JUSTIN STEELE: Chicago Cubs ACE Joins Locked On Cubs!

JUSTIN STEELE: Chicago Cubs ACE Joins Locked On Cubs!

The 2025 Chicago Cubs had a really good year, but didn’t it feel like it was just missing something? Well, he’s right here. You are Locked On Cubs, your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. I’m Sam Olber. I’m a lifelong fan taking my passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs. Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Download the app today. Uh Justin Steel is here. As you all could see, I was not technologically savvy enough to wait till the intro, so I just had him there. Uh Justin, how are you doing, man? thanks for joining the show. Um, always great to have you on. I think it’s third, third or fourth time with us. I think third. How you doing? I’m doing great. Um, thanks for having me as always. Always love coming on here talking baseball, talking whatever with you. Um, I’m a listener as you know of the show, every week, a few times a week usually. But, um, so I enjoy coming on here, chitchatting, talking with you. Um, I’m doing great though, man. The rehab process is going about as smoothly as it could go. That’s great to hear. Um, I think that’s uh probably where we should start. I mean, we’re going to talk about the 25 Cubs. We’re going to talk about some football, but I think I I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t ask h how’s the arm feeling. Um, you just mentioned a little rehab recovery. How’s all that stuff been going? I’m seeing you’re all over social media throwing the baseball, so that’s good to see. Yeah, it’s going really well. um the first day of actual throwing. I’ve been throwing plyometric balls for the past probably three, four weeks leading up to this and um it’s been just really easy, really smooth. Um this week was my first actual week of playing, you know, catch with a baseball and stuff. And uh I was, it’s funny, I was telling the coaches and stuff cuz like everybody, all the coaches and coordinators were kind of around like watching for the first first throw and everything. And I made a joke. I was like, “Guys, it’s only a big deal if you make it a big deal.” I just like kind of fired the first one like right at his chest and just kind of took off from there. So, it’s just been smooth sailing. Um been easy going. Feels really good. Um I’ve been telling the coaches and stuff it feels like, you know, five or six months ago when I was um throwing against the Rangers minus the, you know, elbow inflammation that I or whatever I was dealing with at the time. Um feels brand new. It feels really good. Yeah. I gotta tell you, it it brought me a lot of joy to to see you throwing a baseball again. U especially especially after the team got eliminated from the playoffs. Like that was just like a nice little pickme up seeing you throw the baseball again. Um how was it? This might be a tough question to answer, but like how was it 2025? We’re going to talk about the team. How was it watching from from either the dugout or from home? I mean, obviously it was a very good season, but you know, just knowing you, the competitor in you, how did you have to balance that and how tough was that? Uh, yeah, first and foremost, like I obviously want to be out there competing in those moments while I’m watching it on TV happening and stuff. So, that’s like the main thing and thing that’s in the front of my mind, but it was also like just kind of cool to just like kind of be a fan this year and just watch on the TV, you know? Obviously, it was really cool to go watch from the dugout and stuff when I was with the team in Chicago and whatnot, but it was really cool just kind of take a step back, watch it from my own living room, my own couch. Really kind of made me ignite a different kind of flame, if that makes sense, for the love of the game. Um, just like following it like that instead of, you know, having to follow it each and every day sitting in the dugout. It was just a different perspective kind of unlocked for me. And, um, it was a really entertaining season. like just thinking back on it, you know, the how entertaining it was to watch PCA come like come to flourish, you know, really break out as a superstar. And, you know, he he’s going to, in my opinion, as he gets older and matures more, he’s going to be able to piece together the entire season. Um, I mean, I forget exactly how many home runs he had at the break. It was like 20 25 something. Yeah, it was something like that. I was like, is this guy going to hit 40 45 home runs this year? um as he gets older and matures, he’s going to be able to, you know, be able to piece the entire season together. I mean, he’s just there’s so much talent in that kid. It’s unbelievable. It was really fun to watch him. And it was really cool to watch the rotation um kind of unfold the way it did with me going down and different injuries happen. Kate Horton, uh you know, I’ll be asking you about I’ll be asking about I was like, is it official as the rookie of the year? Is that is that official? I don’t think I don’t think I don’t think it’s official, but I think I think it’s it will be. Okay. Yeah. I mean, watching that happen was just really cool. That’s something that all all fans across Chicago can look forward to in a Cubs uniform, watching that guy pitch every fifth day. So, that’s something that’s really exciting as well. Yeah, I’m going to ask you a little bit more about him. Um, when you when you say watching gave you a different perspective, is there anything you felt like from a pitching standpoint? What? Like I sit here all the time and and couch coach, you know, for for however many games and go, “Hey, you know what? Uh uh maybe we’re setting up inside too early or that location there. Was there anything you felt like, you know, especially when you weren’t at Wrigley, when you were watching at home with the family that you’re like, “Hey, you know what? This actually could help me uh for next year.” Like any new perspectives on that? Yeah, I I definitely found myself uh couch coaching as well, like um talking to my wife saying like I’ll throw this pitch here, I’d be focused on this right here. So, I think it just kind of gave me a different appreciation of like the different small moments within the game because like when you’re in the heat of the moment, you’re just kind of focused on getting the guy to play it out because you can’t be worried about so many different things. But it gave me a different awareness of like different situations within the game because I was able to watch it from like, you know, a third eye view. I’m like, you know, this in this situation is a good moment to pick off because he’s probably expecting a ball in the dirt since it’s a one two count. I just threw a fast ball high. Those different kinds of situations start unfolding and you’re able to see it play out in your mind. I mean, I was able to watch Matt Boyd pick off like 19 guys this year, right? So like that that being able to watch that really helps me because like my move’s not that great. So I don’t remember your move at all. It’s not that great. My step off move, my quick one is a lot better than my actual like pick my leg up cuz when I pick my leg up and like go to the plate like my knee caves in towards home plate and it’s really hard for me to make a throw to first base and do that with my leg as well. So that’s kind of why my move I need to work on it. That’s not an excuse by any means, but I need to work on it. So watching someone like Matthew Boyd pick off so many guys, it’s like, man, that’s a I mean, if you think about it, if you get 21 outs, that’s a lot of innings worth of outs that you’re just picking off and it’s free outs. So that really goes a long way. Do you think that’s why he’s a gold glove candidate or is that separate? Do they count? I would imagine it has to be. I would imagine that goes towards your defensive war instead of your like pitching war. Okay. Okay. All right. I would have to imagine. I don’t know. I don’t I’m not an analytical hire when it comes to war and stuff, but Yeah. Yeah. Listen, listen. You know me. Okay, don’t start. Now I’m getting all jumbled up here. All right, last question about you and then and then we’ll dive into the team and have some fun. I even have a little game we’re going to play. Okay. Um, is there It’s impossible for you. I’m sure that this is all training staff. Is there a a month, date, time where you’re like, I if I keep going like this, I’m gonna be back by X. Um, it’s it’s really hard to put like a definite date on it. I will say that I’ll say this, and this is like there’s no problem with me saying this. It’s at the rate I’m going and how good it feels to throw, I don’t see any hiccups or any bumps in the road at all happening. So, whatever I’m supposed to do that day, I’m going to be able to do it that day and we’re going to be able to check boxes all in order as we go. With that being said, I imagine I’ll be on some kind of pitch limit, innings limit going like once I’m coming back from this. So, I think I myself and the team will probably be cognizant of that going on and want me to throw in a timely manner where the innings that I’m throwing will matter most. Yeah. Okay. All right. Very, very well answered. very well media trained. All I know is is that I have some dates in mind that I’ve put out myself because um that’s what I do. And whenever it is, I will be at Wrigley Field for that first start. I don’t care if it’s 50 pitches, 75 pitches. I don’t think it’ll be any more than that. Um whatever it is, I will be there. If it’s a boring game, I’ll probably leave when you get removed. Um but I will be there. uh with all the support that you’ve shown this show, I will be there and I will be locked in, locked on, whatever pun you want to say. Um because I I I miss watching 35 uh uh on the mound. I’ll tell you that. I miss being out there. I miss competing at the the highest level, man. It’s uh it’s something that you don’t really realize you have it until it’s taken away from you. And I certainly miss it. All right. Uh coming up next, we’re going to talk about a little bit Justin touched on. I want to talk some some details of 25 and talk about some of these uh great Cub performances performances. We’re going to do that uh next. Today’s episode is brought to you by Rouette. Let’s be real. Making excuses doesn’t solve anything. We’ve all heard them before. It’s just stress. I’m tired. It happens to everyone sometimes. But when it comes to performance, sometimes your body just needs a little extra support. And that’s where Rouette comes in. rouette.com offers fast acting doctor prescribed treatments for ED designed to help you stop making excuses and start making moves. Rouette makes it to get started. You just connect with a boardcertified doctor, 100% online, no awkward waiting rooms, no inperson appointments, and if prescribed, your treatment ships discreetly straight to your door. The process is fast, simple, and private. It’s all handled by real doctors. Visit rougeette.com reug.comlockedonmlb to get 15% off your first order. rouette.com/locktonmlb. And don’t forget to use our code locked onmlb so that they know we sent you. Rouette, stop making excuses and start making moves. We are back here with Cubs ace. And yeah, I’m still going to say it. Cubs ace Justin Steel. To me, down the stretch of the season, you know, the offense was up and down, but it it it really did feel like, you know, e even in spite of Cad’s resurgence that uh man, did we miss 35. And especially against the Brewers. I don’t know if you’re aware of this, um, but your your career numbers against the Brewers, it it’s the team you faced the most and it’s the team that you’ve performed the best the most, the best against I don’t know what I’m saying. Yeah. Um, I mean, you’re certainly aware as you’re facing a team that much. Like I I remember I felt like there was two or three years ago like it felt like I had like three or three out of five starts. It might even been like four out of my five starts was like against the Brewers because we like played him at home, then we played him at their place. Like every time we play him, I’ve pitched against him and um and that’s how Freddy is against us. Yeah, exactly. It feels the exact same way with Freddy Peralta. And it it what I’ll say is it just feels like a really tight competitive competitive match every time I face off against them. And it just feels like an intense game. Um every pitch matters. It feels like anything could change with any pitch or any swing. Um, and I love those kinds of games. I I I love intense games. Um, and you know, it’s I enjoy pitching against them. It’s it’s always competitive. Shifting over to 2025, you brought up PCA and you and I just a little bit, you know, in in the times that we had a chance to chat off the air. We talked about PCA and you know you you are as big of a PCA fan as probably anybody uh listening to this show. Uh the the first half of the season literally literally people don’t realize they laugh now easily was could have been the MVP of the league because at that point show wasn’t even pitching yet. U the second half of the season not so much. I want to ask you from a player’s perspective, 23 years old, you know, playing every day, Wrigley Field, all the expectations, and it seems like he puts even more expectations on himself. Do you believe number one, hey, this guy is an absolute bonafide superstar, but two, is it fair to say that fatigue is a part of it at that age in in the second half? I mean, you know, what what do you think? Uh and just kind of evaluate his season if you’d like. It most certainly is. That’s why baseball is the craziest sport of them all because 162 games, you know, for me it’s 30 to 32 starts, like you can’t replicate that in any shape or form or fashion in your offseason training, in the minor league seasons leading up to getting to the big leagues, like even though the minor leagues is 140, I believe it is, like that still doesn’t compare to 162. Like I can’t stress it enough how big of a jump it is. And I think with maturity and and I’m speaking for myself and I’m just kind of like applying it to PCA Sure. Sure. position as well. Like when I was, you know, first coming up, my the longest the most amount of starts I had ever made in the minor leagues was 20 starts, I believe, when I was in Myrtle Beach. And that was the year I blew out. It was I think it was like my hundth inning. It was my 20th start. It was going to be my last start of the year. It was something like that. It was kind of crazy. And then I went into the offseason and rehabbed. But I remember being tired at that point, you know, I was like getting tired at that point because that was the most I’d ever thrown up until then. And then obviously COVID happens, 2019, a bunch of crazy stuff happens. And then I get to the big leagues, relieve a little bit. So I’m not really taxing like my full gas tank at all between those two times. And then I had my uh 22 and then 23 season where I jumped to like 120 innings and then aund 70 something. If I wouldn’t have had that like 120 inning season and I would have just jumped to the 170, like I would have been running out of gas at inning 130 probably, right? And I could say the same thing about the season before that where I was doing 120. Like if I wouldn’t have had that Myrtle Beach season where I got up to 100 innings, that 120 I would have been getting gassed at 80 innings. And like that’s kind of how it works. It’s like there’s no way to condition yourself for a 162 game season without going through it and learning from like, all right, I got tired at this point. This is what I was doing this at this point during last year. What can I do different to be more prepared at this point? And I would say, and correct me if I’m wrong, you and Pete have are are similar in terms of your competitiveness, right? Like is that fair? Like, and so I think you’re a good person to ask this to, and it’s different being a pitcher and pitching once a week versus playing 162, but you have a guy like Pete and and we don’t even forget Pete. Let’s just use anybody as an example. They’re Pete is a Pete type player, a Justin Steel type guy is never going to go to the manager and go, “Skip, I need a day. I’m I’m mentally tired.” You know what I mean? You guys just are never going to do that. I Is there a time where where like the manager comes up and says, “Hey, you know what? the at bats or whatever the innings it it looks like it’s not anything bad but it just it looks tired we’re going to sit you for a day. Is that something that like does that happen a lot in the bigs or with somebody like a Pete or an everyday player you just say, “Hey, they’re going to play 160. Dan is another one. They’re going to play every day. Let them be. They’ll they’ll get out of their their mental fatigue. They’ll get out of their funk.” Like, how does that work? I would I would think that’s player to player and no one player is specific to another one. Like one thing works for another player, it’s not going to work for another one. That that’s just not really how it works. Like I think that does work in some situations where if a guy’s struggling like it looks off and like you give him a day off or two days off and then he’s you know back to normal. Like there’s certainly that there’s some guys that are like that and there’s nothing wrong with that. Like sometimes you just need a mental break. You need a day off. Like most people work a 9 to5 and they get weekends off. Like 162 games it’s straight like you’re playing and they get they take some days off during the week anyway. Yeah. Exactly. And it’s not just the physical toll, which is like by far the hardest part is like keeping your body up for 162 physically. It’s the mental toll. It’s the mental preparation for every single game every single day. It’s the like when I’m when I’m making 30 starts. Like I’m not as eager to go into the meeting and talk about the lineup about the face as on start 25 as I was start five. Start five, I’m feeling really good. I’m I’m ready to get out on the mound. start 25. It’s August uh or September, whatever the case may be. I’m looking at the calendar like when’s the playoffs? Like how how many more starts in the regular season do I have? So, it’s a completely different animal. Totally. Um All right. F Do you have a favorite memory of the 25 season? Favorite moment that sticks out to you is like that was either watching from the dugout or from home that sticks out. Um the first one that came to my mind right away when you said it was Ian Haps’s home run in the playoffs. Yeah, it’s a great one. Yeah, me and Nikki Lopez was freaking out on the top step. Um I I believe him him one of us caught it. It was just like such a whirlwind of emotions in the moment and stuff like we were like man like this this would be a sick moment for it and it happened and we both just went nuts. Great moment. Um I mean just watching Pete in that first half really turn into a superstar. Like I mean mine was Pete. Yeah. Yeah. like it it’s just the emotions of like the summer at Wrigley like leading up to the summer right there like you know everything was clicking um it’s hard to put like a specific moment during that time but it was I’ll give you I’ll give you the totality of the first half there were two the two for me in the first half was when he hit he made the diving catch against Milwaukee in I in I think the top of the eighth and then was and then he hit the ball off the scoreboard I think the first pitch of felling And am I wrong? I think that was off Rob Zstrrisznney. Um I I could be wrong. I think so. I think so. It was off a lefty. Whatever. Shout out to Rob Zrris. Had a great I’m good friends with Rob. So I hate that he just caught a stray. I I know. But I I was just going to say shout out to him. I had a great conversation with him at Cubscon. Super nice guy. Yeah, I love Rob. He’s the man. Uh but it was um that moment and then the grand slam in Cincy. Those two regular season were that was like I was like, “All right, man.” Like I was starting to think about it was giving me like very Derek Rosie type of vibes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You you and I spoke about that, but like it was just like it just felt like all right this the the city. Go take the city, Pete. Yeah. Exactly. All right. I want to ask you one one kind of I don’t know how to phrase it. I’m not going to say nerdy question, but uh put on your meteorology cap for a second. And I don’t know if you took that uh uh over in in high school in Mississippi, but um we had welding class. Um the Wrigley wins. Uh this is something that this show has been talking about for a couple years. What it it’s been very pitcher friendly the last couple years. Ironically, the last time it was hitter friendly, you my friend were very close to winning the Sai Young Award. So, I I don’t I don’t think it it’s going to impact you a lot. But when you especially watching this year and watching all these 3-2, 4-3, 3-1 games in the middle of the summer, were you kind of like, have you talked to anybody? Have you talked to like J Mo or anybody about the wind? Does anyone have like an actual theory why this is happening? Yeah, I mean, yeah, the players, we all talk about the wind. It’s it’s every day we talk about it. Like when we’re pulling up to the ballpark, it’s like the first thing we discuss. Like if I’m starting that day and the wind’s howling out, I’m going up to J Mo as I walk in the locker room. I’m like, “All right, I got to get the ball by people today. Don’t let them hit it.” Like Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If it’s a popup, it’s gone. Um same same thing vice versa. Like specifically me, JMO Boyd, like we we kind of talk about that stuff. We talk about the win. Kade Kade as well. Like that’s just something you have to be aware of, especially as a starting pitcher. Like if you want to go deep into the game, like you have to know what the wind’s doing. um when the wind’s howling in, I try to get through six innings with 60 pitches and just try and take it from there. Like I’m here, hit the ball, try and hit it out, please. Um like the Ranger like the Rangers game. Yeah, exactly. But um that that’s just And the hitters are the same way. And I I I can imagine how frustrating it is like showing up to the ballpark every single day and the wind’s just blowing in, blowing in, blowing in. and um you kind of have to change your approach and your game plan as an offense that day, whereas usually when you’re on the road, you’re not even thinking about it. Um I think it’s really weird. Um I think if it happens again this year, it’s going to start impacting strategy. Uh but it doesn’t matter what I think. Um couple one more question, we’ll go to break. And I think it already does impact strategy to be completely honest. No, but I mean I mean I not I I misspoke. I mean acquisitions off season, you know what I mean? Like, hey, you know what? With the maybe we get a flyball pitcher because of this or whatever. Do you know what I’m saying? And maybe that already happens this year. I don’t know. Um and that’s why Bush’s season was so remarkable because, you know, the wind was blowing in from right center field the whole year. One of the one of the most under underrated undertalked about seasons this past season was Michael Bush hitting hitting 34 would have been 38 with playoffs. Yeah. Um left-handed hitter first base in playing in Chicago at that field and still hitting that many punts. Yeah. When you look at his homers to right field, they’re like 108 27 degrees n 400 and then but they don’t seem like it cuz they get into the second row because the wind is just, you know, howling it back in. Last question before the break. Do you, Justin Steel, still care about the pitcher win stat? Um, if a pitcher has a lot of wins, yes. If if like if a guy is one and six, I don’t necessarily relate that directly to his performance, but if a guy is 15 and two, he’s obviously doing something right. Yeah. Okay. All right. I’m just I I I someone asked me this the other day. They said, “Would you rather go 18 and5 with a 341 or would you rather have like a skiing season where you’re game under 500, but you got like a 185?” I think the easy answer is I’d rather just bank in the 18 and five. You know, the team’s going to be winning more games then, right? I don’t know. Um, it depends what your ultimate goal is. Uh, Skins is probably going to get you paid. The other one’s probably going to win you a championship. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I’m trying to win titles, man. Uh, all right. More uh with Justin Steel. We’re going to talk a little Kade Horton for just a bit and then I got some football stuff. I got to run by him because he knows more about football uh than I. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get 300 in bonus bets. If you win, that’s right. Pick a bet, put down five bucks, and if it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. Folks, Justin Steel, I am hot right now. And I would like to give away another play. Um, and I and I got to tell you, um, I it’s it’s it’s it’s a really tough week for me. I don’t have anything I love. Um, I’m going to go with the unpopular pick of the Cleveland Browns plus 6 and a half in New England. Um, I think the Bears have a tough game uh this week, guys. Baltimore by six and a half. I’m just a little bit concerned if, you know, is Lamar fully healthy? If he is, I think the Bears are in trouble. So, what are you waiting for? or visit fanuel.com to download the FanDuel app today and get started. All right, we are back here with Justin Steel. Before we talk uh some football, I just wanted to get your final take just what a year from Kade Horton. Um is there anything about his repertoire specifically that you saw or talked to him about where you were like, whoa, I I didn’t I didn’t realize you had that, man. Yeah. What by far stood out the most was the development of the change up at the big league level because what from my understanding leading up, you know, coming up through the minor leagues and stuff, it was his fast ball and his breaking pitches that he was using to get outs. And I don’t know if it was like because the balls are different like they they spin different, they come off your fingers different minor leagues compared to the big league balls. I can attest to that. It was a adjustment I had to make myself. So, I don’t I don’t know if that’s true. I haven’t asked him directly if like, hey, like, do you feel like the change up is a little more comfortable? You have more feel for it with these big league balls compared to the minor league balls? Is that why you’re able to lean on it a little bit more? Um, but I mean that’s by far the biggest thing was like right away at the big league level, he had an elite change up and versus lefties that as a right-handed pitcher with his cut right um forcing fast ball and that change up playing off of it. That’s just dynamite against lefties. is that like as somebody like yourself or Ben Brown who we hear all the time, two pitch, two pitch, two pitch, you’re you’re a little bit different um with your two pitches, as I always have said on this show, I I look at it as like four pitches, but when you see something like that with Kade, is do you ever go like, “Hey, you know what? Should I work like let’s work on some grips together?” And you know, because everybody everybody always says, “Hey man, if Steel had, you know, if Steel had a nasty change up or a splitty or whatever it is, it would be game over.” Do you ever like look at something like that with Kade and say, “Hey man, let’s talk. Let’s, you know, maybe I should, you know, let’s” and he has he has that cut ride that you have. You ever like you ever discuss that and think about adding that or is it too hard, especially that now when you’re hurt, is it too hard at the big league level to just like just start throwing stuff at yourself? No, it’s not it’s not too hard at the big league level. That’s always going on at the big league level. Pitchers are always asking how we throw different pitches, different thought processes. And um there’s something I I always like to say is like it’s not how you hold it, it’s how you throw it. And that’s kind of something you should think about as you if you’re a young pitcher. Um let me jot that down for myself. That’s like the ultimate thing that a little kid is like asking. It’s like, oh, how does he what’s his grip? How does he throw it? And it’s like what ultimately matters is how you throw it and what you do with it. Um, so with Kade, I’ve I’ve asked him about his change up grip. I think it’s pretty similar to mine already. He throws like a kind of like a splitterish change up. Um, Vulcan, there’s like a bunch of different names for it. Um, but the way it comes off his hand is kind of similar to the way mine comes off my hand. The only difference is he’s a lot more consistent with it. Is that is that something that you’re going into this year thinking about more consistent? because we didn’t we didn’t really get a chance to watch, you know, you fully you mixed in like a little bit of a third pitch early on. Is that still something that’s on your mind? I was I was definitely throwing more sinkers as the season was like starting to unfold and that would have definitely started to tick up as the season played out. I would I would think that as well with my change up as I began to get more feel with it. I was starting to get more feel with it as the season played out last year. And that’s kind of one of those things like you don’t want to throw in a lot if you’re not very comfortable with it. So, like as as you get more feel, more comfortable with it, you start breaking it out more. Yeah, I’m excited. I’m excited to watch that for you. All right, let’s talk a little football. Um, our two teams actually just squared off against each other. Um, the Saints are not a very good football team. Um, I actually think they’re a little bit better than I thought. Um, the Bears are really odd because they’re four and two, but everything tells me that they’re not that, you know, they’ve gotten some fluky takeaways and I don’t know if that’s sustainable. 16 takeaways over four games. What have what has been your take? And folks, if you don’t know this, this guy is this guy knows football, man. And I I mean, he knows way more about football than I do. He’s like my dad with football. Um, what’s been your take? First, start with your team if you want to and then have you watched the Bears? Is there is there anything that you’re excited about with the Bears or you kind of with me where it’s kind of like a it’s four and two, but let’s beware. Um, I will dive into this without giving like too personable too personal of takes. I don’t want to like I don’t want to like take jabs or like make someone feel bad or anything, but but we’re all grown-ups. We’re all This is locked on Cubs. We’re all professional. We’re all, you know, grown-ups here. Um, it seems like with the Bears, if Caleb Williams is able to elevate his performance, that they are a real contender in the playoffs. Wow. Um, he need everything else is clicking. He has the wide receivers around him. He has It seems like their line’s been better. Like it’s like when he scrambles, it’s usually after three seconds of a clean pocket and he’s usually scrambling at that point to make a throw. You very rarely see him take a two-step drop back and then deliver a dart from that like you would see a Justin Herbert or a Joe Burrow. Um, usually it’s him. It’s almost like he feels more comfortable making those off pl off offplatform throws and that’s like where he like thrives at and that but those just aren’t high successful rate plays and you can’t just make a you can’t make a 10play drive off of plays consisting consisting only of that. Um I but with Ben Johnson, you can already see Ben Johnson and how he’s able to get really creative with the offense. he can create plays and create touchdowns. Um, for a lack of words, Caleb Williams is what’s kind of holding them back right now. And as he progresses and gets better, the team will only get better with him. Wow. Love that take. I don’t disagree with it. Um, I was listening to the Ringer uh the pod the Ringer podcast with Bill Simmons and and their fantasy guys and they were doing like what’s your craziest prediction the rest of the season uh uh that you know may come true and I think Simmons said like week 13 the Bears are still hanging around but as you said Williams is struggling and they bench him for Beg. I don’t think that’ll happen. Um and I don’t think he’s played horribly but but at all I don’t think he’s played badly but I agree with you. it does feel like if they’re going to get to another level. The only thing I disagree with you on is like I don’t think the rest of the pieces are there either. I think the coach is really good. Um but defensively it feels just a little fluky to me uh from what I’ve watched. But um what other stuff have you noticed uh uh football-wise? I mean, like you said, the Saints are your team, but hard to hard to lock in on them in a in a rebuilding season. Um what else has stuck out to you football-wise as a fan, man? Um I’m a big Justin Herbert fan. the Chargers need to get their offensive line figured out. Um that the first three games they went three and 0 against their own division. They beat the Chiefs. They beat the Raiders and they beat the Broncos three first games of the season. And then believe they proceeded to lease lose three in a row. I believe that’s how it went. But what the thing that happened was their offensive line started getting injured and Justin Justin Herbert started running for his life. He’s not able to, you know, get through his progressions because he’s uh having to run and get out of the way of danger which he can. He’s a active quarterback. He can run well, but you can’t, like I just said, you can’t sustain an offense making plays like that every single drive. Um, so that with the Chargers, I like their defense. I still believe in them as the season progresses. I just think they need to get their offensive line figured out. Um, Patriots have been a great surprise. Drake May has took another step forward in my opinion. Um he’s even even with like not the best wide receiver room in the NFL, like he’s still making it happen with what he has. Um that’s been really fun to watch. I’ve love uh Mike Vrabel. I love what he’s been able to do there in um New England. Um I think Cam Ward is a lot better than what people think or are giving him credit for. Oh, he loves football. this guy, some of the throws that he’s delivering, how quick his release is, like it’s just very natural to him what he’s able to do. And speaking of not having a wide receiver room, like he has not not talking crap about those guys because I know they’re professional athletes, but like he’s not he’s not dealing with the best stuff around him. You know, his head coach just got fired. He’s running for his life. He’s doing different things. So, Cam Ward has really impressed me this season from what I’ve been able to watch. Um, what else do we have? Give Give me something. First of all, I’ll say it because you’re a professional athlete. You can’t I watched a few games of the Titans this year and I genuinely I think I could have coached them and I know nothing about football like that. Like I can’t I can’t call plays. That team was one of the They were so poorly coached. Uh uh. So, so I I’ll I’ll say that. Um all right. Any I’m trying to think of any more football takes. I have one baseball game I want to play. We’re going overtime. I’m taking more of your time than I said, which is what I’m not supposed to do. That’s not being a good host. Um but anything else? I I know we talked a little bit off the air. I’m a huge fan of this guy. I think he’s had an unbelievable year. You want to give us 30 seconds on Dak? I was a big believer in Dak coming in this season for many, many reasons. Um, I like that. I won’t I won’t claim out my wages or what I’ve done, but I have told people that he would either lead the league in one of these or multiple of these, either passing yards, touchdowns, or interceptions. I have been on the record saying those three before the season started were solid bets. And I think if you look today, I haven’t looked today, he’s doing pretty well. Um, all the signs were just pointing towards it. They didn’t have the best run game. They bringing in Javante Williams was kind of like a last grasp. He’s been really good for them, but their defense hasn’t been that great. So, they’re going to be in shootouts if they’re going to be competitive. Dak’s going to need to throw for 350 and three touchdowns a game. That’s just how it’s going to have to happen. And even with the running game, if they brought in Javvante catches the ball out of the back field, it’s just everything kind of lines up for him to have a really good season. And I even bought some of his rookie cards. I was buying his gold vinyls. I like I was invested in Dak going into this season. Do you know who their defensive coordinator is? Yeah. Former Bears. Former Bears coach. Do you know who your defensive coordinator is? Of course I do. You’re your former coach. Yeah. Um and he got a win. All right. Real quick game before we get out of here. I I owe you I owe you something for keeping you way too long, but you’re giving you give great answers. I can’t help that. Um, no, you’re fine. I enjoy this. I have Justin Steel verse. Um, I’m going to name a player. I’d like you to guess what their numbers are versus you. I got like I got like f I got like five names, but I but I combined three of them. Okay. Oh god. All right. Yeah. Let’s go. All right. Justin Steel versus Andrew McCutchen. I think I I think I throw well against him. I’m g like What numbers are you looking for? Just give me uh what what you think hits per at bats or you know I’m going to say I’ve faced him close to fifth between like 12 and 17 times. You’d be correct. I’m going to say he has two to four hits. Correct. All singles. Has he clipped me before? No. No, he has not. All singles, maybe? I don’t remember a double. You’re correct. Um, this is fantastic. Yeah, this is like I I like this is just straight off the dome. Uh, yeah. So, that’s the numbers I would say. I maybe walked him twice. Two for 17 with a walk in 18 appearances. No extra base hits. That’s pretty good right off the dome. That’s fantastic. All right. I I got two more. I’m gonna group these three. Okay. And then I got And then I got one that’s going to go a little bit the other way. Um Juan Sodto, Shi Otani, and Freddy Freeman combined. 0 for three. 0 for two with a walk. Correct. And then Freddy O I don’t think he has a hit against me. None of them have hits. 0 for five. 0 for five. Yeah. 0 for nine. All three combined with a walk to So I just nailed it. Nailed it. Wow. I was at that game by the way. Uh I believe when you one of them when you face Freddy uh to be fair show almost took me deep in Tokyo to lead off a game in Tokyo. It almost put a hole in the roof. Yeah. Then there’s then there’s Tommy Edmond. All right. Last one. Uh Tommy Edmond. If he’s hitting righty verse the Cubs, he’s righty making. He’s hitting a homer. All right, last one. Um I I I this is an honest show. We have to have some fun. Uh Justin Steel versus Tyler Stevenson. He’s either 11 or 12 for 19 off me. That’s correct. And guess what? He owned my on on my butt in the minor leagues as well. And I like and I swear he’s hit every single pitch I can throw for extra base. Like change up, curveball, slider, sinker, forcing. He’s hit them all. I don’t know what it is. Have you ever said anything? Have you guys ever spoke? No. Um probably going to start sending him my Father’s Day card. every Father’s Day is just like a joke. Just be like, “Dude, like happy Father’s Day.” That’s really the only guy I found that was like really severe long term. Like Conor Joe had a decent number. Conor Joe, he he swings the bat well off me. I just I don’t know what it is about Conor Joe. I just feel like same thing like no matter what pitch I throw, it just goes right to his barrel. Oh man. All right. Well, this was a blast, man. Um thank you so much for coming on again and best of of health luck to you. Um, I speak for every Cub fan. We cannot wait whether it’s April, May, whenever it is to see you back out there. Uh, it is going to be such a sight for Sore Eyes and uh, uh, we love having you on and we love having you on the ball club. Thanks for having me, Sam. It’s always fun to come on here. Uh, I’ll come on here anytime you want me to. Um, yeah, thanks for having me. I appreciate it. This is Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. For your second listen, check out the allnew Lockown MLB Game Night. Every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale for the World Series. They’ll be on after every game. Find MLB Game Night on Lockdown MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast. For Sam Oliver, Justin Steel. Have a great weekend everybody.

Justin Steele joins Sam to discuss his rehab and recovery from his season ending injury. Then, they discuss the thrills of the 2025 Cubs season. The show wraps up with some football talk and a very fun Justin Steele Vs. game.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-cubs/

Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/

#Cubs #ChicagoCubs