In this episode of Pacific Swings, David and Jasper talk with Kaima Taira (平良海馬), the Seibu Lions ace closer who has dominated Japanese baseball with a legendary 1.88 career ERA across seven NPB seasons. For the first time ever, Kaima Taira speaks in English!

From his devastating slide step that makes elite hitters look foolish to his ambitious quest to throw 170 km/h (105 MPH), Taira opens up about his journey from a tiny 6-player junior high school team in Okinawa to becoming one of the most feared closers in Japanese baseball.

Key Topics Covered:

• The secret behind his slide step technique that baffles elite hitters
• Why his high school coach's advice changed his entire pitching approach forever
• How he prepares differently as a starter vs closer (spoiler: he doesn't prepare much as a closer)
• The mental game of closing tight games with bases loaded and 40,000 fans screaming
• His devastating pitch arsenal: 100+ MPH fastball, unhittable cutter, and why he switched from splitter to changeup
• Facing Japan's best hitters like Yanagita (SoftBank) and why the Fighters lineup is so dangerous
• His YouTube channel documenting the quest to throw 170 km/h and why that final 10% is nearly impossible
• Life as a new father while still throwing 100+ MPH (spoiler: no sleep, no video games)
• Growing up in Okinawa as a Chiba Lotte fan and watching spring training
• His off-season hobbies: fishing in beautiful Okinawan waters and terrible golf
• Why he'd be a YouTuber if he wasn't a professional baseball player

Whether you're fascinated by elite pitching mechanics or want to understand what separates NPB's best closers from the rest, this episode delivers rare insights from someone operating at the absolute pinnacle of Japanese baseball.

Kaima Taira is the ace pitcher for the Seibu Lions with a career 1.88 ERA across seven NPB seasons, known for his devastating slide step and 100+ MPH fastball while pursuing his goal of throwing 170 km/h.

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: 日本の100マイル・クローザーが打てないスライドステップの秘密を明かす

エピソードノート: 西武ライオンズのエース・クローザー平良海馬が、NPB通算防御率1.88という伝説的な成績を誇る投手として、沖縄の6人制高校チームから日本最恐のクローザーまでの軌跡を語ります。

主要トピック:

• 打者を翻弄するスライドステップの秘密
• 先発とクローザーの違い
• 柳田悠岐など日本最高打者との対戦
• 170km/h達成への挑戦
• 新米パパとしての生活

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 10 キーワード: 平良海馬、西武ライオンズ、NPB、クローザー、スライドステップ、100マイル

🇰🇷 한국어: 에피소드 제목: 일본의 100마일 마무리 투수가 치기 어려운 슬라이드 스텝의 비밀을 공개

에피소드 노트: 세이부 라이온즈의 에이스 마무리 투수 타이라 카이마가 NPB 통산 평균자책점 1.88이라는 전설적 성적을 자랑하는 투수로서, 오키나와의 6인제 고교팀에서 일본 최강의 마무리 투수까지의 궤적을 들려줍니다.

주요 주제:

• 타자를 농락하는 슬라이드 스텝의 비밀
• 선발과 마무리의 차이점
• 야나기타 유키 등 일본 최고 타자들과의 대결
• 170km/h 달성을 향한 도전
• 신임 아빠로서의 생활

Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 10 키워드: 타이라 카이마, 세이부 라이온즈, NPB, 마무리 투수, 슬라이드 스텝, 100마일

In this episode of Pacific Swings, David and Jasper talk with Trey Cabbage, the Tennessee slugger who went from breaking exit velocity records in the minors to demolishing baseballs at the Tokyo Dome for the Yomiuri Giants. From 487-foot home runs to 121.1 mph exit velocity, Cabbage opens up about the mental and technical adjustments needed to succeed in NPB.

"My job is to barrel the baseball and do some damage"

Key Topics Covered:

• Breaking the minor league distance record with a 487-foot home run
• Holding the hardest exit velocity record at 121.1 mph (for three glorious weeks)
• The technical differences in NPB pitching: speed changes vs. raw stuff
• Mental preparation adjustments: from playing scared to playing with swagger
• Cultural immersion: learning Japanese slang vs. textbook language
• Tokyo life with wife Kenzie: seasonings, safety, and daily grocery runs
• Mechanical changes that unlocked his power: getting the barrel behind the baseball
• The art of barrel depth and chasing the baseball with the bat
• Giants teammates who helped with the transition: Chono, Sakamoto, and the pitching staff

Cabbage gets candid about the mental side of international baseball, from dealing with information overload in scouting meetings to the discipline required when preparation routines change. He breaks down why NPB pitchers attack foreign hitters differently, explains the humidity's effect on ball flight, and shares what it's like being married to baseball in the world's biggest city.

Trey Cabbage was drafted by the Minnesota Twins and played in MLB with the Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros before joining the Yomiuri Giants in NPB, where he's become known for his mammoth home runs and 121.1 mph exit velocity record.

🇯🇵 日本語: エピソードタイトル: 巨人のパワー：トレイ・キャベッジが語る487フィート弾、NPB適応、東京生活 エピソードノート: 2024年読売ジャイアンツのトレイ・キャベッジが、マイナーリーグでの記録破りから東京ドームでの活躍まで、NPBでの技術的・精神的調整について語ります。487フィート本塁打と121.1マイル/時の打球速度記録保持者が、日本野球への適応と東京での生活を率直に語る。 主要トピック: 487フィート本塁打でマイナーリーグ記録更新 121.1mph打球速度記録（3週間保持） NPB投手の技術的違い：球速差対パワー 精神的準備の調整：恐れから自信へ 文化的適応：教科書的日本語対スラング ファン文化：MLB5人対NPB50人のメディア対応 巨人チームメイトとの関係：長野、坂本らとの交流 Season Number: 1 Episode Number: 8