THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Way too early to worry about Mariners — but there are signs

Giving up on the Mariners already?

Of course you’re not.

It’s way, way too early in the staggering length of a baseball season to render any verdicts.

However.

A lot of what we’ve seen so far has been pretty awful.

That’s saying something, too, since the Mariners have pitching to hypnotize pretty much anyone, and a lineup built to smash the damn ball.

It’s not like they lost their first 10 games, either (although they whiffed enough to bumble along at 4-6).

Cal Raleigh is leading MLB in strikeouts, which isn’t a shock.

All those Seattle players (18) at the World Baseball Classic robbed them of a normal spring.

That figured to hurt the team’s big swingers more than anyone — Cal, Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, even the normal rhythm of Josh Naylor.

If you’re looking for a word to describe the Mariners’ first two weeks, you might try “languid.”

The M’s are just playing poor baseball with a good team.

There’s a weird body language with these Mariners — kind of like it’s August and everybody’s going through the motions.

IF GUYS get thrown out on the bases, you don’t roll your eyes and pound your head.

You simply sigh, and keep waiting for the end of spring training.

They win just often enough that there’s nothing close to panic.

So, we agree that it’s too early to draw any critical conclusions, yes?

Yes.

There ARE a few things that look like they might be fairly regular characteristics of these Mariners, however.

For instance, barring injury the rotation will be overwhelming.

This looks like the season that Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Bryce Miller just keep stringing together powerhouse starts.

Miller’s first outing was held up by a muscular injuiry, but he’s about ready to go.

Luis Castillo has had one really sharp start and one not so good — but the Mariners look like they’ll have backup for the rotation.

Emerson Hancock changed his release slot, and looks like a different (and much better) pitcher with real weapons.

Prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan make the organization’s scouts drool, and we very well could see the lefty Anderson (the No. 3 overall draft pick last year) making starts later in the year.

The bullpen scares me.

Andres Munoz and Matt Brash are terrific, and Edouard Bazardo is generally reliable — but newcomer Jose Ferrer has been so-so (and that’s being kind).

Ferrer, though, is a ground ball pitcher, and so far the Mariners haven’t had much luck catching ground balls.

Or anything else, in fact.

LET’S SAY the Mariners eventually will stop striking out and put together some rallies.

This lineup really SHOULD score runs.

But if you ask me where the danger lies down the road, close games make me nervous because of the defense and unproven bullpen.

There’s going to be a lot of shuffling in the late innings.

That brings manager Dan Wilson into the equation, and so far he’s been more of a hindrance than a help.

Wilson never seems to have a feel for the bullpen, and it’s maddening that his only explanation for any strategic move is a baseball cliché, like, “Well, you make a decision and live with the results.”

Dan never gets around to a reason WHY he made a certain move.

In a game at Cleveland last year, the M’s were tied in extra innings.

They didn’t score in the 11th, and the “small ball” Guardians went to work in the bottom of the inning.

Cleveland wound up with the potential winning run on third, one out and the top of the order due up.

Steven Kwan.

Astonishingly, Wilson chose to pitch to Kwan.

Let me repeat: The winning run was on third with a base open.

Kwan needed exactly one pitch.

He lifted that one to medium left field, the runner on third scored easily and the game was over.

Of all the hitters in MLB, why would you pitch to Steven Kwan when it was a cinch he’d put the ball in play?

OK, Dan.

It’s a new year.

Fresh season.

Please try for some common sense.

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."