Seattle Mariners: Top 5 Things to Watch This Weekend

2. Brad Miller Continues to Improve

Apr 14, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners shortstop Brad Miller (5) bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into the season, Brad Miller was someone myself and many others expected to have a big season in 2014. He had already shown above average play in his half-a-season last year, on pace for 3 WAR over 600 plate appearances. That, combined with a great minor league track record and the need for another player to cling to, led for some lofty expectations for Crazy Legs.

To this point in the season though, Miller has fallen short of said expectations. He is currently rocking a .219/.265/.406 slash line, with a vomitous 27.9% K-rate, while walking just 2.9% of the time. Thanks to some likely inflated, small sample size defensive metrics, he is on pace for 2.5-3 WAR on the year, but the problems are still very much present nonetheless.

I cannot comment extensively on his problems, but it appears he is hacking far too much, a big change from the kind of approach he had in the minors. However, he has shown improvement as of late in that regard, and there is reason to believe that will continue.

His swinging strike percentage over the last two games in Texas was 7.7 and 4.0%, down from his season mark of 12.8%, and he swung just 38.5% overall, and 16.7% at pitches out of the zone, down from 50.7% and 36.5% on the year respectively.

Now, a one or two game sample is almost a throw-away, but they are his best couple of games in that regard to this point, and they came with a couple hits, a walk, and no strikeouts. Look for Miller to put up even more improved at-bats, likely with a couple of hits and/or walks.