Talking Points 10/3

What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:

1

Mercifully, the baseball season comes to an end for the Mariners today. Just prior to opening day, Talking Points looked at the Seattle lineup and predicted a 77-85 season. Little did we think it would way too optimistic.

This is a team that has been shut out 15 times and scored once in 28 games. That means the M’s score one or fewer runs in a quarter of their games.

The Seattle/Pacific Northwest chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America chose Felix Hernandez as the M’s pitcher of the year and Ichiro as the most valuable player. Not a lot of debate there.

Left-hander Jason Vargas was the Unsung Hero award winner. Initially thought fortunate to land the No. 5 starter job, Vargas spent the latter half of the season as the No. 2 starter and threw nearly 200 innings.

2

The NBA is implementing a new dress code this season — but instead of being directed at players, it’s the coaches the league is insisting dress up. No longer will coaches be allowed to wear mock turtlenecks under their suit jacket.

Let the new mandate be known as the “Van Gundy Rule.”

“I want them to at least name the rule after me,” Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said.