Northwest Sports: In the Morning

Putz not right, blows save...
Putz: "I'm really at a loss because I've never had this much trouble throwing strikes with the fastball."

Jeff of Lookout Landing pleads with J.J. to get healed before pitching again.

Sexson hit his 300th homer to put the M's ahead in extras. He's the fourth Mariner to get #300 with the club, the others being Junior (4/13/98, @ CLE), Edgar (5/12/04, @ MIN), Jay (7/25/00, vs. OAK), and Willie Horton (6/6/79 vs. DET).

Because McLaren probably said some shit like "we just didn't get it done" after yesterday's game (no fun!), here's video of Lou Piniella's rant at a reporter after the Cubs blew a late lead yesterday. "The briefing ended with Piniella muttering profanities on his way out the door," writes Dave van Dyck. [Via Big League Stew]

Other stuff...
Bill Bavasi's dad, former Dodgers exec Buzzie, died at 93. Here's the excellent NY Times obit featuring an awesome publicity photo of Bavasi making contract deals with players Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, and Roy Campanella (all of whom he outlived).

The P-I's Greg Johns plays devil's advocate with the city's case against the Sonics. As Johns points out, if the Sonics have to play two more years here, it won't just be them losing money--the city will lose money, too.

John Morgan of Field Gulls scouts Hawks' draft pick Red Bryant and finds that he's a very inconsistent player. Bryant will wear #79 in honor of his father-in-law Jacob Green.

Here's the full list of Hawks jersey numbers.

Carlesimo will coach the Sonics NBA franchise owned by Clay Bennett next year.

Though Tony Bennett got a big raise, his buyout didn't increase. It will actually be cheaper for other schools to get him out of his contract this year and the next.

Shaun Alexander will visit with the Bengals on Monday.