at Guardians Camp
41:02 Pete Crow-Armstrong's Power This Spring
46:32 Roster Building MLB Comps
53:35 In-Season Viewing Habits
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
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno and DVR discuss Lawrence Butler's seven-year extension with the A's, and a few potential comps for him as he approaches his peak. Plus, they share a few lessons learned from The Great Fantasy Baseball Invitational, where waiting too long to address the middle-infield spots may prove costly, and answer a few draft-related mailbag questions.
Rundown
2:19 Lawrence Butler's Seven-Year Extension with the A's
11:42 Awaiting Details On Grayson Rodriguez's Triceps Soreness
14:45 Christian Walker Sent for MRI (Oblique)
21:35 Making Sense of Spring Velocity Drops & Cutting Through Noise
26:25 Lessons Learned From TGFBI
34:28 Becoming More Flexible Throughout a Draft
46:47 Who Will Be This Year's Jack Flaherty?
51:12 Strategy Beyond Pick 100
56:02 Drake Baldwin & Dynasty League Catcher Thoughts
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
Producer Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss spring injury updates and a new potential closer entering the mix in Texas, before digging into how the conversation and analysis of relief pitchers should change with a greater emphasis on leverage index and win probability added, and other existing metrics. Plus, they look at teams effectively building bullpens in different ways, and wonder if there is a better way to measure the overall quality of a bullpen based on the different looks and pitches a group offers.
Rundown
2:57 Spring Training News & Notes
13:40 A Sleeper for Saves in Texas?
19:33 Increasing the Conversation Around Leverage Index
25:25 Shutdowns & Meltdowns
31:55 Finding Ways to Appropriately Value Cade Smith Relative to Emmanuel Clase
41:11 Building a Bullpen with Varying Looks
50:19 Would a Smaller Strike Zone Reduce Pitcher Injuries?
58:20 How Much Pain Are Pitchers Throwing Through Day-to-Day?
1:05:42 Name! That! Dude! (Season Series entering 3.6.25: Trevor 1, Eno 0)
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: Trevor May
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Bonus: A closer video mentioned during this episode: https://www.startribune.com/volume-up-lights-down-it-s-fernando-rodney-s-awesome-entry-video/479161213
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Eno and DVR discuss several spring battles for rotation spots, including the potential for a 'secret' six-man rotation in Tampa Bay, Casey Mize's bid to stick in the rotation for the Tigers, Ben Brown's chances of breaking camp as a starter for the Cubs, Year 2 enthusiasm for Jordan Hicks as a potential sleeper in San Francisco, and much more.
Rundown
0:00 Intro Starts
1:48 A Secret Six-Man Rotation Coming in Tampa Bay?
12:03 Watching Kenta Maeda & Casey Mize Closely This Spring
20:30 Competition for the Final Spots in the Twins' Rotation
31:04 Will Ben Brown Break Into the Cubs' Fifth Starter Spot?
36:30 Let's Make the Dodgers Sign Another Pitcher!
44:37 A Sleeper (or Two) in San Francisco?
54:46 Odds & Ends: The White Sox, Angels, Braves & Padres
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
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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