Not sure if anyone saw, but Ron Gardenhire and Cecil Cooper were both fined by MLB for failing to keep the pace of the game moving.  I can't speak for the Houston situation, but I know the Gardenhire fine stems froma  game last weekend in Milwaukee.  In the 8th inning of a game the Twins were trailing 3-2 and with an 0-2 count, Brendan Harris called for time, but homeplate umpire Brian Runge didn't grant it.  However, he shifted his stance so Harris looked at him to see if he was granting the time, and Guillermo Mota proceeded to throw strike three to end the inning.  Harris wasn't even looking at the pitch and could have been hurt had Mota thrown something inside.  Gardy came out and argued and of course got ejected. Runge claimed he was just enforcing MLB's directive to keep games moving.

Curious as to this group's thoughts on the league being so gung-ho on reducing game times that they can't even grant time to a batter late in a close game.  Does this bother anyone else?  It's bad enough that it happened in the game, then the league actually goes out and fines Gardy?  Twins are near the top of the league in quickest average game time.  It seems pretty ridiculous. 

The beauty of baseball is the strategy, the battles, not the pace of the game.