OSAKA — Lately, it seems for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
The Fighters began the last two seasons with a number of new faces and most people predicting dour times for the Sapporo ballclub.
After dismantling the Orix Buffaloes 7-2 in Game 2 of the first stage of the Pacific League Climax Series, they find themselves — just like last season — in the second stage of the playoffs with a chance to advance to their third straight Japan Series.