How Much On-Field Information is Too Much?

from Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss a new tool — the Pitching Pairing tool from FanGraphs Lab — as a great visualization for tunneling and a way to better understand how pitchers are attacking opposing hitters. Plus, they explore adjustments that can be made by position on the pitching rubber, which gives pitchers a way to manipulate their horizontal approach angle. Finally, they discuss a recent piece from Ben Lindbergh at The Ringer, wondering if increased on-field information for players and tactics like calling pitches from the dugout have gone too far.0:42 Cole Ragans Avoids Major Injury5:15 FanGraphs Labs’ New Pitching Pairing Tool11:45 Establishing the Fastball18:16 How Sandy Alcantara is So Effective25:58 Horizontal Approach Angle43:20 On-Field Information: How Much is Too Much?Related LinksThe Pitching Pairing Tool at FanGraphs Labs: https://www.fangraphs.com/lab/paired-pitches“A Visual Primer on Horizontal Approach Angle (HAA” by Alex Chamberlain: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-visual-primer-on-horizontal-approach-angle-haa/“Keep MLB Front Offices Away From the Field” by Ben Lindbergh: https://www.theringer.com/2026/03/23/mlb/keep-mlb-front-offices-off-the-field-pitch-calling-scouting-cardsFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Trevor MayEditor: Jason PotereHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What this episode covers

Eno, Trevor, and DVR discuss a new tool — the Pitching Pairing tool from FanGraphs Lab — as a great visualization for tunneling and a way to better understand how pitchers are attacking opposing hitters. Plus, they explore adjustments that can be made by position on the pitching rubber, which gives pitchers a way to manipulate their horizontal approach angle. Finally, they discuss a recent piece from Ben Lindbergh at The Ringer, wondering if increased on-field information for players and tactics like calling pitches from the dugout have gone too far.0:42 Cole Ragans Avoids Major Injury5:15 FanGraphs Labs’ New Pitching Pairing Tool11:45 Establishing the Fastball18:16 How Sandy Alcantara is So Effective25:58 Horizontal Approach Angle43:20 On-Field Information: How Much is Too Much?Related LinksThe Pitching Pairing Tool at FanGraphs Labs: https://www.fangraphs.com/lab/paired-pitches“A Visual Primer on Horizontal Approach Angle (HAA” by Alex Chamberlain: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-visual-primer-on-horizontal-approach-angle-haa/“Keep MLB Front Offices Away From the Field” by Ben Lindbergh: https://www.theringer.com/2026/03/23/mlb/keep-mlb-front-offices-off-the-field-pitch-calling-scouting-cardsFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.bsky.sociale-mail: [email protected] our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Trevor MayEditor: Jason PotereHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.