THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: M's need a boot on the backside, not a pat on the back

Dan Wilson is lucky.

He's fortunate to have a patient, laid-back boss like Jerry Dipoto.

(Or me, for that matter.)

Dan's a nice guy, but right now it's tough to make the case that he should be hanging on as manager of the Mariners.

This is a dreary .500 club at the moment, and even with a rash of injuries, the roster is so much better than that.

Dipoto and management can wait to see if the M's somehow come out of their funk, or they can become proactive about the situation and give somebody else the keys.

I know, it's rough to fire a guy who came within one out of the World Series a year ago — but the easygoing personality which brought the Mariners to life late in 2024 has drifted into the clouds two seasons later.

There's no question that the M's need a wake-up call, and Wilson is more of a scout leader than a drill sergeant.

This might be an exaggeration, but it feels like Dan is more likely to pat you on the back than make a change after two weeks without a hit. 

YOU CAN'T exactly make the case that Wilson is a master tactician, coming up with brilliant moves to steal a few games.

In fact, he seems more like a guy who hands that sort of work to his coaches, while he leans on the dugout railing and says, "C'mon, give us a hit."

When his moves go wrong and games fall apart, Wilson rarely has any explanation for the media.

Nothing beyond, "It was a tough game."

Look, maybe Dan spends hours with his staff, poring over those iPads and deciding how to pitch that night's opposing lineup.

I can't picture it, though.

And we've never heard a post-game discussion about the three different ways they could have played the eighth inning, before deciding to bunt the runner over to third.

There would be a whole different vibe around the Mariners if you felt there were meetings and talks to give the club every chance to win.

Instead, it feels like Wilson trusts his guys to go out, play some ball and win a few games.

I SUPPOSE that might work for the Dodgers' Dave Roberts, where all his moves are likely to be the right ones.

It's a lot harder for everyone else.

The Tigers recently put together data on all 30 managers, ranking them by success (or otherwise) on bullpen and pinch-hitting decisions.

Wilson checked in at No. 22.

The real problem with the Mariners, though, isn't lack of a physics degree. They're not missing Einstein.

No, this team looks (and plays) like most guys are just out there doing a job.

You don't sense fun.

You don't sense enthusiasm.

The Mariners, to be honest, take their cue from the boss. Or it looks like they do.

That would work if the talent were on show, if most of the team were gifted (and healthy), if the pitchers were all throwing gas, if the outfielders were catching everything at the track.

However ...

Things aren't going that way right now.

The M's need to be booted in the backside — among other things.

They have to get rocking, because Houston has come alive.

If Wilson has the pizzazz to put the Mariners in gear, now is the time.

If not, let's ring Jerry's cell phone.

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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."