THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Julio's week, and other QBs to keep an eye on

Guess what?

By popular demand, we’re starting the week with a breathtaking Notes and Quotes session.

There’s also the fact I had a “minor back procedure” on Monday, and that sound you heard was my shrieking as the medical team surrounded my bed with assorted medieval torture devices.

Have you ever noticed that the staff in all these clinics refer to surgery as “minor” — when it’s happening to you, not to them.

FYI, Tiger Woods also just had another fusion last week, this one to ease the arthritis in his ankle.

Me and Tiger …

Both on the table for “minor” tune-ups, and with a total of just over $1 billion in total net worth.

My share of that is roughly the price of a caramel macchiato at Starbucks.

The large venti, though.

Moving on …

ITEM: You’re lucky.

You can tell your grandkids, and maybe THEIR kids, that you were around to see “The Week of Julio Rodriguez.”

Do you have the tiniest clue how incredible, how almost impossible it is for a major league hitter to rip off 17 hits through four consecutive games?

For context, the previous record (16 hits in four games) was held by Milt Stock of the 1925 Brooklyn Robins.

If you still truly don’t get it, if this was all just a TV experience with talking heads explaining it to you, then get over to T-Mobile Park and sit behind home plate.

Just once.

Watch the pitches these guys are trying to barrel up, and you’ll probably want to wait afterward for Julio’s autograph.

By the way, even J-Rod was reminded how amazing his feat truly was, and he got that lesson the hard way.

He popped up against Kendall Graveman with the bases loaded in that excruciating 7-6 victory on Sunday, then swung wildly while striking out on three high fastballs from Rafael Montero.

Easy there, J-Rod.

When you let the game come to you ...

It takes a beating.

ITEM: Hate to say I told you so, but …

Hey!

I told you so.

There is not much reason to pay rapt attention to NFL exhibition games, other than to perhaps spot an undrafted free agent (yo, wide receiver Jake Bobo) who might have a uniform on Sept. 10, when the Seahawks open for real against the Rams, or …

To see if someone important gets hurt.

Now, maybe this won’t turn out to be a season-killer (nor even remembered), but Seattle backup quarterback Drew Lock had to hobble away from Saturday night’s 22-14 victory over Dallas.

Having a healthy and reasonably talented QB2 can be the difference between the playoffs and a high draft choice the following spring.

So, call this a tiny bit scary …

Lock had his knee “cleaned out” on an illegal low hit by the Boys’ Sam Williams (who was flagged for roughing the passer).

Lock came up limping, but finished the drive — which ended on a 1-yard TD run by SaRodorick Thompson.

After that hit, though, on Lock’s second drive in a game when he figured to play a lot …

The Seahawks took no chances and turned the game over to QB3 Holton Ahlers.

Coach Pete Carroll called Lock’s removal “precautionary” and said he expected his prized $4 million backup to play extensively next week at Green Bay in the Seahawks’ final preseason rumble.

Lock has looked good so far in the two exhibitions.

Overall, he’s completed 22 of 30 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns, for a passer rating of 114.6 — while leading Seattle to scores on five of his 10 drives.

Lock completed five of six throws for 119 yards on his two possessions (for 13 plays) against Dallas, including a gorgeous 48-yard toss to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

ITEM: Speaking of quarterbacks …

With all the hoopla over Caleb Williams down at USC, Utah’s Cam Rising and Michael Penix over at UW (and assorted other fastball merchants), it’s easy for a quarterback to slip under the radar in the soon-to-expire Pac-12.

I’m going out on a limb, however, to suggest that Wazzu’s Cameron Ward should be ranked in that preseason top tier.

It’s not just because Ward absolutely exploded in the Cougs’ final fall scrimmage last week, either — although that certainly didn’t hurt.

Ward did a passable (pun intended) imitation of Patrick Mahomes, and not just with a series of accurate throws to every distance and direction.

The Mahomes comp comes from clearly improved footwork, as the junior from Columbia, Texas, seemed to be spinning and twisting at will, and …

Almost always, he was doing it solely to allow receivers a chance at finding open grass.

“Just trying to manipulate guys into space,” Ward said, “especially with that quick game.

“Place it on the receivers where they can drop-step, get up field, do what they do.

“So, just trying to do that, stay consistent to the process, and the rest will take care of itself.”

Ward was a hoopla transfer a year ago, coming in from FCS (Division I-AA) Incarnate Word, where he threw for approximately a bazillion yards.

It’s wrong to stay he struggled in Pullman last season, as he managed to accumulate 3,228 yards passing, with 23 TDs against nine interceptions — and only two of those picks came in the final eight games, suggesting that the prep Academic All-American is a solid student.
Ward is also a terrific athlete for 6-1 and 223 pounds, and he ran for five more touchdowns.

Don’t be shocked if the Cougs’ scheme includes more quarterback draws and bootlegs this time around.

Ward already has caught serious attention from NFL scouts, and he’s a polarizing figure as a prospect — pegged either as a Day 3 gamble or a first-rounder who shoots up the chart in the manner of someone like Trey Lance.

The Wazzu coaches feel that could already be happening, mostly because Ward is sticking to fundamentals and keeping things simple.

The Cougars play four teams in the AP preseason rankings, however — Wisconsin (No. 19), Oregon State (No. 18), at Oregon (No. 15) and at Washington (No. 10) in what could be the last Apple Cup.

Ward will get a chance to show how much he’s improved in terms of consistency and reliability.

I’m thinking he’ll be dazzling.

Watch this space.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

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

ME: “Look, Gladys, it’s the Brooklyn Robins!”

HER: “But it’s in my notes that Milt Stock played for the Cleveland Spiders.”

ME: “You’re getting Milt confused with Wee Willie Keeler.

HER: “Well, didn’t Milt and Wee Willie and Wee Julio Rodriguez all hit ‘em where they ain’t?”

ME: “We’ll be back right after this break. Knock down another shot, Gladys.”

HER: “Wild Thing … I think you move me!”