Some of the statistics were unbelievable.
Where should I start?
Well, you might think that the Mariners are cautious hitters who work the strike zone like diamond cutters who thrive on precision.
Seattle’s batters have caught more pitches than any other team in Major League Baseball.
If you wait for the pitch you want with such attention, you should have a remarkable chance of putting the balls in play.
And with violence.
Instead, the Mariners lead the universe in strikeouts by light years.
If you want to play around with the alphabet, consider that Seattle (Ms) has had a strikeout 1,367 times (Ks).
Yes, that’s almost exactly 10 strikeouts per game.
This strange time of year brings with it some bizarre anecdotes.
For example, on Tuesday night the Mariners squandered a 1-0 lead and lost 3-2 to Tampa Bay – suffering 17 strikeouts against six pitchers along the way.
Leadoff hitter Victor Robles was the only Seattle hitter to avoid a strikeout.
If you think there needs to be some discussion and controversy within the organization over this season-long strikeout disaster, you are absolutely correct.
IN FACTTwo hitting coaches (Brant Brown and Jaret DeHart) ultimately lost their jobs as a result of this fiasco, which sent the Mariners’ batting average to last place in the MLB at .215.
There have been rumors that the data-driven M’s organization may have made batting such a scientific exercise that the entire batting order is paralyzed.
Ryan Rowland-Smith, a former major league pitcher who provides commentary and analysis for the Mariners broadcasts, weighed in on the potentially overly complicated messages Seattle hitters are receiving from their coaches.
“I was listening to Brant Brown the other day. I’m sure he’s brilliant, but I’m sitting there listening to him – like, can you just answer the question, man?” Rowland-Smith told Seattle Sports.
“That’s just word salad about hitting. And I understand he’s trying to get to another level scientifically, but if that’s the message he’s sending to hitters, the way he talked … if I’m a hitter and I have to listen to that, I’m sorry, man.
“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel here.
Rowland-Smith particularly focused on Julio Rodriguez and the difficulties he has had for most of the season.
The topic during the interview with Seattle Sports was Brown’s focus on the pitchers’ strategy – rather than working with Julio and his approach at the plate.
Rowland-Smith felt that the Mariners’ training with Julio was backward.
“(Brown) was talking about Julio – something about pitches in and pitches out. It was like we were just saying, ‘Hey, Julio, try sticking your hands out, bro?’
“It’s that simple. If you see something on your plate, go for it.”
HAS THE Are sailors waiting too long?
It has been clear for months that a number of batsmen – professionals with a long track record of making contact with the ball – were receiving conflicting messages from coaches.
Good batsmen took backward steps instead of turning things around.
The hint could be due to the new additions.
Guys like Randy Arozarena (signed just before the trade deadline) and Victor Robles (signed as a free agent) came to Seattle with their own version of comfortable swings.
Neither player messed around with their approaches and both players were successful.
Arozarena has always been a cantilever.
“I see a pitch that I can hit and swing hard,” he said in an interview with the Seattle Times.
Arozarena has talked to Julio about an aggressive approach and the results could be visible – even through the marine layer.
The Mariners must hope that it is not too late to catch up with Houston in the AL West.
They are 3 1/2 games down and we can definitely see signs of life.
Arozarena, Robles and Julio all hit home runs in Tuesday’s 6-2 win over Tampa Bay.
The M’s begin a 10-game road trip to Anaheim, Oakland and St. Louis on Friday.
Pitching is still pitching and it gives the Mariners a nice comfort zone where they can just relax, go out and play some ball.
And hit.
Finally.
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Steve Cameron’s Cheap Seats columns appear four times a week in The Press, usually Tuesday to Friday unless there is something happening.
Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”
