Who do you think should be selected as MVPs in the Central and Pacific Leagues this season? There does not appear to be any clear-cut favorite in either league. Ask any Japanese media person or beat writer at the bal park, and they think about it for a moment and answer with a puzzled expression, saying, "Muzukashii, ne?" (It is difficult, isn't it?)
With fewer than 15 games remaining in the regular season, the Yomiuri Giants and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks appear likely to win their respective league pennants and, as is well known, the MVP usually comes from the first-place club.
The Giants have somehow managed to win without a single .300 hitter, and the only player on the club with 20 home runs or more (through Wednesday) is first baseman Jose Lopez who, because of manager Tatsunori Hara's decision, has been mostly a part-time player in recent weeks.