How I remember Michael Morse

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6YkXY81mOTY

NLCS Gm5: Morse crushes game-tying homer in the 8th

This is how most Giants fans will remember Morse, apologies to Cardinals fans. Kudos to Buck who lets the moment breathe for nearly :50 seconds.

The unbridled, youthful exuberance rounding the bases gives me chills every time I see it. He turned into a kid circling the bases, seemingly flying a foot off the ground. It's like the magic of the game to transform grown men into little kids was displayed to its fullest.

You could feel the momentum of the game change as soon as he made contact. The joy shared in the dugout with his teammates and the fans is an embodiment of what Morse was about in his short time in SF. And it is what was remembered last night when all his former teammates met him at home plate to receive his championship ring.

This moment set up Ishakawa's game winning HR and although history will shine more brightly on the Ishakawa blast, for me, this one had as much or greater meaning and certainly more romance and pure unadulterated joy.

In both cases you could say "it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy". We all miss Michael Morse this year, he was absolutely a great Giant. 
from mlb.com
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/123062362/marlins-michael-morse-giddily-receives-world-series-ring-from-giants

Giants lose Mikey Mo

Too bad. He just seemed to have fun being a Giant. It doesn't get much better than that. You can't beat going home, though. Giants now have to work double time replacing his production as well as the Panda's. Not sure where it's coming from since the Yankees just took Chase Headley off the market (good news). Now it looks like the trade market has to provide the answer, which means losing a prospect or two or three, which means losing pitching prospects for the Giants.  Given that the Giants didn't lose a single prospect in the Rule 5 Draft, it doesn't seem as if the rest of baseball values the Giants prospects in the same way the Giants do (more likely) or the Giants utilize their pieces more efficiently (less likely).



from Giants Extra:
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/giants/2014/12/16/report-michael-morse-two-year-deal-marlins/?

"Source confirms: Morse in agreement with #Marlins, two-year contract, pending physical. @JoeFrisaro first with news of deal.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 16, 2014

That's good news for Morse, who was a high school star in the Fort Lauderdale area and lives less than an hour from Marlins Park. (I believe his brother still lives right there.) It's bad news for the Bay Area media because, well, this guy was a lot of fun to cover. For the Giants, they expected this and they didn't plan on bringing Morse back. He was really well liked in the clubhouse, but the staff didn't view him as a left fielder anymore and there's no room at first with Brandon Belt and Buster Posey getting all the time there. There are still options for a right-handed platoon for Gregor Blanco and the Giants will still find another starter, whether it's James Shields or Jake Peavy or Ryan Vogelsong or someone else. The market is pretty much out of third baseman, though, so that piece will almost certainly have to come via trade (Ben Zobrist would be an outstanding fit, no?). Anyway, so long Michael Morse. People will always talk about Travis Ishikawa's homer, but Morse should never have to buy a meal in San Francisco, either."

'via Blog this'

Great moment in Giants history. We're going to miss his big bat and his seemingly boundless joy.

Michael Morse Game Tying Home Run Game 5 NLCS

http://youtu.be/EWwEmsUobA0

Several Giants will ring the cash register shortly - Who stays and who goes?

We're going to find out pretty quickly whether the core of the Giants stays intact or cracks. As I've said before, I think the Giants can be compete for Pablo Sandoval @ about 5 years / $80-$90M. If it goes much higher, he is likely to leave.

from SI.com
After another World Series title, what's coming for Giants in offseason? - MLB - SI.com:

For starters, series MVP Madison Bumgarner isn't going anywhere. While the 25-year-old lefty spent the past month making it clear that he belongs on the short list of the game's elite pitchers, he's not headed for a Clayton Kershaw-like payday anytime soon. Bumgarner just completed the second year of a five-year, $35 million extension signed in April 2012; he made $3.75 million this year, and will make $6.75 million next year, or $23.25 million less than the Dodgers' ace lefty. His contract is guaranteed through 2017, after which the Giants hold $12 million options on his 2018 and '19 seasons. Those options can vest based on innings thresholds, and increase to as much as $16 million if he wins a Cy Young award — still a bargain by the standards of the game's top-tier starters. Bumgarner is one of four Giants under contract through at least 2017, with Hunter Pence, Buster Posey and the injured Matt Cain being the others.

On the other side of the coin, the team does have several players headed for free agency, and they won't keep all of them, even with around $62 million worth of room between their 2015 commitments ($127.3 million, according to Cot's Contracts) and the $189 million luxury tax threshold. Closest to their core is Pablo Sandoval, who probably earned himself a few extra million dollars thanks to a .366/.423/.465 showing in 78 postseason plate appearances, with an OPS above 1.000 in both the NLCS and the World Series, not to mention some dazzling defense.

'via Blog this'

Jake Peavy likely will be too rich for the Giants blood and with Cain back healthy and Petit and option in the rotation, the starting rotation has enough quantity, a return to form by Tim Lincecum would help with the quality.

I think Romo and Vogelsong can both be retained at almost the same salary between the two of them. The Dodgers interest in Romo could be the deciding factor. I would like to see Romo stay in case Machi forgets how to throw the fork-ball and Strickland doesn't figure out how to keep left-handed batters in the park.

Michael Morse is the wild-card. The experts are assuming that AL teams are going to come a knocking for Morse to play a DH heavy role next year. If he's good with that, he may be gone. The problem signing Morse if he is going to want three years minimum and I would feel better with a two year deal in case the Giants need to make room for Mac Williamson or Gary Brown develops into more than a bongo drum for Hunter Pence.

I love the folks who say, well let Sandoval go, let Morse go, we'll just sign Hanley Ramirez or the Cuban free-agent Tomas or God forbid Melky Cabrera. Do they think those guys will cost appreciably less than retaining Sandoval or Morse? At least Jake Peavy is replaced by a returning Matt Cain. It's why he was brought over here.

The ghost of Aubrey Huff still lurks by the Giants cash register, that's for sure. That's creepy!!!

WORST BUSTER HUG EVER!!!

Tampa Bay Rays: Overall Run Production

I don't really see the Rays dipping into their wallets as much as into their farm system to cure what ails their aching offense, but at least I'll see Morse almost as much as I do now.

I would rate the Giants as more likely to re-sign Morse than for him to end up in St. Pete. But time will tell.

from Bleacher Report:
Tampa Bay Rays: Overall Run Production:

Top Target

Michael Morse

Other Potential Targets

Evan Gattis (trade), Mark Reynolds, Kendrys Morales

Overview

Even with ace David Price shipped to the Detroit Tigers at the deadline, the Tampa Bay Rays still had one of the best pitching staffs in baseball down the stretch last year, and their 3.15 ERA was good for fifth in the majors in the second half.

On the other hand, the offense ranked 27th in the league at just 3.78 runs per game, and if the Rays hope to rebound from a disappointing season, they will need to add some punch.

The DH spot in particular was a black hole in terms of production, as a handful of players combined to hit .229/.315/.389 with 16 home runs and 66 RBI in 576 at-bats at the position.

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Planning, rehab went into Morse’s pinch home run | San Francisco Chronicle

That Bonds guy is going to be a pretty good hitting coach someday.  Good for Morse -- unlike Lincecum who continues to languish -- in that he helped his off-season stock tremendously. So much so, that the Giants may not be able to afford him. And Sandoval. And Romo. And Peavy. Well, maybe Vogie. But enjoy the moments while they last Giants fans because an odd number year soon comes this way. Sabean has some tough decisions with the payroll going forward and a bunch of money tied up in guys who have spent a lot of time in the training room and/or on the bench. ( Looking at Cain, Lincecum, Scutaro and Pagan - $55M or one third of the projected payroll )

from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Planning, rehab went into Morse’s pinch home run - San Francisco Chronicle:

Behind the scenes, not long before his at-bat, in the indoor cage a few steps below the Giants’ dugout, Morse had minor-league instructor Jose Alguacil, called up late in the season to throw batting practice, among other things, emulate Neshek’s delivery. He anticipated Neshek replacing starter Adam Wainwright, who worked seven innings.

So Alguacil dropped his arm slot and threw from the side, allowing Morse to see pitches from the distinctive angle, which he later cited as a reason he successfully saw Neshek’s slider (he also cited a pregame tip from Barry Bonds, who reminded Morse to get his front foot down.). Similarly, Morse had John Yandle, a left-handed batting practice pitcher, copy Randy Choate’s sidearm delivery during Game 4.

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The Beast has been unleashed

This is what it looks like when a RH hitter squares one up just right.  The Beast has been unleashed.



Of course -- this being the Giants -- Morse's good early start and Belt's belting around of the ball has been counter balanced by Posey, Pence and Sandoval's  slumping starts.



Therefore, the Giants pass two runs like a geriatric patient passes...well you get the idea. It's often painful and digusting to watch this offense in action.



from Bleacher Report:

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dcYgR?

After just 22 games with the Giants, it already is crystal clear why Michael Morse is nicknamed The Beast. The new left fielder hit two homers Wednesday, but they weren’t ordinary shots. Few with Morse are, actually.

Morse’s first homer off Tyler Chatwood went a long way the opposite way, and was measured at 458 by ESPN’s home run tracker, which calculates distance using analytics and atmospheric data. His second blast, a three-run shot that tied a game the Giants would later win, went 450 feet.

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NL HOME RUNS		HR
Brandon Belt	1. Brandon Belt, SF	7
	1. Mark Trumbo, ARI	7
	3. Ryan Braun, MIL	6
	3. Neil Walker, PIT	6
	3. Pedro Alvarez, PIT	6
Complete Leaders

Giants Prospects du Jour

Panik and Susac running hot at AAA for the Giants.

Panik is currently blocked by Adrianza and Hicks, leaving aside the venerable Marco Scutaro at 2B.  But not for long if he hits .300 or better in AAA ball. 

Baseball America Prospect Report

Compiled by Baseball America   April 08, 2014



SF AAA Panik, Joe SS 4 0 2 1 .350 3B (1)

SF AAA Susac, Andrew C 4 1 1 1 .500 HR (1), BB (2)



'via Blog this'

Susac may be blocked by Posey behind the dish, unless Panda eventually walks and there is a need for a guy with soft hands and a hard bat, who used to play some SS in college. Don't laugh, it may be in the disaster plan for the off-season. It looked like 1B might be an option for Mr. Posey, but Mr. Belt's offensive outbursts are putting a crimp in any of those plans. 

I guess you have to hope Mr. Morse has a disappointing year and leaves, but think of the young ladies of SF. Why they'd be heart-broken. 

I mean, who would they look to for hair grooming tips and inspiration?

Oh yeah, I forgot about Angel. You know his cap sure does come off a lot. You'd think they could size a cap a little better in the big leagues.

Oh dang, I forgot about Brandon Crawford too. Wonder what he uses to keep his hair looking so marvelous.

from Meet MeAt3rdandKing:

http://meetat3rdandking.tumblr.com/post/16991838436/dan-runzler-what-hair-product-does-brandon

Dan Runzler: What hair product does Brandon Crawford use?

        

Apparently, it's a hot topic after a long, hard game. Not that there's anything wrong with that.....

Plus it hasn't hurt the numbers of one Joe Mauer.



The MLB All-Hair Team 2013:

http://itsalwayssunnyindetroit.com/major-league-baseball-all-hair-team-2013/

No, that doesn't look like it hurts one little bit. Yeeeeeeaaaaahhh!!!

Really though, Lincecum and Sandoval on the all-hair team and not Morse or Pagan?

But this shit makes it? What the hell is going on in Washington D.C.

And Oakland???? This is what beat out Michael Morse. I mean who voted on this shit?

All of this hot-stove speculation is a long way off....but it's still fun. 

Plus it's the only way some of these young guys will get their shot. And apparently on this year's Giants squad, it helps to have luxurious hair. 

It's like the 6th tool for the modern Giant player looking to make the lineup and yes, eventually to score.