OTW 241 - We Have The Power Preview; Drafting HR and RBI

On The Wire - Adam Howe and Kevin Hasting kick off their 2026 fantasy baseball category previews by breaking down power (HR & RBI) and why it has quietly become harder to replace later in drafts. They discuss draft targets, late-round power bats, platoon plays, and roster construction strategies to hit modern home run benchmarks. 0:00–8:30 — Episode Intro & Why Power Matters More in 2026 Category-preview format explanation Impact of PitchCon and offseason prep Why managers are falling behind in HR/RBI Establishing modern power targets (24–25 HR per hitter) 8:30–20:00 — Power vs Speed Tradeoffs in Early Drafts Players discussed: Aaron Judge , Shohei Ohtani , Juan Soto , Cal Raleigh , Bobby Witt Jr., Jackson Chourio , Trea Turner How few true 35+ HR bats exist Why early speed-first picks create downstream power pressure Corner infield power vs middle-infield scarcity 20:00–30:30 — Power Benchmarks & Draft Math Targeting ~350 HR and ~1,100 RBI in 15-team leagues Why “15 HR + speed” profiles create long-term problems Emphasizing lineup quality over RBI projections 30:30–44:00 — Corner Infield Power Targets Players discussed: Nolan Arenado , Nolan Gorman , Paul Goldschmidt , Bryce Eldridge , Chase DeLauter , Josh Bell , Tristan Casas Arenado vs Gorman risk profiles Playing-time certainty vs batting average damage Eldridge stash upside vs prospect risk Josh Bell as a boring but reliable power source 44:00–57:00 — Middle Infield Power Options Players discussed: Jake Cronenworth , Anthony Volpe , José Caballero , Brooks Lee Cronenworth as a “glue guy” with sneaky volume power Volpe’s rebound potential and ADP window Multi-position flexibility as power insurance Minnesota infield playing-time outlook 57:00–1:11:00 — Outfield Power Targets Players discussed: Jesus Sanchez , Andrew Benintendi , Austin Hays , Cody Clemens Sanchez as a platoon-friendly power bat in Houston Benintendi’s power resurgence vs lineup quality Hays as a free-agent ADP value play Clemens as a flexible, low-cost power streamer 1:11:00–1:18:00 — Power Streamers & Rate-Based Targets Players discussed: Jemai Jones, Dominic Canzone , Tyler O’Neill, Matt Wallner , Zach Dezenzo , Colby Thomas , <a href="https://pitcherlist.com