See also Replace the Hitting Coach? Another Great Move, posted May 9 ...

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=== Before May 9 ===

The Mariners had lost eight consecutive games, scoring 12 runs in those games. 

They were shut out three times, and in the 8-game stretch they never scored more than 3 runs.  That's unpossible.  Even the 1977-83 Mariners would get you one game's production every week.

I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that by a lot of measures, those 8 games were the very worst 8 consecutive batting performances in Mariners' history.  You're talking to a guy who has watched them back to 1977.

Before that 8-game losing streak, the M's were 0.5 games behind.  After it, they were 5.5 out.   From even-steven, to fishing your opera glasses out of your man-purse ... in ONE WEEK?

The pitchers were shuffling out to the mound like sedated zombies, too.  A 115 ERA+ staff had allowed 8, 8, 8 and 4 runs the last four of those games. 

Our man Geoff Baker was calling the season a powerflush in mid-May, as though it were a Mike Hargrove / Eddie Guaradado campaign.  Mariner Central amigos were announcing that they were done watching until things turned around.  Dogs and cats were eating together...

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=== After May 9 ===

The Mariners have played 6 games since the coaching change, in which they have scored thusly:

• 8 runs
• 5
• 2
• 5
• 4
• 2

And in those six games, they have hit 10 [home runs].  In those six games, they have an additional 10 [doubles + triples].  Remember that factoid for later.

With 52 total hits, that leaves the M's with 93 bases in six games (no, not six weeks, Terry).  In 199 at-bats, that comes out to a .467 SLG teamwide since the coaching change.   Which heliums it all the way to .342 counting Cockrell's 30 games at the helm.

In terms of sheer batters'-box alacrity, the M's had 21 walks against 26 strikeouts under Powell, until James Shields and the ump laid a 1:10 EYE blacking on them Saturday.  Which still leaves them at 22:36.

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=== He say, I know youuuuu You know meeee ===

One thing I can tell you is you got to be freeeee...

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The point, obviously, is not that Alonzo Powell taught the Mariners how to hit before the Ervin Santana game.

The point is that if you're a tennis player, and your coach is micromanaging you, it can bind you up.  You know after the match that he's going to be on your backside about the % of times you came to the net. 

He's going to be on you about % of first serves.  He's going to, for the 80 billionth time, give you the ratios on your service to the backhand side, and then you're going to do the same drills again.

Simply by virtue of dismissing the coach .... hey, the very next match you're unshackled.  Would anybody be surprised if the tennis player went out, played freely and agressively, and blew out his next opponent?

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Part 2