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Okay ... hypothesis #1 is "glove-obsession" (or lack of MOTO masher) is the (or at least one of the major) keys to the 2010 collapse.
As I noted above, the 2009 offensive results were better w/o Branyan than with.
*MY* #1 hypothesis - (accepting that there is more than one variable in play, and this is just the "leading" reason for the underperformance - not the only one) ...
Veteran Entitlement
The 2009 results "seemed" to be an indicator that Veteran Entitlement (TM) was over.  But, in hindsight, there was plenty of evidence (as the year progressed) to call that perception into question.
The "idea" was that players had to produce ... they had to EARN their spot in the lineup.  Endy lost PT to Wlad early on -- then got hurt.  When Yuni wasn't producing, Cedeno started getting PT.  When Cedeno could get it done ... trade for Jack Wilson.
Problem is ... the winning record obscured the reality.  Griffey/Sweeney were the "feel good" story -- but they were also producing at reasonable levels, (Sweeney especially, once healthy).  But, lost in the midst of it all was Beltre hitting like MARY Cedeno for two full months ... and he never batted lower than 5th in the order all season.
The 2010 Griffey debacle just made the treatment of Beltre much, much more obvious.
As an entitled vet, Griffey got a pass on his Spring Train-wreck-ing.  And he also got to continue hitting 5th in the order long after your average 7 year old fan could tell he well beyond finished.  And, even at the end ... the CLUB didn't choose to release Griffey, (or ASK him to step aside).  No ... Griffey just up and decided ... "I don't think I'll come in any more".
Seriously, if Bradley isn't hurt or getting counseling, and Griffey doesn't DECIDE to retire, does Saunders get any PT at all?  They opted to keep Byrnes out of Spring training, and he had to post pitcher hitting numbers to earn a ticket out of town. 
Lopez and Figgins are hitting in the .500s and that doesn't even earn a day off.  Except, apparently, Figgins had already made Wak aware that he wasn't particularly thrilled with the whole V.E. rules in regards to Griffey (back in April) ... so AFTER he hits .830 for a couple of weeks, he's put in the #9 slot, so Bradley, (with a robust OPS in the .300s during the same span), takes over in the #2 hole.
So ... the club, under Wak ... has special rules for ...
Ichiro -- always bats first - no days off.
Bradley -- forgiven for ALL transgressions.
Saunders - the rookie - the BEST hitter on the team - has started a grand total of ONE game all season hitting above 7th in the lineup.
Kotchman was moved DOWN in the order when hot.  Figgins was moved DOWN in the order when hot.  Ichiro, Lopez, Gutierrez ... they retain juicy lineup spots regardless of how they're hitting at any given moment.
Griffey got 33 games and 108 PAs to "prove" himself.  Carp got 11 and 34, (and Carp actually outhit Griffey by a smidge).
The sequence seems to be ... Vet Entitlement in full force ... and Figgins raises an objection to this ... and the punishment is *HE* loses Veteran Entitlement privileges.
And *THIS* is part and parcel with the approach of attempting to "build from without".  Personally, I don't think it is possible to build an organization through free agency WITHOUT the Veteran Entitlement culture from thriving.  Prospects, who HAVE to work to crack a lineup ... and are playing for the first time in the majors ... and earning pennies on the dollar ... *THEY* experience the entire organizational structure that GOT them to the majors.  They associate THEIR success with the organization.
Free Agents ... they associate their tie to a new team based primarily on money ... UNLESS there are a core group of "home grown" talents who set the standard for that organization.  In NY ... the Mecca for Free Agents ... Jeter, Posada, Rivera ... the club has a solid foundation of "true" Yankees that outsiders are expected to live up to.  Today, they're adding Cano, Hughes, Chamberlain.
Ichiro is it for the Ms ... and he wasn't home grown ... and he's got a cultural divide that makes him less than ideal as a role model.  He's got the work ethic and production, but that's not enough.
Seattle desperately needs for Saunders and Ackley to succeed to start building that base.  Smoak and Gutierrez are slightly less ideal ... having developed elsewhere.  But, if their first real success is in Seattle, (while they're still cheap), then perhaps that'll work, too.  (Smoltz was viewed as a Brave foundation piece, though he was an import).
Typically, analysis focuses on the monetary edge of having young players.  But, I believe there is a CULTURAL aspect for organizations where the home grown successes are the ones who actually set the tone of the franchise.  Today ... that tone is being set by Lopez.
Of course ... others may just view it as bad talent recognition skills or any number of other variables in play.  Me?  I view the Griffey choice (starting in ST), just as detrimental to the outcome of the club in 2010 as the Johjima extension was in 2008.