Lookout Landing

The 2008 Seattle Mariners were world-renowned for their shitty plate discipline. Their O-Swing% of 28.5% ranked second-last in the league, as did their 6.9% walk rate. It was a team full of hackers, and their poor collective idea of the strike zone played a significant role in crippling the team's chances of competing.

Jack Zduriencik recognized this weakness during the offseason and brought in a group of players better able to identify strikes and balls and make the pitcher work. Ken Griffey Jr., Russell Branyan, Endy Chavez, and Franklin Gutierrez all came in with encouraging track records, and Mike Sweeney had a history of reasonable discipline. Only Ronny Cedeno looked like a free swinger, and he was slotted for the bench.

After 33 games, the 2009 Seattle Mariners have an O-Swing% of 29.6% and a walk rate of 6.9%. This despite the league average O-Swing% falling a point and the league average BB% jumping a point.

We've gotten worse. Despite the additions and the coaching staff saying all the right things during the spring, our plate discipline has gotten worse.

It hasn't been the fault of the additions. While Branyan's swung at more pitches out of the zone than usual (not that it's hurt him), here's everything you need to know:

It's those damn relics from the Bavasi era holding us back, as many of them seem to be hacking more than ever. The violators?

Beltre: O-Swing% increase of 6.8%
Betancourt: +10.3%
Lopez: +5.0%
Ichiro: +3.3%

I always trust that Ichiro knows what he's doing, but between Yuni, Lopez, and Beltre, we have three of the stupidest hitters in the world, and we're starting them every day. Somebody help us. I can't take much more of this.