Eno, Trevor and DVR discuss Jordan Walker's demotion, the Pirates' plan for building up Paul Skenes' workload while trying to backload his innings, and the key ingredients to building an elite bullpen.Rundown0:43 Make It Make Sense: Jordan Walker's Demotion to Triple-A6:31 Falling Between Organizational and Individual Coaching15:34 Tracking Workloads: The Pirates' Plan for Paul Skenes21:41 In-Game Monitoring Technology29:51 Building an Elite Bullpen30:17 What Traits Do You Want In a Closer?35:03 How Many Defined Roles Do You Want?46:13 Unintended Consequences with Limited Pitcher Availability?56:19 Command Thresholds For Elite RelieversFollow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Trevor on Twitter: @IamTrevorMaye-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes!https://www.youtube.com/c/rates&barrelsSubscribe 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 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?Rundown4:10 Jared Jones & Mason Miller Continue to Impress13:50 An Ump Show in the Bronx17:52 Jackson Holliday's Early Struggles & When to Adjust a Plan28:45 Having Defensive Value to Fall Back On36:53 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: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghrolie-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes!https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrelsSubscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discussion on rising starting pitcher prospects including Reid Detmers and Francisco Álvarez's injury update. Analyzing updated pitcher rankings and success of pitchers like Brady Singer and Zack Littell. Insight into SP injuries, new arsenals, and potential call-ups. Follow the hosts on Twitter and join their Discord for more baseball discussions.

Discussions on Tanner Houck's impressive performance, health concerns for Kris Bryant and Yu Darvish, path to power for hitters, recent callups like Jack Leiter, Andy Pages, and Landon Knapp. Plus, exploring the concept of buying high on surging starting pitchers and a quick look at weekend waiver consideration.

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'. Rundown1:07 John Sterling Abruptly Announces Retirement6:03 The Changing Role of Baseball Broadcasters11:25 Why Did the Marlins Option Max Meyer to Triple-A?17:50 Baseball's Rivalry Heat Check24:20 New Rivalries On the Horizon?29:30 The Case for the Cubs as a Top-Five Team for the Next Five Years43:46 Buy, Sell, Hold: Tyler O'Neill's Excellent Start in Boston47:29 Buy, Sell, Hold: Francisco Lindor's Quiet Bat, When to Actually Worry About Early-Season Slumps56:21 Buy, Sell, Hold: Joe MusgroveFollow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghrolie-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin 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. Rundown2:28 Jackie Robinson Day, 20248:20 Another High Velocity Starter (Bobby Miller) Heads to the IL15:40 Will Trends Make Starters with Slightly Less Velocity (93-94 mph fastballs) More Popular?20:28 Justin Verlander Nearing Return31:25 Surprising Drops & Difficult Holds43:23 A Pod Divided: Brandon Pfaadt in Shallow Leagues56:07 Where the Money Went: Colton Cowser, Kirby Yates, Jeff Hoffman and Jose Buttó Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRipere-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrelsSubscribe 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.Rundown1:28 Surprises From Criminal Complaint Against Ippei Mizuhara8:07 The Difficulty of Making Early Adjustment & Henry Davis' Struggles w/High Fastballs20:23 An At-Bat Trevor Will Never Forget24:38 How I Would Pitch to This Guy: Mookie Betts36:59 Looking Beyond Swinging Strikes40:45 Guessing v. Anticipating49:51 Are Certain Hitters More Prone to Pop-Ups?56:24 Making Sense of Hunter Brown's Rough Day Against the Royals1:02:35 Most Underrated Second Baseman?Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow Trevor on Twitter: @IamTrevorMayFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRipere-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin 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.Rundown2:07 Movement in the Ippei Mizuhara Case5:25 Jackson Holliday Gets the Call to Baltimore; Debuts Wednesday15:17 Spencer Arrighetti: Promoted by Astros to Fill Rotation Vacancy18:16 Minor League Injury Updates: Junior Caminero, Jeferson Quero, Robert Gasser, River Ryan & Walker Jenkins27:42 Ceddanne Rafaela's Ongoing Struggles at the Plate37:22 Good News (Nick Pivetta), Bad News (Yoán Moncada)43:13 Early Waiver Wire Outlook: Colton Cowser, Cody Bradford, Bryce Elder and José Soriano55:30 Mailbag Questions: Pitching+, David Bednar's Hold on the Closer Role, and JP SearsFollow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRipere-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrelsSubscribe 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. Rundown1:25 The Problem Starts at Youth Levels7:31 Incentivizing Starters with In-Game Rules to Reduce Velocity & Pitch Deeper Into Games12:33 Justin Verlander's Thoughts on the Uptick in Injuries17:58 Lack of Consistency Across Different Levels21:13 Adding More Factors to a Multi-Factor Problem26:55 Injuries Spike Early in the Season32:11 The Benefits of Playing on Multiple Sports36:42 Strikeout Rate Growth from the 1970-1990 20-Year Window Compared to 2004-202442:02 Eno's Unexpected Suggestion for a Solution46:15 Buy, Sell, Hold: The Pirates' 9-2 Start54:22 Buy, Sell, Hold: The Marlins' Miserable 1-10 StartFollow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghrolie-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin 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. Rundown1:31 Spencer Strider Has a UCL Sprain; Course of Action TBD6:20 Shane Bieber Will Have Tommy John Surgery14:09 How to Adjust to Losing an Ace Early17:04 Luis Robert Jr.: Grade 2 Hip Flexor Strain25:30 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 Shoulder48:01 Alex Kirilloff & Oliver Dunn53:22 Eno's Bargain Adds From Week 259:22 A Case for Spencer Turnbull Beyond Streaming1:04:10 Good Pickup, Bad Pickup?Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRipere-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeJoin us on Fridays at 1p ET/10a PT for our livestream episodes! https://www.youtube.com/c/ratesbarrelsSubscribe to The Athletic for just $2/month for the first year: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices