Japanese pro baseball has stayed with the three-and-a-half-hour game time limit rule in 2012 and, while this may be helping to save energy and shorten the length of games, there are signs teams are abusing the rule, playing for a tie rather than a win. This is disappointing.
The rule was put into place last season following the events of March 11, 2011, as a power-conserving measure. It stipulates games will go nine innings regardless of time, but no new extra inning may start after the game time has passed 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Most of the stadiums have the game time running on the scoreboard, and the official scorer keeps track of the situation, holding up a card with a huge "X" written on it once the 3:30 mark is reached. This is to alert the umpires and players on the field the last inning is now being played, as if they did not already know.