Assessing the AL Division Leaders & Offense Holding Steady Despite Increased Drag
Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball
The Athletic
4.7 • 873 Ratings
🗓️ 2 July 2025
⏱️ 62 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Eno, Jed, and DVR discuss the three division leaders in the American League, examining the strengths and weaknesses of the Astros, Tigers, and Yankees with the Trade Deadline looming at the end of the month. Plus, they explore how offense has held up to 2024 levels despite the increased drag on the baseball this season.
Rundown
1:03 Yordan Alvarez's Setback & Increasing Needs for a Left-Handed Bat in Houston
10:13 Balancing Team Spending Limits w/Available Upgrades
20:59 The Tigers Have a Commanding Lead in the Central
36:53 Yankees Under Pressure in the AL East
47:52 Drag on the Baseball is Up, But Offense is Steady
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
With: Jed Lowrie
Producer: Brian Smith
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
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| 1:17.3 | Welcome to Raids and Barrels, presented by E-Trade from Morgan Stanley. |
| 1:20.0 | It is Wednesday, July 2nd. |
| 1:23.4 | Derek Ben-Riperino, Sarah, is Jed Lowry here with you on this episode. |
| 1:26.6 | It's a companion pod to the Tuesday episode in this feed. |
| 1:37.5 | We are taking a look at the AL division leaders trying to figure out what direction those teams are going in the second half, what they're likely to do at the trade deadline at the end of this month. We also have a big picture question. |
| 1:39.7 | We're going to try to answer a little bit later on in the show. |
| 1:42.1 | Drag on the baseball is up, but offense is not down. |
| 1:46.0 | We'll dig into why that might be the case in just a little while. |
| 1:50.9 | Gentlemen, a lot of ground to cover today and in the effort of avoiding an 85-minute pod |
| 1:55.8 | and pushing Eno from one pod to another with no lunch. |
| 1:59.6 | We're going to go right after it. |
... |
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