Eno and Al discuss the latest news items, including some positive developments for Kyle Wright and Byron Buxton, and they look at several position battles that are still looming with opening day less than two weeks away. Eno also identifies several pitchers who are Stuff+ laggards.

Rundown
1:08 News updates: Edwin Díaz, Kyle Wright, Byron Buxton, Mitch Haniger, David Villar, Eric Haase, Jackson Jobe
20:12 Position battles - hitters: NYM 3B, LAD CF, MIA OF, CHC OF/DH, KC OF, OAK CF
37:03 Position battles - rotations: OAK, ATL, ARI, TB, CIN
49:06 Stuff+ laggards

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News Roundup and Position Battles

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, 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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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com

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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?

Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris
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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

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e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com

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Jackson Holliday's Arrival, Ceddanne Rafaela's Early Struggles & Looking Ahead at Weekend Pickups

Eno, DVR and Britt take a closer look at pitcher injuries that have mounted at all levels in recent years, and dissect the varying reasons behind the significant increase in major elbow and shoulder problems. Plus, they consider the fast start of the Pirates and the dismal start of the Marlins in their first installment of 'Buy, Sell, Hold' for 2024. 

Rundown
1:25 The Problem Starts at Youth Levels
7:31 Incentivizing Starters with In-Game Rules to Reduce Velocity & Pitch Deeper Into Games
12:33 Justin Verlander's Thoughts on the Uptick in Injuries
17:58 Lack of Consistency Across Different Levels
21:13 Adding More Factors to a Multi-Factor Problem
26:55 Injuries Spike Early in the Season
32:11 The Benefits of Playing on Multiple Sports
36:42 Strikeout Rate Growth from the 1970-1990 20-Year Window Compared to 2004-2024
42:02 Eno's Unexpected Suggestion for a Solution
46:15 Buy, Sell, Hold: The Pirates' 9-2 Start
54:22 Buy, Sell, Hold: The Marlins' Miserable 1-10 Start

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

Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe

Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes!

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News Roundup and Position Battles

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