Earlier this season, young left-hander Justin Steele excelled out of the Chicago Cubs bullpen. After being stretched out at Triple-A Iowa, he re-joined the team, this time as a starter – to very different results.
Out of the pen this season, Steele was lights-out, making 11 appearances and working to a 2.08 ERA. His showcased some real swing-and-miss stuff, whiffing more than 14 batters per nine. Of course, if you’re Chicago, you see that, look at a woeful starting rotation, and, immediately, the wheels start turning.
But success hasn’t come in the same way in the rotation – at least not yet.