Japan Baseball Weekly

SoftBank Hawks left-hander Matt Moore is the guest, we look at the first two games of the Japan Series, highlight some of the free agents and their decisions, discuss Daisuke Miura officially taking over as manager of the DeNA BayStars, touch on a few of our favorite individual titles and handle some fantastic HighHeat.

Chunichi Dragons hitting coach Alonzo Powell is the guest, we talk about the SoftBank Hawks winning the Pacific League Climax Series in a sweep, try to map out a possible path for the Yomiuri Giants to topple the Hawks in the Japan Series, touch on Hayato Sakamoto reaching 2K hits and mention a number of other notes.

Zach Neal of Seibu is the guest, we talk about the Lions, the Pacific League playoff race, the Dragons finish in the top three in the Central League, the ROYs in each league, Hayato Sakamoto reaching 2,000 hits, some notes and some HighHeat.

Hawks slugger Wladimir Coco Balentien is the guest, we discuss SoftBank winning the Pacific League pennant and the Yomiuri Giants taking the Central League title, look at the hottest and coldest teams of October in the Mini Trax segment, touch on the draft, the Hanshin exodus and then handle some HighHeat.

BayStars reliever Spencer Patton is the guest, we discuss DeNA skipper Alex Ramirez stepping down from Yokohama, look at what’s left of the league races, focusing on Yudai Ono and the Dragons taking control of second place in the Central and the push for second in the Pacific, then touch on the Hisashi Iwakuma retirement and other notes.

JBW Listeners take center stage as we feature your HighHeat questions, then discuss what remains in the pennant races in the Pacific and Central leagues, talk about Giants ace Tomoyuki Sugano and his so-called record, which came to a halt this past week, and hit a few notes.

Beisbol Japones guru Claudio Rodriguez is the guest, we talk about the increasing Latin influence in NPB and the Alex Ramirez rumor before taking a brief look at the coronavirus outbreak among Lotte players, the Pacific League race, hit one note and handle a pair of HighHeat questions.

Yakult adviser Aaron Guiel is the guest, we take a quick look at the Swallows, discuss the hot and cold teams in NPB in the Mini Trax power rankings segment, hit on a number of pitchers who have switched roles and handle a pair of HighHeat questions.

Tyler Higgins of Orix is the guest, we discuss the Buffaloes, look at the Pacific League playoff race, take a quick glance at the Giants playoff rotation, talk about the corona cluster breakout on the Hanshin Tigers and handle a HighHeat question.

You the listeners are the featured guests, via HighHeat questions and comments, we look at the Giants as they head toward the Central League pennant, talk about the fledgling Eagles and touch on Yudai Ono’s recent streak of six complete games.