Rodriguez

How's this for bad timing:

Former Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez apparently wrote a letter to the Boeing Co. suggesting a move to Texas. Boeing, the largest employer in the state of Washington, is planning to move some of its 78,000 Puget Sound employees out of the state, and Dallas is one possibility.

According to USA Today, Rodriguez, now with the Rangers wrote: "I came to Dallas-Fort Worth to improve my future, and so should you."

Seattle manager Lou Piniella said: "If it's so, they won't like hearing that in Seattle."

Monday's game, which happens to be A-Rod's first game in Seattle since signing with Texas in the offseason, is close to a sellout. It also happens to be Boeing Employees Credit Union night at the ballpark.

It's likely that some of the Boeing employees whose jobs could be threatened might not be enthralled with A-Rod's relocation pitch.

Only 1,100 tickets remain for Monday night's game.