Since its inception in 2005, interleague play has often been a shot in the arm for Pacific League teams. Slow starts and patches of rough play have routinely been smoothed over after a few rounds of knocking around Central League squads.

But what happens when it's time to return to reality?

For the Orix Buffaloes last season, reality meant a steady decline from winning the interleague title to missing out on a spot in the Climax Series.