Closest race in Central for 21 years

Only one game separated the top 5 teams in the Central League as of the end of play on June 2nd. The last time that a mere one game separated the top five teams in the Central League as late as June was on June 15th, 1979, 21 years ago.

Here's how the standings looked, then and now:

1979.06.15 W L T W% GB 2000.06.02 W L T W% GB 1. Chunichi 23 21 6 .523 - 1. Yakult 22 20 1 .524 - 1. Taiyo 23 21 5 .523 - 2. Giants 25 23 0 .521 0.0 3. Giants 24 23 2 .511 0.5 3. Chunichi 24 23 0 .511 0.5 4. Hiroshima 23 23 4 .500 1.0 4. Hiroshima 25 24 1 .510 0.5 4. Hanshin 22 22 5 .500 1.0 5. Yokohama 21 21 1 .500 1.0 6. Yakult 19 24 4 .442 4.5 6. Hanshin 20 26 1 .435 4.0

I notice two other interesting figures in comparing the two.

1. The top five teams in both cases are at or above .500, so only one team is in the red.
2. The number of ties has greatly decreased.

The decrease in ties is fairly easy to explain. The Central League has since increased the number of innings to 15 before a game is declared a tie. (Actually, the more astute reader will point out that that doesn't quite cut it as a complete explanation. Any takers?)

Another interesting fact that was mentioned in Nikkan Sports today (June 3rd), which was also mentioned by Chiba-san in Shukan Baseball a week ago, is that no team has been able to win consistently once taking first place. All 6 teams have spent some time in first place, and between them, the first place teams are 20 wins and 32 losses (with 2 ties) for a .385 winning percentage.

Does anyone have any theories as to why the Central League has turned out to be so even this season? Or why first place teams just can't seem to hold on to it? Hit "Reply" below.

[Updated layout format on Feb 14, 2005 9:41 PM JST]