Who Makes the Best Challengers?

Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville joins Eno and DVR to explore a big question in the wake of Konnor Griffin's recent promotion -- who is the baseball teenage position player in baseball history?

Plus, they share huge show news -- Starkville returns and joins Rates & Barrels on Saturday, April 18th!

They also discuss early reactions to ABS, and potential improvements to the system that could be implemented in the future depending on how the early-season trends play out over the course of the entire season.

Rundown

0:49 Starkville Returns Saturday, April 18th! Right Here on Rates & Barrels

2:02 Baseball’s Best Teenage Position Players: How Do You Approach a ‘Greatest Of’ Question?

8:00 Entering with Massive Expectations: Is It ‘Easier’ on an Already Good Team?

10:45 Does Having a Recently Hyped Arrival Help? Paul Skenes’ Fast Track, High Expectations in Pittsburgh

14:25 Bright Spotlights From Day 1: How Ken Griffey Jr. and Bryce Harper Faced Added Pressure

17:05 The No. 1 Pick in Hypothetical Draft: Whose Big League Resumé as a Teenager is the Strongest?

19:54 Phil Cavaretta’s Impressive Early Arrival: Baseball’s Leader in Plate Appearances as a Teenager

22:39 Bryce Harper vs. Juan Soto: Did the Nats Actually Have the Top-2 Teenagers in MLB History?

27:05 Tony Conigliaro: A Promising Career Derailed by Tragedy

28:52 Learning From the Search: Jim Gilliam, John Montgomery Ward & Edgar Renteria?!

30:14 Stardom From Day 1: Al Kaline Was Destined to Become “Mr. Tiger”

32:10 An Old “Friend” of the Show is Back! Oyster Burns’ Unique Place in Baseball History

35:34 Late Game Challenges: Jayson’s Idea to Mimic the NFL’s Rule Under Two Minutes

38:38 Second Order Effects: Will Team Increase Aggressiveness with Challenges?

41:50 The Buffer Zone: Could Max Scherzer’s Idea to Have ‘Inconclusive’ Close Calls Stand?

46:04 How Many Strike Zones Are There?

49:49 Early Numbers: Walks *and* Strikeouts Are Up — Not Great, Bob!

54:25 Future Changes: Tweaks to the Strike Zone If Needed

1:00:21 The Margin for Error: Overturning Calls That Are Closer than Margin of Error?

1:03:20 Check Out Starkville Starting April 18th!

Follow Jayson on Bluesky: @jaysonst.bsky.social

Follow Doug on Bluesky: @dougglanville.bsky.social

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville

Editor: Jason Potere

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