THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Before the goosebumps, how about some consistency from Mariners

Wait!

With all due respect to our excited readers, I think maybe we should slow down.

Just a little.

Yep, the Mariners won three of four from Texas in their first real business since the trade deadline (it probably should have been a sweep).

The infield suddenly looks kind of sexy with Josh Naylor installed at first base and homeboy Eugenio Suarez back at third.

Cal Raleigh hit his 42nd home run on Thursday, and Suarez already has 36 big flies. 

Only one other team in baseball history has entered August with two players at 35-plus homers, and the Mariners are the first team to do it in 64 years.

By the way, I’m thinking you know that other (and only) team to greet August with two players sitting on 35-plus home runs.

You’re right, it was the 1961 Yankees, with Mickey Mantle at 39 bombs and Roger Maris 40.

Let’s borrow a classic line courtesy of Nike from a generation ago, shall we? 

It was in a 1999 TV ad that featured Braves superstar pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, as they watched a crowd of onlookers “ooohing and aaahing” as Mark McGuire smoked batting practice pitches off into the stratosphere.

Finally, Maddux said: “Chicks dig the long ball.”

SO, WHY do I think we should pump the brakes on all the excitement?

Hell, everybody digs the long ball.

Sure, but nobody can jiggle buttons and get a blast-off on command, as though these guys are playing a video game.

Plus, the one thing we haven’t seen so far with the Mariners (60-53) is any kind of consistency.

They’ve been up and down like a Vegas trampoline act, and fans had taken to serious muttering right up until the club acquired Naylor, Suarez and lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson just before last week’s trade deadline.

Now everyone’s got goosebumps.

Sure, by all rights they should be a better team than they were a couple of weeks ago.

As a nice little bonus, slapping Texas around over the weekend gives Seattle a two-game lead (plus a tiebreaker) over the Rangers for the American League’s third and final wild-card playoff spot.

In fact, they’re only a half-game behind the Yankees and two in back of the Red Sox in the wild-card sweepstakes.

The main target, though, remains the Evil Empire.

The Astros were kind enough to lose twice in Boston, and thus hold just a 2 1/2-game division lead on the Mariners.

Look, Houston is crippled.

Everyone’s on the IL. 

I know, they ALWAYS find a way when it matters.

But right now, the Astros aren’t very good.

IF WE just go with logic and players available, the Mariners are the best team in the AL West.

They finally have a lineup that can bash you.

Best of all, they’ve been beating some of the game’s best pitchers.

They did it to Jacob deGrom on Sunday, courtesy of home runs by Jorge Polanco, J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodriguez.

In case you hadn’t noticed, J-Rod is also digging the long ball these days.

His rocket off deGrom was No. 20, making Julio the first player in MLB history to hit at least 20 homers and steal 20 bases in each of his first four big-league seasons.

Crawford’s two-run smash, his second homer in three games, provided the margin in that 5-4 victory.

The Mariners’ 159 homers are now third in the major leagues behind the Yankees (177) and Dodgers (164).

It won’t be just homers that can carry Seattle to postseason success, and hopefully even to its first World Series.

It’ll come down to pitching, because it always does.

The Mariners are in pretty good shape on the mound, especially if the rehabbing Bryce Miller comes back healthy and firing.

Feel free to be a little nervous over the inconsistent Logan Gilbert, but overall, the rotation should be fine.

The bullpen is even better, with Ferguson joining a group that includes surprise package Eduard Bazardo.

It’s a group that can win a Series.

But as we said at the top, it’s time to slow down and let these guys play nice, clean baseball the rest of the way.

They’re as good as anyone now.

Just go prove it.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and 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.”