Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball New Pitch Watch & Chasing Shapes
Feb 12, 2026
They break down spring training headlines from a likely season-ending UCL tear to notable signings and roster shuffles. They track a new changeup and other pitch innovations, including seam-shifted movement and cut-ride fastballs. They debate chasing ideal pitch shapes versus designing complementary pitch mixes and name pitchers to watch this spring.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Old-Team Bag, New-Team Drama
- Trevor May and Eno joked that players often carry old-logo bags to spring training because baseball bags are unique.
- They used the bag story to poke fun at preseason narratives like 'best shape of his life.'
Box Rule Could Chill Baseball's Running Revival
- The running game's revival has improved the game's entertainment and should be preserved.
- Strict enforcement of coach-box rules risks chilling visible lead behavior and stealing-base tactics.
Shapes Need Context, Not Obsession
- Pitch 'shapes' are overemphasized as a single metric by young pitchers chasing peak numbers.
- Effective arsenals require tunnel and context, not just the nastiest isolated shape.