2021 Disappointments, 2022 Bouncebacks: Hitter Edition

Eno, DVR and Britt discuss another excellent showing from Jared Jones and an impressive outing from Mason Milller in the Bronx on Monday afternoon. With teams having greater incentives to bring prospects up when they are ready, the new challenge is having a plan to change course if they struggle. Plus, is there legitimate reason to worry about the slow start of the Astros (7-16 entering play Tuesday) or the Cardinals (10-13)? And, is Blake Snell's bumpy start in San Francisco the byproduct of a late-spring signing? Rundown 4:10 Jared Jones & Mason Miller Continue to Impress 13:50 An Ump Show in the Bronx 17:52 Jackson Holliday's Early Struggles & When to Adjust a Plan 28:45 Having Defensive Value to Fall Back On 36:53 What's Different About the 2024 Astros? 49:35 The Cardinals' Offense is Going to Wake Up (Right?) 58:01 Is Blake Snell Struggling Because of Signing Delay? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghroli e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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 discuss news and notes from the weekend including an encouraging diagnosis for Spencer Strider before examining several risers from Eno's first in-season update of his 2024 starting pitcher rankings.  Rundown 4:20 Underwent Internal Brace Procedure Rather Than Second Tommy John Surgery 7:28 Another SP Injury for Arizona: Merrill Kelly 13:10 Francisco Àlvarez: Out 6-8 Weeks 21:46 Eno's Updated Starting Pitcher Rankings ($) https://theathletic.com/5426812 27:31 Reid Detmers' Early Success 32:22 Casey Mize: Will Strikeouts Show Up With His New Arsenal? 38:09 Javier Assad: What Eno Likes About Him 40:51 Brady Singer: Moves Up Slightly! 44:21 Zack Littell: LODEM Goodness? 48:56 Paul Skenes: Callup Coming Shortly? 53:47 Where the Money Went: Looking Back at Weekend Pickups Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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 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 Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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, 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 Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghroli e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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 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  Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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, 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 Follow Trevor on Twitter: @IamTrevorMay Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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, 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: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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 another round of injuries including a UCL sprain for Spencer Strider, Tommy John surgery on tap for Shane Bieber, a significant hip flexor strain for Luis Robert Jr, and a dislocated shoulder for Trevor Story. Beyond injuries, they discuss Ronel Blanco's encore and the ongoing battle in the Astros' rotation for a spot once Justin Verlander returns, and several players whose value shifted over the past week.  Rundown 1:31 Spencer Strider Has a UCL Sprain; Course of Action TBD 6:20 Shane Bieber Will Have Tommy John Surgery 14:09 How to Adjust to Losing an Ace Early 17:04 Luis Robert Jr.: Grade 2 Hip Flexor Strain 25:30 Gerrit Cole: Ready to Begin Throwing Program! 32:11 Adjusting Draft Strategy or League Setting in the Future to Counter Multi-Year Trend of Elevated Pitching Injuries? 44:25 Trevor Story's Suffers a Dislocated Shoulder 48:01 Alex Kirilloff & Oliver Dunn 53:22 Eno's Bargain Adds From Week 2 59:22 A Case for Spencer Turnbull Beyond Streaming 1:04:10 Good Pickup, Bad Pickup? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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, Trevor and DVR discuss John Fisher's decision to temporarily move the A's to Sacramento for the next three years (2025-2027) while attempting to complete an eventual move to Las Vegas. Plus, they examine the teams currently facing the toughest path to winning in the next five years, before resuming their pitch deep dive series with changeups. Rundown 0:54 The A's Are Making a Three-Year Stop in Sacramento 9:01 Challenges In Making the A's Competitive Again 17:00 The Rockies' Built-In Uphill Battle 21:36 Another Rebuild Coming in Miami Under New Leadership? 27:47 Loyalty to a Fault on the South Side of Chicago? 34:49 Is It All On Arte Moreno in Anaheim? 45:51 Pitch Deep Dive: Changeups 56:35 Q&A: Changeup Feel in Games v. Bullpens, Commanding Splitters & What You Would Want for Ohtani's HR Ball Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Trevor on Twitter: @IamTrevorMay e-mail: [email protected] Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Join us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! 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