Rumors abound early this week concerning a most ghastly notion, a dark vision that has kept us sleepless: reportedly, both the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies called Mariners GM Bill Bavasi over the weekend to inquire about a potential trade for Ichiro. Candidates for the swap included Roy Oswalt from Houston and some insulting combination of Bobby Abreu, Cory Lidle, and Arthur Rhodes from Philly. Abreu and Lidle finally landed with the New York Yankees......

Ex-Houston Astros broadcaster Gene Elston is winner of the Ford Frick Broadcasting Award, and, as such, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. Elston beat out nine other finalists for the award, including the only one who deserves it, Mariner broadcaster Dave Niehaus. Niehaus was also a finalist last year, when he inexplicably lost out to noted malapropist Jerry Coleman. Coleman chose to use language, considered the greatest triumph of the human......