NAGOYA — Maybe it's because the Chunichi Dragons are the Central League pennant winners or maybe it's the fact he's facing off against the franchise where he became a star, but this Japan Series has brought out a kinder, gentler Hiromitsu Ochiai.
He's socializing with the opposing manager before games, holding court with his former contemporaries-turned-TV analysts during batting practice and cracking grins left and right.
Just about the only thing that resembles the Ochiai of old is the No. 66 and his name on the back of his uniform. That and the way he, as usually is the case, finds a way to make all the right moves.