Coming To America Baseball

The Japan Times baseball writer, Jason Coskrey calls in.  Topics: LHP Yusei Kikuchi coming into his own, Shohei Otani, Masahiro Tanaka's strong start, Ballgate, NPB's interesting playoff format Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes: Coming To America Baseball Youtube Channel: ComingtoAmericaBaseball.com

Lotte Giants pitcher Chris Oxspring drops by to talk about Kim Tae-kyun's controversial remarks made toward his teammate, Shane Youman;MLB opening it up Down Under in 2014, Lotte fans.  Next Sean Kim, SK Wyverns translator, who also doubles as a contract negotiator with foreign players tells us how SK nearly missed out on Chris Seddon and Jo-Jo Reyes this past off-season; find out if SK will go after Manny Ramirez; expanding the foreign player limit for KBO teams.  All that, and a bag of chips.

Brandon Knight, "The White Knight" in the twi-light of his career, has played in 3 different decades in USA, Japan and Korea.  He met up with Philip Riccobono to talk about what it meant to play for the Yankees, a need for the KBO to expand its emerging foreign fan-base, entertaining listener questions, looking ahead to life after his playing days end, Moneyball, Ryu Hyun-jin, future Korean imports to MLB: Oh Seung-hwan, Kang Jung-ho; interests in history.  In the last segment of the interview Brandon continues with World War II and how crisis brings a nation together. The veteran righty also takes us through a helicopter landing, ponders books to read, JFK conspiracy theories, what he does on Mondays, KBO fan appreciation, feeling home in Korea, and the rise of the KBO.  

Veteran Nexen Heroes Pitcher, Brandon Knight, stops by to talk about his long journey, spanning 3 nations- including playing for the Yankees.  Find out what Knight thinks about baseball customs in Korea and more.

Jeeho Yoo (Yonhap News) and John E. Gibson of The Japan News stop by and talk baseball from both sides of the Sea.  We recorded Jeeho and John prior to the Kim Tae-Kyun controversy, so Philip addresses that first. Topics: Korean imports to NPB over the years- Kim Tae-Kyun, Lee Jon -Beom and others; who MLB has on their radar from NPB and KBO; mid-season championship predictions.  Does Japanese and South Korean culture overwork high school pitchers? All that and more.

One-time MLB left-handed-pitcher, Shane Youman, dropped by.  Find out how he fared against Ken Griffey, Jr., his take on playing in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) for the Lotte Giants the past few seasons, fans, LA Dodgers, Hyun-jin Ryu, some of the interesting customs in the KBO, relief pitchers in Korea, and more.

Lamigo Monkeys "Super-Fan", RJ drops by to talk cheering in Taiwan's CPBL.  RJ and I set out to find Manny Ramirez in the beautiful city of Kaohsiung.  Also do Pac-Rim pitching prospects get overworked and then some?  Find out why some high school hurlers average 130 plus pitches per game.  All that and more.

We join "International Journeyman" Chris Oxspring this week as he touches on everything from winning a Silver at the '04 Olympics, time spent in MLB, Japan and working a job outside of baseball right up to the WBC in March, leading to his KBO comeback.

Coming to you from the Basement Series- NC Dinos vs. Hanwha Eagles on a historic night.  Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News, Hanwha Eagles 0-13 start, Ryu, KBO attendance down dramatically, and more.

Allen Wolf, writer of "Time for KBO to grow up" stops by and Van Walker joins in-studio.  The guys talk about how the Korean Baseball Organization differs from MLB- from free agency to marketing. Who has the best KBO fans?

Re-united after 12 years- Justin Kutcher, FOX Sports MLB Play by Play man joins us.  Philip and Justin trade stories about working with FOX Sports' Joe Buck and Tim McCarver.  Find out just how Justin rose through the ranks from making only $500 a month when starting out in AAA Portland to calling nationally televised games.  Philip, Justin and Nino chat about the wave of Pacific-Rim prospects to MLB and just how they've affected the landscape of North American baseball.  Find out which pitching staff this year resembles the '98 Yankees.  And is Ryu the next El Duque?  All that and more.

The podcast starts out right before the first game of the WBC in Japan with Buck Martinez to AT&T Park in San Francisco where we get the latest on Team Japan from Jason Coskrey of The Japan Times.

    First off,  we apologize for the poor audio on portions of this podcast.  Please prepare to raise your volume all the way up during some parts.  We have since rectified this technical issue and look forward to crisper shows with LIVE uStream down the road. On this episode of ComingToAmericaBaseball.com Podcast Jason Coskrey (The Japan Times) and Jeeho Yoo (Yonhap News) came on to talk about what some consider arguably the biggest rivalry in baseball: Korea vs. Japan.  The guys got into an in-depth analysis of each team's WBC rosters and their chances in the tournament.  Look for Jason and Jeeho to cover the WBC for their respective papers in the weeks to come.  Nino sat out this week, feeling under the weather.  We wish him and his daughter, Bella, well. To reach our guests on Twitter: Jason, @JCoskrey and Jeeho: @Jeeho_1

 On this episode of Coming To America Baseball, Minnesota Twins Pacific Rim Scout, David Kim, on assignment, calls in from Jeju Island, Korea. Find out what cuisine made Nino show up late (as usual). Philip and Nino talk about what obscure KBO record David set.  The guys also discuss high school baseball in Korea and Japan, MLB allowing interpreters on the mound during games, "The Korean (baseball) Wave" ;why perhaps Korea has an edge over Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and the petition to bring Nino to The Peninsula. Later Clint Hulsey talks about Yoon Suk-min, KBO RHP, who will showcase his talents in the WBC for a shot at an MLB spot next year. Please sign the petition to bring Nino to Korea as a goodwill baseball ambassador: https://www.change.org/petitions/mike-nino-ninivaggi-come-to-the-pacific-rim-as-a-goodwill-baseball-ambassador

In this installment of ComingToAmericaBaseball.com Podcast, John E. Gibson, baseball writer for Daily Yomiuri and host of Japan Baseball Weekly Podcast, join Nino and Philip to talk Hideki Matsui's retirement, Ichiro's new deal with the Yankees, fans on both sides of the Pacific; John defends Dodger fans.

  Probably the only podcast devoted to Hyun-jin Ryu's historic deal.  In Podcast 1.3, Jeeho Yoo, of Yonhap News, stops by to talk about the historic signing of Ryu with LA.  Later, Arirang Radio's Edwin Ro and Mike "Nino" Ninivaggi join the panel to give their thoughts on the negotiations, Scott Boras and Ryu's chances in MLB.  Plus listen to Edwin's account of the mysterious ear-bud incident.  All that and more.

From a snowy South Korea, Jason Corskey, baseball writer for Japan Times.  Jason brings us up to speed on 18-year old phenom Shohei Otani's decsion on coming to MLB.  Free agent chat- Cubs sign Fujikawa;  Nino and Jason discuss how a new posting system may change the landscape of bids; WBC roster; Duds and Studs who went to Japan. Plus the clock ticks on Ryu Hyun-jin and the LA Dodgers to reach a deal or it's back to Korea for Ryu.

ComingToAmerica.com Podcast: Hyun-jin Ryu, Dan Kurtz, Mike "Nino" Ninivaggi With Hyun-jin Ryu on the verge of signing with the LA Dodgers, what better time to release our first podcast.   ComingToAmericaBaseball.com kicks off its inaugural podcast discussing KBO pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu's contract negotations with the LA Dodgers.  Joined by Dan Kurtz of mykbo.net and colorful contributor, Mike "Nino".  The gang also touched on Chan Ho Park's retirement, differences between KBO and MLB, Korean baseball's lack of youth leagues, and the absence of foreign position players in the KBO.  Dan points out what North American fans miss out on in Korean ballparks- the subject of an upcoming documentary: "Fighting": Cheering in Korea.