by
Greek Giant
The Giants signing Michael Morse appears to be a silly move. It’s the type of transaction the Tampa Bay Rays or Oakland Athletics might make: squeeze some more baseball juice out of the veteran every other team gave up on. I am not sure what to make of it. At first it appears a bit unseemly, like a millionaire going to their Goodwill for bargain dishes. The millionaire pulls up in his Porsche and enjoys the thrill of the hunt, that special little piece of English china that’s discontinued and that you can pick up for $3.99.
Or
Maybe, just maybe, Michael Morse is now healthy. Maybe he is back to his old dinger-smacking bad boy self that puts fear into the heart of pitchers?
I can at least dream. The truth is, it seems Bobby Evans went on some kind of nostalgia shopping spree this offseason: Justin Ruggiano, Michael Morse, Jimmy Rollins, etc….
We shall see how it all plays out but imagine, just think of the possibilities of a healthy Morse! If he makes the roster and actually gives MacParker a run for their collective left field money, it may mean a crunch on the 25 man roster and one of those young guns will be the odd man out. The funny thing about professional sports is that sometimes all the experts are wrong.
Remember when Jerry Rice was drafted in the 899th round? Remember when everyone gave up on Travis Ishikawa?
You have to love Michael Morse’s commitment to the Giants and his attitude!
No Matter What Happens We’ll Always Have Game 7 in Kansas City!
You get my drift. The suspense is kind of killing me.
Zack Wheeler shows up in ST with arm tenderness. Breckeroni is sad.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/15/sports/baseball/mets-zack-wheeler-pitching-spring-training.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fbaseball&action=click&contentCollection=baseball®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront
It looks like the Giants won that trade and it took 6 years to figure it out. I hate, hate, hated that Beltran for Wheeler trade at the time…. I still do.
Me too. Especially when Beltran put himself and his pending free agency ahead of what was good for the team. Major disappointment, left a very bad taste.
But did he? Or did the Giants brass just flub it all. Beltran still had a few good years years left. Would have been the best bat in the OF even if he had stayed on the team for a couple of seasons. And he actually played well even if not fully healthy post the trade.
Don’t forget your talking about a HOF caliber player, so he deserved to have some say. The Giants FO perhaps didn’t handle it in the best manner.
All things have a balancing point and maybe it was a bad fit from the outset. I was there when he would not continue to hit right handed – I was there when Tony Gwynn Jr. Tagged up and took third base easily on a 180 ft fly ball and I was there when Pat Burrell jogged in with two outs in the inning where CB did not move.
Good ball player. HOF – Terrible Bad Fit. Flush it.
well then that ire from the fans should be directed at the Giants brass. It was a trade made because of desperation and they flubbed it. It only does not look so bad because of poor Wheeler’s history. No one will ever know if he had stayed a Giant if he would have not gotten hurt.
The point is the Giants make crap decisions sometimes, fans should be able to criticize the front office when they screw up.
So, they somehow should have known that this future HOF wouldn’t be a fit? Sometimes, you roll the dice.
I was happy at the outset but I soured on him… maybe that’s not fair from the outside, but he seemed very disengaged.
Was not Wheeler a top rated pitcher not only by the Giants but by many experts? I just feel that if the Giants needed a bat a longer term OF solution, they could have set up a better package for a younger OF they could have kept for awhile (a la Pence).
Wasn’t there chatter that Beltran was already a bit dinged up? Add that to the fact he was going onto a FA off season. That alone should have raised a red flag. Don;t do the deal unless you know you can keep him past the season.
Hey, I agree with everything you said. I was just enamored with a big bat that would lead us to a repeat title. Oops.
(1) Beltran had a pedigree and resume
(2) Sabean was never attempting to “win the trade”, he was trying to defend 2010
(3) No way of knowing that CB was gonna due a mini ManRam the way Manny left Boston with a hissy fit.
Welcome to the Mets kid. SMH.
I’m not convinced that Zack would have developed all these problems if he had stayed with the Giants, who happen to know a thing or two about pacing pitchers.
Even if Wheeler is nothing now, Beltran was a cancer from the 1st day. You have to remember that the Mets wreck pitchers. We may not know what the Giants would have done with him. Although, letting him sit in the minors past his use by date is what could very likely have happened.
We will never forget Michael Morse. Without his improbable game tying HR in the 8th against the Cardinals there is no Ishikawa. And he has the game winning RBI in Game seven versus the Royals.
His series-winning single on an 0-2 pitch from kelvin herrera was the defining moment of the 2014 postseason for me.
That home run he hit off Nishek to tie Game 5 of the NLCS was pretty electric too. He was huge that postseason.
Scherzer sidelined with knuckle injury. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/nationals-journal/wp/2017/02/16/max-scherzer-says-knuckle-injury-might-keep-him-from-being-ready-for-opening-day/
Dragging them on the ground too much?
My thoughts exactly, then I read your comment.
I actually like Scherzer but that one was set up too nicely…
You’re welcome.
I think he’s a decent guy, too. Would have been a good addition but Evans got that. 2 for 1 deal.
I thought he punched a Gatorade jug.
I think I read somewhere that Morse approached the Giants and asked for a chance, not the other way around. Evans probably said, “Sure – Go out and amaze us in Arizona and we’ll think about it…”
Alex has a good write up of it here:
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/michael-morse-returning-giants-i-know-im-not-done
This is a really interesting story. The proposal and invitation all happened at Pence’s wedding! Morse took a half year off and rested, which he learned was beneficial for him, and energizing.
“I feel good … I feel very athletic this year. Other years, it was more about strength. This year I feel more mobile and agile. It was very refreshing. I let my body heal, which you wouldn’t believe it, it’s such a nice, refreshing feeling. Everybody’s contract should have one year where you don’t have to play, just to heal your body.”
Jerry Rice was drafted in the 1st round. Walsh actually traded up to get him. C’mon, GG.
Besides, I just checked and there are only 898 rounds in the draft.
It did seem rather high.
BOOM
#16 San Francisco 49ers (from New England) Jerry Rice Wide Receiver Mississippi Valley State
Snatched him right out of the hands of the Dallas Cowboys (pre Jerry). Made it even sweeter.
Didn’t know that Deacon Jones also went to MVS, until the HBCU HOF player introductions at the SB.
How much do I love this team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvAGBcNlCJU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thne2eUUisA
Was he injured in 2015 and 2016? Or just bad? Or both?
“Dinger-smacking” sounds like a cruel form of punishment.
Speaking of the “so-called experts” being wrong “at-least” half the time, Baseball Prospectus neglects to name a single Giants prospect (neither Beede nor Arroyo) in their Top 101.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=31160
Talk about Enemy of the Giants People.
Beede lead his league in ERA, deserves respect, Arroyo hit .273 with 3 HRs not so much .
LOL. Yeah, AAA heroism.
What ? Beede had a great year, Arroyo had an ok year, the kid is hyped way to much for his production !
Who cares?
ME, he also does not walk much either, his glove is below average, but the local talk show hosts think he is going to make the team out of spring training, I just can not stand people that do not do the work, and BS on the radio ,with little facts .
You are right. He has become an impatient hitter with count leverage.
CC will correct me if I’m wrong ,but I think that what he was saying that why should anybody give a shit what Baseball Prospectus thinks?
My main point, is Ryan and other prospect graders, give Arroyo way to high of a grade, and the Talk show hosts read these Grades and they start to over hype him as well. Since he was a 1st round pick out of High school, he gets to much of a pass for low production, they say he is still young, and has lots of upside . My problem with this is his #1 tool has always been his bat, high average hitter, but with little speed, not much of a glove, low walk rate, and not much HR power, a .273 Average is way to low, for a #1 or #2 prospect in Giants system, when he does little else .
I will say that perhaps the only thing that tends to make lists like these “look good” is when “your guys” are featured prominently. If you are in favor with the Yankees, Braves, White Sox, or Dodgers, you are probably telling yourself that these lists look good and that those prospect evaluators are some smart guys and dolls.
Yep. PJ cares is the signpost for a factoids irrelevance most often.
Fake Prospect News–Alternative Facts
Or dare say, maybe they are right? Not one of the Giant top prospects is blowing people away.
Beede Is !
I am inclined to say that these are “Alternative Opinions” from “Real Prospect Evaluators” – or at least published by what has been historically regarded as a legitimate prospect evaluation agency.
100 or 101 is an arbitrary cutoff point anyhow. There are still plenty of good prospects from 100 to, let’s say 250, where major league talent will matriculate from.
Why does it matter what Baseball Prospectus thinks about our prospects?
I think that you have the right attitude. The proof is the pudding, or perhaps the cholera infested well.
We can’t keep up.
Just go with “AKA”
“Everything is going to be fine. Trust me.”
Atta babe!!!!!!!!
Yes the proof is in the pudding, they have not won a WS in 2 + years
Say, Henrik, will you tell Ryan to stop his reincarnation cycle and come back as Foothills or Footprint…or Bigfoot?
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/omaha.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/dc/4dcfdb4a-b148-11e4-be36-7be52188ecd1/54da3cce597c6.image.jpg
http://www.bellaonline.us/buddhism/BuddhistWheelofLife.jpg
Beede was a top draft pick who led his league in ERA last season. Keith Law had him around #60, I think. I get the Arroyo snub, but I don’t get the Beede snub.
BTW, whatever you call yourself, I’m glad you’re back around sometimes.
I’m glad the Giants are snubbed: more fire in the belly to prove the “experts” wrong.
Sorry – but once in awhile I have to root for Mother Nature to do her thing
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4227818/Victoria-Odintsova-dangles-1-000ft-high-Dubai-skyscrape.html
GG says: “The truth is, it seems Bobby Evans went on some kind of nostalgia shopping spree this offseason: Justin Ruggiano, Michael Morse, Jimmy Rollins, etc….” I picked only one of these three to make the team out of spring training: Justin Ruggiano.
Nostalgia = Desperation
Fans wanted the team to do more this off season but due to budget restraints and some below average drafts, the team is desperate to hit on one or more of their dumpster dives.
Basically it’s a win win (like Cody Ross) if any of them make it.
But let’s call it like it is, if the Giants had either picked up another younger bench option via FA or were able to develop better Of talent within the system, there would be no need to bring back any of these guys, under the guise of ‘nostalgia” or whatever you wish to call it.
I hope when your kid(s) compete in the Olympic Marathon or a tough one run baseball game or volleyball game that you someday let your guard down and see the silver linings.
Did you know that the revised block feature allows you to see the comments under the blocked blockhead?
Peeking is against the spirit of the block.
Never going to be a concern.
Me too, but it’s sure hard to root against MIchael Morse. Such a sweet guy and some great memories from that 2014 season.
I hope he hits the cover off the ball.
I would have no problem if the OFers were Pence, Span, Mac, Morse, and Parker. Having Hundley, Morse, CG, and Parker providing some real pop off the bench would be totally cool. Just don’t let Mike play in the field.
Too bad Grissom, Finley and Klesko have retired. I’m sure Bobby E. was looking to sign them to a minor league contract. Maybe he’ll also look at Cody Ross and Ellis Burks as well.
Hank Schulman commented wryly that 38-year-old Morse was in spring training to make the team while 36-year-old Ross was in spring training to coach.
Hank is wrong: Morse is 34 going on 35.
Ruggiano will be on my 2/25 My25-manRosterGuy lineup as well. I think he takes that 4th/5th OF spot from Gorkys. 12 pitchers, Boch. 12 pitchers only!
After the 2014 season was over, Morse said that he wouldn’t play LF again. I guess he’s trying to win the SS job.
New blog post from Brandon Belt. Three of his vehicles got totaled when were being transported back to Texas a couple of months ago!
https://brandon.mlblogs.com/so-lets-catch-up-e96157dcf929#.xeeqi02jo
Hey, Mr. S, I’m collecting emails of people in the area who might want to go to a River Cats game this year. If you’re interested, let me know: leftydana@sbcglobal.net. (Anyone else, too.)
Done!
I’m in (depending on the date, of course!)
Sounds good! I’ll take a look at the R’Cats’ schedule, pick out a couple of possibilities, and poll those who are interested for the best date.
Professor, FYI–my lifelong best friend and uber Giants fan lives in Stockton, and might be up for joining the TWG excursion to a game. It’s an easy drive for him. Keep me posted on dates you are targeting, and I’ll keep him/you in the loop. Thanks in advance.
Will do!
You can tell he dictated it and someone transcribed it. Why? The names of both his wife Haylee and his son Greyson are misspelled in the post. I doubt he’d misspell his own wife’s and child’s names.
Sorry–I just notice stuff like that.
Great post, though. That’s our boy Brandon! No surprise to see that Greyson is a budding mini-me. Love me some BB9!
He seems a logical successor, in the Affeldt tradition. Oh wait, he already was.
Belt has a Ferrari. It’s pretty good to be pretty good at baseball.
HAD a Ferrari.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2692758-the-san-francisco-giants-scout-madison-bumgarner-power-hitter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8oBVhVNWjg
The Giants are reportedly signing veteran infielder Aaron Hill to a minor league deal.
Need to get that average player age closer to 40!
That was my initial take, too, but Aaron Hill looks like a legitimate utility infielder option. He’s 34, and played for two teams last year, hitting .260-ish with 10 HRs in a part-time role. Can back up 2B, SS, and 3B. Hits lefties well. Over 160 major league HRs.
He’s also a California native (Visalia, Redwood HS).
Seems they’d all be tripping over each other at this point–Hwang, Rollins, Gillaspie, etc.–but this doesn’t seem like a bad depth move.
Giants have about 8 players for 1 or 2 spots, Bochy prefers vets so, Rollins and Hill are the favorites, poor Kelby .
Yep, this is not good news for Kelby. I really don’t believe in Rollins’s chances–he’s 38 and didn’t play after June–but Hill is a legit option to make the team. And 161 major league HRs (ten last year off the bench) is not nothing, They must believe that Hwang is going to need some minor league time.
I think Hwang has an opt-out in March if he doesn’t make the team, but from what I’ve read, he will stay on and accept the minor league deal/time.
I read that, too. Sounds like he’s pretty committed to the Giants, at least for now, because they really wanted him. I believe KBO is considered to be roughly equivalent to AA, so some AAA time for Hwang would make sense.
You know how PJ loves his slappy hitters!
Wow! Is he even old enough to shave?
I think he and Luann actually did age all the way to college…
TWG Spring Training Scout Schedule … Updated but please correct this as needed.
Looking at 10 INF’ers … two to MLB, three to Sac, five get to take their families to Disneyland.
Feb. 20-23 … Cabbie and Bapah
March 1-7 … RobDeer
March 10-12 … DrLefty
March 10-14 … standardstarboard
March 23-25 … HaakAway & Sons
March 26-28 … JustPeachy
You said we could change our 2/25 picks, right? Stuff has happened this week, so here’s my updated list:
Starting pitcher: Blach (yeah, I read the stuff about Cain but I’m sticking with Ty)
LF: Williamson (I think they’ll just let Parker go on waivers if need be)
Bullpen: Okert, Hernandez (sorry, Cory)
Bench: Ruggiano, Hill (sorry, Kelby), Morse (sorry, Jarrett)
I just can’t do that yet, Lefty. We don’t have to make changes until March 25, have I got that right?
There are two dates: a 2/25 date (before we know how spring is going) and then a new 3/25 date (when we should be able to make some pretty good guesses). There are two competitions.
How can you (now) choose Hill over Kelby and Morse over Jarrett?
I think Hill is a legitimate option. He has extensive infield experience at three positions. He’s a career .260 hitter with 161 HRs, and he hits lefties well. Kelby has options, so he’s back to Sac, I think.
As for Morse, I read those stories yesterday about Pence’s wedding and Evans and about what great shape Morse is in, and I thought: that’s why Evans made that strange comment about Parker and Mac. He wants Morse to make the team.
Exactly …
2/25 – Pre-SpringTrainingMy25ManGuy™ … SuperScout Award
3/25 – Pre-SeasonMy25ManGuy™ … HeartlessFakeGM Award
Got them
Thanks!
Alex’s report on Aaron Hill with reference to the crowded-backup-infielder competition in camp.
“Hill, 34, is a 12-year veteran who had a mixed season in 2016. He hit .280 with eight homers and a .780 OPS for the Brewers but batted just .218 after a trade to the Red Sox. Hill has played second, short and third in the Majors, and he’ll add another versatile glove to a crowded group of non-roster invitees looking to win a bench job.”
http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-add-veteran-infielder-aaron-hill-camp
Saw a story on the A’s spring training on one of the bay area stations the other night. They have 35 pitchers in ST camp. Is that number high? I wonder how many the Giants have in ST camp. Also, Bob Melvin said that only 2 starting pitching spots are already settled, Sonny Gray and Kendall Graveman.
The Giants also have 35. They have 25 on their 40-man roster, but one of them, Ian Gardeck, is recovering from TJ surgery last spring. They invited 11 more. Oh, wait–David Hernandez, too. So not counting Gardeck, 36.
Thanks, Doctor. I guess teams want to consider all options in ST!
The River Cats could be fun to watch this year. Possible roster:
1B: Shaw, Oropesa
2B: Kelby
SS: Hinojosa
3B: Hwang
OF: Slater, Duggar, Parker(?), Cole
Rotation: Beede, Blach (if he doesn’t make the SF team), Blackburn, Stratton, Andrew Suarez, Albert Suarez, Slania
Bullpen: Gregorio, Osich or Okert, 1-2 guys from above list who don’t make the rotation, Black(?), Crick(?)
Remember, email me at leftydana@sbcglobal.net if you want to be in the loop for a TWG River Cats game this spring or summer!
Include me … I still have family up there; maybe I can make it.
Awesome–I’ve been collecting a folder with email addresses of people I’ve heard from on the blog, and you’re already in it, of course. 🙂
My guess would be Shaw starts with Richmond, he only played 2 months in Richmond last year, the 1st month was really bad, and the 2nd month was very good, so they would want him to get more time in AA . Bobby Evans on the radio said Arroyo would start the year in Sacramento .
D’oh! I forgot about Arroyo! Of course he’ll be there!
New Post: http://fe0.84e.myftpupload.com/giants-history/call-for-guest-posts-round-2/