THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Just how good are these M's

You know two things about the Seattle Mariners.

What’s more, you’re as certain about these two facts as you know the sun rises in the east.

Oh, and you’re wrong on both counts.

I’m talking about two things you feel has gone wrong with the roster — and why you think Seattle won’t win the AL West, or even make the playoffs.

You’re sure these things were fatal last season, and you tell friends it’s going to be the same in 2025.

Let’s run over it.

Here’s what you believe, OK?

First, that the Mariners were doomed in ’24 by a pitiful lack of offense.

Second, that nothing meaningful was done in the off season to correct that problem.

Both wrong.

Let’s start with this: The offense didn’t cost Seattle a playoff spot last year.

It was the bullpen.

Injuries to Matt Brash and Gregory Santos, who had been written in as set-up men for closer Andres Munoz, put pressure in all the wrong places.

The Mariners’ leftover relievers couldn’t hold the fort.

IT ALL went south after mid-season.

The M’s actually were 16-6 in their first 22 games decided by one run, but they finished the year 27-28 in that category.

In those tight games, Seattle was 10-21 after June 19.

Here’s some irony: It’s pretty much agreed that Dan Wilson did a great job after taking over as manager for the final 34 games (21-13), but his first six losses all came by one run.

Forgive Wilson for believing his problem wasn’t the offense.

The Mariners led all of MLB in runs scored over the last six weeks of the season.

You’d think that would be enough.

The bullpen, though, was in tatters.

Brash made more appearances (78) than anyone in the major leagues two years ago, and he paid a price for it.

He missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery, and it’s hard to explain how badly he was missed.

Brash was almost the Mariners’ “cheat code” in ’23, when he struck out 107 batters in 70 2/3 innings — and pitched out of trouble whenever the game was on the line before the ninth inning.

The Mariners had beefed up their bullpen in that off season, too, wheeling in big Gregory Santos from the White Sox.

Unfortunately, Santos suffered a lat strain and barely pitched all season.

So, two of the three high-leverage relievers Seattle needed in those close games made no impact at all.

Remember, the Mariners missed the playoffs by ONE game.

Brash and/or Santos probably puts them in the postseason.

The good news: Santos was healthy and pitched well this spring, and Brash’s recovery is going faster than expected.

Brash faced three batters in a game on Sunday (striking out two of them), and hopes to be in Seattle by the end of April.

What’s more, power-armed young Troy Taylor, who is also rehabbing from an injury, in on schedule to join the Mariners in two or three weeks.

Lefty Gabe Speier, who also had a great 2023 before getting hurt last summer, is now healthy and back to throwing hard.

The bullpen looks SO much better than a year ago.

NOW, WE look at the supposed lack of off-season action which doomsayers insist will cripple the Mariners.

It’s true that, since the end of October, Seattle’s front office has been operating mostly at the margins.

The addition of Rowdy Tellez for just $1.5 million could turn out to be wasted tip change, or a tremendous bargain.

Tellez has been hurt off and on during two blah seasons, but in 2022, the big left-hander clubbed 35 homers.

It might mean nothing, but Tellez pounded the ball during spring training – thus winning a job someplace (DH, 1B).

There’s another way to look at this team, though.

The most dramatic improvements were made during midseason last year.

Victor Robles came aboard in June, hit .328 in 77 games, stole 30 bases and won the leadoff job.

Randy Arozarena was fetched in a trade with Tampa Bay, so he and Robles will flank Julio Rodriguez in what might be baseball’s swiftest and most athletic outfields.

We don’t think of those players coming to Seattle in the off season, but the effect is the same.

The Mariners couldn’t really score until the two new outfielders showed up, but all those runs down the stretch seem to prove that they were critical additions.

Yes, there are still question marks, especially around the infield, but I’m going to predict two comeback seasons: J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco.

In any event, I think it’s fair to say the Mariners did their off-season work a few months early.

Since we’re all friends here, I thought you should know what’s true.

As opposed to what’s just noise.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

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.”