The defending Central League champion Yomiuri Giants are playing what is so far a wacky season of up-and-down, hot-and-cold streaks as the first month of the 2009 campaign concludes.

Manager Tatsunori Hara's club failed to win on opening weekend, losing two and playing a tie with the Hiroshima Carp. But the Giants compiled two six-game winning streaks and had built up a 4 1/2-game lead over the CL pack on April 25.

Yomiuri cleanup hitter and 2008 CL MVP Alex Ramirez said at the time, "We're winning, but we're not really hot." Rami was not carrying the team, and neither was his predecessor in the lineup, third hitter Michihiro Ogasawara.