The 2010 season hasn't dampened Jose Ortiz's recollection of the way 2009 ended.

Facing the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Pacific League Climax Series last October, the Hawks were outscored 15-5 in a humbling, two-game sweep. Ortiz was 1-for-8 in that series, and the memory of the Hawks' shortcomings in Sendai remain a motivating factor for the slugger and his teammates.

"It's a new season, but we still think about last year," Ortiz said. "Last year it was two games, and then we went home. We want to go to the Climax Series this year and don't want the outcome to be like that.