Hey, whatever saves time, so the Olympics can get on with that important epee quarterfinals

In the new format, the 10th inning will be played normally. At the start of the 11th,
teams will have the option of beginning at any point in the existing batting order and
placing the previous two batters on base.
For example, a team that opts to lead off with its No. 3 hitter would begin with its No. 1 batter on second base and its No. 2 hitter on first with no outs.
"It's kind of the same thing (as the traditional extra-inning format)," said U.S. pitcher Jeremy Cummings of Triple-A Durham. "You just get two guys on, so more than likely, guys in the Far East will probably bunt them over. So you've got one out with guys on second and third, so that might make the bunt defense come into play a little bit more."
The 12th inning and beyond would begin where the previous lineup left off, with the two hitters ahead of the batter scheduled to lead off that inning being placed on first and second bases.

How would Tommy Lasorda have kept everything straight at that point if he was still managing the U.S. team?
Continue:

Initially, USA Baseball executive director Paul Seiler was opposed to the format change, but he warmed to the idea after discussing it with general manager Bob Watson, field manager Davey Johnson and the rest of Team USA's on-field personnel.
"The traditionalist in me says, 'No way.'" Seiler said. "The IOC is really managing-slash-massaging sports within the Games. We're one of those few sports that baseball people or traditionalists would say, 'We do have a tiebreaker -- we keep playing until the game's over.'
"But you know, in the Olympics, where you have (a) finite amount of time to get your program finished (and) the early game goes 15, 16, 17 innings, then what does that do? Television is affected, transportation is affected -- a lot of logistical things that we don't have to worry about on a Friday night in Durham. It's a domino (effect)."
The new rules are being tested at a youth tournament this week in Canada and will take effect for all tournaments under the federation's umbrella.

Final add: An NHL game can have its shootout to determine a regular season game, but not in the playoffs. But an Olympic medal for baseball can eventually be decided by something that's done because, well, we've got too many other things crammed into the day, and you'll have to end your sport artificially or else, forget it.
Is this why golf has such a difficult time being an Olympic sport, too? Can you imagine it ending with a putting contest?
Maybe if they're going to bastardize the rules of baseball this much to fit into the Olympic schedule, it's just as well that they eliminate it from competition.