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"What were you thinking!?"

Sports fans typically yell some variation of this phrase (with an added expletive or two) whenever their favorite team makes a mistake.

Though often growled with impunity, the question is valid.

In baseball, tens of thousands of fans in ballparks around the country stare directly at the pitcher's mound before the ball is thrown.

Then, their eyes shift to home plate, eager to see how the batter reacts to the pitch.

So, then, what do baseball players think about during the game?

"'Execute the pitch,' is the biggest thought process," said Milwaukee Brewers right-hand pitcher Bryse Wilson.

"My whole mentality is that I execute the pitch. Hitting is hard in general; if I execute the pitch it makes it even harder. And I trust that my stuff is good enough to get them out if I do execute the pitch."

Wilson has been a reliable starting pitcher for a Brewers team desperate to find serviceable play on the mound after a slew of injuries.

In his seventh year in the major leagues, Wilson has a 5-3 record through 19 games and nine starts. He has the second-lowest ERA of his career (3.89) and is on pace to break his career high of 79 strikeouts, which he recorded as a starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022.

Wilson's seven years of experience gives him an advantage while watching film. Familiarity with most batters aids his preparation and helps "execute the pitch."

"There's a lot that goes into it," Wilson said, "like watching the hitters and their swings from scouting reports, seeing what they struggle with. It helps having a little bit of time in the league because I've faced a lot of the hitters that I go up against."

Like any pitcher, though, he makes mistakes, which can turn into hits and runs.

Wilson had a particularly rough game June 20 against the San Diego Padres in which he gave up seven hits, five runs, and three homers over 4 2/3 innings before getting replaced by Jared Koenig.

In moments like the Padres game, Wilson admits the lights can get brighter.

"When things start to spiral, I can say it feels lonely a little bit. That's when you start giving up runs, and you're the one that has to fight out of it."

Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick agreed with Wilson, from a batter's perspective.

"I don't know if lonely is the right word," Frelick said. "I think sometimes you feel – especially if you're struggling – you get that lonely feeling and up there it's more apparent that it's just you versus (the pitcher)."

Milwaukee has given Frelick, its former top prospect, more opportunity this season. The second-year slugger has cashed in; Frelick has already broken or is on pace to break all his rookie-year stats.

Frelick credits his success to film study. He broke down how he approaches pitcher scouting reports, both starters and relievers.

"Starters are definitely easier than relievers because before every game you're able to study the starter and you're going to get two or three at-bats off him," he said.

"We cover relievers at the beginning of every series. Relievers are guys you see more often the more you're in this league. Starters you can do more film on, but relievers you're going off previous at-bats you've had against them."

Even with runners on base, the batter is still on his own. Like Wilson, though, Frelick is typically unfazed by the attention at the plate.

His mind goes back to the film study.

"I have a different approach for different pitchers," he said. "I game plan before going into the game and I come up with the approach with a plan of what the goal is at the plate.

"If the guy is throwing low and off-speed, for me as a lefty, I want to aim more to left center. If he doesn't throw a lot of off-speed, if he's throwing a lot of fastballs, I want to aim more towards center."

Manager Pat Murphy is just as concerned with the players' mental state as their production on the field.

He has a simple philosophy for his players' approach to the game, which both Wilson and Frelick embrace.

"I want them to feel so great when they go to the plate," Murphy said. "Not think, just feel like a million bucks when they walk in that batters' box. Same with the pitcher when he's out there.

"Confident. Convicted. Clear. That's what I want."