THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Best to take your shot now, not later

Our topic today is throwing.

I think you’ll understand where that theme is headed as we go along.

Football is looming, right?

Quarterbacks are everywhere.

However, with the Mariners hoping to be part of a pennant race, we can’t forget them, either.

In the current situation, it’s mandatory.

For a couple of days in Baltimore, the Mariners have made their supporters want to do some throwing themselves.

Like, throwing up.

The M’s looked brain-dead and physically sleepy through two awful games — just a shocking way to end that eight-game winning streak.

Meanwhile.

The obvious jump-off point for a column on throwing has to be with the Seahawks.

Year Two of the Mike Macdonald era is upon us, and the Hawks play their second of three exhibition games tonight at Lumen Field.

Their guests this evening are the Kansas City Chiefs — participants in the three most recent Super Bowls, and winners of two.

OK, with this being a glorified scrimmage, we may not see most of the Chiefs stars.

At least, not for long.

And Taylor Swift, not at all.

I NEVER quite know when to take Chiefs guru Andy Reid seriously — a situation which the big redhead prefers in some dealings with the media.

He’s such fun, though, that no one can stay upset about answers that involve considerable hemming and hawing.

For instance, Reid seemed to be saying both yes and no when asked if quarterback Patrick Mahomes would play tonight.

Andy’s first response indicated that his first-teamers would see some action, maybe a few series.

“But we really need to look more at our young guys,” Reid added.

Macdonald’s No. 1 defense might get a brief test, and the matchup would provide some precious tape for the coaches to use when working with individual position groups.

On the Seattle side of throwing things, we haven’t gotten a look at Sam Darnold yet — so if he gets, say, one quarter out there with first-team receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, so much the better.

Macdonald hasn’t said much about plans for his quarterbacks beyond the news that Darnold will do some flinging, although we’ll assume that young Jalen Milroe should get another lesson in what the Seahawks hope can be a thorough education.

With Seattle’s first unit playing a serious chunk of the first quarter, we’re going to see more of the run game.

Top RB Kenneth Walker III is still not fully fit, which means that Zach Charbonnet will inherit the No. 1 spot, with undrafted free agent George Holani set for more action.

THIS IS certainly no sales pitch for an NFL exhibition game, which almost surely will turn into a yawner by halftime.

On the flip side, however, it’s going to offer three hours during which you can (if needed) yank your mind off the Mariners.

The suddenly sleeping M’s are starting a three-game series with the Mets today, the first two at Citi Field in Queens — meeting a playoff contender in even more ragged shape than our heroes.

The Mets are drowning, having lost 12 of their last 14 games, and dropping from first place in the NL East to 5 1/2 games back of the Phillies (Seattle’s next stop).

The Metropolitans have also slipped to the final NL wild card spot, just one game ahead of the Reds.

The Mariners arrive in the Big Apple in a real funk, which seemed to come out of nowhere.

Other than Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor, nobody hit in three dreary games against the Orioles.

Only George Kirby’s brilliance, winning the 1-0 series opener, kept Baltimore from being a total nightmare.

Worse than just losing a couple of games and dropping to 1 1/2 back of Houston, the M’s were sloppy, committing errors (Dylan Moore dropped a fly ball and misplayed another into a double) and drifting mentally (allowing Ryan Mountcastle to steal home).

The Mariners have to wake up, or they could lose to a rookie (Nolan McLean) making his first major league appearance on Saturday afternoon.

Our theme was throwing, remember?

McLean was asked about his plan for dealing with the M’s, and he said: “Just getting the ball over home plate.”

If that’s all it takes, the Mariners might be throwing away their shot at October glory.

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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.”