The Seattle Mariners enter a weekend series with the Houston Astros at a very disappointing 4-9 on the young season. The offense has been the driving culprit behind their struggles, with Seattle hitting a league-worst .184 to this point.

In 13 games, the M's have already been shut out three times. Of course, you can find excuses for that: the weather, the tough hitting environment in Texas, the caliber of pitching they've faced, or the lack of prep for guys that played in the World Baseball Classic. It likely all factors in, but at the end of the day, the M's just aren't getting it done. And they need to start.

But beyond all that, the one question that we should be asking is: What exactly is the approach at the plate?

I discussed more of this on the 'Refuse to Lose' podcast on Friday:

"What is the approach of this offense? Because the Mariners as a whole do not seem to have one.

Now, I know that Edgar Martinez and Kevin Seitzer know about offensive approaches. I know that Dan Wilson knows about offensive approaches. And right now, clearly though, these hitters don't seem to be utilizing one, at least most of them.

The amount of swinging at the first pitch when that first pitch is not a fastball or not a strike is alarming to me. I have always said I am in favor of hitters swinging at early count fastballs. The numbers bear it out. If you swing on 0-0, your batting average is much better. Your batting average is better on 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1. All the hitters' counts, predictably, your batting average is better.

If you let the pitcher dictate terms and get ahead 0-1, 1-2, you're pretty much screwed at that point. So I have always been in favor of hitters swinging at early count fastballs, trying to do damage. Always been in favor of guys swinging at hitters' count fastballs.

But the amount of times that we see Cal Raleigh swinging right now at an 0-0 fastball that is way above the hands and taking what should be ball one and turning it into strike one, that is alarming. The amount of times we see Julio Rodriguez swinging at an 0-0 slider instead of an 0-0 fastball is alarming to me. The amount of times we see Dom Canzone swinging at an 0-0 splitter rather than a 0-0 fastball.

And look, these are the best pitchers in the world. Some of these pitches are so well tunneled and so well-designed and so well-shaped that I get why Dom Canzone could think a 90 mile an hour splitter is a 95 mile an hour fastball. I recognize that. But there is too much seemingly going up there without a plan.

Draw walks, get hitters' counts, try to do damage — that could be a plan. Swinging at early count fastballs — that could be a plan. What I don't think is on Kevin Seitzer's whiteboard at the end of every hitter's meeting is: “Hey, swing at pitches that aren't strikes, and swing at pitches that aren't strikes and are not fastballs.”

Fortunately for the Mariners, they have a chance to get right over the weekend against the Houston Astros, who enter play with worst team ERA in the entire sport.

It's a four-game series and Friday's game begins at 6:40 p.m. PT.

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