Starting the runner on second is a stupid addition. The speed of the game was/is fine. Football takes just as long with more manipulating of the clock.
I will continue beating this drum: Order the umpires to enforce the rule that a batter must keep one foot in the box at all times so they don't take 35 seconds adjusting their gloves, tapping the dirt off their cleats, scratching their nuts and checking their grip on the bat after every pitch. Boom, pace of play is established.