THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: This season’s a sprint, but M’s looking at the long haul

Play ball.

Really.

The Good Lord’s willin’ and the creeks don’t rise, the Seattle Mariners are going to tee it up in a regulation baseball game tonight.

You know, one that counts in the 2020 American League West standings.

After all the squabbling between players and owners, after endless debate on protocols dealing with COVID-19…

Yes, MLB began its strange 60-game sprint to the playoffs Thursday night with four of its glamor teams taking the stage.

I can assure you that Seattle was not considered for that opening-game spotlight.

This evening, though, the Mariners’ unique youth construction project lurches forward — in Houston, of all places, against an Astros gang that the whole country wants to boo.

Of course, there won’t be any spectators on hand to see how the nation’s hatred affects the Astros.

Short scouting report: Houston has tons of powerhouse offense but all sorts of questions surrounding a pitching staff that boasts exactly two proven, healthy stars.

After that, it’s a hospital ward.

Seattle will face one of the big-timers tonight — Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.

The M’s will counter with one of the best under-the-radar starters in baseball, lefty Marco Gonzales.

SEATTLE is not yet considered relevant in the baseball universe.

A computer model spit out by the respected FanGraphs suggests that the Mariners are the second-worst team in the entire sport — edging out Baltimore, which is in the bottom spot.

FanGraphs thinks the M’s will stagger home with a 24-36 record.

Seattle’s brain trust — GM Jerry Dipoto and manager Scott Servais — won’t be bothered by all such doomsaying.

They are looking a year down the road, when an entire platoon of shiny gold prospects should be ready to begin hauling the Mariners back to the rarefied air of playoff contention.

That’s a height the M’s haven’t reached — yep, you know it by heart — since way, way back in 2001.

When you come across some any written analysis of the 2020 Mariners, this season is almost completely ignored.

Instead, there are glowing reports about some of MLB’s best prospects: outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, infielder Noelvi Marte, starting pitchers Logan Gilbert and George Kirby, and a cast of relievers led by Joey Gerber and Sam Delaplane.

It’s an exciting case of characters — and when COVID-19 somehow has been beaten back to the point that fans return to the stadium…

There’s going to be some fun at T-Mobile Park.

YOU MAY wonder why some of these kids are sitting out this goofy 60-game season — rather than getting some major league exposure.

Two answers…

First, there are plenty of more advanced rookies and other youngsters on this team that you’ll see tonight in Houston.

Dipoto is picturing two (or more) waves of talent arriving at the right time.

Slugging outfielder Kyle Lewis has been bombing baseballs all the way back to September.

First baseman Evan White, second baseman Shed Long Jr., and shortstop J.P. Crawford figure to play most every day — and you’ll see some older newcomers who are getting their first shot at playing meaningful baseball — guys like Austin Nola, Tim Lopes and maybe even two good hitters fighting current funks, Jake Fraley and Daniel Vogelbach.

There are two rookies in the six-man starting rotation, Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn.

For what it’s worth, I’m going to go back out on my limb again, and announce to the world that Sheffield may turn into one of baseball’s truly dominant pitchers.

Two of the starters keeping the baseballs warm for Gilbert and Kirby haven’t thrown a pitch in anger since 2018.

Taijuan Walker and Kendall Graveman are both coming off serious injuries — but for what it’s worth, Graveman (who was a serious contributor for Oakland before his injury) is throwing the ball with life and conviction again.

Here’s your slice of irony — Graveman has looked good throwing a four-seam fastball that’s touching 97 miles per hour.

But if he gets off to a great start, remember that he’s 29, so he almost certainly will be traded to a pennant-hunting team in mid-season.

TO THE average fan, this must seem funny or weird or something, but Graveman will pitch in this four-game series against the Astros (probably on Monday), and Houston is desperate to stabilize its own rotation.

For the right price, Dipoto would just leave Graveman in Texas.

Gonzales, Sheffield and Dunn, however, will DEFINITELY be on the Mariners’ flight to Anaheim on Monday night.

I admit, it’s hard to make the case that this year’s Mariners are going to be anything special, particularly with so many terrific prospects being held back intentionally.

Watching this first group of kids trying to become bona fide big leaguers, though, could be fascinating.

And look…

The season is going to be crazy, no matter what.

For at least half of this dash, starters will not stretch out for more than five innings — so games will mostly be won or lost by relievers whose names are complete mysteries on opening day.

Yeah, I know…

It’s crazy.

The drag-race season makes no sense.

But hey, it’s baseball.

Sort of.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “Moments, Memories and Madness,” his reminiscences from several decades as a sports journalist, runs each Sunday.

Steve also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball, once per month during the offseason.