KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s impossible to picture now, but Michael Morse, the 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pound slugger, was a shortstop when he was first called up to the big leagues by the Mariners a decade ago.
“That’s still funny to me,” Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford said. “I still don’t really believe him. I need to look at the film, because I’m not sure I buy it.”
When Crawford sees Morse in the dugout during Game 1, he won’t even be carrying a glove. Morse will be the designated hitter today, manager Bruce Bochy said. Morse has 33 big league starts as a DH, including four this season.
“The big thing for me is not really focusing too much on your at-bats,” Morse said of the role. “When you’re playing in the field, you get a chance to go back out there and play defense and you don’t dwell on your at-bats.”
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Morse said he would focus on staying busy between at-bats, and he plans on riding a stationary bike and taking extra BP in the cage during the game so he doesn’t get inside his own head too much.
Players tab Abreu for award
Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu has been named the Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year, as voted on by fellow AL players.
Abreu received 149 votes to run away with the award. The Angels’ Matt Shoemaker received four votes, followed by the Yankees’ Dellin Betances and Masahiro Tanaka (three votes each) and White Sox infielder Marcus Semien (one vote).
Abreu hit .317 with 36 homers and 107 RBIs.
Inside pitch
Jeff Kellogg will be the umpire crew chief for the World Series, and four other umps have been picked to work the event for the first time.
Major League Baseball announced the crew Monday. Hunter Wendelstedt, Jerry Meals, Jim Reynolds and Eric Cooper will call their first Series. Ted Barrett and Jeff Nelson also are on the seven-man crew.
- The Tigers have hired former Pittsburgh general manager Dave Littlefield as a major league scout. Littlefield has spent more than 25 seasons in major league front offices.
