After converting the Fangraphs plate discipline numbers (OSwing%, ZSwing%, etc.) into Swings At Strikes/Total Swings, here are a couple leaderboards:
TOP 10 | BATTERS | % | STARTERS | % | RELIEVERS | % |
1 | Iwamura | 84.6% | Moyer | 63.0% | DiFelice | 56.0% |
2 | Scutaro | 83.4% | Pettitte | 64.3% | Wuertz | 57.5% |
3 | Giles | 83.3% | Billingsley | 64.3% | Rivera | 59.0% |
4 | Ianetta | 82.3% | Lackey | 64.5% | Gregerson | 59.6% |
5 | Castillo | 82.1% | Volquez | 64.6% | League | 61.8% |
6 | W Harris | 81.1% | Richmond | 64.9% | Grabow | 62.1% |
7 | Cameron | 80.5% | Liriano | 65.0% | Albers | 62.4% |
8 | Punto | 80.5% | Vargas | 65.0% | O'Day | 62.5% |
9 | Willingham | 80.5% | G Gonzalez | 65.1% | Meredith | 62.7% |
10 | Zaun | 80.4% | Saunders | 65.2% | Bulger | 63.1% |
Read that as "84.6% of Akinori Iwamura's swings are at pitches in the strike zone." The league average is around 70-72% for all categories. Minimum 100 PA and 40 IP.
BOTTOM 10 | BATTERS | % | STARTERS | % | RELIEVERS | % |
1 | E Alfonzo | 54.6% | Ponson | 85.8% | Dickey | 80.7% |
2 | Sandoval | 54.9% | Maine | 81.3% | Lewis | 78.5% |
3 | Guerrero | 58.8% | Lilly | 80.4% | Carrasco | 78.4% |
4 | B Molina | 59.1% | Colon | 80.0% | J Cruz | 78.4% |
5 | E Aybar | 61.3% | Penny | 79.4% | Nelson | 78.1% |
6 | Olivo | 61.3% | Sonnanstine | 79.1% | Dotel | 78.1% |
7 | Morales | 61.5% | Redding | 78.6% | Stokes | 78.0% |
8 | Erstad | 61.6% | Happ | 78.1% | Green | 77.7% |
9 | R Diaz | 62.0% | Olson | 78.0% | Hawkins | 77.6% |
10 | Soriano | 62.1% | West | 77.8% | McClung | 77.0% |
Having a good percentage isn't that big a deal for hitters. Generally speaking, if you've made it all the way to the Majors with an undisciplined approach, you've probably found a way to compensate for not walking by hitting for average or power. There is a correlation between this percentage and wOBA, but it isn't a strong one. However, it's a bigger deal for pitchers. If you can't get batters to chase stuff out of the zone, then unless you have a really unhittable fastball or something (like David Aardsma!), you're in trouble.
As far as Mariners are concerned, there's nothing too surprising. Garett Olson looks like crap, Jason Vargas looks interesting, and Felix looks good. As for hitters, Hannahan and Gutierrez have the best eyes while Saunders comes in around average and Yuni looks like a damn retard.