\u201cI knew I was so close and this would be such a waste if I continued to pitch this way, that was the biggest frustration with those two in Miami and Cincinnati,\u201d Brown told the Tribune. \u201cThere were innings that were really good, obviously. So how do we get over that hurdle? The difference between those outings and what I\u2019ve been able to do was so small, but so great. That was the determination. Like, there\u2019s something that\u2019s there, that needs to be done. I just don\u2019t know exactly how to do it yet, but I\u2019m going to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
There have been mechanical tweaks in addition to trying to use his changeup more against lefties, but the mental part of the game was a crucial component Brown needed to tackle. Sometimes it manifests in overthinking or preparing too much. Brown has been focusing on slowing the game down, slowing his heart rate and adrenaline down while understanding what kind of competitor he is and how to best harness that.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely a little bit of an over-anxiousness of the game, or putting too much weight on it, rather than just acknowledging that it\u2019s stressful, it\u2019s a thing, but taking care of business,\u201d Brown said. \u201cAnd there was probably too much on my mind, rather than slowing my heart rate down and going out there, competing and pitching my game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brown\u2019s fastball-curveball combination can be devastating when his command is locked in. Then there are days like Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies when everything appeared to be a grind for the 25-year-old as he faced the organization that drafted him. The Phillies tagged Brown for three runs in the first inning and ultimately put up six runs and eight hits against him in the Cubs\u2019 7-2 loss to drop the series.<\/p>\n
![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/CTC-Z-Cubs-Tigers-Baseball_230077592.jpg\")
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown throws against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo\/Paul Sancya)<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s going to be outings like that,\u201d Brown said. \u201cYou\u2019ve just got to bounce back and give the team a better chance to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brown managed to get 5 2\/3 innings, which helped a very thin bullpen get through the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just wasn\u2019t sharp today,\u201d manager Craig Counsell said. \u201cI don\u2019t think he ever got to a place where he felt good with his fastball and his breaking ball, and it led to a general kind of lack of command.. You saw some big misses and then when he needed to, just not getting balls to good spots, and they made him pay for that.\u201d<\/p>\n