Seattle

He has been an Angels sparkplug for most of the past seven years, a speedy leadoff batter who had a .395 on-base percentage, 114 runs and an American League-leading 101 walks in 2009. But after finalizing a four-year, $36-million deal with Seattle on Tuesday, Chone Figgins will be part of a twin-turbo engine at the top of the Mariners order, teaming with baseball's best leadoff hitter, Ichiro Suzuki, to give Seattle a dynamic one-two punch. "To be able to create havoc with Ichiro at the top of the order is going to be a whole lot of fun," Figgins said on a conference call Tuesday night.

"Have you been to Seattle?" That's what restaurant people are whispering to one another these days, much the way they used to ask if you had been to Paris. Experts all over the country suddenly are waxing enthusiastic about the quality of food in that rainy corner of the world; one New York food consultant went so far as to call the city "an exciting presence."

Mike Scioscia fell in love with Garrett Richards' power arm in August, moving the rookie to the bullpen believing he could provide the kind of boost starter-turned-reliever Kelvim Escobar gave the Angels during their 2005 run to the American League championship series. That love, at times, has gone unrequited. In a span of four batters during the decisive seventh inning Thursday, Richards walked Trayvon Robinson with the bases loaded, gave up a run-scoring single to Kyle Seager, a sacrifice fly to Jesus Montero and an RBI double to John Jaso.

Regarding "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, Seattle" (April 2): Let me get this straight: Brenda Bell is a Texan, and she thinks Seattle has an attitude? JUDI HENDRICKS Long Beach

Seattle 9, Angels 8 AT THE PLATE: Hank Conger, the projected backup catcher and 2006 first-round draft pick, drove in five runs with a home run, double and single. Center fielder Peter Bourjos walked twice, singled, scored twice and flashed his speed by going from first base to third on a wild pitch. ON THE MOUND: Garrett Richards, who appears more likely to start the season in the triple-A rotation than the Angels' bullpen, gave up one unearned run in two innings. R.J. Alvarez, the Angels' top draft pick last year and the last of four nonroster relievers who coughed up a 7-2 lead, gave up the winning run in the ninth inning.

What a funny idea that your city would feel pompous enough about yourself, your smog, your crime, your poverty and your unemployment rates to print such a negative article on Seattle ("The Decline and Fall of Seattle," by Kim Murphy, Aug. 4). Perhaps you should look in your own yard and clean it up before you point fingers elsewhere. Marilyn Burson Seattle

SEATTLE - He's the other Alberto, the one who makes a fraction of what slugger Albert Pujols does and whose presence in the batter's box does not cause the heart rate of opposing pitchers to rise. While Pujols has been on fire for a week and a half, Alberto Callaspo has also stoked the offense, capping a productive week with a pinch-hit grand slam off Seattle ace Felix Hernandez in the sixth inning Saturday to lift the Angels to a 5-3 come-from-behind win over the Mariners in Safeco Field.

Coach Bill Walsh said Thursday that the San Francisco 49ers' trade with Seattle for linebacker Dave Wyman has been voided because of the highly regarded rookie's shoulder injury. "We had to negate the trade for Dave Wyman with Seattle because he had a shoulder injury that seemed chronic to the point that he could not pass our physical," Walsh said.

This is to compliment Sam Hall Kaplan for his "Seattle Could Give Lesson to Los Angeles" piece (Oct. 27). I liked his analysis and his commentary, and I agree with his conclusions. Los Angeles would benefit immeasurably if policy makers would pay attention to our rich architectural history and to pedestrian amenities, as has been done in Seattle. JOHN H. WELBORNE Los Angeles

When: 8. Where: Alaska Airlines Arena, Seattle. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 710. Records: USC 6-17, 1-9 in Pac-12; Washington 15-7, 8-2. Update: USC was unable to build on its victory over Utah last Saturday, losing at Washington State, 60-53, on Thursday. Junior guard Greg Allen came off the bench and scored 17 points for the Trojans, who continue to be undermanned with only six scholarship players. USC can only hope Washington has a letdown after rallying to defeat UCLA, 71-69, on Thursday.