The March Toward Opening Day
Digest
This podcast episode covers various topics related to fantasy baseball and the hosts' live events. The discussion begins with an analysis of spring training injuries and their effect on fantasy baseball draft rankings, focusing on players like Sean Murphy, Corbin Carroll, Gunner Henderson, and Luis Helse. The hosts debate the potential of Drake Baldwin and different draft strategies, including considerations for pitching and hitting. They then share their recent fantasy baseball draft experiences in different league formats (Towel Wars, Night Cat), analyzing their approaches and the value of specific players. The episode also features a segment on brewing beer at Bear Bottle Brewing Company and promotes upcoming live shows on March 27th and 28th, coinciding with a Giants game. Finally, the hosts discuss upcoming project deadlines before the baseball season opener and invite listeners to join their Discord server. Key metrics like Max EV and Zone Contact Rate are discussed in the context of player evaluation.
Outlines
Introduction, Beer Brewing, and Upcoming Live Shows
The episode starts with introductions and commercial breaks (excluded from the outline). One host details their beer brewing experience at Bear Bottle Brewing Company, highlighting upcoming live shows (March 27th & 28th) featuring live drafts and a new beer.
Fantasy Baseball Draft Strategies and Injury Analysis
The hosts discuss the impact of spring training injuries (Sean Murphy, Corbin Carroll, Gunner Henderson, Luis Helse) on fantasy baseball draft rankings and debate the potential rise of Drake Baldwin. Different draft strategies are analyzed.
Recent Fantasy Baseball Draft Experiences
The hosts recount their recent fantasy baseball draft experiences in different league formats (Towel Wars, Night Cat), analyzing their strategies, pitching, hitting, and player value.
Upcoming Events, Project Deadlines, and Community Engagement
The hosts discuss project deadlines before the baseball season opener, promote their Bear Bottle event (March 27th & 28th) coinciding with a Giants game, and encourage listeners to join their Discord server.
Keywords
Fantasy Baseball Draft Strategies
Methods used to select players in fantasy baseball drafts, considering player projections, injury risk, and positional scarcity.
Spring Training Injuries
Impact of injuries on fantasy baseball draft rankings and player value.
Max EV (Maximum Exit Velocity)
A baseball statistic measuring the hardest-hit ball speed, useful in evaluating hitters' power potential.
Zone Contact Rate
Percentage of pitches in the strike zone that a hitter makes contact with, indicating plate discipline and hitting ability.
Sleeper (Fantasy Baseball)
An undervalued player with potential to outperform expectations.
Live Podcast Shows
Podcast recordings performed in front of a live audience.
Discord Server
An online community platform for podcast listeners to connect with hosts and each other.
Baseball Season Opener
The start of a Major League Baseball season.
Shohei Ohtani
A two-way player (pitcher and hitter) in MLB.
Q&A
How should injuries in spring training impact fantasy baseball draft decisions?
Assess injury severity and recovery time. Significant injuries may warrant a substantial drop in ranking; consider player value and replacement options.
How valuable are spring training Max EV stats in fantasy baseball?
Spring training Max EV offers some insight into bat speed but is less reliable than regular season data due to pitcher inconsistencies.
Is Matt Walner a viable sleeper pick despite his low in-zone contact rate?
His high exit velocity suggests potential, but monitor his strikeout rate; a worsening trend would signal to move on.
How much should be spent on Shohei Ohtani in a 10-12 team auction draft with daily lineups?
A bid between $60-$65 is reasonable, considering his combined hitting and pitching value. Don't bid first; gauge the room's spending on other top players.
When is the project deadline, and what event is it related to?
The project needs to be completed before the baseball season opener, to coincide with the Cubs and Dodgers game in Japan.
What event are the speakers promoting, and when is it taking place?
They're promoting an event at Bear Bottle on the 27th and 28th, including a live podcast recording and coinciding with a Giants game.
How can listeners connect with the podcast hosts and community?
Listeners can join the podcast's Discord server (link in show description).
Show Notes
Eno and DVR share a few show-related updates -- two live episodes on Mar. 27-28 at Barebottle Brewing Co. in San Francisco! -- and ask for feedback on a format option for the 2025 listener league before digging into a round of spring news and notes. Plus, they look at DVR's builds from last week's Tout Wars ('Solds and IP instead of Wins) and Mixed LABR draft where a conscious decision to lean into IL spots was made. The show wraps with a round of Monday Mailbag questions, including a question about zone contact rates and the belief in a Matt Wallner breakout.
Rundown
0:24 Eno Brews Beer for Our Live Shows in San Francisco!
7:08 Sean Murphy's Injury & Opportunity for Drake Baldwin
10:21 Minor Injuries for Corbin Carroll & Gunnar Henderson?
15:42 Luis Gil: Awaiting MRI Results (Update: High-Grade Lat Strain)
18:27 Parker Meadows: Slowed by Nerve Issue in Right Arm
24:10 Jose Altuve's Move to Left Field
30:57 DVR's Injury-Risk Heavy Approach in Tout Wars
39:34 Another Pitching Risky Build in Mixed LABR
51:47 Value of Spring Training MaxEV?
54:34 Shohei Ohtani's Dollar Value in Daily Moves League
59:44 Matt Wallner's Sleeper Status & Low Z-Contact% Profiles
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
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