Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball Projections Are a Liar Sometimes!
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Mar 19, 2026 They debate spring injury updates and what Gerrit Cole’s return means for rotations. They run a plus-minus hitter draft targeting players likely to outpace projections. Big-name picks, sleeper longshots, and defensive value battles fuel lively arguments about playing time and upside.
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Cole's Spring Debut Showed Positive Velocity Signs
- Garrett Cole's controlled spring debut showed encouraging velocity after Tommy John.
- Derek noted a 97.1 mph fastball and uptick in breaking ball speed, signaling positive early returns for the Yankees rotation rebuild.
Jed Lowrie's Personal PCL Rehab Experience
- Jed recounted his personal rehab from a partial PCL strain to explain Seiya Suzuki's situation.
- He emphasized quad strengthening and that non-surgical rehab took months but allowed a full return to play.
Avoid Overreacting To Minor Injury News
- Don't overreact to short-term inflammation reports when drafting established players.
- Derek said José Ramírez's shoulder inflammation didn't require imaging and shouldn't meaningfully drop his pre-draft ADP.