Atlanta, GA
Notebook: Opportunity in Atlanta's rotation, a sleeper in Anaheim and a better way to play fantasy baseball
Please indulge me while I turn into an old man right before your eyes and complain to you without being prompted.
I think there are better ways to play fantasy baseball that we haven’t tapped into yet. Those ideas can be pushed aside until October or November — we’ll need a few logs for the fire then anyway.
Most of my friends and family don’t play fantasy baseball, but curiosity occasionally leads them to question some of the things about the hobby. The most frequently asked question:
“Why do you have pickups on the weekend, doesn’t everyone else have things to do?”
The best answer I can give in 2024, as I approach 20 years of writing and talking about fantasy sports for a living, is that it’s just always been done this way, and that reason is even less satisfying to say than it is to hear.
I assume that many other people who play this game have something they enjoy doing, or at least some obligations to their friends and loved ones to be present during the weekend. Heck, I’ve even heard speeches from NFBC Hall of Fame inductees, thanking their families for the time they had to spend working on free-agent bidding instead of spending those hours together.
My old boss from the RotoWire years, Peter Schoenke, was the first person I saw make this plea a decade ago. If he hasn’t been able to generate movement on this front, maybe this is just shouting into the void.
“It’s time for Sunday night pickups to go away!”
The alternative is simple. Run weekly pickups on Thursday nights, which works out great since Thursday night is not a weekend night, and like Sunday night, it’s not a particularly busy night for games. Plus, all 30 teams are scheduled to play each week on Fridays, offering a clean weekly lineup deadline day outside of the first two weeks of the season when Friday can be left open in the MLB schedule as a built-in makeup date for postponements.
Thursday is for pickups, and the weekend is just the weekend, in all of the best ways.
Imagine thinking about how much you want to spend trying to add Colton Cowser in a 12-team league before the weekend, instead of on Sunday afternoon while you’re driving back from a birthday party, a soccer tournament, a dance recital, or a trampoline park.
I’ll end my simple plea on this note. I realize getting your league(s) to change can be very difficult. This is merely tweaking the schedule, rather than updating scoring categories, expanding or shrinking rosters, or re-writing the constitution in your dynasty league, and when you look back at the changes that have been made to your league over time, you often wonder why your league ever chose to do it the old way.
Rates & Barrels Recaps!
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Here’s a quick look at the topics we discussed on the show this week.
Monday
The new week began with a recap of a bad weekend in baseball on the injury front with Spencer Strider (UCL sprain), Shane Bieber (Tommy John surgery), Luis Robert Jr. (hip flexor strain), and Trevor Story (dislocated shoulder) facing lengthy absences.
- As the Braves try to manage the absence of Strider, Bryce Elder is on regular rest the same day as Allan Winans, who was optioned to Triple-A after getting the turn in Strider’s place. Despite getting hit a bit in spring training, Elder had a 12:0 K:BB and showed improved numbers in Eno’s Stuff+ model. The longer-term eyes remain on AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep, but Elder was an All-Star last season before a second-half fade and might be a nice “one-week early” stash with a two-start week approaching during the week of April 22.
- Injuries have piled up quickly on the White Sox’s position players. The loss of Robert, Eloy Jiménez, and Yoán Moncada have helped drop the team’s run scored projection from BP’s PECOTA to 658 this season (29th in the league). Those absences will almost certainly have a negative impact on the run production of the remaining rosterable bats — most notably, Andrew Vaughn — at least until Bryan Ramos and Colson Montgomery enter the picture later this season.
- As a longer-term trend of rising pitching injuries continues, should we consider reducing the number of pitchers in active lineups, adding IL spots, or making other modifications to roster rules in future seasons?
Tuesday
After focusing on the “who” from the weekend injuries, The 3-0 Show Reunion Tour focused on the variety of reasons “why” baseball is struggling to keep pitchers healthy. Spoiler: there is plenty of blame to go around.
- Beyond pitching injuries, we discussed the Pirates’ fast start and examined why things might be a bit different this time around after a 20-9 start through the end of April resulted in a 76-86 record in 2023. Paul Skenes is working in shorter outings thus far at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he’s turned in six scoreless frames with an 11:1 K:BB in his first two starts.
- How aggressively will the Marlins look to the future with their top two pitchers down following Tommy John surgery? Jazz Chisholm Jr. would be a very interesting fit for a lot of contending teams, but he won’t reach free agency until the end of the 2026 season. Jesús Luzardo is also three seasons away from free agency, but the league-wide need for pitching will drive plenty of interest. How many currently healthy players on the Marlins roster will be on their next playoff team?
Thursday
Jackson Holliday’s highly-anticipated debut with the Orioles took place Wednesday, leading us into our first Project Prospect of 2024, before looking at a few potential waiver wire pickups, and answering a handful of mailbag questions.
- After Thursday’s episode was recorded, the criminal complaint against Ippei Mizuhara was posted to Twitter by Meghann Cuniff. It’s a doozy, and offers answers to many of the questions that surfaced when this story first broke during the Seoul Series in Korea.
- Holliday debuted with the Orioles on Wednesday, leading us to wonder how his projections from The BAT X stack up to other middle infielders for the rest of 2024. With a 99 wRC+ built around a .257/.330/.378 ROS line (eight homers, 10 steals), Holliday’s numbers don’t jump off the page at first glance, but as we have discussed on the show over the years, prospect projections are often underwhelming. A quick spin with the FanGraphs Auction Calculator spits out fringe Top 40 middle infielder value for the rest of the season, but the “Would You Rather?” redraft toss-ups belong somewhere in the range of Jeremy Peña (fringe Top 20 MI) based on the possibility that Holliday exceeds expectations over the course of his rookie season.
- We also discussed the early struggles of Ceddanne Rafaela, who agreed to an eight-year extension with the Red Sox earlier this week. The extension reduces the chances of a lengthy demotion to Triple-A even if his early struggles persist, and Rafaela’s defense at a major position of need (center field) will afford him a lot of opportunities to reduce the chase and swing-and-miss that has been a part of his profile since debuting with Boston late last season.
- José Soriano is rostered in just 2% of NFBC Main Event leagues. He’s getting a shot in the Angels’ rotation while Chase Silseth (elbow inflammation) is on the IL. Soriano had Tommy John surgery in February of 2020 and again in June of 2021, so his workload will likely be managed carefully if he’s able to stake his claim for a permanent spot as a starter.
Friday
Join the Live Hive at 1p ET/10a PT on our YouTube channel!
- This week, we’ll discuss making early adjustments, look back at one of the most ridiculous homers Trevor May allowed and offer up a game plan for pitching to Mookie Betts.
(Top photo of Bryce elder: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports)
Project aims to curb dengue by releasing millions of mosquitoes
Google-backed researchers are taking an unusual approach to fighting mosquito-borne diseases: releasing more mosquitoes. The effort, known as Debug, is designed to reduce populations of mosquitoes that spread illnesses such as dengue fever by using specially bred male mosquitoes that cannot produce viable offspring.
Fox – 35 Orlando
Mosquitoes in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta have tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to Fulton County health officials.
Fulton County Board of Health Environmental Health mosquito control staff say the mosquitoes were tested following trapping in Fulton County.
“Mosquitoes can be dangerous if infected and may pose a serious health risk to people in our area,” Environmental Health Director at the Fulton County Board of Health, Brandon Leftwich, said in a statement from the agency. “We want to make sure communities are aware and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.”
Grant Park is in southeast Atlanta, south of Old Fourth Ward and west of East Atlanta.
Here’s what to know.
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is the illness caused by infections from a pathogen in the Flaviviridae family. Mosquitoes are hosts for the pathogen, meaning they can spread it to people and other animals without dying.
It is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the contiguous United States, infecting more than 2,000 people each year. About 1,300 people develop a severe illness, and more than 130 people die annually in the U.S. from the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It spreads during mosquito season, or the period between June and October each year. Infections typically peak in late August and early September.
Many people infected may never show symptoms, and others will only experience mild, flu-like symptoms. It can take between 2 and 6 days after a mosquito bite to feel poorly, and then people may experience headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Those with mild illness can recover completely, but some fatigue and weakness can last much longer, even weeks or months.
In cases of severe illness, West Nile Virus attacks their central nervous system and can result in hospitalization or death. Patients may experience a very high fever, headaches, neck pain, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness and other serious symptoms. Recovery can take weeks or months, and some effects could become permanent.
How is West Nile Virus treated?
There is no medicine that can treat West Nile Virus, so those with mild symptoms can take over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen to manage pain, fever or headaches. Those with West Nile Virus should not take ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the CDC. Patients should stay hydrated and take lots of rest to let your body fight the virus and recover.
Those with severe illness may need intravenous fluids, pain medication and nursing care at the hospital level, though there is still no medication that can be taken to cure the infection.
It is believed that those who have been infected by West Nile Virus develop a lifelong immunity or protection, meaning they can’t get the virus again, according to the CDC.
How to prevent mosquito bites
Fulton County health officials recommend following the “5Ds of mosquito bite prevention” to keep yourself safe from mosquito-borne illnesses.
- Dusk/Dawn: Avoid being outside during periods when mosquitoes are most active, including in the early morning and as the sun is setting.
- Dress: Loose-fitting clothes and items with long sleeves or pants will reduce the amount of exposed skin for a mosquito bite and make it difficult for a mosquito to bite through clothes.
- DEET: Insect repellant should contain DEET. It is the most effective ingredient in mosquito repellant.
- Drain: Standing water is a great place for mosquitoes to breed, so make sure to dump out water from buckets, barrels, flowerpots and tarps outside that could harbor mosquito larvae. You should also cut overgrown grass or weeds.
- Doors: While it might be nice for a breeze to pass through your house in the evenings, make sure doors and windows are closed and sealed to keep mosquitoes out of the house.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
ATLANTA – Atlanta police are searching for three masked men who drove a rental truck directly through the brick wall of a downtown clothing store early Wednesday morning. Investigators say the thieves heavily ransacked the business before making a quick escape.
Atlanta smash-and-grab details
What we know:
The burglary occurred just before 5 a.m. Wednesday at Identity-ATL, a high-end streetwear shop on the 100 block of Walker Street SW. Police say three masked men repeatedly rammed a U-Haul truck into the side of the building, smashing a massive hole in the brick wall.
Store owner Rod Thomas received an urgent call from his alarm company and rushed to his business as fast as he could. The thieves grabbed whatever clothing items they could get their hands on, drove away a white pickup truck, and left behind a pile of rubble.
Shop owners react to destruction
What they’re saying:
Thomas what he saw when he arrived at his store. He worked so hard to build. “I was just speechless, for real,” Thomas said. “I’m just distraught, you know.”
Despite the blow to his storefront, Thomas remains determined to move forward. “I rather they not do that. But I have to move forward,” Thomas said, offering a straightforward message to the thieves: “Do something better. That’s what I would say.”
Phillip Louissaint, who owns Saint’s Professional Grooming barbershop in the same building, said the neighborhood is normally a safe, pleasant place to do business. “It’s very disturbing,” Louissaint said. “Actually, it’s disturbing a little bit. We haven’t had any signs of anything like this happening here.”
Search for masked suspects
What we don’t know:
Police have not yet provided a physical description of the three suspects who remain on the loose. Authorities have also not released an official dollar amount or total value for the clothing items that were stolen during the raid.
No injuries were reported during the crash or the subsequent robbery. Investigators are currently reviewing area surveillance videos to track down the white pickup truck and identify the men responsible.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from store owner Rod Thomas and neighboring business owner Phillip Louissaint, who explained how they experienced the incident.
Atlanta, GA
Jermaine Dupri sues Sony Music over alleged $18 million royalty dispute involving So So Def artists
Atlanta music executive Jermaine Dupri and his So So Def companies are suing Sony Music Entertainment, accusing the record label of improperly handling royalty payments tied to a decades-long business relationship.
The lawsuit, filed July 6 and amended July 7 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges Sony underpaid, failed to properly report and withheld millions of dollars in royalties connected to recordings by artists including Kris Kross, Xscape, Da Brat and Jagged Edge.
Dupri and So So Def are seeking at least $18 million in damages, along with interest and attorneys’ fees, according to the complaint.
So far, Sony Music Entertainment has not filed a response to the complaint.
According to the lawsuit, Dupri and his companies discovered the alleged royalty issues after a 2025 audit conducted by accounting firm Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman.
According to the complaint, the parties entered a tolling agreement in November 2025 after So So Def raised concerns about approximately $18 million in allegedly unpaid royalties.
The complaint alleges Sony engaged in a pattern of financial reporting problems, including underreporting royalties, failing to report certain royalties, changing royalty statements years later, using incorrect royalty rates and improperly withholding payments.
The lawsuit also alleges Sony improperly used unrecouped balances, money a label claims is still owed from previous expenses, to offset royalty payments that should have been paid.
Kris Kross royalty dispute
One of the largest claims in the lawsuit involves Kris Kross, the Atlanta rap duo known for the 1992 hit “Jump.”
The complaint alleges Sony failed to properly report producer and override royalties from Kris Kross’ first two albums, Totally Krossed Out and Da Bomb.
According to the lawsuit, Sony did not provide royalty statements for those projects until 2023, and Dupri’s companies claim they are owed more than $2.2 million related to those recordings.
The complaint also alleges Sony later produced statements showing more than $33 million in foreign sales connected to Kris Kross royalty accounts and maintained those royalties in a separate accounting system that So So Def did not know existed.
Claims involving Xscape, Da Brat and Jagged Edge
The lawsuit also details royalty disputes involving several other artists connected to Dupri and So So Def. Dupri claims So So Def is owed more than $10 million in interest on unpaid royalties tied to Xscape, Kris Kross and Da Brat projects.
For Xscape, the complaint alleges Sony underreported producer royalties from the group’s 1993 album “Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha” and owes more than $960,000 related to that project.
The lawsuit also alleges Sony underreported production-share royalties by more than $144,000 through incorrect calculations and underreported producer royalties from Xscape’s album “Off the Hook” by more than $22,000.
For Da Brat, the complaint alleges Sony underreported producer royalties from her 1994 album Funkdafied and owes more than $1 million related to that recording. The lawsuit also alleges additional royalties may be owed from her album “Anuthatantrum,” though damages have not been determined.
The lawsuit alleges Sony began reporting previously unreported royalties connected to Jagged Edge’s 1997 album “The Jagged Era” in statements issued in 2023. The complaint claims those statements only covered royalties dating back to 2007, leaving earlier royalties unaccounted for.
Dispute over Sony’s royalty practices
The complaint challenges Sony’s handling of unrecouped balances.
The lawsuit cites an Xscape account that showed an unrecouped balance of about $1.53 million as of 2020. Dupri’s companies allege Sony withheld more than $1 million in royalties generated between 2020 and 2024 because of that balance.
The plaintiffs argue those balances should have been forgiven under Sony Music’s 2021 Artists Forward Legacy Unrecouped Balance Program.
The lawsuit alleges Sony’s failure to apply the program resulted in approximately $1 million in payments that were not made. The complaint also identifies potential royalty issues involving artists and projects connected to So So Def, including: Mariah Carey, Usher, Bow Wow, Bone Crusher, Anthony Hamilton and more.
Dupri and his companies are seeking compensatory damages, interest, attorneys’ fees and a jury trial.
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