Glass half full?

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, June 8, 2006

There’s joy in Safeco. The Mariners have won six of the past eight games, including five of the seven on their latest homestand.

Is this team finally coming together to make a run at contention in the AL West? Or was the past week just a charade made convenient by the Royals and Twins, two Central Division teams even worst than the Mariners?

Time will tell, and it won’t take long. The next six games are on the road against the Angels and A’s, and if the Mariners hope for anyone to take them seriously, they need to win. The Mariners’ road record is weak _ 9-17 _ and their success against division opponents _ they’re 7-12 _ must improve.

Yes, it’s only the second week of June. But if the Mariners chunk this road trip, the past week truly was a charade.