Among the coaches let go after the season ended was Art Howe, the former Mets and Athletics manager who spent his last few seasons with Texas.

That immediately makes him a candidate to manage in Seattle.

Why?

It's the off-season, and job candidates are named in rumor, not reality.

No one really knows who the Mariners Top 10 is in their search for a GM, but if you read the papers or check the blogs, the same names apear everywhere.

Howard Lincoln and Chuck Armstrong will interview most of the obvious candidates, but believing they don't have a few that aren't on the media's list is silly.

And without knowing who the new GM will be, it's probably absurd to start compiling a list of managerial candidates ...

So let's do it, anyway.

Here's a start:

Joey Cora's name has come up - in the media - and for no good reason. He's a coach because he's Ozzie Guillen's good friend, period.

But, to start a list of candidates, include Cora because once played here, and Howe, because he once managed against Seattle.

OK, that's Cora, Howe ...

Add Bobby Valentine, because his name is always mentioned, even though he hasn't managed in this country for years.

How about a current pitching coach? They've been hot candidates the last few years, and Bud Black is liked so much in San Diego they kept him as manager even afte a disastrous '08 season.

So let's throw in a name: Arizona's Bryan Price, who started his career in Seattle.

Knows pitching, knows players, knows the game and worked under Lou Piniella and Bob Melvin.

There's your start: Cora, Howe, Valentine and Price.

Add to it. We can't have the new Mariners GM showing up without handing him or her a list of managerial candidates.

Think deeply. Cough up some names.

I don't really know what to say about this past season. I know the 1978 season had more losses than this year, but this team had expectations, postseason expectations. And instead they finished 40 games out of first. Unreal.

If you noticed we used Monday's paper to take a look back at the season that was.

* Here's our main piece that looks at a several of different things that went wrong with the season, and believe me there was many.

* The game story from Monday addresses the fact that Raul Ibanez probably played his last game in a Mariners uniform.

* In the notebook, I caught up with Roy Corcoran for a few minutes, which is always entertaining. It also mentions that R.A. Dickey is part of a ministry organization that delivers goods to Cuba, including Mariners gear.

* Columnist John McGrath talks with Jose Lopez and uses him as an example of what the Mariners have in the future.

* AUDIO ALERT: I was on KJR with Ian Furness yesterday, you can listen to that interview here

* In Tuesday's paper, we take a look ahead at what's going to happen this offseason, including a look at some GM candidates, including Kim Ng (pictured above). If you notice at the end of the story is some lists of the Mariners by position as well as a GM candidates list and some free agent list.

One quick note on that, Padres assistant GM Paul DePodesta just signed a three-year contract so he's not likely a candidate, and a source told me it's unlikely that Padres would give the M's permission to talk to DePodesta or current GM Kevin Towers.

Here's a link that offers a detailed look at all the Mariners contract situations for every player.

Normally, we don't link to other papers, but the P-I's Art Thiel got a sit-down interview with Howard Lincoln, here's his Q and A column, it's pretty interesting.

Kirby Arnold of the Everett Herald offers up his five things the Mariners need to do this offseason. He also has this story

The USS Mariner offers up another GM candidate Rick Hahn.

ESPN's Jayson Stark offers up his end of the year awards. Kenji Johjima wins the AL Least Valuable Player.

Brad Lidge and Cliff Lee win the respective comeback player of the year awards. Remember when John McLaren predicted Richie Sexson was going to win the award.

ELSEWHERE
You can cross Brian Cashman off the GM list. He just signed a three-year extension with the Yankees. Three more years with Hank Steinbrenner? Thankfully the taverns stay open to 4 a.m. in Manhattan.