Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Buster Posey is a San Francisco Giants legend — but could running the team put that legacy at risk? Britt Ghiroli joins DVR and Eno Sarris to discuss her exclusive reporting on Posey’s transition from franchise icon to president of baseball operations, the decisions that have defined his tenure so far, and what comes next for the struggling Giants.

They also break down the major roster decisions of the Posey era, including the Rafael Devers trade, Willy Adames contract and Matt Chapman, while looking at whether San Francisco can remain competitive as its next wave of young talent develops. With much of the Giants’ best prospect talent still years away from the majors, how should Posey approach the offseason and build a bridge to the organization’s future?

DVR, Eno and Britt also examine growing concerns surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia's offense remains near the bottom of MLB in wRC+, the bullpen has struggled to protect leads, and the Phillies find themselves in a tightening National League playoff race with the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Plus, Hunter Greene needs a second Tommy John surgery, potentially sidelining the Cincinnati Reds ace for most or all of 2027. What does Greene's latest injury mean for Cincinnati's future, and is pressure mounting on the Reds' front office after six seasons under Nick Krall?

🎧 Rates & Barrels with Derek Van Riper, Eno Sarris and Britt Ghiroli.

First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

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

e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Britt's article on Buster Posey
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7499186/2026/08/13/san-francisco-giants-buster-posey-legacy/

Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Contributor: Britt Ghiroli
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

Thumbnail Courtesy: Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

00:00 Today on Rates & Barrels
04:18 Field of Dreams Game Returns
07:38 Is It Time to Worry About the Phillies?
12:46 Phillies on the Outside of NL Playoff Picture
15:04 Inside Buster Posey’s Giants Gamble
18:19 Evaluating the Rafael Devers Trade
21:59 What Happened to the Giants’ Pitching?
26:06 Are the Giants Falling Behind Other Front Offices?
29:15 What Could Posey Have Done Differently?
32:52 The Tony Vitello Gamble
38:42 Does Posey Have the Right People Around Him?
42:54 How Can Posey Fix the Giants?
47:44 What Happened to Willy Adames?
55:29 How Long Will the Giants’ Rebuild Take?
57:16 Hunter Greene Needs Another Tommy John Surgery
1:01:13 How Long Should MLB Front Offices Get?
1:06:56 Is It Time for Changes in Cincinnati?
1:10:36 What’s Next for the A’s Front Office?
1:14:45 Thanks for Watching

#phillies #sanfranciscogiants #mlbwildcard #cincinnatireds
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The Cleveland Guardians once looked like they were cruising toward an AL Central title. Now, after losing 13 of 17, Cleveland has fallen back into one of baseball’s most unpredictable division races. DVR and Eno Sarris are joined by Zack Meisel to break down what has gone wrong for the Guardians and whether they can turn their season around.

The guys take a deep dive into the AL Central playoff race, where the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and Guardians remain tightly packed. Are the Tigers actually the best team in the division even after moving Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline? And could young players like Max Clark help swing the race down the stretch?

Then, the Rates & Barrels mailbag opens with a fascinating question: Are Dodgers prospects consistently overrated? DVR and Eno look back at Los Angeles’ highly ranked prospects to separate prospect hype from the reality of player development.

Plus, they examine River Ryan’s long-term outlook and injury history, whether Jake McCarthy's breakout is sustainable, the Brewers' unusual save situations involving Chad Patrick, and what to make of Jake Bauers' strong season.

Find us on Instagram for even more Rates & Barrels content!

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First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

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

Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Contributor: Zack Meisel
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

#tigers #guardians #whitesox #dodgers #mlbwildcard

00:00 - Today on Rates & Barrels
01:24 - Breaking Down the Wild AL Central Race
03:20 - Who Is Actually the Best Team in the AL Central?
11:14 - Which AL Central Lineup Is Best?
15:40 - Why the Tigers Still Look Like the Team to Beat
16:46 - Max Clark’s Impressive MLB Start
20:00 - Young White Sox & the AL Central’s X-Factors
24:30 - What’s Gone Wrong With the Cleveland Guardians?
29:01 - Steven Kwan’s Turnaround
31:07 - Why Cleveland’s Offense Struggles in Big Moments
34:42 - The Guardians’ Young Hitters
37:26 - Cleveland’s Pitching & Bullpen Workload
39:31- Did the Guardians Do Enough at the Trade Deadline?
43:02 - Mailbag: Are Dodgers Prospects Overrated?
45:12 - What Happened to the Dodgers’ Top Prospects?
49:36 - How Often Do Top Prospects Actually Hit?
51:18 - River Ryan’s Talent vs. Injury Risk
57:48 - Is Jake McCarthy’s Breakout Sustainable?
1:01:53 - What’s Going On With the Brewers’ Saves?
1:03:16 - Is Jake Bauers’ Breakout for Real?
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How do pitchers handle doubt, failure and the pressure of knowing one bad pitch can change an outing? Trevor May joins DVR and Eno for a conversation about the mental side of pitching in the major leagues. Trevor explains the battle to convince yourself that you belong, how pitchers build confidence and an on-field persona, and why the mental side of the game can be every bit as important as mechanics or stuff.

Plus, DVR, Eno and Trevor discuss the latest pitching news and performances around MLB, along with one of baseball's strangest rules sequences after the Red Sox scored against the Blue Jays on a rare timing play. They explain why the run counted, what Toronto could have done differently, and how an incorrect scoreboard helped create the confusion.

Finally, Trevor takes the show inside his post-MLB experience with Banana Ball, including what it's like competing in a completely different baseball environment and the adjustments that come with stepping back onto the mound.

Rates & Barrels brings together advanced baseball analysis, pitching development, fantasy baseball strategy and the perspective of someone who has experienced the mental and physical challenges of pitching in the major leagues.

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First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

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

Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Contributor: Trevor May
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis

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The Red Sox aren't cheating—they're simply playing better baseball.

DVR and Eno break down why Boston's offense has transformed over the last three months, examining the coaching changes, a dramatically more aggressive approach in the strike zone and why the numbers suggest this turnaround is completely sustainable—not the result of anything nefarious. They also react to the growing online conspiracy theories surrounding Boston's recent surge and explain why the underlying metrics tell a much different story.

Elsewhere around baseball, the Dodgers continue to pile up pitching while questions remain about their aging offense after another series against Arizona. The guys discuss Eduardo Rodriguez's resurgence, Brandon Pfaadt's adjustments, Ryan Waldschmidt's development, and whether Los Angeles should have any real concerns heading toward October.

The Tigers welcomed Jackson Jobe back to the rotation, and his electric season debut has fantasy managers—and Detroit fans—dreaming big. DVR and Eno explain why Jobe's Stuff+ and Location+ numbers make him one of the most exciting pitching pickups of the season and whether he's ready to become a major weapon down the stretch.

The show also covers Garrett Cole's encouraging return to form, Peyton Tolle's incredible rise and what the latest offensive trends around baseball tell us about which teams are built for October.

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First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026

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

Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Phillies made one of the biggest splashes at the trade deadline by landing a three-time batting champion, and Dave Dombrowski joins Jayson and Doug to break down how it all came together. The guys also look back at a whirlwind deadline that saw a former No. 1 overall pick dealt within the division, while Doug shares what it was like to be traded himself at the 2003 deadline. Plus, another edition of Strange But True heads to the Motor City for a one-of-a-kind line score you won't believe.
Rundown:
2:34 Adley Rutschman Traded to Boston
5:00 Doug Deadline Deal
12:47 Dave Dombrowski Visits Starkville
13:50 Luis Arraez Trade Impact
18:24 Trade Deadline Reaction
43:36 Defeating a Juggernaut
46:39 Dave’s Future in Baseball
47:54 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: Dave Dombrowski
Producer: Jason Potere
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