Hanshin Tigers relief pitcher Jeff Williams remarked back in June, "This is a great year for the Central League to start a playoff system."

That was when the Tigers were in fourth place in the CL, 12 games behind the league-leading Yomiuri Giants and about seven in back of the Yokohama BayStars, who were then in third place and above the line for playoff qualification.

However, Hanshin went into this weekend's huge series against the Giants at Tokyo Dome just 1 1/2 games out of first place, and Williams may now be wishing there were no playoff schedule for the Central Leaguers.