MILWAUKEE _ Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer has watched left-hander Jon Lester's evolution as a Red Sox rookie throwing 97 mph in 2006 to a more polished starter with four effective pitches.
But after a string of inconsistent outings that included a short one Wednesday night, Hoyer and other Cubs staffers can only hope Lester can regain his effectiveness with two starts left in the regular season and the National League Central title at stake.
"Right now, it's about making mistakes at the wrong time, and his stuff probably hasn't been as dominant as he would want," Hoyer said Thursday regarding the possibility Lester, 33, might be showing the effects of wear and tear on an arm that has thrown 2,1731/3 regular-season innings.
"But it's way too early to talk about that."
Less than 24 hours after Lester allowed seven runs on eight hits with three walks and no strikeouts in 41/3 innings of a loss to the Rays, manager Joe Maddon reiterated his faith in him.
"His velocity was down, but where the pitches were going, I'm not used to seeing that," Maddon said of the lack of command and Lester's inability to keep his sinker in the lower part of the strike zone. "Even if (he's) down velocity-wise, he knows where the pitches are going.
"I have to believe that's going to get rectified soon. Guys like him normally are not into the physical mechanics this time of year, but I want to bet if something is wrong, it's going to be more (mechanical). Not everyone is peaking. I just want to be very patient about this again. I think he's fine."
