We saw the Mariners start out the season 13-2 while setting home run records right and left. And we saw them last weekend lose two games to the Rangers by a combined 29-2 score and looking like the worst team in baseball. What exactly should we expect from this team going forward?
-- Paul R., Tacoma, Wash.

As usual, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. The Mariners got off to a scorching start, but it’s worth noting those first 15 games all were against teams that currently have losing records. Even taking three of four from the Red Sox doesn’t look quite as impressive now, with Boston off to a surprisingly sluggish start.

A month in, the Mariners have gone 18-5 against teams with losing records and are 0-8 against winning teams. There are quite a few bad teams in MLB at the moment and I think the Mariners are good enough to play .500 ball as long as they keep their veteran group together. But we’ll learn a lot in the next three weeks as 13 of their next 18 games are against winning clubs, including a tough 10-game road trip through Cleveland, New York and Boston.

Mallex Smith is really struggling. Do the Mariners have any choices in dealing with him? Is he out of options? Is there anybody in Tacoma who could replace him?
-- Jane H., Seattle

Smith does have two Minor League options remaining and Braden Bishop is playing well in Tacoma, so yes, Smith could be sent down if the club decides he needs to regroup after a rough first month. But while fans are often quick to pull the plug on a new player, the Mariners likely will let Smith try to play his way out of his slump.

Clearly his struggles have gotten into his head and he’s thinking too much right now, both at the plate and in center field, but Smith had a strong season with the Rays in 2018 -- with an excellent .296/.367/.406 line with 40 stolen bases -- and he will turn just 26 years old next week.

Smith wouldn’t be the first player to press when trying to impress a new team. My hunch is he’ll relax and let his natural talents start to show, and that batting average will start to rise as the weather warms.

If Dee Gordon and Smith could get on base more consistently, would the team ideally like to have a 3-4-5 of Haniger, Domingo Santana and Edwin Encarnacion?
-- Mike C., Lakewood, Wash.

The days of simply putting speed at the top of the lineup and following with the boppers seems to be changing for many teams, including the Mariners. Manager Scott Servais is looking for high on-base percentage guys and generally his best hitters to bat in the top spots, where they’ll be assured of getting the most at-bats in a game and also create more run-production opportunities for a middle of the order that hits a lot of homers.

Servais has had Haniger either leading off (typically against a left-handed starter) or batting second so far. With Smith struggling, Servais dropped him to ninth in the order on Sunday and had Gordon back in the top spot for the first time. I doubt you’ll ever see Gordon and Smith batting 1-2, since you can get the same effect by batting them 1-9 while providing an extra at-bat for a bigger run producer in the second spot.

How long until we see J.P. Crawford at shortstop and what happens at that point with Tim Beckham?
-- Jimmy J., Butte, Mont.

Reports out of Tacoma are that Crawford has been very solid defensively, which is good to hear. The bigger question seems to be if he’s ready offensively. The 24-year-old has posted a .291/.378/.419 line with two homers and five RBIs in 22 games for the Rainiers, but it’s worth noting that he’s batted .387 in 31 at-bats against left-handers and just .236 in 55 at-bats vs. righties.

Beckham has had defensive issues in Seattle with an MLB-high 11 errors, but he’s been a big part of the Mariners' surprising start and a strong presence in the clubhouse as well. He can fill that role until the Mariners deem Crawford ready for a full-time shot and is capable of playing second or third as well should the need arise.

But things are going to get crowded when Kyle Seager returns, which could come in early June, so stay tuned on the trade front as something has to give if the Mariners stick with their plan of giving Crawford and other youngsters a chance to build on this season going forward.

What’s Ichiro’s status with the Mariners? Has his role been defined?
-- Steve W., Tacoma, Wash.

At this point, nothing has been finalized as Ichiro is still back in Japan. My understanding is he’ll return to Seattle soon and when he does, my guess is he takes on an advisory role similar to what Mike Cameron just started this past week.

That would mean working with both Major and Minor League hitters and outfielders, most likely with the Tacoma and Everett clubs as well as the Mariners. Cameron, who lives in Georgia, will presumably work more with the youngsters at Double-A Arkansas and Class A West Virginia, though both clearly could go wherever needed.