# Pitcher Risers & Fallers

An episode of [Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1486883874), 4 Jun 2026, 1 h 12 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6818a1a4eb737caf8ca41879/e/6a21f55531b17c7c3500013e/media.mp3

Commissioner Rob Manfred says MLB's luxury tax is a failure, Aaron Judge's injury situation is getting more serious, and George Kirby's strikeouts are missing. Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss those topics, and dig into a few risers and fallers in K-BB% between March/April and May, before taking a look at a surprising surge in homers and runs across all minor-league levels below Triple-A. Rundown: 0:38 Commissioner Manfred Calls Luxury-Tax System a Failure 3:42 A Shocker: Franchise Valuations Are Key for Owners 10:29 ‘Fairness’ Is the Message: Is That *Really* The Goal? 12:36 Aaron Judge’s Rib Injury 18:31 George Kirby’s K’s: Where Did They Go, Can We Find Them? 31:19 K-BB% Risers & Fallers: Biggest Movers Between April and May 52:15 The Ball Beat: How Do Teams Model Differences? 1:00:33 Offense Up in Minor Leagues Evan Drellich: 'Commissioner Rob Manfred, who once touted MLB’s parity, says luxury-tax system has failed' https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7331800 Eno Sarris & Britt Ghiroli: 'Some MLB organizations are more injury-prone than others. Is that bad luck or a system issue?' https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7330754 J.J. Cooper: 'Home Runs Are Exploding Across The Minor Leagues—And No One Knows Why' https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/home-runs-are-exploding-across-the-minor-leagues-and-no-one-knows-why/ Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social Follow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.bsky.social e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris With: Trevor May Editor: Jason Potere Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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