Jen McCaffrey

Episode thumbnail for the Feb. 27th episode of Rates & Barrels featuring Roman Anthony, Tarik Skubal, and Byron Buxton. Photo Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images (Anthony), Stacy Revere/Getty Images (Skubal), Stacy Revere/Getty Images (Buxton)

🎙️ Rates & Barrels ⚾

More team previews!

@jcmccaffrey.bsky.social joined me to talk Red Sox, @codystavenhagen.bsky.social dropped by for the Tigers, and @aarongleeman.bsky.social explained the Twins' bizarre offseason....

Audio: pod.fo/e/398f97
YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/RatesBarrels

Roman Anthony said he’s fine - the collision with Rafaela knocked the wind out of him a bit, and he banged his left forearm off Rafaela in a way that was sort of surprising, but he felt fine and knew he’d be OK to stay in the game.

Anthony is up after a couple minutes on the ground. It appeared the trainer was looking at his left wrist after Anthony landed awkwardly while trying to avoid a more vicious collision. But both Anthony and Rafaela remain in the game.

A speedier, stronger Marcelo Mayer is ready to shake injury-prone label, win a starting job Mayer's training helped him post faster sprint times than Trevor Story and Jarren Duran. But his main goal is to play a full season.

Marcelo Mayer is batting sixth and playing second in his first game today.

“Last year was obviously a struggle for me. That’s not the player that I think I am.”

It's a pivotal year for Mayer, who added significant strength this winter to stay healthy
www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

A speedier, stronger Marcelo Mayer is ready to shake injury-prone label, win a starting job Mayer's training helped him post faster sprint times than Trevor Story and Jarren Duran. But his main goal is to play a full season.

Marcelo Mayer spent the offseason adding strength, speed and tweaking his swing to finally prove he can be the player everyone expected when he was drafted in the 1st round.

“The second I got home, I got to work because I knew there was no time to waste"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

A speedier, stronger Marcelo Mayer is ready to shake injury-prone label, win a starting job Mayer's training helped him post faster sprint times than Trevor Story and Jarren Duran. But his main goal is to play a full season.

Mayer worked with an NFL Combine coach in San Diego, lifting and doing speed workouts that helped him beat Jarren Duran and Trevor Story at Story's camp this offseason.

"He kept posting the best time and me and JD were disputing the technology."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

A speedier, stronger Marcelo Mayer is ready to shake injury-prone label, win a starting job Mayer's training helped him post faster sprint times than Trevor Story and Jarren Duran. But his main goal is to play a full season.

Marcelo Mayer knows the narrative: He’s injury-prone.

This offseason, he gained strength and speed to withstand the rigors of his first full big-league season.

He has a position to win, a manager to please and a lot to prove

"I still got to earn a job”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

The Athletic Welcomes New Colleagues | The New York Times Company We’re excited to announce the hiring of several Washington Post journalists as The Athletic expands its coverage of the Commanders, launches a new Nationals beat and adds to its growing roster of…

Really happy to see this.

The Athletic is adding a bunch of great former Washington Post staffers to our roster and greatly expanding our coverage of the Nationals, Commanders, and D.C. sports as a whole.

Their loss is our gain, and our readers' gain.

www.nytco.com/press/the-at...

How Kristian Campbell used a mirror to reflect and change his swing after a rough rookie year After a frustrating rookie season, Campbell went home and re-worked his swing. Now he feels he's in a much better place to succeed.

You've seen Kristian Campbell's new swing, but what goes into that change?

Inside a tedious offseason studying video of Bregman and Vladdy, visualizing his new stance in a mirror, tee work, Trajeckt, Puerto Rico and more.

On Campbell's quest to get back to Boston
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

thanks very much, appreciate that.

How Kristian Campbell used a mirror to reflect and change his swing after a rough rookie year After a frustrating rookie season, Campbell went home and re-worked his swing. Now he feels he's in a much better place to succeed.

You've seen Kristian Campbell's new swing, but what goes into that change?

Inside a tedious offseason studying video of Bregman and Vladdy, visualizing his new stance in a mirror, tee work, Trajeckt, Puerto Rico and more.

On Campbell's quest to get back to Boston
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Kristian Campbell spent much of his offseason standing in the living room of his parents’ house, staring into a mirror.

Inside an offseason of change for Campbell:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Kristian Campbell spent much of his offseason standing in the living room of his parents’ house, staring into a mirror.

Inside an offseason of change for Campbell:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

What I’m seeing in Red Sox camp: New locker locations, Willson Contreras’ intensity and more How this camp feels different from a year ago, plus Sonny Gray's "veteran program" and an under-the-radar bench option.

What I’m seeing in Red Sox camp:

Thoughts on new locker locations

Willson Contreras’ intensity

An under-the-radar utility infielder with a chance for a roster spot

Sonny Gray’s schedule and more

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

What I’m seeing in Red Sox camp: New locker locations, Willson Contreras’ intensity and more How this camp feels different from a year ago, plus Sonny Gray's "veteran program" and an under-the-radar bench option.

What I’m seeing in Red Sox camp:

Thoughts on new locker locations

Willson Contreras’ intensity

An under-the-radar utility infielder with a chance for a roster spot

Sonny Gray’s schedule and more

www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...

Red Sox' Caleb Durbin discusses surgery, how wrestling helps him at second and third

Weekend reading ICYMI

Catching up with budding media star Koji Uehara
www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Inside the Red Sox plan to *finally* fix their infield defense
www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Caleb Durbin on why he was relieved to have offseason elbow surgery

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Caleb Durbin had been scheduled for work at second today but had an emergency root canal and had to leave camp this morning. He’s back and said he should be good to go tomorrow

Tigers vs. Red Sox: Which American League rotation reigns supreme? After some high-profile offseason additions, does Boston or Detroit hold the edge? Eno Sarris took a look at the head-to-head matchups.

FanGraphs projects the Red Sox to have an 18 fWAR from their rotation, tops in baseball. Detroit ranks second at 17.3. Both staffs have big aces, solid veterans and strong depth.

@enosarris.bsky.social compares each projected SP to determine which rotation is better
www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Catching up with budding media personality Koji Uehara, plus Red Sox notes Plus a look at the Red Sox's camp standouts, early spring training pitching plans and why the team traded for Johan Oviedo.

Since retiring Koji Uehara has delved into media working for a Tokyo news station and hosting a YouTube channel with a million subscribers.

He was in Red Sox camp doing a piece on Yoshida and I was able to catch up with him about his budding media career
www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Red Sox' Caleb Durbin discusses surgery, how wrestling helps him at second and third

Sandoval had his second live BP. Gray, Early, Bello, Crawford have bullpens.

Also Durbin is at second, Mayer at third in backfield drills. Durbin spent much of his time in the minors at 2B. Said the other day in here how it’s a more natural spot for him
www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Red Sox vs Northeastern: Eaton RF, Yoshida LF, Campbell CF, Hickey 1B, Romero 2B, Capra 3B, Cheng SS, Castro DH, Rosario C, Uberstine P

Catching up with budding media personality Koji Uehara, plus Red Sox notes Plus a look at the Red Sox's camp standouts, early spring training pitching plans and why traded for Johan Oviedo.

Roman Anthony was on-deck to face a minor leaguer on the back fields earlier this week, when a tall righty walked up the fence and made a comment about him wearing the No. 19. It was Koji Uehara,

Catching up with Koji on his budding media career

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Red Sox pitching probables:

Friday: Uberstine, Olds, Song, Wu-Yelland

Saturday: Tolle, Samaniego, Whitlock, Watson

Sunday: Bello, Moran, Weissert, Gamboa, Sweet

Monday: Early

Tuesday: Suarez

Wednesday: Oviedo

Thursday: Crochet

Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin discusses surgery, how wrestling helps him at second and third The Red Sox are using the early part of camp to determine where Durbin and Marcelo Mayer fit best positionally.

Caleb Durbin on why he was relieved to have offseason arthroscopic elbow surgery.

Plus, how he views playing 2B vs 3B, how wrestling in high school elevated his defensive game in baseball and what he’s liked about Red Sox infield drills so far

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin discusses surgery, how wrestling helps him at second and third The Red Sox are using the early part of camp to determine where Durbin and Marcelo Mayer fit best positionally.

Caleb Durbin on how he managed elbow pain last season that led to offseason surgery and what he's doing to ensure it doesn't crop up again this season.

Plus, his view on playing second vs. third base and more:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Cora had said Durbin would play second today but he’s still listed at third in drills. Mayer still at second.

Also Chapman, Oviedo, Kelly and Bennett throwing live BP today.

Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin discusses surgery, how wrestling helps him at second and third The Red Sox are using the early part of camp to determine where Durbin and Marcelo Mayer fit best positionally.

Caleb Durbin on why he was relieved to have offseason arthroscopic elbow surgery.

Plus, how he views playing 2B vs 3B, how wrestling in high school elevated his defensive game in baseball and what he’s liked about Red Sox infield drills so far

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Poor infield defense has plagued the Red Sox. This is how they’re addressing it Last year, Boston's infield group posted minus-21 Outs Above Average. Only four teams were worse.

It’s no secret the Red Sox infield defense has been rough of late. They’re trying to change that.

With new personnel and up-tempo drills, including a buzzer pressuring runners to get throws to first in 4 seconds, inside the plan to finally fix the defense
www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Poor infield defense has plagued the Red Sox. This is how they’re addressing it Last year, Boston's infield group posted minus-21 Outs Above Average. Only four teams were worse.

Also in here, notes on how the team is managing Durbin and Mayer, both coming off injury and what the team may do if Romy Gonzalez isn’t ready for opening day

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Poor infield defense has plagued the Red Sox. This is how they’re addressing it Last year, Boston's infield group posted minus-21 Outs Above Average. Only four teams were worse.

It’s no secret the Red Sox infield defense has been rough of late. They’re trying to change that.

With new personnel and up-tempo drills, including a buzzer pressuring runners to get throws to first in 4 seconds, inside the plan to finally fix the defense
www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...