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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Lars Nootbaar Interview

Eno Sarris and Derek VanRiper discuss advanced stats and fantasy baseball 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.

Sports

Baseball

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

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

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

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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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com

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Making Early Adjustments & How to Pitch to Mookie Betts

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

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris
Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com

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Lars Nootbaar Interview

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