Mariners' start gives cause for hope, maybe perchance to dream again

Yes, I know there are 162 games in a Major League Baseball season.

Yes, I know that at 4-2, the Seattle Mariners are in first place in the American League West Division for all of 3.7 percent of that season.

Yes, I know, it’s not May yet, or June – let alone July – which is typically when the M’s have at least begun to swoon if not having completely faded away from any discussions about playoffs (“Playoffs?!”).

But so far after six games, you have to be encouraged by what you see in this year’s Mariner’s team. At least encouraged enough to believe this will be a team that will be competitive a...