Thinking about and looking at all these ridiculous unproductive swings with a no strike count, here are some stats from todays game:
SEA looked at 15 strikes with a no strike count and swung at 18 pitches with a no strike count. Out of the 18, they got two hits(including the big hit of the game, a 2R HR to the oppo field), and made 8 outs, which leaves 8 they fouled or missed completely.
CIN looked at 18 strikes with a no strike count and swung at 15 pitches with a no strike count. Out of the 15, they got one hit, and made a whopping 10 outs, which leaves 5 they fouled or missed completely(Cozart made two outs on one swing). This is exactly what a "pitch to contact" pitcher(like Saunders or Arroyo) wants.
Contrast that to todays StL game in which the the Cards only batted in 8 innings to score the 3 runs they needed to win the game. They looked at 15 strikes with a no strike count and swung at 15. Out of those 15, they had one hit and a SF. The big difference is out of the other 13, they only made 3 outs, leaving 10 they either fouled or missed completely.
It completely appalls me that the % of hits on no strike swings is so low! To me, when you have no strikes, whether you have no balls, one ball, two or three balls(with the hit sign), your approach should all be the same. No swing unless it is a FB in the particular zone you ae looking for and can hit with authority, staying away from a DP, or a breaking ball you are guessing is coming in a particular location you can handle(again staying away from the DP), or a surprisingly hanging breaking ball, belt high.
If you want the unfettered freedom of swinging no matter what or where the pitch is, it needs to be the hit and run play where the runner will probably be out if you whiff on it.