Two weeks into the season, the Seattle Mariners:

Won their first two games when the Oakland A’s made mistake after mistake and gifted them runs. Then they got a lesson in the goes-around-comes-around rule, losing seven straight games when they kicked the ball around themselves, threw to the wrong bases, forgot to cover bases and got thrown out at bases.

Showed that scoring runs may be just as difficult as it was last year.

Had newly converted second baseman Jack Wilson make two errors in an inning and decide to pull himself from the game.

Saw left fielder Milton Bradley deal with hecklers not only on the road but also at home in Safeco Field, and take matters into his own hands — or ears. Bradley silenced his critics with ear plugs.

Drew more than 45,000 to a home opener dripping with emotion because of the Dave Niehaus pregame tribute, then followed it with an uninspiring 12-3 loss to the Indians. In the final three games of the homestand, the Mariners drew only 40,963. Combined.

Departed on a four-game road trip to Kansas City with a 4-7 record and not much hope in fans’ eyes that this season will be much different than last year’s 101-loss debacle.

It’s only been two weeks, but a start like that makes even the benign “Ready to Play” slogan for 2011 seem a little too bold.

At one point last Sunday as the Mariners were being swept by the Indians, a Twitter follower (I’m at”It’s early, but does it feel like this year could be as bad as last year?”

That’s a legit question, not quite as easy to answer as it is to ask. But we’ll try.

Yes, it is early. And yes, the Mariners have played some painful baseball, especially during that seven-game losing streak when they lost close games but picked the absolute worst time to stink up the place — at the sold-out home opener.

Are these Mariners as bad as last year’s Mariners?

As tough as the first two weeks have been, especially with the Jack Wilson drama and the lack of offense and the misplays that make you wonder just how fundamentally sound this team is, here’s my take:

Nothing will be as bad as last year. Oh, there will be losses. Maybe more than the 101 of last year, maybe not.

But I can’t see this year’s team going down the toilet like last year’s.

I can’t see manager Eric Wedge allowing the clubhouse to spiral out of control without making any malcontents pay a very difficult price.

The Jack Wilson saga was Wedge’s perfect opportunity to make a point with a stubborn player. While showing patience with this offense and the inevitable youthful mistakes, Wedge has no time for anyone who isn’t willing to advance the cause of the team and play the game the right way. Wilson undermined that and Wedge was so ticked-off that it wouldn’t have surprised me if Wilson had played his last game as a Mariner.

Wedge emphasized that he doesn’t hold grudges, but only after he became convinced that Wilson was in the right place mentally and was ready to move on for the good of the team did he play him again.

Are the Mariners a better team than last year?

No. They don’t have Cliff Lee in the rotation, the offense lacks consistent power and needs two hits and a prayer to score, the catching is a mess and the bullpen is comprised of youth and uncertain veterans.

There will be blowouts, for sure. There also will be games like last Saturday’s when the Mariners kept it close and lost 2-1, victimized by a defensive mistake that cost a critical run and a 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position.

But they also will win some of those close ones — like Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays — and flash a few glimmers of hope, especially from the young players who represent the future.

Michael Pineda, their 22-year-old rookie starter, muffled the Jays with his 98 mph fastball, which will become an even bigger tool when he refines his slider and changeup.

First baseman Justin Smoak, who seemed overwhelmed last summer after arriving from Texas in the Cliff Lee trade, has settled in nicely already. He’s hitting well from both sides of the plate and showed some real strength Wednesday with his opposite-field home run to left on one of those heavy-air days that are common early in the season at Safeco Field.

Don’t forget about Felix Hernandez, who’s only 25 but already the face and personality of the team after his Cy Young Award-winning season in 2010.

And we haven’t even seen former first-round draft pick Dustin Ackley yet. He’s coming.

Pineda, Smoak, Ackley and the other young players will be prone to inconsistency as they learn at the major league level, so fans must be patient and keep the bigger picture in mind.

A team like this reminds me of what Lou Piniella said before the 1994 season: “We will astound you.”

Doesn’t mean the Mariners will contend, or even win on a regular basis, and the ride will be a bumpy one. But it also will be worth keeping an eye on.

Kirby Arnold covers the Seattle Mariners for the Everett Herald and the Kits Sun.

Two weeks into the season, the Seattle Mariners:

Won their first two games when the Oakland A’s made mistake after mistake and gifted them runs. Then they got a lesson in the goes-around-comes-around rule, losing seven straight games when they kicked the ball around themselves, threw to the wrong bases, forgot to cover bases and got thrown out at bases.

Showed that scoring runs may be just as difficult as it was last year.

Had newly converted second baseman Jack Wilson make two errors in an inning and decide to pull himself from the game.

Saw left fielder Milton Bradley deal with hecklers not only on the road but also at home in Safeco Field, and take matters into his own hands — or ears. Bradley silenced his critics with ear plugs.

Drew more than 45,000 to a home opener dripping with emotion because of the Dave Niehaus pregame tribute, then followed it with an uninspiring 12-3 loss to the Indians. In the final three games of the homestand, the Mariners drew only 40,963. Combined.

Departed on a four-game road trip to Kansas City with a 4-7 record and not much hope in fans’ eyes that this season will be much different than last year’s 101-loss debacle.

It’s only been two weeks, but a start like that makes even the benign “Ready to Play” slogan for 2011 seem a little too bold.

At one point last Sunday as the Mariners were being swept by the Indians, a Twitter follower (I’m at”It’s early, but does it feel like this year could be as bad as last year?”

That’s a legit question, not quite as easy to answer as it is to ask. But we’ll try.

Yes, it is early. And yes, the Mariners have played some painful baseball, especially during that seven-game losing streak when they lost close games but picked the absolute worst time to stink up the place — at the sold-out home opener.

Are these Mariners as bad as last year’s Mariners?

As tough as the first two weeks have been, especially with the Jack Wilson drama and the lack of offense and the misplays that make you wonder just how fundamentally sound this team is, here’s my take:

Nothing will be as bad as last year. Oh, there will be losses. Maybe more than the 101 of last year, maybe not.

But I can’t see this year’s team going down the toilet like last year’s.

I can’t see manager Eric Wedge allowing the clubhouse to spiral out of control without making any malcontents pay a very difficult price.

The Jack Wilson saga was Wedge’s perfect opportunity to make a point with a stubborn player. While showing patience with this offense and the inevitable youthful mistakes, Wedge has no time for anyone who isn’t willing to advance the cause of the team and play the game the right way. Wilson undermined that and Wedge was so ticked-off that it wouldn’t have surprised me if Wilson had played his last game as a Mariner.

Wedge emphasized that he doesn’t hold grudges, but only after he became convinced that Wilson was in the right place mentally and was ready to move on for the good of the team did he play him again.

Are the Mariners a better team than last year?

No. They don’t have Cliff Lee in the rotation, the offense lacks consistent power and needs two hits and a prayer to score, the catching is a mess and the bullpen is comprised of youth and uncertain veterans.

There will be blowouts, for sure. There also will be games like last Saturday’s when the Mariners kept it close and lost 2-1, victimized by a defensive mistake that cost a critical run and a 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position.

But they also will win some of those close ones — like Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays — and flash a few glimmers of hope, especially from the young players who represent the future.

Michael Pineda, their 22-year-old rookie starter, muffled the Jays with his 98 mph fastball, which will become an even bigger tool when he refines his slider and changeup.

First baseman Justin Smoak, who seemed overwhelmed last summer after arriving from Texas in the Cliff Lee trade, has settled in nicely already. He’s hitting well from both sides of the plate and showed some real strength Wednesday with his opposite-field home run to left on one of those heavy-air days that are common early in the season at Safeco Field.

Don’t forget about Felix Hernandez, who’s only 25 but already the face and personality of the team after his Cy Young Award-winning season in 2010.

And we haven’t even seen former first-round draft pick Dustin Ackley yet. He’s coming.

Pineda, Smoak, Ackley and the other young players will be prone to inconsistency as they learn at the major league level, so fans must be patient and keep the bigger picture in mind.

A team like this reminds me of what Lou Piniella said before the 1994 season: “We will astound you.”

Doesn’t mean the Mariners will contend, or even win on a regular basis, and the ride will be a bumpy one. But it also will be worth keeping an eye on.

Kirby Arnold covers the Seattle Mariners for the Everett Herald and the Kits Sun.

Two weeks into the season, the Seattle Mariners:

Won their first two games when the Oakland A’s made mistake after mistake and gifted them runs. Then they got a lesson in the goes-around-comes-around rule, losing seven straight games when they kicked the ball around themselves, threw to the wrong bases, forgot to cover bases and got thrown out at bases.

Showed that scoring runs may be just as difficult as it was last year.

Had newly converted second baseman Jack Wilson make two errors in an inning and decide to pull himself from the game.

Saw left fielder Milton Bradley deal with hecklers not only on the road but also at home in Safeco Field, and take matters into his own hands — or ears. Bradley silenced his critics with ear plugs.

Drew more than 45,000 to a home opener dripping with emotion because of the Dave Niehaus pregame tribute, then followed it with an uninspiring 12-3 loss to the Indians. In the final three games of the homestand, the Mariners drew only 40,963. Combined.

Departed on a four-game road trip to Kansas City with a 4-7 record and not much hope in fans’ eyes that this season will be much different than last year’s 101-loss debacle.

It’s only been two weeks, but a start like that makes even the benign “Ready to Play” slogan for 2011 seem a little too bold.

At one point last Sunday as the Mariners were being swept by the Indians, a Twitter follower (I’m at”It’s early, but does it feel like this year could be as bad as last year?”

That’s a legit question, not quite as easy to answer as it is to ask. But we’ll try.

Yes, it is early. And yes, the Mariners have played some painful baseball, especially during that seven-game losing streak when they lost close games but picked the absolute worst time to stink up the place — at the sold-out home opener.

Are these Mariners as bad as last year’s Mariners?

As tough as the first two weeks have been, especially with the Jack Wilson drama and the lack of offense and the misplays that make you wonder just how fundamentally sound this team is, here’s my take:

Nothing will be as bad as last year. Oh, there will be losses. Maybe more than the 101 of last year, maybe not.

But I can’t see this year’s team going down the toilet like last year’s.

I can’t see manager Eric Wedge allowing the clubhouse to spiral out of control without making any malcontents pay a very difficult price.

The Jack Wilson saga was Wedge’s perfect opportunity to make a point with a stubborn player. While showing patience with this offense and the inevitable youthful mistakes, Wedge has no time for anyone who isn’t willing to advance the cause of the team and play the game the right way. Wilson undermined that and Wedge was so ticked-off that it wouldn’t have surprised me if Wilson had played his last game as a Mariner.

Wedge emphasized that he doesn’t hold grudges, but only after he became convinced that Wilson was in the right place mentally and was ready to move on for the good of the team did he play him again.

Are the Mariners a better team than last year?

No. They don’t have Cliff Lee in the rotation, the offense lacks consistent power and needs two hits and a prayer to score, the catching is a mess and the bullpen is comprised of youth and uncertain veterans.

There will be blowouts, for sure. There also will be games like last Saturday’s when the Mariners kept it close and lost 2-1, victimized by a defensive mistake that cost a critical run and a 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position.

But they also will win some of those close ones — like Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays — and flash a few glimmers of hope, especially from the young players who represent the future.

Michael Pineda, their 22-year-old rookie starter, muffled the Jays with his 98 mph fastball, which will become an even bigger tool when he refines his slider and changeup.

First baseman Justin Smoak, who seemed overwhelmed last summer after arriving from Texas in the Cliff Lee trade, has settled in nicely already. He’s hitting well from both sides of the plate and showed some real strength Wednesday with his opposite-field home run to left on one of those heavy-air days that are common early in the season at Safeco Field.

Don’t forget about Felix Hernandez, who’s only 25 but already the face and personality of the team after his Cy Young Award-winning season in 2010.

And we haven’t even seen former first-round draft pick Dustin Ackley yet. He’s coming.

Pineda, Smoak, Ackley and the other young players will be prone to inconsistency as they learn at the major league level, so fans must be patient and keep the bigger picture in mind.

A team like this reminds me of what Lou Piniella said before the 1994 season: “We will astound you.”

Doesn’t mean the Mariners will contend, or even win on a regular basis, and the ride will be a bumpy one. But it also will be worth keeping an eye on.

Kirby Arnold covers the Seattle Mariners for the Everett Herald and the Kits Sun.

Two weeks into the season, the Seattle Mariners:

Won their first two games when the Oakland A’s made mistake after mistake and gifted them runs. Then they got a lesson in the goes-around-comes-around rule, losing seven straight games when they kicked the ball around themselves, threw to the wrong bases, forgot to cover bases and got thrown out at bases.

Showed that scoring runs may be just as difficult as it was last year.

Had newly converted second baseman Jack Wilson make two errors in an inning and decide to pull himself from the game.

Saw left fielder Milton Bradley deal with hecklers not only on the road but also at home in Safeco Field, and take matters into his own hands — or ears. Bradley silenced his critics with ear plugs.

Drew more than 45,000 to a home opener dripping with emotion because of the Dave Niehaus pregame tribute, then followed it with an uninspiring 12-3 loss to the Indians. In the final three games of the homestand, the Mariners drew only 40,963. Combined.

Departed on a four-game road trip to Kansas City with a 4-7 record and not much hope in fans’ eyes that this season will be much different than last year’s 101-loss debacle.

It’s only been two weeks, but a start like that makes even the benign “Ready to Play” slogan for 2011 seem a little too bold.

At one point last Sunday as the Mariners were being swept by the Indians, a Twitter follower (I’m at”It’s early, but does it feel like this year could be as bad as last year?”

That’s a legit question, not quite as easy to answer as it is to ask. But we’ll try.

Yes, it is early. And yes, the Mariners have played some painful baseball, especially during that seven-game losing streak when they lost close games but picked the absolute worst time to stink up the place — at the sold-out home opener.

Are these Mariners as bad as last year’s Mariners?

As tough as the first two weeks have been, especially with the Jack Wilson drama and the lack of offense and the misplays that make you wonder just how fundamentally sound this team is, here’s my take:

Nothing will be as bad as last year. Oh, there will be losses. Maybe more than the 101 of last year, maybe not.

But I can’t see this year’s team going down the toilet like last year’s.

I can’t see manager Eric Wedge allowing the clubhouse to spiral out of control without making any malcontents pay a very difficult price.

The Jack Wilson saga was Wedge’s perfect opportunity to make a point with a stubborn player. While showing patience with this offense and the inevitable youthful mistakes, Wedge has no time for anyone who isn’t willing to advance the cause of the team and play the game the right way. Wilson undermined that and Wedge was so ticked-off that it wouldn’t have surprised me if Wilson had played his last game as a Mariner.

Wedge emphasized that he doesn’t hold grudges, but only after he became convinced that Wilson was in the right place mentally and was ready to move on for the good of the team did he play him again.

Are the Mariners a better team than last year?

No. They don’t have Cliff Lee in the rotation, the offense lacks consistent power and needs two hits and a prayer to score, the catching is a mess and the bullpen is comprised of youth and uncertain veterans.

There will be blowouts, for sure. There also will be games like last Saturday’s when the Mariners kept it close and lost 2-1, victimized by a defensive mistake that cost a critical run and a 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position.

But they also will win some of those close ones — like Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays — and flash a few glimmers of hope, especially from the young players who represent the future.

Michael Pineda, their 22-year-old rookie starter, muffled the Jays with his 98 mph fastball, which will become an even bigger tool when he refines his slider and changeup.

First baseman Justin Smoak, who seemed overwhelmed last summer after arriving from Texas in the Cliff Lee trade, has settled in nicely already. He’s hitting well from both sides of the plate and showed some real strength Wednesday with his opposite-field home run to left on one of those heavy-air days that are common early in the season at Safeco Field.

Don’t forget about Felix Hernandez, who’s only 25 but already the face and personality of the team after his Cy Young Award-winning season in 2010.

And we haven’t even seen former first-round draft pick Dustin Ackley yet. He’s coming.

Pineda, Smoak, Ackley and the other young players will be prone to inconsistency as they learn at the major league level, so fans must be patient and keep the bigger picture in mind.

A team like this reminds me of what Lou Piniella said before the 1994 season: “We will astound you.”

Doesn’t mean the Mariners will contend, or even win on a regular basis, and the ride will be a bumpy one. But it also will be worth keeping an eye on.

Kirby Arnold covers the Seattle Mariners for the Everett Herald and the Kits Sun.

Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak pears to have turned the corner as a hitter.

The switch-hitting Smoak, 24, is batting .275 (11/40) with one home run, five doubles and five RBI.

Smoak was the centerpiece of the deal that sent All-Star pitcher Cliff Lee and reliever Mark Lowe to Texas. Seattle also received minor leaguers, pitchers Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke and Matthew Lawson.

Beavan is with Triple-A Tacoma and was 14-8 with a 3.90 ERA last season in the minor leagues. Lueke is a low-level minor leaguer. Lawson was traded to Cleveland for current Seattle reliever Aaron Laffey.

Production from Smoak is what ultimately will make wasting the presence of Lee not sting so much down the road (if that’s possible).

Smoak, who has a career .223 average, showed signs of paying off late last season when in September/October he batted .350 (17/50) with three home runs and 9 RBI.

Links to Mariners’ news:

  SEATTLE MARINERS
  Record: 4-8
  Next up: 5 p.m., tonight at Kansas City (7-4).
  Pitching: Doug Fister (0-2, 2.31) vs. Bruce Chen (1-0, 4.90)
  Team statistics: Seattle’s stats
 

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SeattlePI.com

SeattleMariners.com
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– Aaron Fentress, follow him on Twitter

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Aaron Laffey’s role was unclear with the Cleveland Indians. Maybe he’ll find more clarity in Seattle.

The Indians traded the left-hander to the Mariners on Wednesday for minor league infielder Matt Lawson, who will report to Cleveland’s minor league camp.

Laffey split time between Cleveland and Triple-A Columbus last season, and he bounced back and forth between the rotation and bullpen. The 25-year-old, who was once considered a rising star in the Indians’ system, was in the mix to be the club’s No. 5 starter this season.

In Seattle, Laffey will be reunited with former Indians manager Eric Wedge and pitching coach Carl Willis.

Laffey went 2-3 with a 4.53 ERA in 29 games last year for the Indians, who drafted him in 2003. He was 18-21 in 79 career games with Cleveland.

Lawson, 25, began last season in the Texas organization before he was traded to the Mariners in the deal for ace pitcher Cliff Lee. Lawson batted a combined .293 in 118 games at the Double-A level in 2010.

Last season, Lawson peared in 99 games at second base, 13 games in left field, two games at shortstop and one game in center.

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