wasn't too long ago we were hearing theo had made a serious bid for "king felix" at last july's trading deadline ... now the 24 year old ace of the seattle mariners pitching staff, felix hernandez, has signed on to stay in the pacific northwest for 5 years/$78 million ... hernandez was arbitration eligible and a free agent to be ('10)

down the left coast in the city by the bay plays "the freak" ... he's 25 years old and he's been a starting pitcher for less than 3 years ... he's only 5'11"/170 lbs ... his pitching motion is violent and unorthodox ... in november of 2009, he was arrested on a driving with reefer charge in his home state of washington ... he was paid $650,000 in 2009 and the san francisco giants have offered to raise his salary to $8 million in 2010 ... seems fair ... not quite ... tim lincecum, the 2 1/2 year veteran with a pitching motion that's been called "controlled fury" ... the reigning, 2-time cy young award winner as best pitcher in the nl has countered the giants arbitration offer ... lincecum says he wants $13 million ... my advice to gm brian sabien and his giants ... you know the terms of felix's new deal in seattle ... $15.5 million per annum is the current free market cost for brilliant young starting pitching ... sign "the freak" tomorrow ... give him all the dollars he's asking for ... avoid arbitration at all costs