Nostradamus with the Hubble Telescope would never have seen it coming.

It isn't surprising that Takashi Ishii was named Japan Series MVP after pitching 13 scoreless innings and winning two games. What is surprising is that he even played a noticeable role in the postseason.

Ishii was a pathetic 1-5 during the regular season for the Seibu Lions, who clinched their first Series title since 1992 with a 7-2 Game 7 win over the Chunichi Dragons on Monday in Nagoya.

The right-hander had a 4.65 ERA and gave up 82 hits and 28 walks in 69 2/3 innings.

Dismal. But he pitched seven scoreless innings in Game 1 and six shutout frames in Game 7.

``I don't get to pitch in these situations very often. I just tried to throw as I usually do and build on the momentum (from Sunday's Game 6 win),'' Ishii said. ``I never imagined that I'd win this award.''

The remark typified the entire 2004 Nippon Professional Baseball season.

Not even Nostradamus armed with the latest in crystal ball technology could have imagined several of the events--especially those of the off-field variety--that transpired or were conspired this past season.

Did anyone see the Orix BlueWave-Kintetsu Buffaloes merger coming?

Whoda thunk the ever-placid players union would rebel against obstinate ownership and go out on strike?

No one foresaw the resignation of Yomiuri Giants president and NPB nabob Tsuneo Watanabe, who supposedly stepped down to accept responsibility for recruitment violations.

And did anyone think that the NPB curmudgeons would ever be forced to submit to a blood transfusion in the form of either Rakuten or Livedoor, two Internet companies with new ideas? Thanks to the stand the players took and the support of fans across Japan, one of these companies will form a new team next season to replace the franchise lost in the Orix-Kintetsu merger.

The times, they are a-changing in the NPB boardrooms. Whether they like it or not.

In comparison, things weren't nearly as interesting on the field.

In the Central League the Dragons came up big while the defending CL champion Hanshin Tigers flopped to fourth and the overpaid Yomiuri Giants finished third.

The Dragons played like the Tigers did in '03--over their heads. The Tigers reverted to their usual form and the sole highlight of their season was Kei Igawa's no-hitter in his last start of the year.

After the Giants acquired high-priced sluggers Tuffy Rhodes and Hiroki Kokubo everyone--especially the Giants--were predicting a CL runaway. Instead they finished eight games back.

Rhodes and Kokubo combined for 86 homers and the Giants clobbered a record 259, but the starting pitching was again mediocre and the bullpen again was a bust.

Former Seattle Mariners closer Kaz Sasaki returned to Japan to rejoin the Yokohama BayStars, but had a so-so year, finishing with 19 saves and a 3.17 ERA.

In the Pacific League, the new three-team playoff format ruined things for the Daiei Hawks--who were the classiest outfit in Japan--but made life more interesting for the fans of the Nippon-Ham Fighters and the Lotte Marines.

The Fighters, having moved out of Tokyo Dome, were playing their first season in Sapporo. The club got solid support and rewarded their faithful by earning the final playoff spot.

The defending Japan Series champion Hawks finished a comfortable 4 1/2 games ahead of the Lions, but lost in a five-game PL championship series to Seibu, which defeated Nippon-Ham in the first round.

The Hawks Nobuhiko Matsunaka became the first player in 18 years to win the Triple Crown, finishing with a .358 average, 44 homers and 120 RBIs.

Popular Bobby Valentine returned to manage the Marines, the team he guided to a second-place finish in 1995.

After a quick start the team slumped and needed a strong finish to claim fourth, 1/2 game out of a playoff spot.

Now rumor has it that Bobby V has an out-clause in his contract with Chiba and might return stateside to take over the New York Mets.(IHT/Asahi: October 27,2004) (10/27)