The joint regulation committee for professional and amateur baseball met on January 11 to discuss changes to the rule book. Among changes that will be made to the official rule book:

pitchers will no longer be penalized for two-stage deliveries. Pitchers can still be warned. Balks can still be called at the amateur level, but will not be called at the professional level. For amateur, will be used at College and Industrial League levels. Still under review at High School level.

automatic intentional walks can be used at any time during an at bat. Will be used at College and Industrial League levels. Still under review at High School level.

no playing catch in front of the dugout

The changes are being made based on what is used in the international rule book.

The NPB met in Tokyo on January 22 and went over the rules for the two-stage delivery and automatic intentional walk and accepted the changes. The new rules will be used this season. Additional details will be released during the NPB Manager Meetings on January 25.

Other issues:

The maximum number of innings for a Nippon Series game seven will drop from fifteen to twelve innings, in line with regular season games. Games beyond game seven will continue to have no inning limits.

The Central League is considering changes to the scheduling for the Climax Series after what happened last year (a First Stage Yokohama-Hanshin game was played despite horrible field conditions due to rain).

Memorial ceremonies for victims of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake will be held during six exhibition games on March 11.

Chia-Hao Sung will be eligible for the Rookie of the Year Award.

Source: Nikkan Sports 1/11/2018, Sponichi 1/11/2018, Sponichi 1/12/2018, Sponichi 1/12/2018, Sponichi 1/12/2018, Sponichi 1/13/2018, Sponichi 1/23/2018, Sponichi 1/23/2018, Sanspo 1/11/2018, Sanspo 1/12/2018, Sanspo 1/23/2018, Nikkan Sports 1/11/2018, Nikkan Sports 1/12/2018, Nikkan Sports 1/12/2018, Nikkan Sports 1/12/2018, Daily Sports 1/12/2018, Daily Sports 1/13/2018, Daily Sports 1/23/2018, Tokyo Sports 1/12/2018, Sports Hochi 1/13/2018

[UPDATE 1/28 @ 11:04pm]

During the manager meeting on January 25, managers expressed concern that umpires were too strict on balk calls for pitchers in the set position. The NPB asked if teams can follow rule 5.10k (no playing catch in front of the dugout) this season. The NPB also confirmed that if a runner on first advances to second uncontested in a first and third situation with the runner’s team one run away from a walk-off, the play will not be scored a stolen base.

Source: Sanspo 1/26/2018, Nikkan Sports 1/25/2018, Nikkan Sports 1/26/2018, Sponichi 1/26/2018

[UPDATE 1/30 @ 3:51pm]

NPB umpires have decided to go easier on balk calls this season. Of the sixty-two balk calls last year, forty-two were called because pitchers did not come to a complete stop. Teams will be given additional details during spring camp and the exhibition game season.

Source: Sanspo 1/30/2018, Sanspo 1/30/2018