Japan Baseball Weekly

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss an interview with first-year Nippon Ham starter Nick Martinez, talk about the Fighters, discuss the starts for a few teams in the PL and CL, sneak in a couple of observations and handle some #HighHeat.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss an interview with reigning PL MVP Dennis Sarfate of the SoftBank Hawks, talk about the highlights of the first week of the season – including an NPB first with four new import hurlers winning their first games on the same day – and a little Shohei Ohtani chat.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss a terrific interview with Casey McGehee of the Yomiuri Giants, talk about the first two games of opening weekend for each series and more.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson talk about compelling topics for the upcoming season before sitting down with Michael Westbay of Japanbaseball.com and TV announcer Zak Ikuma to examine the Central League race and predict where each team will finish in the standings.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson sit down with Jason Coskrey of The Japan Times and Claudio Rodriguez of Beisbol Japones to break down the Pacific League and offer their ideas on where each team will finish in the standings and why. Jim and John first talk about milestone men and deal with some HighHeat questions.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss an interview with Orix Buffaloes executive Shigetoshi Hasegawa, we discuss Shohei Ohtani, the NPB preseason, Koji Uehara's return to Yomiuri, Ichiro's return to Seattle, Samurai Japan’s warmup games and address HighHeat question.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss an interview with Hanshin Tigers ace Randy Messenger, talk about the glimpses we’ve caught of camps and the start of preseason games, then answer a JBW-generated HighHeat question.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss an interview with Texas Rangers analyst and former SoftBank Hawks left-hander CJ Nitkowski, we throw a changeup and hit HighHeat questions right off the bat, then take a look at some news nuggets from the various camps.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss an interview with recently retired former Hanshin Tigers star Matt Murton, we talk about the latest inductees into the Japan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, a possible Ichiro return to NPB and more.

Vol. 8.01, Jim Allen and John E. Gibson an interview with former Orix manager Terry Collins, we talk about the passing of former pitcher and manager Senichi Hoshino, two pitchers heading to the big leagues and more.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson discuss a conversation with former NPB & MLB pitcher Denney Tomori, the Dragons pitching coach, Jim reports on his visit to the Winter Meetings and gives his input on Shohei Ohtani’s jump to the Angels, and we hit on Swallows star Tetsuto Yamada’s big cut in pay.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson talk about a conversation with World Series-winning batting coach Alonzo Powell, a former Dragons star who spent a stint with the Tigers, discuss Shohei Ohtani’s future, free agents, the new commissioner, and some bonus Ohtani coverage after he opts to play for the Angels.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson talk about the two MVP selections, the top rookies, Samurai Japan's Asian title, Shohei Ohtani and field some HighHeat.

Jim Allen and John E. Gibson talk about their biggest surprises from the recently concluded season and discuss Dennis Sarfate’s selection for the Shoriki Award before Jason Coskrey joins for chat about MVPs, the Sawamura Award and help us field some HighHeat.

Vol. 7.40, Jim Allen and John E. Gibson talk about the eighth Japan Series championship for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks franchise, Games 3-6 of the Series, and a few MLB guys who are now without teams.

John E. Gibson talks about the first two games of the Japan Series, and talks about last week’s draft and handles some HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss the final games of the first round of the PLCS and CLCS, and examine the second rounds, the Hawks advancing to the Japan Series, and look ahead to the final matchup before handling some HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss chats with Brian Wolfe of Seibu and Zelous Wheeler of Rakuten, we look at the first round of both the PLCS and CLCS, and talk about new Lotte skipper Tadahito Iguchi.

John E. Gibson and fill-in Zak Ikuma discuss a chat with Frank Herrmann of Rakuten, we look at the Eagles, the PLCS and CLCS first-round matchpus, league MVPs, hit on Yakult new-old skipper, Kotaro Kiyomiya and handle some #HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss a pregame chat with DeNA skipper Alex Ramirez, look at the races for third in the CL & PL, exchange opinions on the Yakult search for a manager, hit on NPB’s milestone homer and handle some #HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss an interview with Rick van den Hurk of the Hawks, chat about SofBank, the Carp clinching the CL title, Shohei Otani’s latest outing and homer, the no-no that wasn't and handle some #HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss an interview with Joe Wieland of the BayStars, look at SofBank’s pennant run, discuss the Carp’s impending CL title, Shohei Otani’s jump to MLB and handle some #HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss an interview with Brian Schlitter of the Lions, look at the league races, discuss Takakashi Toritani 2,000th hit, Dennis Sarfate 50-save record and handle #HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss an interview with Casey McGehee of the Giants, examine now-winning Yomiuri, discuss the league races, talk about Takashi Toritani as he approaches the 2,000-hit milestone, hit some notes and handle #HighHeat.

John E. Gibson and Jim Allen discuss an interview with Jay Jackson of the Carp, take a quick look at Hiroshima, discuss NPB's top teams and struggling teams in Mini Trax, talk about now-outgoing Yakult skipper Mitsuru Manaka, hit some notes and handle #HighHeat.