This is an EXTRA beefy episode, so let's get right into it!

First, a moment for the passing of Dodger Legend, Fernando Valenzuela. Thank you for all your contributions.

Then, a Championship Series recap: Steven Kwan and Anthony Volpe both fight for their teams to make it to the final round, an extra special extra long segment about Yoshinobu Yamamoto's luxury handbags, all love for Sean Manaea's best year yet, and Tommy Edman becomes the first Asian NLCS MVP in MLB history!

Finally, World Series predictions, anyone??

Steven Kwan's ode to the Postseason: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/posts/steven-kwan-mlb-cleveland-guardians-baseball

Kwan's postgame interview: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/steven-kwan-gets-honest-about-playoff-loss-to-yankees/ar-AA1sBA8Q

Sean Manaea's postgame interview: https://sny.tv/articles/sean-manaea-would-love-to-be-back-mets-next-season

Two weeks into the postseason, and the players have come to PLAY. Well…almost.

First up, we celebrate the Gold Glove nominations of Anthony Volpe and Steven Kwan!

Then, into the ALDS - Volpe finds himself in the middle of some Yankees-Royals postseason drama and Kwan hits a massive .524 and writes himself into the history books to help Cleveland advance.

Across the league, the NLDS was a pitching masterclass. Orion Kerkering has a solid postseason for the Phillies, Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea keep the Mets afloat, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Yu Darvish face off in a historic matchup.

Game 1 of the ALCS wasn’t much to write home about if you’re a position player, but the Guardians sacrifice Joey Cantillo to the Yankees’ Murderer’s Row and he pays the price.

In the NLCS, Kodai Senga struggles to get back into the swing of things but Sean Manaea stays cool, calm, and consistent in Game 2, and Ohtani is slumping at the exact wrong time but his teammate Tommy Edman shows himself to be the BUNT KING.

Volpe’s great catch: https://www.mlb.com/yankees/video/vinnie-pasquantino-lines-out-softly-to-shortstop-anthony-volpe

Volpe’s double play: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5835577/2024/10/10/yankees-royals-benches-clear-alds-game-4/

1977 ALCS: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-jazz-chisholm-accuses-royals-maikel-garcia-of-trying-to-hurt-anthony-volpe-on-slide-sore-loser/

Andy McCullough article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5838152/2024/10/12/dodgers-yoshinobu-yamamoto-padres/

Dylan Hernandez article: https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-10-15/shohei-ohtani-dodgers-nlcs-game-2-struggles

WOWOWOW. This Postseason is bringing the DRAMA!

First, the end of an era as the legend Choo Shin Soo retires after 18 seasons of pro ball, and Shota Imanaga’s interpreter Edwin Stanberry gets high praise.

Let’s get into the Wild Card: in the AL, Detroit leaves Kenta Maeda off the roster, Yusei Kikuchi never makes it to his start and will likely be released into free agency, and Tommy Pham is ever the postseason professional.

The NL Wild Card brought Sean Manaea’s first start of the postseason, the Asianless Brewers are eliminated, and Kyle Higashioka impresses big stars.

Now onto the ALDS: Steven Kwan has a big - if controversial - catch in game 2, Anthony Volpe has an impressive at bat but a costly error, and Kenta Maeda STILL hasn’t made the roster.

It’s the NLDS where things really start getting nuts: the Mets bring Kodai Senga back after only 5IP in the regular season, Sean Manaea dedicates his lights-out performance to his aunt, and the series with the most Asians - SD vs. LA - is getting HAIRY.

Steven Kwan’s big catch: https://www.mlb.com/video/steven-kwans-incredible-diving-catch