Talking Yakyu – Details, episodes & analysis

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) break down the MLB signings of Munetaka Murakami, Tatsuya Imai, and Kazuma Okamoto. Plus, previewing Samurai Japan's chances at the 2026 World Baseball Classic with 19 of the 30 roster spots officially confirmed.

00:00 - Introduction
02:25 - Murakami, Imai, Okamoto Find MLB Homes
07:13 - Okamoto to Toronto
10:07 - Murakami to CWS
15:28 - Imai to Houston
23:51 - Posting System Reform?
29:24 - Can Japan Compete with USA and DR?
37:45 - Japan's Pitching Staff
53:20 - Japan's Catching
56:35 - Japan's Infield
58:36 - Japan's Outfield
01:07:04 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) break down the offseason foreign player signings in Nippon Professional Baseball. Plus, another look at Samurai Japan's 2026 World Baseball Classic team following the full roster reveal.

00:00 - Introduction
02:03 - New MLB Players on Samurai Japan
05:40 - New NPB Players on Samurai Japan
15:56 - Roster Grade?
19:21 - Hanshin/SoftBank: Devanney, Ragsdale, Moreta, Hsu
26:15 - DeNA/Nipponham: Hummel, Duplantier, Ruiz, Reynolds, Cox, Castro, Lao
35:37 - Yomiuri/Orix: Dalbec, Howard, Whitley, Mata, Seymour, Hjelle
44:44 - Chunichi/Rakuten: Sano, Abreu, McCusker, Contreras, Urena
54:54 - Hiroshima/Seibu: Tarnok, Lin, Canario, Winans
01:01:01 - Yakult/Lotte: Jackson, Long, Castillo, Liranzo, Walters, Quijada
01:06:25 - NPB vs. KBO Foreign Players
01:09:45 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) break down their top 20 starting pitchers in Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2026 season. Where do they agree and disagree?

Yuri's Breakdowns: https://www.justbaseball.com/international-baseball/npb-top-15-starting-pitcher-rankings-2026/
Brandon's Scouting Reports: https://www.prospectslive.com/author/brandon-tew/

00:00 - Introduction
02:53 - Shunpeita Yamashita, Hiromi Itoh, Livan Moinelo, Hiroya Miyagi
13:50 - Atsuki Taneichi & Jon Duplantier
21:07 - Kaima Taira & Forrest Whitley
30:32 - Chihiro Sumida & Koki Kitayama
37:36 - Hiroto Takahashi & Shoki Murakami
53:32 - Haruto Takahashi & Hiroto Saiki
01:03:16 - Haruya Tanaka, Kota Tatsu, Yumeto Kanemaru
01:11:38 - Katsuki Azuma & Ryuhei Sotani
01:17:23 - Ruei-Yang Gu Lin & Iori Yamasaki
01:22:59 - Just Outside the Top 20

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) preview each of the 12 teams for the 2026 Nippon Professional Baseball season and give their predictions.

https://japanball.com
https://extrainningstravel.com

00:00 - Introduction
04:32 - Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
13:59 - Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters
22:42 - Orix Buffaloes
32:32 - Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
42:20 - Saitama Seibu Lions
52:18 - Chiba Lotte Marines
1:01:00 - Tokyo Yakult Swallows
1:07:07 - Hiroshima Carp
1:19:21 - Chunichi Dragons
1:32:24 - Yomiuri Giants
1:44:15 - Yokohama DeNA BayStars
1:55:49 - Hanshin Tigers
2:08:56 - Predictions & Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) discuss how Samurai Japan performed in Pool C at the 2026 World Baseball Classic and preview its potential matchup in the quarterfinals. Can Japan repeat as champions!?

https://japanball.com
https://extrainningstravel.com

00:00 - Introduction
03:00 - Pool C Recap
13:00 - Japan's Hitting
25:00 - Quarterfinals Preview
31:45 - Japan's Pitching
46:30 - Japan's Path to Repeat
1:03:08 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) answer some listener mailbag questions. Which NPB players will be posted to MLB in the near future? What are Japan's expectations at the 2026 WBC? Can the Fighters beat the Hawks? And many more!

00:00 - Introductions
01:42 - Carter Stewart Jr. 2026 Expectations?
05:50 - Dark Horses to be Posted to MLB?
12:37 - Samurai Japan's Strengths & Weaknesses?
16:42 - Japan's WBC Expectations?
22:08 - How Can DeNA Replace Anthony Kay?
25:25 - Yuudai Yamamoto & Shion Matsuo Platoon?
30:55 - Can the Fighters overtake the Hawks?
36:07 - Realistic Trades for Fighters' Pitchers?
41:58 - Top Prospects to Watch in 2026?
48:15 - Why No More Korean Players in NPB?
55:07 - Dead Ball Impact on Hitters vs. Pitchers?
1:04:09 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) talk about early season Nippon Professional Baseball news and performances, including Haruki Hosono's no-hitter, Ryoji Kuribayashi's near perfect game, Allen Kuri's shutout, Kotaro Kiyomiya's hot start, and much more.

https://japanball.com
https://extrainningstravel.com

00:00 - Murakami, Okamoto, Imai in MLB

07:28 - Haruki Hosono's No-Hitter
13:19 - Kotaro Kiyomiya's Hot Start
24:15 - Ryoji Kuribayashi's Near-Perfecto
32:14 - Allen Kuri's Shutout
39:45 - Anderson Espinoza, Haruto Takahashi, Kaima Taira Throw CGSO
49:43 - Kenta Maeda's NPB Return
56:01 - NPB vs. MLB Ball Movement
1:03:23 - Worried about Hiromi Itoh?
1:07:10 - Conclusion

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) discuss the latest developments in Nippon Professional Baseball from Hiroya Miyagi's injury to Kaima Taira and Haruto Takahashi dominating on the mound to Teruaki Sato and Shota Morishita raking at the plate.

00:00 - Roki Sasaki
05:02 - Tatsuya Imai
10:03 - Shota Imanaga, Kodai Senga, Tomoyuki Sugano
18:25 - Hiroya Miyagi Requires Tommy John Surgery
25:10 - Best Pitcher in NPB Right Now?
29:10 - Haruto Takahashi, Kaima Taira
38:09 - Kosei Shoji, Ryoji Kuribayashi, Kona Takahashi
46:38 - Best Takahashi: Haruto, Hiroto, Kona
50:25 - Hiroto Saiki
1:00:40 - Teruaki Sato, Shota Morishita
1:11:20 - Early Standout Hitters
1:17:50 - Conclusion

https://japanball.com
https://extrainningstravel.com

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) discuss the latest storylines from Japanese baseball.

0:00 - Munetaka Murakami Mania
10:47 - Progress for Roki Sasaki?
20:06 - Injuries to Taneichi, Maki, Izuguchi, Duplantier
29:05 - Haruto Takahashi
39:45 - Tokyo Yakult Swallows
48:35 - Yomiuri Giants
58:55 - Chunichi & Hiroshima
1:01:10 - Orix Buffaloes
1:04:58 - SoftBank & Nipponham
1:17:50 - Prospect Check-in
1:19:30 - Rintaro Sasaki & Conclusion

https://japanball.com
https://extrainningstravel.com

Yuri Karasawa (https://x.com/yakyucosmo) and Brandon Tew (https://x.com/brandonteweets) discuss the latest storylines from Japanese baseball.

00:00 - Kazuma Okamoto & Shota Imanaga
13:40 - Foster Griffin, Peter Lambert, Nick Martinez, Anthony Kay
33:10 - Was Jo-Hsi Hsu tipping pitches?
45:50 - The Takahashis are still dominating
56:00 - Catching value in NPB
01:01:40 - Takayuki Katoh + Conclusion

https://japanball.com
https://extrainningstravel.com