Pitchers going against the Chicago Cubs have figured out the plate strategy of the team.
They see the all-or-nothing approach each Cubs batter is showing in 2022.
Those pitchers have now made their adjustments to take advantage of the batters in Chicago.
However, if the Cubs change that approach, opposing pitchers would need a new way to strike out Cubs batters.
But it might not be that easy for a change in the Windy City from this way of hitting.
New Hitting Coach But Same Feel In Chicago
The Cubs brought in Greg Brown after the 2021 season to help improve the Cubs lackluster .237 batting average in 2021.
However, things feel like we’ve seen this hitting approach before in Chicago.
I've watched 4 at bats for the Cubs and all 4 batters struck out looking and walked out of the box knowing it
— zach qunell (@zqunell) October 26, 2016
Striking out while looking seems to be a time-honored tradition in Chicago, and one they need to eliminate.
Patience while batting can be helpful, but looking at strikes going across the plate doesn’t help the team.
Strikeouts like that have become a problem lately, and players like Seiya Suzuki are suffering from those strikeouts.
While Brown was brought in to fix the hitting woes of Chicago, that isn’t the case currently.
The Cubs team batting average sits at.240 before their doubleheader with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That’s a tiny improvement from last season’s team batting average.
But a tiny improvement wasn’t what Brown was brought in for in Chicago.
Cubs Batters Looking For Home Run Ball Too Much
When the Cubs players are swinging the bat, they are trying to go deep when doing so.
However, that type of approach doesn’t help the team.
They need to play small ball when needed.
Same result different day , trying to win with one swing when small ball contact could have tied it at least
— Gary Ingersoll (@IngersollM31) May 5, 2022
Players can’t hit home runs every at-bat, and coaching needs to realize that.
But it seems the approach the Cubs are taking is for the deep ball with every plate appearance.
In doing so, most hitters are patiently waiting for the perfect pitch to smash.
However, it ends with walks and strikeouts.
They need to focus on contact and not the perfect pitch to hit.
Is There Hope For Cubs Batters With Brown As Hitting Coach?
One thing Cubs management saw with Brown when hiring him was the hitters he produced as a minor league hitting coach.
As a hitting coach for the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system, he produced multiple major league hitters.
So this means there’s hope for the Cubs’ offense with him in charge.
However, there is something to be noted with Brown and his ability to produce major league hitters.
He was working with those players before they came to the majors, allowing him to mold them early.
Being a major league hitting coach takes a slightly different approach, as these players might be set in their ways.
With those players, he might need a more data driven approach to help them progress and improve.
If he can change his current tactics and make the right adjustments with his coaching, there is hope for him.
However, the season has only begun and there’s plenty of time to see those improvements on his end.
NEXT: 3 Things The Cubs Need To Do To Turn Their Season Around