Description

In our 74th episode, Mike Couillard is joined by special guest, Derek VanRiper of The Athletic and host of the Rates & Barrels podcast, to discuss the nuances of draft-and-hold leagues like NFBC's 50-round Draft Champions and Gladiator formats. What strategies and players archetypes get a boost in these non-traditional formats that don't have in-season moves?

You can find us on bluesky at @cardscategories.bsky.social, @mcouill7.bsky.social, and @jbrewer17.bsky.social. Email the pod at cardscategories@gmail.com.

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Links to things discussed in the pod:

• Sign up for Razzball subscriptions using this link
• DVR's bluesky profile
• The Rates & Barrels YouTube page
• Topps 2025 Series 1 design released, pre-orders open
• The iconic 1989 Upper Deck #1 Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card
• 1983 Topps set info on TCDB

Upcoming baseball card release schedule:

• 1/15: 2024 Bowman’s Best
• 1/17: 2024 Bowman Draft Sapphire
• 1/22: 2024 Topps Transcendent
• 1/25: 2024 Topps Diamond Icons
• 2/12: 2024 Panini Three and Two
• 2/15: 2025 Topps Series 1
• TBD: Topps Black & White
• TBD: Topps Definitive

Categories Discussion

NFBC Draft formats (our discussion focuses on Draft Champions and Gladiator)

Players discussed:

• High-floor pitchers:
  • Tobias Myers
  • Sonny Gray
  • Frankie Montas
• Utility bats:
  • Tyler Black
  • Spencer Horwitz
  • Isiah Kiner-Falefa
  • Hunter Goodman