Seattle Mariners and Robinson Cano

I'll be the first to admit I was skeptical of the major signing of an aging star from the Bronx in Seattle. After all the Mariners haven't made the playoffs in 12 years and have only had 2 winning seasons during that time span. Why is their rebuilding taking so long? As most Mariners fans here will tell you it's due to the fact that we are forever in a rebuilding mode with the current regime in charge. They like to take in young talent and develop them into decent players. Right before they hit their prime the Mariners will trade them off for more young talent or old "has beens."
This is not just emotion talking either. Let's take a look at some examples...

Alex Rodriguez started in Seattle and he looked promising. However, he also realized he was good and asked for more money. Instead of paying him they let him go. He had a prosperous, possibly questionable, career after that.

Carlos Guillen, while not as good as ARod was still an all star quality SS most years. He would have been a good fit in Seattle for years. Instead as they saw his stardom start to shine, they shipped him off.

Brian Fuentes, a solid all star quality closer. Somehow Seattle decided to give up his great pitching talents, along with a few other no name players, for a mediocre, possibly below average third baseman.

Shin-Soo Choo, was an above average outfielder. The Mariners seemed to jump through hoops to get him. Instead of giving him time to adjust to the MLB play style, they shipped him off to Cleveland where he had 3 seasons batting above .300 and two seasons of 20+ homers. The Mariners rarely have hitters that good in their lineup these days.

Rafael Soriano, who pretty much carried the Braves bullpen for a while. He showed a ton of promise early in his career in Seattle, but much like other young talents who get good, he was given away.

Omar Vizquel (is it me or do the M's find great Hispanic SS's?) He has been an above average and sometimes allstar caliber player ever since he left the Mariners. The kicker is that he's still healthy and playing. He wasn't even that expensive to keep around and he could have been a house hold name in Seattle.

Adam Jones and George Sherrill. The Mariners front office has been so bad they decided to give up 2 all stars for an aging injury riddled pitcher at the time. Why give up 2 all stars for one? That never made sense.

So why reminisce about bad trades when talking in a post about Cano? It just goes to show how short sighted and unintelligent the Mariners front office is when making good baseball decisions. Unless their goal is to continually farm players out to better teams for years (which it sure feels like).
Now let's get into "big" free agent acquisitions that the Mariners seem to do. They are notorious for signing that one "big name" player each off season to prove that they "want to win." However, they seem to go after washed up has beens or players who are aging. They also tend to sign huge long term deals to a player who then plays their most mediocre or worst baseball in their careers while in Seattle. Let's take a look at that list...

Kenji Johjima, while I admit he had a good season or 2, he was still rumored to suck at catcher and his hitting skills fell off after he signed a $24M contract with the Mariners.

Rich Aurilia signed a $3.4M contract with the Mariners. He played some of his worst baseball in Seattle and left immediately.

Pokey Reece, who is probably the most unheard of signing. This guy was paid over $1M to never play a single game as a Mariner. I thought that was wroth mentioning, even though it's not a big contract. I'll gladly take $1M for free to do nothing for a year...

Brad Wilkerson was paid $3M to bat around .230 on average. What a great investment he was.

Carlos Silva was a terrible pitcher but the Mariners needed a pitcher and he appeared to be all they could attract at the time. So they way overpaid by signing him for $48M and all he did was continue to disappoint by losing games and giving up homerun after homerun.

Carl Everett, the big supposed slugger who was going to help boost the lineup with power. He was paid $4M to bat around .227 and didn't even last an entire season in Seattle.

Scott Spiezio was supposed to be a defensive minded player who could give you versatility in the lineup and get on base at least a third of the time. Well that didn't happen in Seattle. He had less than 2 horrible seasons. Of course as soon as he left Seattle he started doing well again.

Miguel Batista was already an average pitcher before the Mariners got him. They still thought he'd be a solid pitcher in the rotation and paid a whopping $25M for his average talents. He rewarded the Mariners (in what should be a pitcher friendly ballpark) by giving up an ERA of over 6!

Richie Sexson, who I think is by far the worst free agent pickup of all time, was supposed to add power to the middle of what was a pretty crappy lineup. He had one good year in his career and Seattle immediately signed him for $50M to reward his one good year. He then proceeded to show Seattle his skills by playing poor defense at 1B and struck out at the plate more than he should have.

Adrian Beltre was a compliment signing to Sexson. With 2 big bats in the lineup they thought they would be a force to reckon with. Unlike Sexson Beltre at least brought defensive skills with him. However, in a non-hitter friendly park he didn't do much for his career average. After leaving the Mariners he quickly got back into his allstar self in just about every category.

Chone Figgins (pronounced sean but everyone says it like it's spelled lol). He signed with the M's for $36M. Nobody questioned this signing (much like they aren't questioning the Cano one). For years he was a solid player. He could bat well, play great defense, and was incredibly fast. Then he comes to Seattle where he has career lows in just about every stat line possible. It's still incredible how fast he dropped off in skills or possibly the leadership and coaching in Seattle is that bad.


So now that we've gone over lists for bad trades and bad free agent acquisitions, the proof of the Mariners organization's inability to form a good solid baseball team is quite evident over the last decade. If the Japanese owners were smart they would clean house and start fresh, not just with players, but with the front office as well. They'll have a better chance using the Billy Beane strategy of statistical analysis and picking up average defensive minded players and solid pitchers. The one bright spot in the Mariners current future is Felix Hernandez, but like all amazing pitchers, his arm will not last forever. Especially with the velocity he throws at and the amount of innings he's forced to pitch due to a sloppy bullpen and no run support.

In closing, based on history it's easy to predict that signing a player over 30 who is past his prime to a huge long term deal will not end well for the Mariners. Even at his career averages Cano is not worth the money Seattle paid for him when they could have easily signed several other players for the price of one. My bold prediction is that Cano will walk the same path Beltre and Figgins walked when they came to Seattle. He will see career lows in his stats and his mediocre defense will draw criticism.

Replacing a Rotted Bathroom Floor After a Toilet Leak

I recently discovered the floor around my toilet was soft and warped. Fearing the worst I immediately went into action. Below are the steps a friend and I took to fix the situation. I may have forgotten some details, but essentially it's 2-3 days of work for 2 people, factoring in shopping and dry time.

 

 

Some Recommended Tools & Supplies:

-Cardboard or newspaper

-Utility knife

-Hammer

-Pry bar

-Crescent wrench and/or ratchet and socket set

-Handheld circular saw or jigsaw

-Nails for flooring (when nailing down particle board a ringed/ribbed or bracket twisted galvanized nail is needed)

-Sheet of ½” particle board (or whatever the top layer board was on the floor, it may be a different thickness or different kind of board)

-Plastic sheet or garbage bag (a plastic painter’s sheet was used as a moisture barrier between floor layers in the spots that were wet)

-Wood putty/mud (not necessary if replacing the entire floor board but needed for joints between boards if replacing a portion of the floor)

-Linoleum (cut to a couple inches beyond the room size for shaping purposes)

-Glue/adhesive (used for linoleum, usually sold right next to linoleum)

-Grooved trowel (used to spread the linoleum adhesive and is sold next to the adhesive)

-Wood trim (typically sold by the inch/foot, choose something that closely matches the removed trim if possible)

-Nails for trim (shorter/skinnier smooth shafted nails work fine, only a few per trim board are needed)

-White silicone sealant (used to seal trim and toilet base)

-Metal floor joint for doorway

-Metal saw or sheers to cut floor joint

-Scissors (to cut linoleum if necessary)

-Straight edge

-Pencil

-Tape measure

-Rolling pin (to smooth linoleum)

 

 

Step 1: Pull up the toilet. Make sure to turn the water off to the toilet at the valve and to flush it first to drain it of any water. Then disconnect the water supply line at the toilet tank. Toilets are typically screwed down with nuts on both sides. A socket and ratchet or a crescent wrench will be required to loosen the nuts. Sometimes the nuts are covered by decorative plastic pieces so those must be pried off first. It’s easiest to cut away any silicone sealant along the base of the toilet prior to pulling it up as well. Toilets are heavy and may require 2 people to lift. Make sure to have some kind of mat (cardboard or newspaper work) down outside the bathroom to set it on.

 

Step 2: Take out the trim around the base of the bathroom. Typically accomplished by cutting out the sealant around the top and bottom of the trim with a utility knife and then being pried away from the wall with a pry bar or the claw end of a hammer. Note: If the trim isn’t damaged and you want to salvage it then carefully pry it away from the wall without bending it too much. It will break easily and it’s better to just replace the trim for a cleaner look when finished.

 

Step 3: Remove your linoleum, carpet, or tiles. This article will be related to linoleum specifically. Typically cutting through it with a utility knife as a start will help give a place to peel it from. It should peel off the floor with some effort.

Note: If there’s a metal joint at the door for transition between the bathroom and hallway then this will need to be pried up first.

Rotted Floor Under Linoleum

 

Step 4: Cut out the rotting section of floor. In this case the top layer of ½” particle board was completely rotted through around the toilet drain as seen in the pictures. This section of flooring was cut out with a battery powered handheld circular saw (a skillsaw or jigsaw may work) and was pried up with a pry bar. The next layer of particle board was wet but not rotted, so it was given time to dry overnight after step X was accomplished.

Floor Beneath Rotted Wood (still wet)

 

Step 5: For best results, if the remaining floor layer is wet, then it may be best to allow it to dry overnight. Shove an old towel down the drain and turn on a fan to help with ventilation.

 

Step 6: Cut new ½” particle board to the exact shape needed to fit the bathroom. In this case only half the floor was replaced so that section was measured carefully and cut using a handheld circular saw.

Note: The toilet hole is tricky to cut. Typically cutting an octagon slightly bigger than the drain hole will work.

 

Step 7: Cut the plastic sheet or garbage bag to cover the originally wet section of floor. A hole will need to be cut for the toilet drain hole as well. This will help keep the new floor dry.

 

Step 8: Place the new ½” particle board in the bathroom. Make sure it fits snuggly against the walls and against the other top layer board if only replacing a section. Place wood putty/mud at the joint between the two boards. Use a trowel to smooth it out.

Note: Some putty/mud will require 24 hours to dry, others may only be a couple hours.

Nail down the new floor board with the flooring nails. Placing a nail every 6” should do the trick. It’s best to concentrate nails along the edges and around the toilet so it doesn’t come up ever.

New Flooring (mud at joint with old flooring)

 

Step 9: Cut linoleum in the shape of the bathroom dimensions. Make sure to take exact measurements for a tight fit. Linoleum can be cut with utility knife or scissors typically. Scissors were easier to maintain a straight line.

 

Step 10: Roll up linoleum and put it in the bathroom. Typically rolling it up against one wall will work so it can be rolled as the glue is put down. Spread the linoleum adhesive using the grooved trowel. A good thin layer works. Don’t put on too thickly. Lay the adhesive along half the room and roll the linoleum over it. Make sure linoleum is snug against all walls and wipe any excess adhesive that comes out when laying the linoleum down. Spread the adhesive on the other half of the room and finish rolling out the linoleum.

Note: It may help after laying the linoleum down to use a rolling pin to smooth it out.

Linoleum Down (no trim yet)

 

Step 11: Cut and install the new metal joint in the doorway between the bathroom and hallway. It was a cleaner cut to use a metal saw than sheers. The joints come with their own nails to hammer them down into the flooring.

 

Step 12: Cut the trim needed for the base of the room. Most trim has 45 degree angles in the corners so it’s important to measure the exact lengths you need at the longest part of that wall and then cut a 45 degree angle at that point. (This step is not needed if reusing old trim)

Note: Cutting 45 degree angles can be tricky. Most saws come with angled settings so it’s recommended to use a skillsaw or table saw with an angle adjustment.

 

Step 13: Install the trim. Place them in one at a time. Make sure the angles fit correctly against each other.  Nail them in using the smaller nails. Typically 1 nail every foot is all that’s needed. Make sure to drive the nails into the wood so they can’t be seen.

Note: You may consider covering the nails with paint or the silicone sealant to hide them if they aren’t concealed.

 

Step 14: Use white silicone sealant along the tops, bottoms, and corners of the trim. Use a finger or popsicle stick to smooth it out. No excess sealant is necessary, it just needs to get into the grooves.

 

Step 15: Replace the toilet wax ring. In this case a double thick wax ring with flange was bought. This ensures a good seal when mating with the toilet.

 

Step 16: Re-install the toilet. This is a 2 person job. It will require lining up the toilet with the mounting studs. Once the toilet is down, ensure it is sitting well on the wax ring. Any gap at all will result in future leaks. It may be necessary to tilt the toilet or picking it back up to see if the wax ring is indented. Fasten down the nuts on the studs so the toilet doesn’t rock. Hook up the supply hose back to the toilet tank and turn back on the water valve.

 

Step 17: Use the silicone sealant around the base of the toilet for a good seal. If wanted leave an unsealed patch in the back so that any future drain leaks can be detected more easily.

 

Step 18: Flush the toilet and hope it doesn’t leak. If done properly it should be good to go. It is best to wait 24 hours prior to using the bathroom so the silicone sealant and linoleum adhesive have time to dry.

Finished Product

Fish Oil and Prostate Cancer

By now most people have heard of the potential effects of fish oil and their ability to help aid in preventing heart disease. However, a recent "study" has hit the news by storm stating that fish oil increases a male's chances of getting prostate cancer. However, what few people believe is the news stories have next to no details about the studies performed. They simply state a hypothesis developed 2 years ago by an Ohio State University professor. The odd thing is it took 2 years before this story surfaced. In doing some research I learned that this study is full of holes and really doesn't hold much weight against the medical journals that have proven the positive effects of omega 3 fatty acids. With that said I tend to agree that fish oil supplements and farm raised fish (especially from overseas, like China) are not the best for consumption. However, there are some "pure" brands of omega 3 supplements and even fish that are fine to consume. The problem is there are a lot of cheap products out there that contain "harmful extras" and these are what cause the negative effects. You are free to read this post by a doctor/nutritionist for yourself and determine what you'd like. At the very least he has a long bibliography from both sides of the argument and he forms a valid theory about what is good for you and what to avoid. http://jeffreydachmd.com/2013/07/fish-oil-increases-risk-for-prostate-cancer/

Seahawks 2012-13 Season Ends

It's been a while since I last posted, but I felt obligated to post on this subject after such a heart breaking loss by the Seahawks this last weekend to the Atlanta Falcons. The reason I feel obligated is that I keep seeing tons of Facebook posts and random conversations in public related to the loss and how it was solely Pete Carroll's fault. Even worse is that most blame him because of the time out to ice the kicker. I think we all see coaches from high school to the NFL take a timeout before a big kick to ice the kicker. These days it doesn't seem to work well. In this case Bryant missed the first FG but the timeout saved him. I personally think he missed because the whistles were blowing as he was kicking it. There is no telling what would have happened if Pete Carroll allowed the play to continue. That being said, there was a huge pile of reasons why the Seahawks lost this game and the timeout to ice the kicker is not on that list.
Here is a list I compiled in my head as I was watching the game with several friends over at my place:

1) First Half Deficit: You cannot expect to be down 20-0 in the first half and win a playoff football game. Only one team in the history of the NFL has done so.

• The first half deficit was due to the following: 
• The lack of execution on defense
• The fumble
• The going for it on 4th down when you can kick a field goal to make it a one score game
• The taking a sack to end the half all contributed to this first half deficit

2) Poor Defense: The Seahawks had the most dominant defense in the NFL this season, against the run and pass. Therefore, this game was not expected to get out of control so early for Seattle's defense. They gave up plenty of big plays to Atlanta's receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones, but the player who killed them the most in the passing game was Tony Gonzalez. The Seahawks did not seem prepared in the first half to face such a monster TE, even though he's been doing well for years. The Seahawks also have a great run stuffing D-line, yet a struggling Michael "burner" Turner ran all over them. Poor tackling cost them in this category. They were trying to knock the ball out and knock him down. Everyone knows to square up, wrap up, and/or go for the legs on a big powerful running back like that. 

However, the defense really disappointed Seattle by not showing up for the last 31 seconds of the game. They gave up 41 yards on two plays to put the Falcons in FG range for a great kicker in Bryant to win it. With just seconds to go in the game, a defense is expected to protect a lead. You cannot allow a decent kick return and two huge passing plays to lose the game for you.

3) Three Quarters of Awful Offensive Execution: The Seahawks offense looked so lost in the first 3 quarters of the game. The run game was awful. The read option was barely a factor as Wilson did not keep it too often and Lynch's running was the worst he's had all year. His fumble issues in the playoffs appeared to affect him mentally. Perhaps flying to the East coast back to back weeks attributed to this, but having a week between games should be plenty to recover. Wilson's passes were just a bit off, receivers were not getting as open, and the play clock management by the coaches and QB were baffling. I could see Berman watching the game saying his popular "tick, tick, tick, tick, tick!" at the end of the first half.

All that being said the Seahawks, and especially Wilson, found a great offensive groove in the 4th quarter. It was a bummer that it took 3 quarters to realize what would work offensively against a team with a poor defense.

4) No Pass Rush: It was clear that Chris Clemons was missed here. Not having him on the field put the weight of the pass rush on a rookie DE. Bruce Irvin was not a huge factor this season as one would expect for a first round draft pick and he was certainly a no show in this game. It seems like Gus Bradley should have created some nice blitzes to baffle and confuse Matt Ryan. Instead the Seahawks played a lot of 4-5 man rushes, which the Falcons O-line picked up with ease to give their WR's and Ryan time to shred the secondary of Seattle.

In summary, it was a team loss. The loss was a combination of players and coaches not executing the game they have been playing all year. Taking a field goal in the first half instead of going for it on 4th, not fumbling, not having clock management issues and taking a sack to end the first half, and not letting the Falcons drive with 30 seconds to go were huge factors. The Seahawks had a great year full of young players who will only improve. I am looking forward to next season. All the amazing draft picks the Seahawks had this year should be better next year, and if Seattle can get home field advantage in the playoffs, it is not crazy to think that the Seahawks will take home the 2014 Superbowl Trophy.

After thought: Here are some areas the Seahawks will need to take care of in the off-season:

• OLB: Leroy Hill will be a free agent. He had an off year and he has been full of off field incidents during the off season. I feel like the Seahawks should let him go and either go out and get a respectable OLB or hold out for one in the draft.
• DT: Alan Branch is also a free agent this off season. Seattle should re-sign him as him and Red Bryant are two huge run stopping DT's. If Jason Jones comes back it'll be a great DL for next year.
• Kicker: The Seahawks always seem to find decent kickers in the off season. If Hauschka pursues a bigger contract elsewhere then I have confidence the Hawks will find another decent kicker to replace him. However, he was consistent all year within 50 yards and he could kick it deep for touch backs, so let's hope he stays and the Hawks will not have to pay too much to keep him.
• CB: It seems that Trufant has aged to the point where injuries plague him and receivers are always breaking his coverage. I like Trufant because he was a Coug and a great CB for years, but I think it is time for him to retire or play a limited role so that players like Jeremy Lane can step up. CB injuries also seem to be common so signing or drafting another decent CB wouldn't hurt Seattle.
• DE: Chris Clemons just lost his knee. Off season surgery will dictate if he can even come back and if he does there will be questions about how his knee will hold up. I'd like to thank the Redskins cheap and terrible organization for putting a terrible spray painted turf out there for a playoff game. Seattle should consider signing a decent pass rushing DE and possibly replace Clemons if his knee plagues him next season.
• WR: The Seahawks haven't had a big play WR in a long time. They definitely need to pursue one in the off season to help Lynch and Wilson out on offense. Rice is made of glass when it comes to injuries and while Tate can make some big plays, he doesn't have the height or speed to be a consistent threat down the field.