[jeffy777]

Certainly not predetermined, but I do feel that before the start of the game, some sort of dice roll happens that has at least some impact on whether each pitcher is going to be locked in or a bit off or somewhere in between. You can see it especially in the AI vs. AI games, and the effect is lessened if they're already on a hot streak. But it certainly doesn’t determine the outcome of the game.

It produces a realistic effect, imo, simulating the ups and downs of a real baseball season. If the pitchers were on the top of their game all the time, it wouldn't feel like real baseball.