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I do agree the coaching aspect is somewhat unrealistic. Jack Z did come from a Brewers org. that's developed some of the best hitters in the game - Fielder, Braun, Weeks, Hardy, Lawrie, Hart, etc. Unless he had no clue how the minor league system was working back then, he should have had a plan on developing these hitters and targeted coaches willing to work with his plan. For whatever reason, the system Jack Z got from the Brewers isn't working here.
1. Is it Safeco? Maybe, but that's a whole different discussion.
2. Is it the lack of "top-tier" talent in their primes? In theory it sounds right - with Pujols and Kendrick in the line-up, Trout and Trumbo don't have to focus on being hero. But I disagree on that happening in reality. If you watch an Angels game, everyone knows Trout (and even Trumbo) is the hero and the star, not Pujols. They're the TnT Angels, not the Pujols Angels. Both those guys own that team. 2005 was a good example - the M's pick up Sexson and Beltre in the off-season, two huge "top-tier" talents. But that didn't stop the 24 or younger players - Reed, Lopez, Betancourt, Morse - from completely busting. It didn't help Choo not hit like absolute crap in his call up.
I think there should be a slight paradigm shift - it's not that elite hitters "protect" the young hitters so they don't press. It's that winning teams, regardless of the hitting talent around them, create and environment that's easy to relax in so young hitters don't press.
That's easier said then done.