Its really not. Most of these players have been part of a terrible offensive lineup for more than a couple of years, and I thought it was more irrational to think they'd all become OBP machines for a whole season after decades of not knowing what the acronym meant. Soto and Fukudome. Ramirez is the only one of the "old" guys who has shown markedly better patience. The team is still working pitchers very well and there's no reason (up till now) to think that it's going to stop anytime soon. The way they worked Kazmir out of the game despite not being able to hit him was a thing of beauty. Unfortunately, that game just didn't work out for us. I have a feeling the panic around here would be a lot more subdued had Carlos Marmol not thought that home plate was a foot to the left of where it was yesterday. The whole Z thing obviously is looming over us, though. You're right...watching them v. Kazmir was incredible. I enjoyed watching that as much as I do watching them rough up a pitcher. And, yes, Z's injury, Mamol's complete meltdown, and the 3 game sweep have things looking worse than they probably are.