The Athletic

Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Sports EN ↓ 1057 episodes

In baseball, numbers are everywhere. But they’re not just numbers. For Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris, they’re the keys to solving the most fun problem in sports. Every weekday, join DVR and Eno as they unpack baseball in ways you’ve never heard before, endeavoring to figure out all they can about a sport that’s constantly changing. Alongside contributors Britt Ghiroli, Trevor May and Jed Lowrie, the Rates & Barrels crew breaks down all the latest MLB news through an analytical lens, feeding your unhealthy addiction to numbers, while helping you master your fantasy baseball GM skills. But wait,...

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Episodes

Wonka Aside... 02.04.2020 54:48

Rundown 3:53 Project GOAT for Music? 11:26 Spring Pitching Observations 22:11 Daniel Norris, Future Dominant Reliever? 31:17 Time to Discount Starting Pitching as a Whole? 44:04 Which Baseball Will Be Used in 2020? 48:04 Beer of the Week (Check out: SupportBeer.com) Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Get 40% off a subscri...

We're All Howard Hughes 31.03.2020 1:01:53

Rundown 9:16 March Movers 18:47 Re-Thinking the Shape of Production in a Shortened Season 24:45 Empty Stadiums & Performance 33:47 Increased Interest in Top Closers? 40:57 Ranking Organizations for Talent Development 51:23 Talent Development Laggards Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Get 40% off a subscription to The...

Infallible Inflatables 27.03.2020 1:16:27

Rundown 3:55 Unsolicited Working From Home Tips 9:26 Noah Syndergaard Undergoes Tommy John Surgery 15:29 Michael Kopech, Brendan McKay & Nate Lowe to Triple-A 20:26 Spencer Howard to Phillies' Rotation, Cutch Ready To Go 27:29 "The J-Lo A-Rod Family" 32:45 Still Concerned About Aaron Judge 45:51 Re-playing the 2019 Fantasy Season? 52:44 Fantasy Analyst Street Cred 59:45 Advanced Pitching Metri...

Training In Isolation 24.03.2020 51:54

Rundown 3:51 What Are Malasadas? 5:47 The Big Sim: 30-Team Out of the Park League 15:36 Making New Opening Day Plans 23:03 Enjoying the KBO Streams (Thanks, Dan Kurtz! - @MyKBO) 28:03 The Challenges of Training In Isolation 37:21 Increased Depth and Potential Intrasquad Training? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Get 40%...

The Mind Wanders 19.03.2020 1:08:43

Rundown 1:28 Why Is There Animosity Between R2-D2 and Yoda? 3:49 Is Fleetwood Mac Yacht Rock? 7:23 AlbumGraphs? 12:48 Answering Questions About a Shortened Season 24:22 More Aggressive Promotions for Rookies? 31:31 Draft & Hold, Best Ball Thoughts 46:59 How to Prevent Reliever-Heavy Builds 50:30 Keeper/Dynasty Preparing for a Future Run 64:10 Incentivizing Mid-Pack Teams? Follow Eno on Twitter...

Professional Men of Leisure 18.03.2020 58:15

Rundown 6:35 Introducing Project G.O.A.T. 28:19 Snake vs. Non-Snake vs. Auction 37:31 Who Went to Driveline? 43:46 ACES Leaders & Laggards 51:02 Who Loses with a Return to a Non-Juiced Baseball? Want to join our contest? E-mail ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com , use the subject line "Project GOAT Worksheet" to receive the sheet and written version of the rules. -- and -- Thank Pierre for sharin...

Rapid Changes 12.03.2020 1:06:05

Rundown 0:27 Rapid Changes to Day-to-Day Life 9:12 Finding New Escapes 16:58 Finishing the Outfield Preview 20:18 Avisaíl García's Role in Milwaukee 23:50 The People's Sleeper: Brian Anderson 29:32 Mark Canha's Encore 33:42 Making Sense of Cincinnati's Plans for Senzel & Akiyama 39:26 Did Injuries Curtail Hunter Renfroe's Best Season? 44:07 Buying Ian Happ? 51:49 Jo Adell & Dylan Carlson 6...

Outfield Breakdown, Part 1 10.03.2020 1:16:44

Rundown 2:17 Choosing From the Big Three 7:25 Cody Bellinger & Mookie Betts 11:49 Buying Juan Soto as a First-Round Pick? 16:45 Old & Boring: Charlie Blackmon & George Springer 19:23 Concerns About Jorge Soler 22:11 Luis Robert vs. Victor Robles vs. Tommy Pham vs. Ramon Laureano 30:07 Is Aaron Judge Discounted Enough? 32:18 2019 Surprises: Austin Meadows & Ketel Marte 38:28 Buying...

Catcher & Utility-Only Breakdown 05.03.2020 1:12:04

Rundown 1:11 Re-Thinking Two-Catcher Leagues 7:07 Marveling at Nelson Cruz 12:43 Setting Expectations for Yordan Alvarez 18:48 A Bounce Back for Khris Davis 22:04 Miguel Andujar's Path to Playing Time Opens Up 31:07 Sorting Out Nick Solak's Role 37:27 OK, We'll Talk About Catchers 42:26 Concerns About Will Smith? 45:45 Buying on Jorge Alfaro? 52:06 Oakland's Enviable Catcher Depth 62:10 Catching P...

Auction Strategy & LABR Review 03.03.2020 1:10:09

Rundown 2:51 Eno's AL Strategy 7:48 Are Low IP Starters More Viable in Mono Leagues? 10:47 The Bat Plan 21:19 Managing the Middle Stages of an Auction 27:47 Other AL LABR Observations 33:29 DVR's NL Strategy 39:19 The Pitching Staff 48:44 Figuring Out Catchers in Deep Two-C Leagues 54:59 Other NL LABR Observations Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: rate...

Draft Strategy & Thinking Ahead 28.02.2020 53:59

Rundown 2:02 How To Determine Draft Order Preferences (KDS) 9:39 Taking Risks for Overall Titles 17:01 Game Theory w/Early-Round Selections 22:35 Discipline w/In-Season Drops 28:13 Balancing Risk & Reward with In-Season Pickups 34:07 Building the Right Pitching Staff 40:12 Monitoring the Schedule on a Weekly Basis 46:42 Beer of the Month Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter:...

Shortstop Breakdown 25.02.2020 1:06:48

Rundown 1:20 Top-End Options: Story, Lindor & Turner 18:05 What Should You Do With Fernando Tatis Jr.? 27:11 Re-Thinking Adalberto Mondesi 34:31 When Did Xander Bogaerts Become Old and Boring? 37:35 Buying Bo Bichette as Prices Rise? 42:21 2020 Expectations for Tim Anderson 48:04 Mid-Round Options 53:44 Sleepers, Late-Round Considerations Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter...

Second Base Breakdown 20.02.2020 1:14:02

Rundown 2:15 Gleyber Torres & Volatility 7:26 One More Level from Ozzie Albies? 10:26 Does Jose Altuve Still Belong in the Top 40? 13:43 Can Ketel Marte Repeat His 2019 Breakout? 18:39 Will Whit Merrifield's Steals Come Back? 22:21 Paying Up for Jonathan Villar? 28:00 Projecting K% Improvement for Keston Hiura 31:41 Thinking Twice About Jeff McNeil? 35:31 How Much Playing Time Will the Dodgers...

Third Base Breakdown 18.02.2020 54:20

Rundown 1:10 Looking for Red Flags Up Top 5:52 Buying at Slight Discounts on Kris Bryant & Vlad Jr.? 16:11 Is Justin Turner the Best Value Play at Third Base? 22:26 Can Yoan Moncada Reach Another Level? 29:30 Building Around a Batting Average Liability 36:32 Playing Time Concerns for Kingery & Edman? 43:46 Best Options Cheap & Late Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitte...

First Base Breakdown 13.02.2020 1:05:38

Rundown 5:24 Looking for Red Flags in Bellinger's 2019 14:35 What's Next for Pete Alonso? 21:13 Properly Utilizing ADP & Tier-Driven Rankings 25:47 Playing Time Concerns with Max Muncy? 34:22 The Case for Anthony Rizzo 43:03 Considerations Outside the Top 100 55:22 Endgame Dart Throws Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.co...

The Closer Episode 11.02.2020 1:05:18

Rundown 2:54 What Matters to Teams When Choosing a Closer? 6:34 Which Early Closers Do You Trust? 13:05 The Value of Josh Hader, With Fewer Saves 17:45 Considering Rogers, Hand & Jansen 25:45 Messy Closer Situations: Seattle, San Francisco & Pittsburgh 37:04 Preferred 'Discounted' Closer 39:18 Buying Hand or Giles? 49:57 Getting Caught on the Wrong Side of a Run Follow Eno on Twitter: @eno...

Pitcher Week, Part 2! 06.02.2020 1:12:17

Rundown 1:16 Assessing the Pending Mookie Betts Deal 14:09 Adjusting Expectations for David Price in LA? 27:07 Back Surgery for James Paxton 37:54 'Sleeper' Starters 47:23 Choosing the Astros' No. 5 Starter 55:52 Will MacKenzie Gore Make the Opening Day Roster? 60:59 Digging Deep Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Hosted...

Pitcher Week, Part 1! 04.02.2020 1:14:13

Rundown 3:51 Eno's Methodology 10:42 Cole vs. deGrom Up Top 14:37 Concerns About Lucas Giolito 25:04 Command vs. Control 34:25 Buying a Kluber Rebound? 44:45 What Can Prevent a Dinelson Lamet Breakout? 55:31 A Limitation of Rankings 62:56 A Pod Divided: Matthew Boyd & Lance Lynn Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Host...

On Playing Time & Upside 30.01.2020 1:04:55

Rundown 2:35 Playing Time & Challenges with Projecting It 18:42 Finding Overvalued and Undervalued Players Based on PT Projections 29:39 How One Type of Sausage is Made (Spoiler Alert: It's Tough) 42:27 Aligning Opportunity & Skills Growth 53:46 Beer of the Month Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Get 40% off a su...

Searching for Post-Hype Breakouts 28.01.2020 59:56

Rundown 1:14 More Marte Par-tays in Arizona 10:28 Assessing Pittsburgh's Return 25:58 Castellanos Goes to Cincinnati 34:58 Searching for Post-Hype Breakouts: Hitters 43:45 Searching for Post-Hype Breakouts: Pitchers Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Get 40% off a subscription to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarr...

Ozuna to Atlanta & Tatis to the First Round 23.01.2020 45:38

Rundown 0:55 Marcell Ozuna in Atlanta 5:16 Fernando Tatis Jr. is a Late First-Rounder Now 20:44 Couldn't You Be Aggressive in Other Early Rounds? 26:37 Is the Need for Speed Excessive? 32:11 How to Handle Half-Season Stretches of Dominance Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Describe Your Utopia 21.01.2020 1:07:48

Rundown 1:23 Josh Donaldson Lands in Minnesota 9:40 What Will Atlanta Do at Third Base? 22:00 Unexpected Cards-Rays Trade 31:50 The Most Improved Team in 2020 40:42 Prospect of the Week 55:20 Utopian Fantasy Baseball League Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail the show: ratesandbarrels@theathletic.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Pondering Projection Adjustments 15.01.2020 1:12:48

Rundown 6:30 Looking Forward: Adjust Houston Hitters? 15:21 Using Projections to Find Bounce-Back Candidates 22:09 Vlad Jr. vs. Similarly Priced Third Basemen 29:24 Adjusting Appropriately for Injuries 37:12 Does Pedigree Matter When Throwing Late Darts? 46:53 Hitter/Pitcher Split in Draft & Hold vs. Other Formats 58:26 On Big Contracts Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter:...

Robert's Rising Price & Shogo in Cincinnati 07.01.2020 1:12:05

Rundown 1:42 Luis Robert's Rising ADP 11:08 How Does Shogo Akiyama Fit in Cincinnati? 20:33 The Nats Fill Several Roster Holes 32:47 One Draft-and-Hold in the Books 43:22 PT Concerns for Nate Lowe? 49:00 Atlanta's Most Interesting Young Starters 57:50 Adjusting For Different League Formats Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper e-mail the show: ratesandbarrels@thea...

More Teams Enter the Free-Agent Fray 23.12.2019 1:05:14

Rundown 3:14 Hyun-Jin Ryu Goes to Toronto 13:36 Travis Shaw: Rebound Candidate? 18:03 Dallas Keuchel Chooses the White Sox 24:03 Setting 2020 Expectations for Shohei Ohtani 33:01 Is There Anything to Like About Julio Teheran? 38:07 Tigers of Interest? 45:22 Relationship Between WAR Projections & Fantasy Busts 56:07 Beer of the Year! Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow DVR on Twitter: @der...