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Above Marco falls behind 2-0 -- not missing any of these pitches by much.  He's being careful, trying to paint.  But it is a hitter's count; we're not saying Marco was a Cy Young winner in this game.

But what do YOU throw 2-0?  He needs a strike with runners on.  He hits his target, a cut fastball (moving in rather than the usual easy-to-hit armside sinker) right at the knees.

Orlando hits a sharp grounder up the middle, maybe taking Segura to the bag for a DP ... but Gonzales deflects it with his glove, infield hit.

Is the above knee-pounder a bad pitch?  Of course it is not.  Baseball Prospectus' recent study defined "mistake pitches" with that grid and knee-high was obviously not on it.  This is not like getting behind 2-0 and then grooving a fastball stomach-high and outer third.  Neither is it similar to lobbing a curve ball that spins badly and doesn't break.

When a pitcher is getting destroyed, it is because he is hanging offspeed stuff high in the zone, or falling behind and throwing center-cut fastballs.  The above pitch is an excellent pitch in a 2-0 count.

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Hitter 1-7, inning 1 number 7, was Cam Gallagher.  He struck out swinging, K.

Hitter 1-8 was a walk.

Hitter 1-9 was Drew Butera, a strikeout, K.  Inning over, 40-odd pitches.

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Marco gave up one hit in the 2nd, but two smoked lineouts saved him, no runs.  Royals had the signs?

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