Letters from Kyushu

Hi Wayne: The media pundits overwhelmingly pick the (Yomiuri) Giants and (Fukuoka Daiei) Hawks to be representatives in the next Japan Series. As for the Giants, they are loaded, but presently (manager Tsuneo) Horiuchi uses his starters well over the 100-pitch count, and they may have arm problems as the season progresses.

I predict a sure championship for the Seibu Lions, as manager (Tsutomu) Ito is one of the best, despite being in his first year. After 21 years of catching, he knows a lot of the weaknesses of his opponents and will use them to his advantage.