The Chiba Lotte Marines have a 2-0 lead in the Japan Series, and with the way the Hanshin Tigers have played the first two games, the Marines could leave Osaka with the Japan Series title.
![News photo](/images/photos2005/sb20051025j1a.jpg)
If the Series is a sweep -- and the Tigers have shown no reason why it won't be -- the Central League will have some hard thinking to do in the offseason. Its champion is being embarrassed in front of a national audience, and a large part of the reason is not having a postseason.