Mariners

Passing on Hamilton was smart

I have to disagree with the premise of Steve Kelley’s column (“M’s fail their fans by missing out on Hamilton,” Friday). I think doing whatever it took to sign Josh Hamilton would have been the second greatest Mariner blunder of the last 10 years, behind only the hiring of Bill Bavasi as general manager.

Hamilton might not sink the Angels but with our luck he’d spend a good chunk of his five years as a Mariner on the disabled list and suspended with substance-abuse problems. The Mariners need to start spending wisely on free agents and I hope there may be a R.A. Dickey, Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher acquisition in our future. Hamilton is the longest of long shots for a team that needs to connect on several free-agent deals to get back into serious contention.

– Bob Beath, Beijing

Follow lead of the Dodgers

I don’t give a damn about a huge TV screen. I want a winner on the field.

Is signing Jason Bay the only “big” signing of the offseason? Was the offer to Josh Hamilton window dressing? We need a big hitter here in Seattle, period.

It is time the media to lower the boom on the Mariners. The Dodgers are making move after move, but our Mariners are basically doing nothing!

– Gordon Curvey, Seattle

Running M’s ship aground

It should be no surprise that in the last decade Mariners management has presided over the largest attendance drop in pro sports.

First, the M’s management cannot judge or keep talent. They set the stage for this debacle when they couldn’t keep the obvious talents of Alex Rodriguez, Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, and Lou Piniella. Their deals usually do more harm than good.

Second, the M’s are the epitome of fiscal irresponsibility. They continually refuse to pay for real players (Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton), pay excessively for poor players (Chone Figgins), and overpay declining stars (Ichiro).

Third, the M’s are a PR nightmare. You can’t even wear a “Yankees Suck” T-shirt, or kiss your partner without expulsion. How about raising ticket prices now for 2013 and opposing the new arena? What are they thinking?

The present management has run the Mariner ship aground. Ownership must live on another planet to have not signaled to the bullpen for a management change. Howard Lincoln and Chuck Armstrong have thrown way too many pitches, most of them in the dirt.

– Dave Sadick, Edmonds

Media teased, fans, not Jack Z.

According to Steve Kelly, the Mariners have been teasing the sports public about the possible signing of Josh Hamilton. But it’s more like sports writers and broadcasters who have been doing the teasing. The only public mention of Hamilton from Jack Zduriencik in a list of possible hitters that might be available. As soon as one of the heavy hitters signed for $13 million per year, you knew that the Mariners were not going to sign any of them.

Signing just one heavy hitter to a big contract doesn’t guarantee success on the field, as the Texas Rangers found out with Alex Rodriguez.

– Win DeForest

Is that Jason Bay or Babe Ruth?

Am I confused? The Seattle Times is featuring Jason Bay (“A refreshing change,” Tuesday) as though he is the second coming of Babe Ruth. He had three miserable years with the Mets, and batted .165 last year.

I am sorry about his concussions. I know he grew up here. I also know that both Erik Bedard and Chone Figgins were supposed to save our butts.

What part of Bay’s last three years am I missing?

– Doug Thiel, Seattle

Seahawks

Russian viewpoint fun, well done

I loved Ivan Yurchenko’s article on the Seahawks game (“Russian to judgment: his take on NFL,” Take 2, Wednesday). Fun perspective, well-written, and a great opportunity for Ivan. Well done!

– David McCray, Seattle

ESPN is biased against Seattle

I just love the way they’re so biased at ESPN. The Seahawks smoke the Cardinals 58-0, and it barely gets any mention. Now, if it had been their beloved Patriots, we would never heard the end of it!

– Tony Snorteland, Poulsbo

Seattle U vs. UW

Cheers for SU tradition

Regarding Steve Kelley’s column (“Crosstown classic,” Wednesday), I don’t think many people outside of Seattle or younger than 50 really understand what a great basketball tradition Seattle University had established. I grew up in Seattle in the 1960s, and my dad was a huge Seattle U basketball fan. We went to all of the games at Seattle Center Coliseum. I think my favorite players were Tom Little and Lenzy Stewart.

I went on to attend UW but I am still a Seattle U fan at heart and I hope they continue their rise from the ashes.

– Stephen J. Dignam, Creswell, Ore.

Ike Ditzenberger

Other athletes aren't like Ike

Doesn’t it bother you some to cover the top pro athletes wasting their opportunities, using drugs, exhibiting rude behavior and getting DUIs?

They don’t even matter compared to this young kid. Thanks for doing the follow up.

– Terry Pratt, Seattle