The Yomiuri Giants will host the winner of the on-going Stage 1 of the Central League Climax Series when Stage 2 of the CLCS begins Oct. 18 at Tokyo Dome.

The Kyojin will be playing either the Chunichi Dragons or Hanshin Tigers, and it remains to be seen in what kind of shape the Giants players will be after more than two weeks of not playing any games.

Manager Tatsunori Hara's boys concluded the regular season Oct. 3, one day after winning the 2007 Central League championship flag. Since then, Yomiuri has been on the sidelines, waiting for the other CL clubs to wrap up their schedules, and the Dragons and Tigers to decide the final opponent.

There is no doubt the Giants will be fresh and rested, but the question is: Will 15 days on the sidelines cause them to be flat and listless with a lack of timing on the part of the hitters, and shaky control by the pitchers?

They could all grow beards in that time, but the team's no-facial hair policy precludes that.

Sure, the guys have been practicing and playing intra-squad games, but it is just not the same as a real game situation, especially with the pressure of playoff baseball. They must stay sharp, not only physically, but also mentally.

Yomiuri outfielder Damon Hollins said, "I'm not used to this," in reference to the Japanese style of finishing the regular schedule, then waiting around for the postseason to start.

In the majors, the American and National Leaguers all wrap up their regular-season games at the same time, then go right into the playoffs and the World Series.

But, here in Japan, the end of the season is staggered, and that often causes the long, dry spell before the start of the playoffs and Japan Series.

Remember Shane Spencer who played for the Tigers in 2005?

That was the year the Tigers played the Chiba Lotte Marines in the Japan Series — and were swept in four straight after sitting around for two weeks while the Marines stayed competitively sharp by playing in two series of intense playoffs. The Central League had no playoff system then.

Spencer went 17 days without seeing live pitching, from his final at bat of the regular campaign until he was called on to pinch hit in the late innings of Game 3 of the JS at Koshien Stadium, against a Lotte hurler firing 150-kph fastballs and snapping off nasty sliders and forkballs.

"I had no chance," said Spencer, admitting the experience was like being awakened from a sound sleep in the middle of the night and being sent up to the plate to try to hit.

Maybe Yogi Berra, Jerry Lynch or Smoky Burgess, those old pinch-hitting specialists of yesteryear, could have done that, but not everyone can.

Whether it's the Dragons or the Tigers as their opponent, the Giants this year will be playing a team with a maximum of four days since its last game; one that should be in better shape than the Yomiuri unit not having played for the 15 days.

The outcome of the series may well depend on the skill of Hara in preparing his team and keeping the guys fired up for what should be an exciting five-game set — if the Giants are ready to play.

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I'm hearing from several fans who say they enjoy reading the blog posted by Fukuoka Softbank Hawks relief pitcher C.J. Nitkowski. The first-year-in-Japan lefty has put up a diary-style account of his season with the Hawks.

Unfortunately for C.J. and his teammates, they were eliminated from further postseason play by the Marines on Oct. 10, and Nitkowski has returned to the U.S., so his writings will not extend through the Japan Series, but check out his thoughts and adventures during his 2007 season in Japan at his Web address: www.cjbaseball.com

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Semi-finally this week, reader Lew Roy commented about Colorado Rockies second baseman Kazuo Matsui, a hero of the Rockies' sweep over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Divisional Series. Lew wrote: "Kaz, left for dead after being booed out of New York, comes back and leads the Rocks to a playoff win and maybe more. He deserves credit, and it looks so fitting that Matsui is in, and the Mets are out."

His prediction: "A World Series between the Red Sox with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima vs. the Rockies with Matsui would be great."

Yes, Roy-san, Kaz Matsui is to be commended for his tenacity, perseverance and the ability to come back. There was never any doubt about his talent, as evidenced by the fact he was the 1998 Pacific League MVP while playing with the Seibu Lions.

The only question was whether Kaz could make the adjustment to the major leagues. He obviously could not do it in New York but has made the grade in Denver.

As for being chased out of New York, Matsui might be singing an old Bobby Darin song to those Mets fans who waved him out of the Big Apple last year: "Oh, Look at Me Now."

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Finally this week, a friendly hello to yet another new sponsor of the "Baseball Bullet-In," JCI Consulting. Thanks to Markus Leach and the nice folks at JCI for the support, and welcome aboard.

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Contact Wayne Graczyk at: [email protected]