Decker threw hard but had streaks of wildness. In spring training, his own teammates sometimes refused to bat against him. He struggled unsuccessfully for four years to win a spot with the Cubs, then became a regular starter with the Twins in 1973 and 1974. After his 16-14 season in ’74, he explained his success: “I try to tranquilize myself when I pitch. If I’m lethargic, I have better stuff.”
