Art Thiel writes that the M’s should fire Howard Lincoln and replace him with minority owner Chris Larson: “Larson, one of the early Microsofties, is an extraordinarily reluctant public figure. But he has an abiding passion for and knowledge of baseball. He was the most active owner in overseeing the construction that helped make the stadium in a Seattle summer perhaps more popular than the team.” You’d think Larson would be more open to the statistics-based analysis favored by the USS Mariner guys–who’ve been right about this season all along.

M’s first round pick Josh Fields tells reporters he wants to be in Seattle next year, and experts agree that’s possible, writes Larry Stone. Prospect Insider’s Jason A. Churchill has a scouting report on Fields (scroll down). “He’s not a guy you want to face. He’s intense, he’s a very good athlete. It’s not hard to imagine him throwing in the big leagues soon,” M’s scout John McMichen tells TNT’s Larry LaRue. TNT’s John McGrath wonders why the M’s would pick a skinny pitcher now, after having passed on Tim Lincecum last year.

You can follow the M’s picks here, there are scouting reports and video for some of the players. Also searchable: players from Washington, and from Oregon.

Jake Locker’s summer baseball debut is tonight in Bellingham, (7pm, Joe Martin Field). Breathe, Husky fans, breathe: “I’m not going to run into fences, obviously. I’m going to be smarter than that. But they’re not going to get me at 50 percent. I’m going to play as hard as I can and try and win. I don’t like losing, and I’m going to do everything that I can do to avoid it.” So Locker tells TNT’s Don Ruiz, who’ll be live-blogging the game at his Husky Insider site.

Sonics lawyers argue that, because of the agreements that have been made with OKC, it’s too late to unwind the sale and return the team to Howard Schultz, writes Greg Johns. Also, they argue that Schultz can’t prove he’s suffered any injury as a result of the fraud. They want the case thrown out of court.

Kevin Love, among others, worked out for the Sonics yesterday, writes Percy Allen. Today, it’s Roy Hibbert.

Construction of UO’s new basketball arena will be delayed by at least nine months, driving up costs and possibly scaring away bond issuers, after land-use authorities determined that they didn’t yet have the proper permits. Construction will go forward anyway, according to UO, but it may have to be scaled back, since the project is supposed to be capped at $200 million.

Ducks QB Cody Kempt, who was forced into action last year after Dennis Dixon’s ACL tear started an injury jamboree, has since fallen to at least fifth on the depth chart. So he’s transferring to Montana State.

All the Husky crew boats advanced to the national semifinals, writes Chuck Gormley.

Former Sonic Vester Marshall is now a “street minister, yoga instructor, talented artist and dedicated herbalist” in Belltown, writes Dan Raley.