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Project Prospect - Optioned, But Not Forgotten
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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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Follow Welsh on Twitter: @isitthewelsh
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Fernando Tatis Jr. is Playing Second Base?!
01:02:41|Eno and DVR look back on an exciting and unexpected weekend with two Padres walk-off home runs, as well as a surprising position switch with Fernando Tatis Jr. moving to second base -- for two games at least. Later, the guys welcome Owen Riley and Maxfield Lane of Down on the Farm to discuss some of their favorite underrated prospects.Rundown:1:16 Best Thing You Saw This Weekend2:57 Fernando Tatis Jr. Starts Two Games at Second Base5:45 Nick Pivetta’s Early Exit10:17 Tatsuya Imai Returns to Houston14:53 More Astros Injuries17:34 Christian Yelich Suffers Hamstring Injury20:06 Is DVR Worried About Trevor Megill?22:36 From Division III to Oyster Analytics & Down on the Farm25:34 Key Indicators When Analyzing Prospects29:06 Spotting for Trends32:32 The White Sox Promote Noah Schultz37:09 Pedro Ramirez Ascending the Cubs’ System42:18 Polarizing Prospect: Blaze Jordan45:04 One More Deep Sleeper: The Rays’ Jadher Areinamo47:33 Angel Martínez & Jakob Junis Get the Love This WeekendFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Owen Riley & Maxfield LaneEditor: Jason Potere
Fantasy Friday | Weekend Waiver Preview: Plenty of Messy Bullpens
01:08:01|On this Fantasy Friday, Eno and DVR discuss the latest early-season injuries and what they mean for your roster decisions heading into the weekend. Then, the guys welcome Ottoneu’s Niv Shah for a conversation about the bullpen market, followed by the season's first installment of 'Taste of the Majors.'Rundown1:20 Corbin Carroll Slowed by Hip Injury2:49 Brent Rooker Leaves Game with Core Injury5:46 Parker Meadows Suffers Concussion & Fractured Arm8:32 Hunter Goodman’s Early Exit After HBP10:45 Jorge Polanco Slowed by Achilles Soreness20:32 Weekend Waiver Preview23:07 Bryce Elder Is Rolling but Eno Is Skeptical26:14 Kyle Harrison Has Made Changes32:47 Interest in Luis Gil & Jeffrey Springs? 35:39 Mick Abel’s Turnaround37:33 Widely Available Starting Pitchers43:09 Niv Shah Joins the Show to Discuss Messy Bullpens55:55 Taste of the Majors Is Back! (L.A. & St. Louis Dog Reviews)Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialE-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Niv ShahEditor: Jason PotereHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How Much On-Field Information is Too Much?
01:07:18|Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss a new tool — the Pitching Pairing tool from FanGraphs Lab — as a great visualization for tunneling and a way to better understand how pitchers are attacking opposing hitters. Plus, they explore adjustments that can be made by position on the pitching rubber, which gives pitchers a way to manipulate their horizontal approach angle. Finally, they discuss a recent piece from Ben Lindbergh at The Ringer, wondering if increased on-field information for players and tactics like calling pitches from the dugout have gone too far.0:42 Cole Ragans Avoids Major Injury5:15 FanGraphs Labs’ New Pitching Pairing Tool11:45 Establishing the Fastball18:16 How Sandy Alcantara is So Effective25:58 Horizontal Approach Angle43:20 On-Field Information: How Much is Too Much?Related LinksThe Pitching Pairing Tool at FanGraphs Labs: https://www.fangraphs.com/lab/paired-pitches“A Visual Primer on Horizontal Approach Angle (HAA” by Alex Chamberlain: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-visual-primer-on-horizontal-approach-angle-haa/“Keep MLB Front Offices Away From the Field” by Ben Lindbergh: https://www.theringer.com/2026/03/23/mlb/keep-mlb-front-offices-off-the-field-pitch-calling-scouting-cardsFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Trevor MayEditor: Jason PotereHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cubs, Astros Weathering Key Pitching Injuries & How to Collect Cards in a Hot Market
01:02:44|Eno, DVR, and Jed break down how the Cubs plan to fill Cade Horton’s spot in the rotation after news of his season-ending torn UCL. They also discuss Astros ace Hunter Brown’s status following a Grade 2 shoulder strain, and later welcome baseball card enthusiast Sean Campbell to explore the ins and outs of the card collecting world.Rundown2:43 Cade Horton Out For The Year8:48 Hunter Brown’s Shoulder Strain17:25 Other News & Notes From Around MLB26:08 Sean Campbell’s Start In Card Collecting28:55 Sean’s Favorite Cards30:24 Card Grading31:42 Goals As A Collector35:22 Considerations For Grading37:11 Finding Sellers You Trust39:51 What To Expect In Cheaper Boxes42:17 Understanding Value48:16 Advice From An Expert53:34 Older CardsFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Sean on Instagram: @roostercardsandwaxe-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Jed Lowrie & Sean CampbellEditor: Jason PotereHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who is Baseball's Best Teenage Position Player of All-Time?
01:04:27|Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville joins Eno and DVR to explore a big question in the wake of Konnor Griffin's recent promotion -- who is the baseball teenage position player in baseball history?Plus, they share huge show news -- Starkville returns and joins Rates & Barrels on Saturday, April 18th!They also discuss early reactions to ABS, and potential improvements to the system that could be implemented in the future depending on how the early-season trends play out over the course of the entire season. Rundown0:49 Starkville Returns Saturday, April 18th! Right Here on Rates & Barrels2:02 Baseball’s Best Teenage Position Players: How Do You Approach a ‘Greatest Of’ Question?8:00 Entering with Massive Expectations: Is It ‘Easier’ on an Already Good Team?10:45 Does Having a Recently Hyped Arrival Help? Paul Skenes’ Fast Track, High Expectations in Pittsburgh14:25 Bright Spotlights From Day 1: How Ken Griffey Jr. and Bryce Harper Faced Added Pressure17:05 The No. 1 Pick in Hypothetical Draft: Whose Big League Resumé as a Teenager is the Strongest?19:54 Phil Cavaretta’s Impressive Early Arrival: Baseball’s Leader in Plate Appearances as a Teenager22:39 Bryce Harper vs. Juan Soto: Did the Nats Actually Have the Top-2 Teenagers in MLB History?27:05 Tony Conigliaro: A Promising Career Derailed by Tragedy28:52 Learning From the Search: Jim Gilliam, John Montgomery Ward & Edgar Renteria?!30:14 Stardom From Day 1: Al Kaline Was Destined to Become “Mr. Tiger”32:10 An Old “Friend” of the Show is Back! Oyster Burns’ Unique Place in Baseball History35:34 Late Game Challenges: Jayson’s Idea to Mimic the NFL’s Rule Under Two Minutes38:38 Second Order Effects: Will Team Increase Aggressiveness with Challenges?41:50 The Buffer Zone: Could Max Scherzer’s Idea to Have ‘Inconclusive’ Close Calls Stand?46:04 How Many Strike Zones Are There? 49:49 Early Numbers: Walks *and* Strikeouts Are Up — Not Great, Bob!54:25 Future Changes: Tweaks to the Strike Zone If Needed1:00:21 The Margin for Error: Overturning Calls That Are Closer than Margin of Error?1:03:20 Check Out Starkville Starting April 18th!Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.socialFollow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Jayson Stark & Doug GlanvilleEditor: Jason Potere
The Best Defensive Game Ever & Pocket Tortoises, It's Baseball Season Alright!
01:09:56|Eno and DVR return from the weekend and wonder if Jo Adell's three home-run saving catches in the Angels' 1-0 win against the Mariners on Saturday night might be the best defensive game ever played. Plus, they discuss a cluster of starting pitchers on the fringes of rosters in many leagues, searching for early-season sources of stability, before taking a spin around the league after several impactful injuries piled up. Rundown0:29 Three Home-Run Robbies in One Game! Did Jo Adell Play the Best Defensive Game Ever?9:26 The Starting Pitchers Were Good Too! Emerson Hancock and Jack Kochanowicz Deal11:16 Choosing Your Favorite Two: Starting Pitchers on the Rise21:39 Injuries Galore: Updates on Horton, Betts, Soto & Others32:23 Feeling Better After Start No. 2? Tatsuya Imai Rolls Against the A’s36:49 A Defensive Slump? Are the Giants’ Fielding Woes Fixable?41:20 Context in Small Samples: Rain, Sleet, Snow & Other Variables That Matter46:48 October is Behind Him: Andy Pages Is Hitting Well Again49:28 Great Starts at Coors Field: Where Does Jesús Luzardo’s Weekend Start Rank?58:32 What’s in Pat Murphy’s Pocket? How About a Tortoise Named ‘Bobby Jr.’?!1:04:21 Keeping An Eye on Anthony Kay: Is It ‘Good’ Weird, or ‘Bad’ Weird?1:08:38 Pirates Sweep the Orioles: Undefeated in Konnor Griffin EraFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisEditor: Jason Potere
First-Week Takeaways & Weekend Waiver Wire Preview
01:05:18|DVR is joined by Jason Collette to discuss the evolution of pre-debut contracts and early takeaways -- including the highly-anticipated return Shane McClanahan -- and the surprising lack of stolen bases from the Rays in their first two series of the season. They also take an early look at waiver-wire targets, highlighting several starting pitchers of interest, a few relievers to consider from bullpens in turmoil, and the fast start for Jordan Walker. Rundown1:55 Commissioner’s Corner: Move Weekly Pickups to Thursday Night!8:37 Context is Key: James Wood Reveals 2025 Injuries11:34 Checking In on the Rays: Observations Through Two Series18:59 He’s Back! The Return of Shane McClanahan23:59 Efficiency FTW: Drew Rasmussen Has a New Changeup28:15 Early-Season Matchups: What Matters When Considering Pitchers?34:24 Another Bat Speed Riser: Interest Level in Luisangel Acuña37:29 Weekend Waiver Preview: Starting Pitchers We’re Considering41:55 The Roster Bubble Starting Pitchers (40-60% Rostered)48:23 Digging Deeper (20-40% Rostered)53:26 Looking for Saves: Assessing Relievers in Flux56:45 Cautious with Hitting Surprises? Buying Jordan Walker’s Adjustments?Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow Jason on Bluesky: @jasoncollette.bsky.social. e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHost: Derek VanRiperWith Guest Co-Host: Jason ColletteEditor: Jason Potere
Konnor Griffin Gets the Call & New Pitches That Have Our Attention
01:00:13|Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss the Pirates' promotion of top prospect Konnor Griffin (whose agreement to a nine-year extension was revealed after the episode was recorded), the long-term outlook on Shane Baz, how pitchers impact a hitter's bat speed, and new pitches that have caught our eye through the first week of the season. Rundown0:26 Baseball's Top Prospect Gets the Call: Konnor Griffin to Debut on Friday3:54 Buying the Pirates? Will They Snap Seven-Year Streak of Losing Seasons?8:31 Breaking Down Shane Baz's Extension with the Orioles: Five-Year, $56 Million19:40 How Pitchers Impact a Hitter's Bat Speed29:56 Does Fast Swing Rate Against Pitchers Tell Us More than Average Bat Speeds?35:03 New Pitches: Pitchers With Better Outlooks Thanks to New Offerings57:18The Rangers' Nacho Sombrero is Real?!Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Trevor MayEditor: Jason Potere
Which Hitters Should Be More Aggressive at the Plate?
01:05:09|Eno, Jed, and DVR discuss a bizarre mistake from C.B. Bucknor in Milwaukee on Tuesday night, and Jed's favorite umpire still in rotation before digging into Shohei Ohtani's first start of 2026 -- which featured significantly increased usage of his curveball -- before looking at early bat-speed risers, and breaking down a few hitters they believe could benefit from a more aggressive approach at the plate. Rundown0:48 Umpire Love: Jed’s Favorite Ump Still in Circulation2:00 The Opposite of Umpire Love: C.B. Buckner’s Laughably Bad Call3:50 Make a Mistake? Own It! Mark Wegner Owns Up to Missed Strikeout10:10 Sho and Tell: Shohei Ohtani Increases Curveball Usage in First Start of 202615:33 Other News & Notes: DeLauter’s Scare, Eflin’s Exit & deGrom’s Velo18:09 Early Bat Speed Risers: Why Does It Matter in Small Samples?25:57 Does High Bat Speed Lead to Injuries? 34:00 Swing Decisions: Who Should Be More Aggressive?50:58 Show and Tell: A Few of Our Random FavoritesFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Jed LowrieEditor: Jason Potere