Introducing ‘The Bain Campaign’ With a Look at the Highs and Lows of Max’s 2021 Season

Several weeks ago, I reached out to Cubs pitching prospect Max Bain wondering about his plans for creating content this offseason. After profiling him in the spring, I learned of his desire to “promote the humanity within the game,” and I wanted to see if he was still headed in that direction. Max had the idea for a podcast series focusing on the mental side of the minor league journey, and eventually, asked me and Chris MacLean (of the fantastic Turn A Pair podcast) to help him.

Today, we’ve released the first episode across all podcast platforms. I’d appreciate your subscription and your review!

This episode 0 isn’t exactly a reflection of where the podcast is headed; this one was just the three of us talking for a long time about Max’s up-and-down 2021 season. In the future, we’re going to have Max’s teammates and opponents (Rio Gomez, Ryan Jensen, Burl Carraway, Nick Loftin, to name a few) join us to talk about what it’s like to succeed and fail while working to accomplish your dream. In conjunction with today’s release, I wanted to write a mini-profile at Max’s 2021 season, using some quotes from the podcast episode. Besides just hailing from a fascinating origin story into pro ball, Max is obviously extremely talented and someone with the stuff to break out in 2022.

* * *

On April 25, Max Bain was told by the Cubs organization he had won a rotation spot with the High-A South Bend Cubs. For the Michigan-raised right-hander, the assignment meant being closer to friends and family, and it meant that the work he’d put in preparing for 2021 had led to quite an accomplishment during his first full Spring Training.

The next day, in his final start in Arizona, Bain pitched against the Low-A team for the San Francisco Giants. For two innings, things went really well, as they often had that month.

The two innings after this video was the first wake-up call that professional baseball offered. “I was going through their lineup a second time, and I wasn’t beating their hitters,” Max says in our podcast. “That was the start of, ‘oh shit, I need to be be more than a thrower.'”

The journey of Bain’s 2021 season is really the journey from thrower to pitcher, and the wake-up calls and lessons learned along the way. Watch the video above, and you’ll mostly see a fastball/curveball pitcher. There are some cutters mixed in there, but it was a pitch that Bain and the Cubs tossed out of his arsenal by the time summer came around. You’ll also see a hybrid wind-up delivery that’s now been relieved of its duty.

And then let’s fast forward to the pitcher who won the Cubs’ August Minor League Pitcher of the Month award. This version of the more-seasoned starter is throwing four pitches, with the changeup having emerged as the most effective secondary. Bain was a little better both in OPS-allowed and strikeout rate against left-handed hitters in 2021, and the per-pitch numbers show the best combination of inducing chase and in-zone whiffs.

A slider has been brought in to combat right-handed hitters and was really good at the end of the season. The fastball might be more 93-96 than 94-98, but ever since abandoning the wind-up and pitching exclusively out of the stretch, the ball is going way closer to where Bain wants it. This gave him the confidence to throw the pitch into the zone when behind the count.

“When things started to get slightly out of hand [after a break on the Developmental List], I still relied on my stuff to get me out of situations. It wasn’t the complete panic mode I had been in in prior starts,” Bain said.

This is pitching and mental development at work, but Bain knows that consistency is something you have to prove over time. He doesn’t shy away from mistakes and the honesty that he wasn’t always as good as he’s capable of in 2021. The 5.52 ERA is only slightly higher than the 5.14 FIP/5.23 xFIP, and all are mostly to blame on a 13.2% walk rate … and the propensity to let an inning spiral (which I think you see evidenced a bit in a 64.4 LOB%).

And maybe a bit can be blamed on the long ball:

https://twitter.com/mbain_38/status/1448707716722135040

When you start to look at 2022, the right-hander can give you something with every pitch he wants to be better at. The curveball needs the efficiency it had in 2020 with the velocity it had in 2021. The changeup needs to be fully integrated into his approach against right-handed hitters, too. The slider needs to continue its horizontal separation away from the curveball. And the fastball? No, it’s not just about 100 mph anymore.

“Throwing harder is always awesome, but I think now instead of raising the ceiling I would like to raise the floor.”

written by

Bryan Smith is a Minor League Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @cubprospects.

more cubs news

The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

I Dug Deep on the Cubs 2024 Schedule (And I Like What I See)

Finally, with Cody Bellinger in the fold, we can start focusing more seriously on the season ahead. So today, I thought we'd take a look at the Cubs 2024 schedule. You can flip through the Cubs 2024 schedule right here...

Here’s What I’m Betting on the Cubs for Opening Day

I get it. Sports betting isn't for everyone — like, say, the interpreter for an international baseball superstar — but some of us quite enjoy it! If you are one of those people, this article is for you. Below, I'm...

WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

Latest News

Top 25 College Basketball Picks and Best Bets: March 28

The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa State Cyclones hit the court in one of four games on the college basketball slate on Thursday that include a ranked team.How to Bet on Top 25 Games[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]Top 25 Games for...

What Does a Chicago Bears NFL Draft Trade Down Look Like?

You'd think we'd be well-versed in trade-back options after months of wondering what kind of haul it would take for the Bears to move off taking quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. But trading...

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Arizona Diamondbacks are moneyline favorites (-230) to begin their season with a home win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on ARID.Zac Gallen gets the starting nod for Arizona while Kyle Freeland is Colorado's...

Mariners vs. Red Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Seattle Mariners are moneyline favorites (-162) to begin their season with a home win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on NESN.Luis Castillo starts for Seattle while Brayan Bello is Boston's starter for...

Guardians vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Cleveland Guardians start their season as road favorites (-156) in a matchup with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday at 10:07 PM ET, live on NBCS-CA from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.Cleveland's Shane Bieber and Oakland's Alex Wood have been named the...

Damian Lillard Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, Damian Lillard must make four from downtown on Thursday, when his Milwaukee Bucks face the New Orleans Pelicans, tipping off at 8:00 PM ET.Damian Lillard's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansDamian Lillard's over/under for three-pointers...

Brook Lopez Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point prop, Brook Lopez needs to make two from downtown on Thursday, when his Milwaukee Bucks meet the New Orleans Pelicans, starting at 8:00 PM ET.Brook Lopez's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansBrook Lopez's over/under for three-pointers...

Giannis Antetokounmpo Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

Will Giannis Antetokounmpo make just a single 3-pointer when the Milwaukee Bucks play the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET? If so, he'll beat his over/under for the game.Giannis Antetokounmpo's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansGiannis Antetokounmpo's...

CJ McCollum Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – Thursday, March 28, 2024

To beat his 3-point over/under, CJ McCollum must make four from downtown on Thursday, when his New Orleans Pelicans play the Milwaukee Bucks, beginning at 8:00 PM ET.CJ McCollum's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the BucksCJ McCollum's over/under for three-pointers in...

Devils vs. Sabres Prediction: Odds, Picks, Best Bets – Friday, March 29, 2024

The New Jersey Devils are -115 on the moneyline and the Buffalo Sabres are at -105 for their game on Friday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.Devils vs. Sabres Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Devils (-115)Underdog: Sabres (-105)Total: 6.5Best Devils vs. Sabres Promo...

more cubs news