Marines ready to discharge Valentine

Bobby Valentine, beloved manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines, might be headed out of Japanese baseball and back to the United States for reasons other than on-the-field success. Valentine, who makes $3.9 million a year, might have priced himself out of the market.

Marines management told Valentine during the winter that the club would not be able to afford him after the 2009 season, regardless of how many games his team wins. This has led to uncharacteristic fan protests at Marines games and a keep-Bobby petition with more than 50,000 signatures.

After one recent game, about 150 fans remained in the right-field bleachers, standing in silence, with banners raised over their heads. The signs, some as wide as 70 feet, carried such messages as, “We would rather fight with Bobby, who says we’re the world’s best fans, than with a front office who calls us worthless.”

Another sign read, “Bobby stands behind us. We stand behind Bobby.”

If Valentine has to leave, it’s unlikely he will ever have a home address with a name so easy to remember. The street where he lives in Chiba has been renamed Valentine’s Way.

Trivia time

Who was the first big league player to hit for the cycle in both leagues? (Hint: He also scored baseball’s millionth run.)

Already occupied

During Game 2 of the Lakers-Nuggets series, ESPN analyst Mark Jackson observed that the NBA logo needed updating, that instead of Jerry West, the silhouette of Michael Jordan should be incorporated into the new emblem.

Sorry, already taken.

Jordan’s silhouette has long served as the logo for Nike basketball shoes.

That would figure

Adam Abrams, 39, estimates he attends about 200 sporting events a year in the Twin Cities. In addition to serving as public-address announcer for the NBA’s Timberwolves and NHL’s Wild, he works video boards for University of Minnesota events, and he owns season tickets for the NFL’s Vikings.

“My wife’s very understanding,” Abrams explained to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I met her at a Wild game.”

Trivia answer

Los Angeles native Bob Watson.

(Question and answer provided by Alan Stern of Shadow Hills.)

And finally

From Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “It’s just a matter of time, you assume, before the saga of swim star Michael Phelps’ return from suspension hits the big screen.

“Best bet for the movie title: ‘Smoke on the Water.’ ”

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mike.penner@latimes.com