Talking Yakyu

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) 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) 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