They can actually play defense now. Jose Vidro is no longer the designated hitter. Erik Bedard is healthy. Jarrod Washburn has an awesome new pitch that may actually warrant the obligatory “he’s got an awesome new pitch” articles. And seven games into the season, they just tied their longest winning streak from last year. All this without Ichiro. Could this year’s Mariners actually be good?Their opponents haven’t exactly been a murderer’s row: an already-light-hitting Twins team missing its best hitter, and an A’s team that may finally be feeling the effects of its ownership’s stinginess. Nevertheless, things are looking up for once.Other Mariners tidbits: Super-prospect Carlos Triunfel is likely out for the year with a broken tibia. Metro shuttles to the games are shut down because of a Bush Admin rule. (Why doesn’t Obama reverse it?) And Jon Brockman will be throwing out the first pitch on Friday.