Nippon Professional Baseball announced recently it will adopt new technology for next year. In addition to making the designated hitter rule available in official Central League games 52 years after the Pacific League began using it, both leagues will begin using a pitch timer and the PitchCom system to audibly transmit the catcher’s signals to the pitcher.

The pitch timer rule has shaved from 20 to 25 minutes off Major League Baseball game times, and it would seem like NPB would be all over that, but Japan – despite displaying green “Play Faster” posters in every dugout for the past decade – has dragged its feet.

A Japanese organization dragging its feet is in no way news. That’s the way Japan rolls. The interesting thing about the pitch timer announcement was “reason” for its introduction.

“The introduction at this time is not to shorten game times but to be in conformity with the international trend,” NPB secretary general Katsuhiko Nakamura said after an Aug. 3 NPB executive committee meeting.

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