Catcher's Corner

Eric and Sami are joined by Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) to talk about his SP Pitch Mix Chart, why we should care about pitch mix, and some starting pitchers who have notably altered their pitch mix this year. 

All music is by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (streaming on Spotify)

Timestamps

(4:55) - Explaining Mike's SP Pitch Mix Tracker

(9:00) - Why should we even care about a pitcher's pitch mix?

(13:40) - Nathan Eovaldi and his new slider

(20:07) - Tyler Glasnow and his new "slutter"

(24:32) - Lance McCullers joins in on the new slider fun

(32:30) - Jakob Junis traded his slider for a new cutter

(37:10) - Chris Flexen upped his cutter (plus we take a Vlad Jr. triple dong detour)

(42:20) - Sandy Alcantara is changing it up

(47:00) - We talk about the value of changeups and wonder why you all don't find changeups sexy

(50:15) - Jameson Taillon is throwing the fastball more but maybe that's not good

(53:03) - Jesus Luzardo is relying more on his four-seam fastball

(57:45) Calling Pitches: We each pick a starting pitcher we think will earn more love by the end of the season

Kenta Maeda

Carlos Rodon

Eduardo Rodriguez

Eric, Sami, and special guest Greg Jewett (The Athletic, Fantasy Alarm) breakdown the current closer landscape and then discuss potential options in some of the most chaotic bullpens. 

All music by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (available on Spotify)

Timestamps

(6:15) Is the younger generation watching baseball? What can the league do to help?

(9:45) Is this closer landscape the new normal? How does that impact our fantasy decisions?

(18:00) Ian Kennedy - can anybody in Texas challenge him? 

(22:24) Lucas Sims - is it his job now? Will the Reds ever choose just one closer?

(29:00) Cesar Valdez - is this for real? Do the Orioles have anybody waiting in the wings?

(35:30) Jose Alvarado - can he capitalize on Neris' velocity dip? Is he valuable even without saves?

(38:45) Corey Knebel - we know Kenley will have his reps monitored, so is Knebel worth owning for ancillary saves?

(45:00) Scott Barlow - is he the best arm in the KC bullpen? How is KC using analytics to shape its bullpen usage?

(52:45) Yoan Lopez/Kevin Ginkel/ J.B. Bukauskas - is any young arm likely to emerge in Arizona?

(58:15) Alex Colome - should we be worried? Is there another option in Minnesota?

(1:01:00) Jordan Hicks - is he close to taking back the role?

(1:06:00) Amir Garrett blows a save as we record

(1:07:25) Calling Our Pitch: we all pick one reliever nobody is talking about who we expect to be a hot topic by season's end

Sami and Eric discuss how to be calm and not overreact to week one, and then overreact to some starting pitchers who had strong and not-so-strong first starts. 

All music is produced by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger (check him out on Spotify

Time Stamps

(0:00) - How to manage your team in week one without overreacting. 

(6:50) - Why are the Mets the way they are?

(9:15) Nathan Eovaldi - cutter out, slider in?

(16:22) Chris Paddack - why no curveballs? Seems like it was part of the plan

(24:00) Lance McCullers - added a slider and we love it

(27:30) Yusei Kikuchi - lost weight, velocity up, is this a breakout?

(34:10) Sean Manaea - velocity is up, but why did he abandon the slider?

(39:00) Jeff Hoffman - rotation spot and a slider - are we in?

(41:20) Zach Wheeler - easy velocity and more slider; yes, please?

(45:00) Carlos Rodon - tree trunk thighs and more velocity

(52:00) Calling Pitches - which pitchers are we watching on the waiver wire?

Sami and Eric dive into pitchers who've had a strong Spring Training and discuss whether the performance is believable or not. 

(All music in the episode is from hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger - available on Spotify and other streaming platforms)

Time Stamp

(0:00) Players we're excited about heading into the year. 

(5:36) Daulton Jefferies and Why is it so hard to watch Spring Training baseball? 

(9:18) Tangent discussion on when a repeatable delivery is good and when it can hurt a pitcher

(14:41) Tarik Skubal)

(21:11) Corey Kluber and Are the Yankees bad at developing pitching?

(28:46) Charlie Morton

(31:53) Marcus Stroman

(37:30) Zach Eflin

(42:49) Pablo Lopez

(44:40) Sean Manaea

(47:55) Steven Matz and Why you need to be using your Watch List

(51:34) Freddy Peralta

(56:26) Calling Pitches: One additional pitcher we're each in on this year

In Episode 2, Sami and Eric try to make sense of the relief pitcher landscape and talk about their general strategy in drafting relief pitching. 

All music is by Brooklyn hip-hop artist Dan Dillinger, whose complete songs can be found on Spotify. 

Timestamps

News and Notes

- David Price in the bullpen?

- A.J. Puk in the rotation?

- Sonny Gray back injury?

- Eugenio Suarez at SS? 

BEHIND THE DISH: Does defense matter to pitchers? (13:07)

Are you changing your valuation of Reds pitchers? (16:54)

Devin Williams - and why you should roster lots of RPs (23:00)

Chris Martin (31:12)

James Karinchak (37:22)

Nick Wittgren (42:43)

Craig Kimbrel (46:00)

CALLING PITCHES: Team Bullpen Quick Hits

Rays (49:30)

Phillies (51:50)

Padres (55:05)

Twins (56:45)

Cardinals (1:00:10)

Tigers (1:04:20)

Giants (1:05:04)

Marlins (1:07:00)

Eric Samulski and Sami Akleh introduce themselves and their vision for the podcast and then dive into some of the starting pitchers they're most excited about this season. 

(All music made by Dan Dillinger - check him out on Spotify)

Podcast POV and what we look for in pitchers (1:35)

Tyler Mahle and "what is tunneling?" (6:26)

Sixto Sanchez (17:40)

Ryan Yarbrough and "what is mirroring?" (31:00)

Jake Odorizzi (42:40)

Calling Pitches - Early, Mid, and Late Round SP we like (50:30)