The ol’ mailbag’s splitting at the seams, which usually means nothing good for me, and that’s the case this time.

A couple of columns this week – one chiding a select group of dissatisfied UW football fans and one arguing that a return to Seattle may be in the best interests of Alex Rodriguez, the Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees – were enough to send more than a few readers over the top and onto my burned, scraped backside.

You guys don’t fool around.

In reaction to the Rodriguez babble, here’s what Steve from Marysville had to say:

“Hope you’re recovering from your severe head trauma, but it looks like a slow recovery. Getting Pay-Rod back here would be just about the worst move the Mariners could make. He was trouble here, trouble in Texas and trouble with the Yankees. Why would they want another ego on the team? You’re just begging for chemistry problems.”

I must have missed the part where A-Rod was a chemistry problem anywhere. Don’t let the fact that he left Seattle for a $252 million contract with the Rangers mess with your judgment. Another thing: If someone offered you 25 times your salary to change jobs, how long would it take you to write your letter of resignation? Sorry, but I never understood the anger.

Josh Kayla, a student at Cascade High School, wants to keep the overpaid Adrian Beltre because of his defense.

“The idea of bringing back A-Rod is the dumbest idea that this Mariners organization has had since Ken Griffey Jr. left. Why would you agree to let Adrian Beltre go? … You’re willing to let him go and bring in Rodriguez, who had 24 errors at third base THIS SEASON!! That’s not what we need; our batting lineup is fine for now … “

First, Josh, give credit where credit is due. The Mariners have said nothing about trading for A-Rod. The idiotic idea was mine and mine alone (well, along with a few other IQ-challenged journalists).

Second, a lineup that’s at or near the bottom of the American League in batting average, run production, slugging percentage and led the league in shutouts isn’t fine – for now or ever.

Reader Vic Ledoux is a team guy:

“There just happens to be eight other players on the field that just may have something to do with winning. Can you imagine Alex playing by his lonesome, pitching, fielding and scoring all the runs needed to win? With what he makes, he should be the first one-man professional team.”

Careful, Vic. If they can clone sheep …

Earlier in the week, I wrote that I couldn’t understand the outrage from certain circles that the Huskies fell to USC by six points, even if it was on a controversial call. Chill, I argued. Just enjoy the ride.

Some from the lunatic fringe of certain Internet message boards, convinced I’m a Washington State grad (Sorry, fells. Wrong school.) suggested I should be permanently banned from anything connected with UW football. One, I suspect, wrote me this gem. Anonymously, of course:

“You and Jim Moore are the biggest Coug loosers (Sleeper note: misspelling unedited) in the anti-Husky Puget Sound media. I cut off my Herald subscription a long time ago because of you. I can’t believe you are still employed there. Why don’t you quit and drive a beer truck in your favorite town, Pullman?”

Sorry, Bubba, but my favorite town is Las Vegas.

But could I choose the brewery?