A writers perspective on how Brant Brown has improved the team

[ramfandan]

Derrick Gould of the Post was asked the effect hitting coach Brant Brown on the 2025 Cardinals

His oomments :

Plenty. Ample. Significant. A notable amount. The connection he's made with several of the hitters is reminiscent to me of what I watched with Mark McGwire and the young players who welcomed him to St. Louis. Brant Brown-isms work, and then beneath them is a real emphasis on individualizing how he works with hitters and how he prepares them for the game. Results help, but consider how Jordan Walker has not yet really taken some of the improvements he's made with coaches and in the cage and gone into games with them -- but he's still enthusiastic about them. That's something that you can trace to the approach of the coach, the messaging, and what McGwire would describe as being the type of coach the hitter needs, and adjusting hitter by hitter to be that way. The way the Cardinals hitters are preparing for games under Brown's guidance is something that stands out this season.

Source: Post Monday Cardinal Chat Q & A

[BrockFloodMaris]

Derrick Gould of the Post was asked the effect hitting coach Brant Brown on the 2025 Cardinals

His oomments :

Plenty. Ample. Significant. A notable amount. The connection he's made with several of the hitters is reminiscent to me of what I watched with Mark McGwire and the young players who welcomed him to St. Louis. Brant Brown-isms work, and then beneath them is a real emphasis on individualizing how he works with hitters and how he prepares them for the game. Results help, but consider how Jordan Walker has not yet really taken some of the improvements he's made with coaches and in the cage and gone into games with them -- but he's still enthusiastic about them. That's something that you can trace to the approach of the coach, the messaging, and what McGwire would describe as being the type of coach the hitter needs, and adjusting hitter by hitter to be that way. The way the Cardinals hitters are preparing for games under Brown's guidance is something that stands out this season.

Source: Post Monday Cardinal Chat Q & A

Nice post, Dan! I think we can all feel the positive energy that Brant Brown brought with him. It’s fun to watch the players respond.

[2ninr]

I saw a caption last night that the Cardinals had the second most opposite field hits. That says everything about their approach and willingness to buy into team offense. I think that expands everyone in the lineups role. The games more exiting. The difference this year is night and day. I don't know if it's 100% Brant Brown or a complete organizational change in approach brought on by Bloom and the other new people? Either way, it has to be better finding multiple guys who fit this system. I'm all in on not waiting for 3 run bombs.

[Strummer Jones]

It's been a breath of fresh air, really.

You aren't going to hang an 11 on a team consistently, but with this team I feel that there's a significant chance every game that we'll put up a crooked number or two, no matter who's on the bump.

[Handsomebachelor]

Man feels like every time I look up we scored like 10 runs every game lol. Loving this team the most since like 2022 I guess (when AP returned)

[JDW]

Add Jay to the positive coaching changes made. There's no way to measure the differences these 2 coaches have made, but I'd speculate it's the difference in how the team's actually performed to how many of it expected it might unfold to this point. Significant.

[Goldfan]

And we had to live with the nonsense of keeping the last stiff because they wouldn’t fire him….and waited till his contract ran out while the team spiraled into offensive ineffectiveness…..insantiy

[Goldfan]

For years many here told us “pitching today is Soooo good that Cards hitters just can’t hit them”……it’s approach and having the right strategy
They STUPID grip and Rip…..launch angle poo was and is the best way to hit .210 ever originated. The obvious difference in this line drive, opposite field more natural way of hitting is clearly how to do it. Donny has the most hits in baseball….anyone who thinks that him swinging for the long ball and waiting for a walk is the better strategy is a fool

[rockondlouie]

-2nd in MLB in Hits
-2nd in MLB in doubles
-2nd in MLB in B.A.
-4th in MLB in OB%
-7th in MLB in Runs

If they had a true MOTO power hitter (35-40 HR's), this offense would be insanely greater than it already is.

[Futuregm2]

I saw a caption last night that the Cardinals had the second most opposite field hits. That says everything about their approach and willingness to buy into team offense. I think that expands everyone in the lineups role. The games more exiting. The difference this year is night and day. I don't know if it's 100% Brant Brown or a complete organizational change in approach brought on by Bloom and the other new people? Either way, it has to be better finding multiple guys who fit this system. I'm all in on not waiting for 3 run bombs.

I’m not sure how many opposite field hits they had last year, but their opposite field% last year was pretty high, too and the year before that. It’s a little higher this year, but not as much as you’d think, so I’m not sure that was a Brown thing. Btw, compare that to 2022 when we had a top offense.

2023: 25.6% (4th in MLB)
2024: 25.2% (9th in MLB)
2025: 26.9% (4th in MLB)

vs

2022: 23.9% (25th in MLB)

[Futuregm2]

-2nd in MLB in Hits
-2nd in MLB in doubles
-2nd in MLB in B.A.
-4th in MLB in OB%
-7th in MLB in Runs

If they had a true MOTO power hitter (35-40 HR's), this offense would be insanely greater than it already is.

Don’t think he’d be a 35-40 Hr player obviously, but what about…. Ramon Laureano from the Orioles.

Amazingly it feels like he’s been around forever but he’s only 30 years old.

After putting up a .296/.327/.505 line to finish the year last year with the Braves he’s hitting .272/.327/.549 with the Orioles this year with 7 doubles and 6 HRs in 101 PAs. His OPS is similar to his 2019 season with the Athletics.

His EV is 90.6, highest of his career.
His barrel% is 16.9%, highest of his career
His Hard hit% is 47%, highest of his career.
He’s got a sustainable .322 BABIP
He’s a plus defender in the OF.

He’d have a team option for next year for $6.5 million.

[Monsieur De Treville]

And the moral of this story, boys & girls, is that coaching DOES matter.

[rockondlouie]

-2nd in MLB in Hits
-2nd in MLB in doubles
-2nd in MLB in B.A.
-4th in MLB in OB%
-7th in MLB in Runs

If they had a true MOTO power hitter (35-40 HR's), this offense would be insanely greater than it already is.

Don’t think he’d be a 35-40 Hr player obviously, but what about…. Ramon Laureano from the Orioles.

Amazingly it feels like he’s been around forever but he’s only 30 years old.

After putting up a .296/.327/.505 line to finish the year last year with the Braves he’s hitting .272/.327/.549 with the Orioles this year with 7 doubles and 6 HRs in 101 PAs. His OPS is similar to his 2019 season with the Athletics.

His EV is 90.6, highest of his career.
His barrel% is 16.9%, highest of his career
His Hard hit% is 47%, highest of his career.
He’s got a sustainable .322 BABIP
He’s a plus defender in the OF.

He’d have a team option for next year for $6.5 million.

Definitely could be target.

I've been focusing on Marlins Right Fielder Kyle Stowers (another O's draft pick, 2nd round in 2019):

27 yrs old
10 HR
30 RBI's
.303 .379 .561 .940
Arb Eligible: 2027 • Free Agent: 2030

Is he a late bloomer breaking out?

Is his 2025 start a fluke?

What would the Marlins want? N. Gorman for him? Maybe J. Walker for him? Too high?