Jason Jayar/Reed, originally from Port Orchard and now working as a broadcaster in Florida, wrote this tribute about Dave Niehaus, the Mariners’ legendary voice who died earlier this week:

http://jayarsbrainleaking.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-that-dave-built.html?spref=fb

Dave Niehaus brought baseball to life for so many Northwest baseball fans over the years.

There’s no way one can describe in words how wonderful Niehaus was at describing what transpired on a baseball field.

His ability to judge fly balls might have waned in his later years, but he was still able to paint a picture that stayed with you forever. Is there a better nickname in baseball than the one Niehaus bestowed on Franklin Gutierrez, the defensive wizard who roams center field for the Mariners?Niehaus called him “Death to Flying Things.”

Niehaus was a treasure, truly one of the great voices of his era. And he was our treasure, which is what made him so special.

Nobody has heard a peep from Ken Griffey Jr. since the Mariners’ all-time greatest player issued a statement about his retirement on June 2 and took off on a cross-country trip to his home in Florida.

It took Niehaus’ death on Wednesday to bring Giffey out of hiding.

“He is Mariners baseball,” Griffey said of Niehaus during an interview on 710 ESPN radio. “Everybody talks about all the players. We can’t hold a candle to that man.”

The greatest and most popular player in Mariners’ history got that one right.

Got a prediction for this year’s Apple Cup?

Here’s one: Freezing rain,which will turn to snow as temperatures dip into the 20s. Yeah, it promises to be cold. The Washington-Washington State football game in Pullman will kick off at 4 p.m. It will be televised nationally by Versus. The UW made the annoucement today. Here’s the press release.

Next year’s Apple Cup will be played at Qwest Field as Husky Stadium undergoes rennovations.

Baseball Links

Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald, whose coverage of the Mariners’ appears in the Kitsap Sun, cast his AL Cy Young vote for Felix Hernandez. He breaks down why he voted for the Seattle pitcher and why Cliff Lee wasn’t in his top five.  Here’s the story.

John Morosi of Yahoo Sports! thinks free-agent Victor Martinez could land with the Mariners: “He’s a perfect fit in Seattle, where his former manager Eric Wedge is now in charge. There, Victor could catch, play first and DH. A lot of at-bats to be had, given Seattle’s anemic offense last year.”

Ken Rosenthal of Yahoo Sports! said Vlad Guerrero would be a nice fit in Seattle: “More offense for the Mariners, whose DH production was the worst in the AL.”

And it’ s hard for me to see this one happening, but Rosenthal also thinks Adrian Beltre makes sense for the Mariners: “The M’s greater need is at shortstop, but they won’t find offense at that position. Goodbye Jose Lopez, welcome back Beltre.”

You can check out all of Yahoo’s free-agent predictions here.

Remember Jarrod Washburn? The former M’s lefty is considering a comeback.

College Hoops Links

It’s early November and they’re already starting to play basketball games that count. Naturally, it’ s time for our first NCAA Tournament projection for 2011. This one, from SI.com’s Andy Glockner, projects the Huskies to be a No. 5 seed and Gonzaga to be a No. 6 seed. Here it is.

Seth Davis of SI.com picks Gonzaga to reach its first Final Four. Here’s the picks from all of SI.com’s analysts.

So much for the home-field advantage.

A lot of Seattle’s 12th Man supporter have flown the coop and who can blame ’em. The New York Football Giants lead the Seahawks 35-0 at halftime.

It’s been a long time since you’ve seen this many empty seats at Qwest Field.

Here’s the dirty details: NY’s Eli Manning is 17 for 21 for 232 yards and four touchdowns. He has not been sacked. Seattle’s Charlie Whitehurst is 9 for 19 for 64 yards and two interceptions. The first pick wasn’t hit fault.

Whitehurst just dropped the snap while in shotgun on third down during Seattle’s first second-half possession. Whitehurst recovered it, but that’s the way this one is going.

The Giants have held the Hawks to 15 rushing yards. Impressive, but as the guy next to me put it: “Pitching a shutout against the Seahawks run game is like playing against the Mariners.”

I can’t imagine what Pete Carroll’s going to say after this one. They’ve been outscored 68-3 the last six quarters. Make it 71-3 after the last 7 quarters.

Giants lead 41-0 and there’s still 15 minutes to play.

Doe the NFL have a mercy rule?