THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: M's could use youth to get bats going

Feel like taking apart the present and future of the Mariners, boys and girls?

Lots of information here and plenty of questions, too, enough to give you a headache.

Still on board?

Right.

We’re starting with my email in-box, because that’s usually a place to find subjects that are on a lot of people’s minds.

A common thread lately has to do with the Mariners’ much-admired farm system.

Specifically, several readers wonder why prospects who are tearing it up at someplace like High-A Everett can’t simply jump to the major leagues.

The answer is that they CAN (in theory), but talking about hitters, they’ve never seen the kind of pitching they’ll encounter in The Show.

Playing for the Frogs in Everett, these kids know they’re going to see a fastball on a 3-and-1 count — and not something on the corner at 98 mph, either.

So, they rip.

Lazaro Montes has a .313 average,14 home runs, 77 RBI (most in all of organized baseball) and a .942 OPS in 71 games for Everett.

IN THE majors, the 20-year old Montes would run into the likes of Houston closer Josh Hader, who throws a sinker at 95 that appears to rise (yep, rise) in a hitter’s vision, along with a two-plane slider at 83.

Needless to say, Hader can command both pitches — which makes even good MLB hitters swing and miss.

A young guy like Montes needs to adjust to this sort of stuff slowly.

He needs at-bats.

We mentioned that Montes is just 20, and that’s part of a theme in the Seattle organization.

Youth.

Among the M’s elite shortstop prospects, Colt Emerson is 19 and so is the switch-hitting Felnin Celesten.

The closest thing the Mariners have to a “grown-up” straining at the leash is 22-year-old catcher Harry Ford, who has been good at every level and is now hitting .315 with an .893 OPS at Triple-A Tacoma.

The question with Harry, obviously, is what to do with a catcher who is just about ready for the major leagues.

Cal Raleigh isn’t going anywhere, except perhaps to the Hall of Fame someday.

Several readers have asked why the Mariners don’t move Ford, say, to first base — where there is an obvious need for help.

In fact, Ford has played some other positions along the way, especially in the outfield.

He wasn’t wild about it.

Verdict: “I consider myself a catcher.”

So far, the Mariners agree with him, but surely, something’s got to give with this situation.

If Harry were 30, he could be Cal’s backup, but he’s got a lot more to offer the organization than that.

Let’s back up to consider his age again.

Cole Young arrived in Seattle at 21, and after a week or so of finding his way around, he’s beginning to look comfortable — both at the plate and handling the role of everyday second baseman.

In other words, the Mariners don’t want to stick Ford in the logjam forever.

BY THE way, for those of you who’ve asked about Ben Williamson, I’m pretty high on the young third baseman.

Yes, I know that Ben was basically handed this job because the M’s had no one else, and they needed a reliable glove at third.

He’s never been a glamor prospect.

Williamson has been content to make contact so far, and he’s pushed his average up to .263 (through Monday).

But Ben’s a strong kid, and even though he’s shown almost no power (one homer, and just four last year in Double-A), I suspect it could be there.

Power is usually the last thing that gets added to a hitter’s arsenal, unless he’s a beast right from the beginning (like Montes).

I don’t think I’m missing it with Williamson.

At a well-built 210 pounds, he’s not some stick figure who makes weak contact.

Ben is still going the other way almost exclusively and settling for line drives, but he’s hitting the ball harder every week.

I’m ready for him to trigger sooner, catch some pitches out in front, and hammer them off the premises.

When it happens, remember to say I told you so.

Anyhow.

The questions I’m getting are basically about why the Mariners’ young hitters can’t jump to the majors faster, and we’ve covered that issue — more or less.

Pitching?

Now, that’s a completely different animal.

We’ll need another column.

First, it’s about scoring more runs, agreed?

Email: [email protected]

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.”