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It ain't over 'till it's September

Contrary to what we're hearing from discouraged Mariners fans, skeptics, writers and those leaping from the back exit of the bandwagon, 128 games remain. That means the Mariners still can win the American League West by 120.

They're 7 1/2 behind the first-place Angels and, to those who say it's a margin that can't be overcome, I say take a chill pill and see how the season develops. We're barely six weeks into a 26-week season.

Yeah, things haven't looked good at all. The hitters look like they don't have a plan at the plate and a few of the defenders (Jose Lopez, Yuniesky Betancourt) are way too casual at a time when nobody can ease up for even a second. Overall, this team seems to lack an edge, a mean streak, a killer instinct, a complete disdain for what has happened so far.

Losing will make it look that way, however. If they'd won 25 games by now and shown the same demeanor, we'd be saying how they're going about their business in just the right way.

Yes, things have got to change. But too many things can happen -- like injuries, trades, winning streaks, losing streaks and maybe even personnel shakeups. My guess is that the Mariners will experience most of those things, but so will the Angels.

While it's too late to say it's early, it's also way too early to say it's over, even if the Mariners fiddle away this homestand against the Rangers and White Sox. It's how the M's -- from the players to the front office -- react to such a dose of adversity that will tell us just where this team is headed.