Putz would rather face Bonds than a couple of dirty diapers

MARINERS

When it comes to baseball writing, the guy I enjoy reading the most in the Seattle market is Tacoma’s Larry LaRue. Today’s J.J. Putz story just reinforces that feeling.

LaRue not only covers baseball in an intelligent way … it’s time for a break in the action:

Once, back in the early ‘80s, while covering a Dodger game, the writer next to me, the baseball writer for the Los Angeles Times, one of the largest newspapers in the nation, a guy who had been on the beat for more than a year, posed the stupidest question I had ever heard. With a runner on third and one out, the Dodger hitter grounded out to shortstop. The runner scored. The writer turned to me and asked “Does he get an RBI for that?”

Now back to the action … he also writes some of the more interesting features. And, at its core, is what good baseball writing is: feature writing with a little play-by-play worked in.

Today’s hot list …

• This P-I story affects Spokane readers more than any other. The M’s and Fox Sports Northwest are close to adding 10 more years on their TV contract. The deal would be lucrative for the team, and money can translate into … higher ticket prices? No dummy, better players. Or a richer Ichiro.

• Are spring training numbers important? This Seattle Times story examines the eternal – OK, 50-year – debate.

• More from LaRue, this on Wednesday’s game, and other notes.

• J.J. Putz and Arthur Rhodes both three yesterday.

• Reliever Sean White is making it tough for M’s to keep him – not on the roster, but away from the Atlanta Braves. White’s future is just one of the questions the team has to answer soon.

• It looks like Ben Broussard has secured a reserve spot.

• From the minor league beat, the P-I has this piece on 28-year-old minor league outfielder Jason Grove.

And our question for the day …

• You are Mike Hargrove. Make either or both of these tough calls: Rene Rivera or Jamie Burke as your backup catcher, and pick one of the young relievers to round out your bullpen, either White, Brandon Morrow or Jon Huber. Give your reasons.