Fascinating Article Explains Why It's So Hard For Seattle Mariners to Hit at T-Mobile Park
In this story:
It's well-known that the Seattle Mariners have struggled offensively the last several years and it's well-known that they need to add to the offense before Opening Day comes around on March 27.
However, it's less well-known that T-Mobile Park is actually the most difficult park in all of baseball to hit in, and it's effect on hitting is even greater than Coors Field (at least in 2024).
A fascinating article came out on Monday explaining why it's so hard to hit at T-Mobile, and how extreme the data is.
Courtesy of Mike Petriello of MLB.com:
It also made it difficult for Mariners batters to look good at home, and they mostly didn’t. Seattle hitters at home were 30th in average, 29th in slugging, and 28th in runs scored, all dreadful numbers. Yet on the road, they were 22nd, 15th, and 12th, respectively. If not a great offense, the road Mariners were at least an average one.
Why is it so hard to hit at Seattle's T-Mobile Field? A deep one on how the the best pitcher's park in baseball creates strikeouts, limits damage, makes it hard to evaluate pitchers and hitters -- and why it's about more than *just* the batter's eye.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) January 27, 2025
--> https://t.co/Et92MX1a1r
The article, which really is worth a full read, explored factors such as the batters eye, sun positioning, time of day, wind and more, including the impact of the park on overall strikeouts.
Whatever the reasons are, the Mariners need to find a way to fix them. Seattle went 85-77 last season and missed the playoffs by one game for the second straight year. The Mariners have just one playoff appearance since 2001 and are on the verge of wasting a great window with a generational pitching staff.
The Mariners report to spring training on Feb. 12.
Related Stories on Seattle Mariners
NOT DUNN YET: A pair of former Mariners pitchers (Justin Dunn and Dan Altavilla) have earned invites to White Sox spring training. CLICK HERE:
TOUGH CALL: Former MLB executive Jim Bowden has called for the Mariners to make a very difficult trade, sending Bryan Woo to the Orioles, but will they actually do it? CLICK HERE:
TURNER OUT? After bringing in Donovan Solano, are the Mariners less likely to bring in Justin Turner again? It's seeming that way, per reports. CLICK HERE:
Follow Seattle Mariners on SI on social media
Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on "X" @Teren_Kowatsch and @wdevradiobrady. You can subscribe to the "Refuse to Lose" podcast by clicking HERE.
