Introduction to Ben Brown’s Bounce Back
Cubs right-hander Ben Brown acknowledged after the Cubs’ 5-4 win Sunday against the White Sox Sunday that he’s struggled with execution, especially in situations like one he found himself in during the third inning. The White Sox had runners on first and second with no outs, after a pair of singles to begin the inning, as Mike Tauchman stepped up to the plate. In a two-strike count, Brown threw a curveball below the zone to get Tauchman to whiff for the first out of the inning.
Execution and Game Strategy
“I haven’t done a good job minimizing damage or stopping the rally,” Brown said. “And being able to get the strikeout is something that I need, part of my game.” He got out of the inning the next batter, with an infield fly that second baseman Nico Hoerner turned into a double play. Rally stopped. Brown took a step forward Sunday, after a rocky first start back from Triple-A last week. He limited the White Sox to one run and three hits in five innings Sunday.
Manager’s Perspective
“He gave us exactly what we needed, and he came up big time,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I was hoping for, frankly, 12 outs, and he got his 15 outs. So he did a heck of a job. Threw a lot of strikes, and we played well behind him.” In the short-term, the Cubs have needed Brown in a starters’ role due to a rash of injuries to their rotation. But he could pitch meaningful innings for the Cubs down the stretch, regardless of what his role becomes when the Cubs likely add pitching at the Thursday trade deadline and get back Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad from the injured list in August.
Long-term Development
Long-term, honing execution will be an important part of Brown’s development, especially as a starter. “The more Ben just keeps things simple, the better he is,” pitching coach Tommy Hottovy told the Sun-Times Sunday. “When he does try to do too much, that’s when you see the bigger misses come into play. … Why don’t we just be the guy that executes a ton of fastballs at the top of the zone and a ton of curveballs down. If we start there, a lot of good things are going to happen.” While Brown was in Triple-A, the Cubs also had him make a tweak to his delivery. Especially on his curveball, his front foot was landing more crossbody than usual, adding horizontal movement and hurting the depth of the pitch.
Adjustments in Triple-A
“The curveball has just really been taking a step up [since] my time in Triple-A, for sure,” Brown said. “And it’s encouraging to see swings and misses.” Brown had a couple chances to crumble, but he didn’t take them. With two outs in the first inning, he threw a first-pitch fastball over the heart of the plate to Andrew Benintendi. And Benintendi sent it into the Cubs’ bullpen for the first of two home runs he’s hit Sunday – also delivering a three-run blast off reliever Ryan Brasier in the eighth inning. Brown recuperated and threw three straight curveballs to Miguel Vargas, who grounded out to end the first inning.
Performance Against the White Sox
The only other hits Brown surrendered were the singles to Lenyn Sosa and Brooks Baldwin in the third. “Fastball execution opened up a lot of room for my curveball today,” Brown said, “and I’m really happy with how that was playing for me.” Brown had already shown this season that he could have outings of this caliber, even against more experienced lineups than the youth-driven White Sox. But by the time the Cubs optioned Brown to Triple-A in late June, the blowup outings had started to outnumber the dominant ones.
Reflection and Future Outlook
“If I’ve found out anything from the last month of being Triple-A or struggling, it’s that I can’t really pull my identity from the game,” Brown said. “It’s been hard, it’s been a challenge, been a grind. And to have a good one, I’m just excited to celebrate with my wife tonight and sleep easy. It doesn’t stop, though. I’ll get right back on the horse. But I’m really grateful for how [Sunday] went.”
Conclusion
Ben Brown’s bounce back against the White Sox is a significant step forward for the Cubs right-hander. The adjustments he made in Triple-A, particularly to his curveball, have shown promising results. As he continues to develop and refine his skills, Brown has the potential to play a crucial role for the Cubs in the long term.
FAQs
- Q: What was the key to Ben Brown’s success against the White Sox?
A: The key to Ben Brown’s success was his ability to execute his pitches, particularly his curveball, and minimize damage in critical situations. - Q: What adjustments did Brown make in Triple-A?
A: Brown made adjustments to his delivery, especially on his curveball, to reduce horizontal movement and improve the depth of the pitch. - Q: What is the outlook for Brown’s future with the Cubs?
A: Brown has the potential to play a significant role for the Cubs, both in the short term and long term, as he continues to develop and refine his skills as a starter.
