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GameFlow, in which SSI attempts to 

• Describe the action, virtual-field-level, as accurately as possible
• Place it into context (what may be in the pitcher's head vs what may be in the batters' heads)
• Triangulate the near-term future based on what doesn't happen during the game

On the other hand, SSI may be attempting to pad its URL archive and PageRank for 2013.

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Pregame Show

Talking Point 1 - the Arsenal

Taijuan had locked down Houston (?!) with a Danny Haren salvo of hard cut fastballs.  These cutters produced a blizzard of dinks, doinks and bloinks and caused his other 3 pitches to "play up."  Play up a LOT.  No* walks all night long.  Just a ton of pitches very tough to square up.  That's Haren.

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Talking Point 2 - the Enemy

Predictably, the peanut gallery warned that it was 'cause he faced Houston, don'cha know.  SSI demurred.  Those pitches weren't going to be hit by anybody.  So let's see what a "non-AAA team," Kansas City, could do.

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Talking Point 3 - the K Rate

Problem was, Taijuan's quality pitches weren't going to be squared up, but also weren't going to strike out anybody.  It was a little odd that he only fanned two hitters, but a few times he flashed the 10+ strikeout form he'd had in the minors -- for instance, leading off the 2nd inning against Houston with a High Fastball - Big Yakker - High Fastball wipeout of ... somebody.  A cleanup hitter.  

Yeah, a cleanup hitter for the Astros, snigger snigger!  I don't see you hitting cleanup for the Astros, LrKrBoi29.  The Astros are on pace for 629 runs.  629 runs is "lousy MLB," not "glorified AAA," you feeb.  Bah humbug.  You want "glorified AAA," try 513 runs.

(As it turned out, Taijuan's pitch-to-contact trend continued in Game 2 against the Royals -- a very successful start but with only 3 swings and misses.)

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Talking Point 4 - the Nerves

SSI had groused a little bit about Taijuan "steering" the ball in his first game, first inning -- 90, 91 MPH four-seamers.  Scratch golfer Mo' Dawg rolled his eyes with such gusto they spun around in their sockets like The Exorcist.  "Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods and the Prophet Elijah steered their opening sermons.  Glad that the kid has enough presence of mind to do that."

Dr. D agrees that in the 30,000-foot view, it's a plus that Taijuan was able to stay within himself.  Even better, he weathered a 3-error* inning and held the Astros to 1 run in the inning.  He got an A+ for nerves overall.  Plot spoiler:  against KC, Taijuan did no steering in the first inning.  His first three fastballs were 94, 95, and 97 -- a Michael Pineda first batter.

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