AFTER ONE WEEK, can we discuss the state of the ’02 Mariners yet? Well, we will anyway. Compared to last year’s once-in-a-lifetime April, this year’s Ms are a respectable but unspectacular 4-3. Three of those four wins were come-from-behinds; two of the three losses involved insufficient comeback rallies in the late innings.

Of course, this is only against three opponents (two of whom, the A’s and Angels, are division rivals who’ve surely spent a lot on scouting to research any possible Ms’ weaknesses). And admittedly, a 4-3 week still puts a team on a pace to win a not-bad-at-all 104 games in the season.

All one can do now is hope Weeks 2 through 4 reveal a Seattle team emerging to its fuller potential.