THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Time to give my loyal readers some love

The National Hockey League is not being helpful.

So far, most of the Kraken games — Monday night, for example — have finished late, late, late prior to days when this column is published.

I’ve emphasized “late” to indicate the games will end after my deadline for getting this thing into print.

In other words, there won’t be comments about the Kraken-Stars Game 7 in the Cheap Seats until Wednesday.

Bummer.

Now, if the Kraken have won, and we’re talking about their Western Conference title series against Vegas, that would NOT be a bummer.

Anyhow …

While we’re waiting to see if the Kraken season is moving forward, I need to get something done that I really ought to handle more often.

Acknowledging readers’ correspondence.

In fact, I need to let you know about the winner of my little quiz.

Remember?

Are the Mariners simply in transition, or are they just a mess?

I offered lunch and conversation for the best answer — assuming the victor even wants to spend a little time with me.

Drum roll, please …

I’M GIVING the blue ribbon to John Austin, who was so baffled by the Mariners’ lack of hitting that he resorted to a truly awful parody of Abbott and Costello.

Try this …

“First Base: Bryan Woo is a lights-out pitcher in their minor league system, but he’s also an infielder — so I like him at first (you know, Woo's on first?).

“Second Base: Jerry Dipoto needs to admit he was Wong about the guy at second. Ten million for that guy is a travesty. In a pinch, I was thinking an NFL guy could do better. Maybe JJ Watt. (Of course, Watt's on second?)

“Third base, I don't know.”

Groan!

I know, it’s terrible, but John gets the gold medal for effort.

The next item on the today’s agenda is a correction.

When I was writing about the need for “robo umps” to call balls and strikes, I said that one issue making it difficult to get that done was objection from MLB umpires.

Wrong.

Tom Neil, himself a former umpire, has been following the changes (present and future) and was kind enough to set me straight.

Tom’s email said, in part …

“I have no issue with anything you wrote this week regarding umpiring EXCEPT that the umpire's union is fighting the ABS system.

“Not true.

“To the contrary, the umps union agreed to implementing it two or three seasons ago.”

I apologize for getting this item wrong, possibly confusing it with a fight over umpire evaluation.

The case involving Angel Hernandez (who charged racial discrimination) has led to a lawsuit.

Anyway, thanks to Tom for that info.

If you want to read about the agreement in question — and the technology involved in the TrackMan system for calling pitches — look up a story by Andrew Cohen in the Sports Business Journal from Dec. 23, 2019.

I CAN’T possibly get to all the interesting mail that floats this way, but there are few items absolutely worth mentioning.

For instance, Ken Burks from down in Richland wrote to chat about the Seahawks, their draft and various other issues with the team — but what really caught my attention was that Ken said that he and his sister attended some of the NFL combine.

Now THOSE are fans who are paying attention.

Switching from two-legged athletes to four, I was startled to get so much mail after writing about the Kentucky Derby — and the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s historic Triple Crown.

To everyone who wrote …

Thanks so much.

Lots of great stuff in there, but I particularly need to note an email from Marty Coon, which contained TWO fascinating items.

Here you go …

“My wife owned Secretariat’s granddaughter. Doesn’t mean much since his progeny did not fare well.

“Did you read Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand? She did such a great job that you don’t have to like horses or horse racing, and it is still a good read.”

Indeed, Marty, I have read it and I consider Hillenbrand (who is house-bound because of a disease) to be one of the best researchers I’ve ever encountered.

Marty’s right.

You don’t have to be a racing fan to love that book.

OK, we’re done for today, except …

I need to confess that there ARE people who disagree with me — about Bob Huggins, for example — and I’ll gather some naysayers’ correspondence for publication before long.

Promise.

No, really.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”