THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: M's fans: 'Keep the good vibes only'

Warning to Mariners fans …

Good or bad, try to ignore the results of this current three-game visit to Houston.

Yes, the M’s could win a fourth straight series, including three on this road trip (Orioles, Rangers, Astros).

Or, some nice momentum might be halted, which history suggests could be their fate in Houston.

Actually …

History screams that possibility rather than making a casual mention of it.

This seems like a misprint, but the Mariners arrived at Minute Maid Park with an almost unbelievable, mind-numbing record of four wins in their previous 30 games at the place.

I can’t even get my head around it.

That sort of thing should be almost impossible in major league baseball, where there is something approaching equality all across the board.

Oh, and just to add another piece to this puzzle, Seattle has beaten the AL West-leading Astros four of six times already this season at T-Mobile Park.

So, my advice …

Ignore whatever happens in Houston this week.

Success or failure, shrug it off as you look ahead and wonder if this beat-up, underperforming Mariners gang can gather itself for a realistic run at the playoffs.

INSTEAD, we’re far better off listening to the words of the Mariners’ poet laureate, Eugenio Suarez.

“Like I always tell the boys,” Suárez said, “‘Hey, no matter what situation we are in, we’ve got to keep the good vibes only.’

“This game is so hard, we need to make it simple and enjoy the game.

“It’s a long season. We’ve got a really good team, and we’ve got to trust in what we can do.”

Suarez is a player to take seriously — a pro’s pro who was the steal of Seattle’s off-season trade with Cincinnati.

M’s boss Jerry Dipoto really wanted outfielder Jesse Winker’s bat, and thus he was willing to absorb the remainder of Suarez’ contract ($11 million per year through 2024, with a club option in ’25), which the Reds were trying to dump.

So far, it looks like the Mariners got a hell of a player for a great price — and a leader on top of it.

Suarez has played a far better third base than expected (he was stuck at shortstop a good share of last year with the Reds), and he’s got a thunderous bat that has produced more home runs than anyone in MLB since the start of 2018 — including 11 so far this year.

Suarez beat the Rangers with a two-run, ninth-inning homer last Friday, then wrapped up the series with a dramatic game-tying double in the ninth — allowing the M’s to get out of Arlington with a 6-5 win in the 10th.

As Seattle’s younger players have had stop-start seasons — and failed in some crucial situations — veterans like Suarez, J.P. Crawford and Ty France have kept banging away.

The result is that even with Mitch Haniger out for half the season, Jarred Kelenic back in the minors, Kyle Lewis now waiting out a concussion after a pitch ricocheted to his head, regular catcher Tom Murphy and his .303 average still missing with a strained shoulder, and the bullpen, well …

Drew Steckenrider was counted on as a rock, but he’s now pitching in Tacoma; lefties Anthony Misiewicz and Roenis Elias have been poor (hence this week’s trade with Toronto for another ho-hum lefty, Ryan Borucki); Sergio Romo was fine for a month but has been battered in his last two outings, etc.

Injuries have wrecked the ‘pen, with Casey Sadler gone for the season (shoulder surgery), Ken Giles suffering a tendon issue in the middle finger of his pitching hand, and the tough Eric Swanson experiencing pain in his elbow.

The upside — considering the context — is that Giles and Swanson are both on rehab assignments and should be back soon.

They are desperately needed, in part because Paul Sewald’s arm could fall off from overuse.

IF YOU want some truly good news that has little to do with this series in Houston, consider …

The Astros already have blown the doors off the division, so any postseason goal for the Mariners comes down to a wild-card spot.

Believe it or not, the Mariners are just three games out of the last playoff position, trailing a Boston team that was sitting right at .500 entering play this week.

With the way the Mariners have continued stubbing their toes up to this point (Robbie Ray tossing up one horrendous inning in every start, Winker taking forever to get comfortable at the plate, the long list of injuries, yada, yada), it seems amazing that Seattle is still very much involved in the wild-card race.

But here they are.

Indeed, with just fair health and most players delivering something close to decent years, Seattle SHOULD break the long playoff drought.

Think about it.

Logan Gilbert has turned into a Cy Young candidate and rookie George Kirby looks better with each start.

Julio Rodriguez is Julio Rodriguez.

Lewis and his bona fide power could be back soon.

In fact, the worst could be behind the Mariners, with more than a hundred games left to play.

As Suarez would say …

Good vibes only.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times 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.”