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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

A Grip on Sports: Even back in his Gonzaga days, it was easy to see Gonzales had major league stuff, mainly because it was hard to follow

Seattle Mariners pitcher Marco Gonzales smiles during a baseball news conference Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, in Seattle. Gonzales and the Mariners agreed to a $30 million contract covering 2021-24, a deal that includes a club option and could be worth $45 million over five seasons. (Elaine Thompson / AP)

A GRIP ON SPORTS • As I was slip-sliding around Spokane yesterday – and anyone who was out this morning probably was doing the same – we had some thoughts on a few different items. Of course we have to share them. It’s what we do. We’ll start with the M’s signing Marco Gonzales to a multi-year contract extension.

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• Gonzales isn’t exactly a rags-to-riches story, but he certainly is the rich part. The Mariners made sure of that when they extended his contract this week, assuring he won’t be leaving Seattle for a while.

But he was never ragged, not in the baseball sense. Not even as a Gonzaga Bulldog. It wasn’t too long ago I went looking for my scorebook from the two games I covered while Gonzales pitched for the Zags. I wanted to check my notes.

I wasn’t able to find it or them, but some things still stand out in my memory. Mainly because of how different Gonzales was – and how one difference reminded me of a Hall of Fame pitcher I once caught.

Sitting in GU’s press box, I was struck with how much late movement Gonzales had on his fastball. It wasn’t overpowering, but it darted, if you get my drift. I’m sure to the hitter it looked almost as if it disappeared a few feet from the plate.

How do I know? Because I’ve seen it.

Bert Blyleven used to work out in the offseason at UC Irvine when I played there. And throw bullpens. The bullpen catcher (uh, me) would catch. Most of the sessions were leisurely ones, with Blyleven, elected to the Hall in 2011, mainly working on his mechanics and keeping his arm loose.

But one day he wanted to throw for real, so he stepped on the mound during a scrimmage. And I got to experience something I never experienced again: A fastball that seemed to jump from about three feet in front of home plate into my glove.

It was an optical illusion, of course, but it sure seemed as if it de-materialized in one spot and materialized in my Wilson catcher’s mitt. It took me a while but I finally figured out the ball was moving so sharply, its rotation was so tight, it was hard to follow visually.

It was the same with Gonzales back in his Gonzaga days. It helped me realize he was earmarked for something more than just being a great college pitcher. It has taken a while but he’s reached that potential. I’m pretty sure, though, no one is predicting he will end up in Cooperstown. At least not yet.

• Today marks the beginning of college football’s second letter of intent signing period. Each school around the nation will tout their signees as part of “our best class ever.” Ignore that part. Just focus on the high school seniors who are fulfilling a dream.

Becoming a college athlete at any level isn’t easy. It takes lots of hard work, dedication and help. Succeeding at the college level takes the same. Today is the bridge that all that hard work built.

Today is also a celebration day. A well-deserved celebration day.

Hate the oversized interest in their athletic accomplishments if you need to, or on the oversized interest in the whole process, but don’t hate on them. They’ve earned the right to a day filled with happiness.

• Why is it when a little snow falls and makes the streets slick, some drivers decide it’s a great day to see if they can hit speeds usually reserved for Daytona? And others think the snow means they can’t go more than 14 miles per hour no matter what? Isn’t there a happy medium somewhere?

Of course there is. It is the exact speed I am driving.

Call me Goldilocks if you will but no matter what I never go too fast or too slow. So get out of my way or quit riding my back bumper.

In fact, if possible, will every one else please stay off the roads? I will be going to Costco this morning and would appreciate it.

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Gonzaga: Filip Petrusev hasn’t shied away from his stature with the GU basketball team. He’s the biggest, strongest guy and he’s starting to play like it. Jim Meehan describes what that’s meant for the Bulldogs this season. … Commit Jalen Suggs is among seven finalists for MaxPrep.com’s high school player of the year award. Jim has that story as well. … Larry Weir spoke with Steven Karr for the latest Press Box pod. … Elsewhere in the WCC, a transfer has fit in well at BYU.

WSU: As we mentioned above, your day today will be filled with alerts concerning football recruits signing their letter of intent. Before they start to overpower you, take some time and read Theo Lawson’s two latest stories on the most-recent Washington State recruits. … Speaking of recruiting, the Seattle Times has a story on Nick Rolovich and that skill. … Around the Pac-12, we’re going to wait until all the letters of intent are in to pass along recruiting story, but we do have a conference overview. … An Oregon State defensive back was granted another season of eligibility. … A Colorado player has unfinished business. … Arizona State has patched together its defensive coaching staff. … Sometimes recruiting is an ugly business. … In basketball news, the conference is balanced, which means the standings are a muddled mess. Arizona is right in the middle of it. … UCLA has come to depend on an unheralded player. So has Colorado.

EWU: Michael Roos is an icon for the Eagles. Heck, the football field is named after him. Maybe in the near future they will have to name the ice rink after him as well. Only, of course, if he’s successful in his latest endeavor. John Blanchette shares what that is in this column. Here’s a hint: It has to do with stones.

Preps: Tuesday was full of basketball and so we have four roundups to pass along. They are from GSL boys, GSL girls, area girls and area boys.

Chiefs: A 7-6 overtime win in Portland is always a good thing, but it also helped Spokane move a bit closer to second-place Everett in the WHL’s U.S. Division.

Seahawks: The Hawks have some needs at tight end. A veteran may help them fill them.

Mariners: Gonzales officially signed his extension yesterday and that led to a whole bunch of words being written about him. The most interesting description? He’s a “foundational piece.”

Sounders: Before the MLS season begins, young players are doing their best to make the roster.

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• A Costco trip is a big deal when you’re my age. It’s a chance to connect with others who like the same music, enjoy complaining about crowds and remember when toilet paper only came in eight packs. Until later …