Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Don't blame us if this episode is a drag — blame baseball. Eno and DVR dig into why drag levels have climbed back to heights not seen since 2019, and what it means for hitters (and pitchers) across the league. They also break down some of baseball's most frustrating bats, identify a few buy-low pitchers worth targeting right now, and discuss the Bryce Harper-Kyle Schwarber show in Philadelphia. Plus, a look at where fantasy managers spent their money over the weekend.
Rundown:
2:29 Why is Drag Suddenly Back to 2019 Levels?
7:17 Who Will Be Impacted With Less Drag on the Baseball?
14:43 Most Frustrating Hitters: Who Drives Us Crazy at the Dish?
16:54 Jackson Merrill: Overall, More Aggressive Than Anticipated
26:35 Freddy Peralta: Can He Rebound to Pre-2026 Form?
32:22 Buy-Low Pitchers
38:20 Bryce Harper & Kyle Schwarber Erupt
42:09 The Rays’ Slide: When Things Get Quiet
46:54 Where the Money Went
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Host: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Editor: Jason Potere
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nolan Ryan had "The Express," so what do we call Jacob Misiorowski’s heater? This week on Starkville, Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville brainstorm the perfect nickname for "The Miz’s" electric four-seamer. Then, Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto joins the show to talk about his short history pitching against Doug, his reputation as one of MLB's most prolific dealmakers, rising star Colt Emerson, and his Immaculate Grid strategy. Plus, he shares some incredible reflections on the legendary Ichiro Suzuki. To wrap it all up, Jayson and Doug head to Las Vegas for an explosive edition of Strange But True.
Rundown:
3:19 Nolan Ryan on Jacob Misiorowski
15:17 Jerry Dipoto Visits Starkville
16:00 Dipoto vs. Glanville
18:27 The First Place Mariners
20:17 The ‘Piggyback’ Strategy
28:00 ‘Trader Jerry’
35:15 Colt Emerson
39:18 The Immaculate Grid
45:07 Living a ‘Baseball Life’
48:30 The Legend of Ichiro
55:08 Strange But True
Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.social
Follow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.social
E-mail: starkville@theathletic.com
Starkville Hotline: (347) 313-8371
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Hosts: Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville
With: Jerry Dipoto
Producer: Jason Potere
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fresh starting pitcher rankings have dropped, and it’s time to complain! Who is too high, who is too low — and should Eno and DVR watch *more* baseball? On this episode, they discuss frustration around the rankings of George Kirby, Reid Detmers, Justin Wrobleski, and many others. Plus, a surprising discovery in the three-year park factors for Baltimore and Detroit, before they dig into this weekend’s waiver-wire preview.

Rundown
0:00 Intro
1:12 Eno’s Updated Rankings: A Few Disagreements
2:38 George Kirby: Pitching Within Bottom Range of His Outcomes?
6:54 Jesús Luzardo: Is the OOPSY Projection Too Optimistic?
9:18 Bryce Miller: DVR’s Case to Move Him Higher
13:08 Reid Detmers: Eno Pushes Back on Rosy Second-Half Outlook
17:18 Shane Baz: Does Recent Form Point to More Success?
20:44 A DVR Challenge! Park Factors Update: BAL & DET
25:47 Justin Wrobleski: Do We Need to Watch More Baseball?
32:57 Waiver Wire Targets: Eury Pérez & Shane Bieber Returning Soon
40:17 Brandon Young: A Rankings Update Omission?
42:54 Griffin Jax: Having Success in Short Outings As Starter
45:59 Better Roster Stash?: Injured Aces vs. Top Prospects
52:44 Waiver Wire Targets: S. Taylor, D. Guzman & C. Moore
59:06 Post-Hype Sleeper?: Endy Rodríguez Is Cooking in Pittsburgh

Eno’s Fresh SP Rankings ($): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7370900

Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social

e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels

Host: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Editor: Jessie Auritt
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are some baseball fans still weird about Driveline? Eno, Trevor, and DVR tackle that question after Driveline founder Kyle Boddy left his advisory role with the Red Sox. Then, the guys dive into the newly unveiled miss distance leaderboards, marvel at just how dominant Mason Miller has become, and explore whether there's a better way to account for inherited runners.
Rundown:
1:52 Daniel Espino’s Debut: The Long Road of a Former Top Prospect
5:48 Make It Make Sense: Why Are People Weird About Driveline?
15:56 Emotions & Outcomes: Dismissing Evidence in the Face of Frustration
23:38 Miss Distance Leaderboards: How We Want to Use This for Pitchers
27:39 Low Hanging Fruit: More Bat Adjustments Coming?
32:20 Arsenal Effects: Is Movement Spread Key to Andrew Abbott Tricking Us?
37:20 Flawed Swings: Pitches That Completely Confound Hitters
40:38 At the Bottom: Takeaways From Lowest Flawed Swing Rate Pitchers?
47:13 Inherited Runners: ‘We Should Account for Inherited Runners Better’ - Ben Clemens
52:09 Win Probability Added: Still A Very Effective Way to Measure Relievers
Miss Distance Leaderboard: http://theathletic.lnk.to/MissDist
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
Follow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Host: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Trevor May
Editor: Jason Potere
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew Rasmussen’s incredible run continues. Today, Eno, Jed, and DVR dig into the factors behind the Rays right-hander owning the best ERA in baseball since 2021 among qualified starters not named Shohei Ohtani. Then, they discuss whether Zone% can reveal which hitters pitchers fear the most. Later, the guys examine the recent regressions of Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman before wrapping up with a daunting round of Name! That! Dude!
Rundown:
0:50 Drew Rasmussen’s Run
3:48 Eno at World Cup
6:33 Cooper Pratt’s Debut
8:47 Sal Stewart vs. Bryce Eldridge
12:20 Adjustment Phases: The League Will Find Flaws, Eventually
18:11 Leaning on Strengths: Use Them Until They Stop Working!
26:04 Zone Rates for Feared Hitters
32:30 Middle-Middle Fastballs: Another Potential Indicator?
38:04 Rafael Devers’ Slide
40:20 Alex Bregman: Declining Gracefully Still Messes with Us
42:18 Mookie Betts: Plate Discipline Holding Steady
45:36 Vision Driving Decline
50:08 Name! That! Dude!
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Host: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Jed Lowrie
Editor: Jason Potere
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.