Advertise on podcast: Rates & Barrels

Eno and DVR discuss Cody Bellinger's return to the Cubs on a short contract with multiple opt-outs, the start of TGFBI, a busy first weekend of spring action that featured a lot of new pitches, and a lot of information about velocity and iVB changes. Plus, they dig into the importance of working backwards when building out draft-day roster construction plans.  Rundown 5:32 Cody Bellinger Re-Signs with the Cubs 17:37 A Live First-Round Pick from Eno’s TGFBI Draft 22:56 Two (!) New Pitches for Hunter Greene 28:02 Cole Ragans’ Improved Fastball Ride in Spring Debut 34:02 Carlos Rodón Has a New Cutter 39:55 Quick Thoughts on Strikeout Park Factors 46:03 Draft Strategy: Working Backwards, or At Least From the Middle 57:15 Looking for Late Power, Without Sacrificing Average Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/r9u5jBvV Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our new livestream episodes w/Trevor May! Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss an unusual day at Phillies camp, superstitious teammates, and what to look for in spring training games. Plus, they continue the deep dive pitching series with a detailed look at two-seam fastballs/sinkers, before discussing a few challenges organizations have getting coaching staffs on the same page in player development. Rundown 1:38 A Rough Day in Phillies Camp 7:26 What to Look For in Spring Training Games 18:45 Reliever Usage in Closer Battles 26:28 'Two-Seamer' v. 'Sinker' 32:33 Good Two-Seamers & Newer Location Strategies 37:39 An Ineffective Sinker 48:35 Two-Seam Fastballs in Stuff+ 50:37 Organizational Philosophy v. Individual Approaches 1:06:15 Viewer Q&A Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Trevor on Twitter: @IamTrevorMay Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/r9u5jBvV Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After discussing a few spring news items, Eno and DVR return to their Team Preview series to break down the Twins, Guardians, and Tigers. Will the Twins' position player core take a leap forward with a full season of Royce Lewis at third base? Is the Twins' pitching depth and bullpen good enough to withstand the loss of Sonny Gray from the rotation? How much will the Guardians lean on Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter this season in a bid to improve their run production, and can the Guardians' young starters to take another step forward in 2024? As the Tigers' rebuild continues, are they primed to close the gap and contend for a division title? Rundown 0:59 Kodai Senga: Will Begin Season on IL 4:46 Mitch Keller: Signs Extension with Pirates 7:39 Tim Anderson: Finds New Home in Miami 16:11 2024 Minnesota Twins Preview 27:33 Can Joe Ryan Find a Quality Secondary Offering? 40:35 2024 Cleveland Guardians Preview 47:34 Assessing the Draft-Day Value in the Guardians' Top-Four Starters 55:28 2024 Detroit Tigers Preview 1:06:55 Buying Reese Olson's Improved Changeup? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/r9u5jBvV Check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels and join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our new livestream episodes w/Trevor May! Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR return to their Team Preview series to break down the Cardinals, Cubs, and Brewers. Will the Cards' loaded lineup be able to outhit their shaky starting pitching? Are the Cubs preparing to lean on a group of young players to fill a few remaining gaps in their lineup? How will the Brewers' pitching fare following the Corbin Burnes trade and with Brandon Woodruff likely unavailable in 2024? Rundown 1:17 2024 St. Louis Cardinals Preview 7:11 Buying the Breakout From Jordan Walker? 20:30 The Pitching Plan: Is This Going to Work? 30:38 2024 Chicago Cubs Preview 34:20 Will Jameson Taillon Build on Second-Half Success? 43:57 Youth Movement Coming in Center Field and at Third Base? 50:27 2024 Milwaukee Brewers Preview 54:49 Which Young Players Will Emerge for Large Supporting Roles? 1:03:27 The Pitching Staff Sans Burnes & Woodruff Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/B3Ymqwrd Check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels and join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our new livestream episodes w/Trevor May! Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss a few takeaways from Eno's squad in the Bay Area Rotisserie Fantasy League before digging into the latest round of news as spring training is in full swing. With a lot of positive injury news around recently hampered players, how should you adjust your plans as ADP begins to reflect improved spring health? Rundown 0:50 Eno's Case for Elly De La Cruz 8:10 Recapping Eno's BARF League Build (From Sober Values to YOLO) 13:10 Josh Jung's Calf Strain 15:53 Xander Bogaerts Moves to Second Base 20:49 Whit Merrifield to the Phillies 24:14 Carlos Rodón's Velocity is Back This Spring 36:00 Byron Buxton's Knee is Gone! 41:17 A Quick Nick Lodolo Update 49:23 Are the Rays Backloading Shane Baz's 2024 Innings? 55:41 Starling Marte & Riley Greene Follow-Ups 56:55 A.J. Puk as a Starter & Occasional Six-Man Rotations in Miami? 1:08:15 Applying Roto Advice to H2H Points Leagues 1:13:06 What Might a Team See in Luke Weaver? 1:19:57 Live Episodes in New York at Other Half Brewing! Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our new livestream episodes! (https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/B3Ymqwrd Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Elly De La Cruz Thumbnail Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trevor May makes his Rates & Barrels hosting debut, joining Eno and DVR to discuss missteps with the new MLB uniforms, wearing other people's pants, unusual self-designed training regiments, and the difficultly of processing news when the flood of information happens at the outset of spring training. Plus, Eno & Trevor do a deep dive into four-seam fastballs, before a round of listener Q&A. Rundown 0:56 Getting to Know Trevor 10:45 Making Sense of Spring Training News Updates 19:48 Four-Seam Fastball Deep Dive 51:54 Listener Q&A Follow Trevor on Twitter: @IamTrevorMay Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our new livestream episodes! (https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/B3Ymqwrd Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR discuss a flurry of news updates from Orioles camp before continuing their Team Preview series, looking at the Dodgers, Reds and Pirates. Is it possible that the Dodgers are slightly underprojected even as a 101-win team in PECOTA? Will the Reds' young pitching stay healthy and deliver enough for them to contend for the NL Central? Can the Pirates turn the corner sooner than expected with Oneil Cruz's return to health and a nice group of young pitchers knocking on the door? Rundown 1:15 Kyle Bradish's UCL Sprain 6:00 Other Injury Updates From Orioles Camp 9:44 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Preview 14:09 Build a Bench! Finding the Platoons in LA 27:28 2024 Cincinnati Reds Preview 34:51 Breakout Potential for Elly & Noelvi Marte Despite Wide-Range of PT 49:50 2024 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview 55:09 How Aggressively Will the Pirates Promote Their Pitching Prospects? Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/B3Ymqwrd Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Join us on Fridays starting 2/16 at 1p ET/10a PT for our new livestream episode w/Trevor May! Check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR share some show-related news and discuss Jorge Soler to the Giants, a recent swap between the Twins and Marlins, catcher additions for the Brewers and Pirates, and a few spring items to watch for the Rays. Plus, they examine a few risers and fallers among pitchers since the start of draft season in the fall.  Rundown 0:49 Show Announcements! Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels 5:20 Jorge Soler Signs a Three-Year Deal with the Giants 11:37 Nick Gordon to the Marlins for Steven Okert 17:29 Spencer Turnbull Joins the Phillies 23:40 Gary Sánchez to the Brewers 29:26 Yasmani Grandal to the Pirates 33:39 Things We Recently Learned About the Rays 42:54 Spring Injury Updates: Edwin Díaz, Shohei Ohtani, Garrett Crochet 46:11 ADP Risers & Fallers (Pitchers) Since the Start of Draft Season Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Jorge Soler Thumbnail Photo by Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR continue their Team Preview series, looking at the three teams projected to finish in the middle three spots in the NL West -- the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Giants. Will Arizona's offseason upgrades be enough for them to return to the playoffs in 2024? Can the Padres rebound after sending Juan Soto to the Yankees in a blockbuster trade in December? Is there a reasonable path forward for the Giants with their current core? Rundown 1:11 2024 Arizona Diamondbacks Preview 11:25 Key Rotation Questions & Depth Concerns 21:24 2024 San Diego Padres Preview 28:23 Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Pulled Barrel Rate Shift From 2021 to 2023 48:12 2024 San Francisco Giants Preview 56:29 Marco Luciano's Breakout Potential & Contact Quality Comps Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Corbin Carroll Thumbnail Photo by Christian Petersen-Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is an infinite number of ways to play fantasy baseball, so what factors should you consider when joining or creating a league?  Eno and DVR discuss some of the basic elements of building or finding a league to play in, as well as a few 2024-specific strategy considerations to keep in mind in the face of MLB's 2023 rule changes and the resulting impact on the run environment.  Rundown 1:40 How Do You Want to Play? - and - Key Questions to Consider 14:17 Where Do You Want to Play? - and - League Formats/Entry Fee Options 23:05 Yes, Free Leagues Still Exist! 39:03 Why We Like the FanGraphs Auction Calculator (https://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy-tools/auction-calculator) 46:43 What Are You Adjusting for 2024? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR continue their Team Preview series, looking at a few key questions for all 30 clubs as spring training approaches. Part 2 of the series wraps up the AL West with the Astros and Mariners, before examining the ongoing struggles of the Rockies at the bottom of the NL West.  Rundown 0:54 Jose Altuve Signs a Five-Year, $125M Extension w/Astros 5:05 2024 Houston Astros Preview 18:25 Paths to a Hunter Brown Breakout 25:56 2024 Seattle Mariners Preview 33:06 Bryan Woo's Need for a New Approach Against Lefties 43:27 2024 Colorado Rockies Preview 55:38 Will Brenton Doyle's Glove Carry Him to Everyday Playing Time? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Check out our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrels Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Yordan Alvarez Thumbnail Photo by Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eno and DVR begin their Team Preview series, looking at a few key questions for all 30 clubs as spring training approaches. The series begins with three teams from the AL West, including the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Oakland A's.  Rundown 4:47 2024 Texas Rangers Preview 18:27 Will Josh Jung Take Another Step Forward? 24:37 2024 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Preview 35:56 Can Chase Silseth Find a Solution For Left-Handed Hitters? 43:52 2024 Oakland A's Preview 50:04 Potential Power Growth for Esteury Ruiz? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Subscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Marcus Semien Thumbnail Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices