THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: My advice for Mariners fans during this thrilling playoff push — just enjoy the ride

I’m worried.

Seriously.

I feel a little frightened for all you Mariners fans — a fear that you might keel over from excitement, anxiety, depression if Paul Sewald walks a leadoff hitter in the ninth inning, or plain old nervousness on every pitch as Cal Raleigh tries to get that tying run home from third with one out.

In other words, I’m scared that this new experience, the thrills and terror of a pennant race, might be a shock to your systems.

I mean, we’re almost there, so close to grabbing an American League wild-card spot — then teeing it up in the playoffs.

You know, the postseason?

It’s that rare creature that apparently visits Seattle only once every 21 years, so many of you only have vague memories of playing for a spot in the World Series.

But if your hearts and minds can stand it, here we are in a battle with teams like Toronto, Boston, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and a few others for that wild-card playoff position.

And, well, since the Mariners are good enough to run off a string of 16 wins in 19 games, they can do this.

Right?

LET’S SEE, your nerves and beer supply only have to hold out until …

Hmmmm …

It’s not QUITE going to be decided on this current road trip to Washington and Texas.

In fact, the Mariners are 45-42, so they’ve played 87 games — meaning that they have, uhh, 13 plus 62, ummm … just 75 games remaining over two and a half months.

Oh, my goodness!

How are you going to last THAT long?

See why I’m concerned about everyone’s health and mental state as we hit the All-Star break and then …

(Let’s check the schedule.)

Whoa!

A bundle of games against the AL East champs-to-be Yankees and West champs-to-be Astros come in one frightening bunch just after the All-Star game.

Wait a second …

What’s the problem?

Those are the teams that Seattle will face in the playoffs, right?

Have any of THEM won 16 of the last 19?

OK, let’s be serious for a minute here.

The unique way I started this column was to make two points.

First, of course, it’s great that the Mariners are tied, right this minute, for the third wild-card invitation — not to mention they’re just a game out of the second position and 2 1/2 from the top spot.

But as Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson used to say: “Many miles to travel before we sleep.”

Reggie would make that point with THREE WEEKS left in the regular season — never mind 75 games over two and a half months.

So, my message there is that we’ve got a long, long way to go.

Yes, it would shorten the fear of a letdown if we were sitting a week from the finish line.

What the heck, though …

Why not just have fun with some great baseball all summer, and see how it all plays out?

THEN, WE have the second point to chew on today.

I truly believe the statement I’m about to make, and I’m not just tossing it out there so you can follow the M’s without resorting to Xanax in the fifth inning every night.

Consider this …

Except for the Yankees and Astros, the Mariners are as good as any team in the American League.

Should they really FEAR anybody?

Well, Houston is rolling along at 56-29, but the ‘Stros are just 6-6 against Seattle.

The standings already prove the Mariners’ bona fides, and a boatload of those previous games were played without injured stars Ty France, Mitch Haniger and Kyle Lewis.

If everyone is healthy and back in the rhythm of things after the All-Star break, the Mariners will be, well …

Just really damn good.

The pitching is already outstanding, with a rotation that keeps things close every night — and that lockdown bullpen looking tougher than ever with the gas-throwing pair of Matt Brash and Andres Munoz, Eric Swanson having learned how to control his unhittable stuff, and Diego Castillo back in the form that made him one of MLB’s best finishers.

Of course, that gang leads us to Sewald, who has become the ninth-inning “Sandman” (with due respect for that nickname to the incomparable Mariano Rivera).

If Haniger and Lewis provide even 75 percent of their best production, the Mariners will have a true postseason-acceptable offense.

There’s Julio, obviously, the middle-of-most-rallies J.P. Crawford, the Cincinnati Kids (Eugenio “Good Vibes Only” Suarez and starting-to-rake Jesse Winker) and our surprise power source, Raleigh the switch-hitting catcher.

And then, obviously …

Your eyes have popped with the blasts of recently added vet long-ball specialists, Justin Upton and Carlos Santana.

This is a pretty complete team, folks, which is more than any of the other wild-card hopefuls can say.

I get it that you worry after 21 years wandering in the desert, sure, but trust me …

Don’t sweat these next few months.

Just enjoy them.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three days each week. He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published monthly during the offseason, and weekly beginning in October.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”