THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: M's have a nasty habit of squandering games

Ah, the lofty heights of first place.

The Mariners surely must be relaxed and enjoying this cruise toward the World Series. 

Tonight, for instance, they're visiting Pittsburgh.

George Kirby gets the ball, with the assignment of throwing more invisible pitches, and the white-hot Seattle offense can make things easy by slapping the Pirates into all three of their local rivers.

Easy work.

Just another night at the office.

Hey, we knew these Mariners were something special a year ago when they came just one deep breath from the World Series, but now, well, this crew is a juggernaut.

There is so much talent in the rotation that the Mariners are "piggybacking" the starters, giving everyone a chance to pile up victories.

The amazing thing, obviously, is that Seattle management has built this team without spending a unique amount of money. It's like they found the Dodgers roster at Walmart.

Jerry Dipoto is a magician at spring sales.

The M's were short at one position on opening day, and Jerry somehow lured Rob Refsnyder to town.

It's been stunning, really, watching this rockin' roster come together — brick by brick.

YEP, I'VE just written a crock of nonsense, as you'd know by watching those pitchers get shelled like the Bad News Bears. 

Or suffering through a few innings of Mariners defense, a circus act in which you'd swear they'd replaced a baseball with a bar of soap.

And are trying to turn a double play with it.

I have a loyal reader who loves to repeat the famous Abbott and Costello gig, "Who's on first?"

Whenever he can fit the hilarious lines into just about anything, I get another email.

So, guess what?

No need to look for that hysterical infield anymore.

We found them in Seattle.

Meanwhile, some of the less pleasant news — not counting an injury list that reads like victims of a rush-hour crash on I-5 — involves the Mariners' real, live stats. 

Kirby, for instance, is a former all-star who is searching all of King County, looking for his command.

George is one of baseball's all-time strike throwers, but now he misses by just THIS much.

And the following sound is bat on ball.

Fiercely.

Kirby started the season like the star he's been, but he's tumbled off the stagecoach. From a career ERA of 3.65, he's ballooned to 4.14 this year (and rising fast).

We're talking about a pitcher who's been relentlessly consistent, earning an fWAR of 8.8 over his first five years, then struggled to an 0.8 this season.

OK, I confess.

I've been writing some sarcasm today.

SO, WHERE was I?

Oh, all the Mariners' struggles so far.

But.

Guess what?

One item was absolutely true.

This team is in first place in the American League West.

Sounds impossible, but their record of 40-39 is good enough for No. 1, and second overall to the Yankees for playoff positioning.

Let's be serious now.

The standings say that Seattle is very much in the pennant hunt — but that's true of about half the teams in MLB.

To win something, the M's must dump the habit of squandering games.

They are worst in MLB with 16 blown saves — in part because Matt Brash is injured and Andres Munoz had a brief stretch when his command deserted him.

The Mariners say they're going to use the "piggyback," giving all six starters some real work.

The flip side of that is being careful not to kill the bullpen.

You know what?

If this works, the M's could wind up where the talent suggests.

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."