Mariners offense needs to follow Randy Arozarena's lead in the batter's box

We've previously used the phrase "Randy being Randy" to describe how Randy Arozarena usually marches to the beat of his own drum, which doesn't always benefit his team. This year alone, that has meant dealing with the unnecessary drama of Handshakegate and repeated defensive lapses in the field of play. However, if there's one area where he has been open to coaching and listening to others, it's in his offensive approach.

Arozarena has proven to be the Mariners' most consistent threat in the lineup this season, leading them in a whole host of categories. We're talking hits, doubles, RBI, stolen bases, runs and plenty more. (Heck, even hit by pitches.) Overall, he's first among all Mariners in bWAR and fWAR and is projected to set single-season career-highs in both by the end of the 2026 campaign.

Randy Arozarena's improvement is down to more than just the motivation of money

So what gives? We know Arozarena is motivated to secure a lucrative new deal, with him set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. However, his increased and more consistent productivity also comes down to a more nuanced approach in the batter's box.

Arozarena spoke to the assembled media on Monday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, ahead of playing in his third All-Star Game on Tuesday. Speaking through an interpreter, he explained how his improvement has come via tips from the Mariners staff and shifting his focus away from hitting for power. As per Owen Hewitt of The Seattle Times, he said:

"Everybody always wants to hit those balls out of the field. But I think in trying to do something, you lose something else in yourself. This year, that’s kind of what I’ve been doing. Listening to the coaches letting me know I’m able to put the ball in play somewhere else and just taking some of those tips and the help that they provide."

Randy Arozarena

You certainly can't argue with the results, which includes improvements in a number of categories from last season, including both actual and expected. This is important as it alludes to the gains being real, while overall just showing how patient and more cerebral Arozarena has become at the plate:

Further evidence of Arozarena's more disciplined approach is being projected for a 21.6 percent strikeout rate which would be the lowest of his Major League career. (His 17.4 K% in 2019 was based on just 23 plate appearances.) And his success extends to also being the best Mariners threat with RISP, an area which has been the team's Achilles heel all season:

* Arozarena's rank on the Mariners
** Mariners team rank in the majors

Mariners lineup has been dire and needs to be more like Randy Arozarena

Now granted, we don't know if the Mariners coaching staff isn't also preaching a similar approach to the rest of the players. However, what we would love to see is a bit more emphasis on putting balls in play and making things happen.

As of the All-Star break, the Mariners are ninth-highest in the majors in strikeout rate, but only 18th in Hard-Hit percentage. This is a bad combination that doesn't seem intentional. To our admittedly untrained eye, it just looks like a lot of guys taking too many big swings that come up empty, highlighted by dropping from the third-most homers last season, to so far ranking tied-14th.

Arozarena spoke on Monday about how he tries to enjoy everything he can, while also feeling a responsibility to represent the Mariners well, as their sole All-Star selection. In fact, he's hoping the trip to Philadelphia will help spark himself and his teammates back in Seattle, with the American League still so wide open.

The 2020 ALCS MVP might not always be the most responsible and reliable of teammates, but his offensive impact cannot be dismissed. It's past time for the rest of the Mariners players to follow his lead in the batter's box. That's right, this is one of those times when "Randy being Randy" can prove to be significant positive.

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