Cubs News: Yan Gomes talks Steele's "country-boy fastball" |
After losing their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Cubs have rebounded and won their three-game series against the San Diego Padres, winning their last game 5-2. Catcher Yan Gomes has seen the pitchers in general improve greatly throughout the season, particularly Justin Steele.
“I think we’re really starting to see (Justin Steele) really (mature) and growing as a pitcher,” Gomes said. “I feel like when we came into the season, we were talking, like, about, like, some of our young guys. I think he’s taking that next step of confidence and learning himself and it’s exciting. He’s a great guy, puts in a lot of work and it’s paying off.” Steele has played 30.1 innings so far this season with 29 strikeouts, second on the team only to Marcus Stroman who has 30, and No. 36 in the MLB. He is also leading the Cubs in wins with four. That ties for the most wins Steele has had in a season in his three-year career. Gomes attributes his success to his fastball and how it is difficult for batters to hit. Elite company for Justin Steele: pic.twitter.com/a6Pp6BMvnf
“I think it’s (a) country-boy fastball. I think it comes out different,” Gomes said. “He has the ability of hiding it well and sometimes it looks like a slider, sometimes goes up … The biggest thing for him is him throwing strikes. You know, I think he’s starting to understand that, like, everything plays really well. The more confidence he starts getting on every pitch.” Justin Steele, 93mph Fastball and 85mph Slider, Overlay pic.twitter.com/ngRWIMM5aw
Last season was not great from Steele. Starting 24 games and pitching 119 innings, he had an earned run average (ERA) of 3.18 and lost seven games. His ERA in 2021 was even higher at 4.26 in 20 games started. According to Gomes, his performance last year might have been a bit of a weight on his shoulders. “I feel like, you know, it could have been a little bit of a weight on his shoulders,” Gomes said. “A little pressure, wanting to, you know, take ownership of a spot in the rotation.” Things have been a bit up-and-down for Chicago recently this season. After a four-game winning streak that started with a 3-2 victory in their final game of the first series against the Dodgers, the Cubs lost three of their next four before winning the series against the Padres. They’ve dropped back to third in their division and three games back from the top position. Gomes says this is a common thing for teams to go through, but they need to ride the wave instead of a rollercoaster. “Throughout the season, you’re going to see a lot of, like, guys (getting) hot, guys (getting) cold, and, you know, we have a great team here,” Gomes said. “That ups and downs, we got to be able to, like, ride the wave here, not the rollercoaster. We can’t go up and down.” Part of riding these waves is the developing chemistry throughout the entire team, including the bullpen. They are a close-knit group that has heavy communication skills, allowing them to work in-sync. “Having a selfless bullpen is really awesome and those guys are becoming like that. They’re building a pretty close-knit relationship back there,” Gomes said. The communication, which I keep saying is important for me and (Michael) Rucker, getting those guys to just trust in us and, obviously, we trust them.” Chicago will start their three-game series against the Miami Marlins tomorrow (5:40 p.m./MSN) with right-hander Stroman starting for the Cubs and left-hander Jesus Luzardo for the Marlins. It will continue on Saturday. Chicago has not announced their probable pitcher, while Miami will be starting right-hander Edward Cabrera. The series will conclude with Steele starting for the Cubs, going against right-hander Bryan Hoeing for Miami.
