It's safe to say Michael Morse is the Nationals' best hitter. The right-handed-hitting Morse is batting .299 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs, leading the Nationals in all three categories.
That explains why Morse was selected as a candidate in the All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint. After 48 hours, he ranks fourth in the voting. Morse is competing against Authentic Rafael Furcal Jersey Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, D-backs right-hander Ian Kennedy and Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino for the final spot Anaheim James Loney Jersey on the National League roster. Victorino currently has the lead.
Morse, who has missed the past three games because of a sore left elbow after being hit by a pitch on Saturday against the Pirates, is expected to be back in the lineup on Wednesday night against the Cubs.
Morse, who was able to take batting and fielding practice without any problems before Tuesday's game, came in as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth and grounded out to second base.
"First, I like hitting with men on base," Morse said. "I feel I Albert Pujols Jersey can contribute a lot to this team. It's being comfortable. I'm getting an opportunity to play."
Now in its 10th year, the 2011 All-Star Game Final Anaheim Casey Blake Jersey Vote Sponsored by Sprint gives baseball fans Authentic James Loney Jersey around the world the opportunity to select the final player on each All-Star team. Balloting began immediately following Sunday's Major League All-Star Selection Show presented by Taco Bell and continues until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. The winners will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter.
Mobile voting in the U.S. and Canada is open to everyone. In the U.S., to receive the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint mobile ballot, text the word "VOTE" to 89269. To vote Authentic Clayton Kershaw Jersey for a specific player, simply text message your choice to 89269 (Example: Text "N4" to vote for Morse). In Canada, fans should text their choices to 65246. Standard message and data rates may apply.
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The 82nd Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet HD and Le Reseau des Sports and around the world by Major League Baseball International, with pregame ceremonies beginning at 8 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will Anaheim Rafael Furcal Jersey provide comprehensive All-Star Game coverage.
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There was a time this season when Morse wasn't getting a chance to play. He was the Opening Day left fielder, but after a slow start and some health issues, then manager Jim Riggleman decided to give Laynce Nix most of the playing time. By the beginning of May, Morse was getting starts only against left-handers, and that was sparingly.
Morse now says he put too much pressure on himself to be the player who earned the left-field job during Spring Training. During the exhibition season, he led the team in home runs Cardinals Albert Pujols Jersey (nine) and RBIs (18).
"I think early this year, I was pressing," Morse said. "I was trying to get five hits in one at-bat. That never works. I felt in Spring Training that I was ready to play every day.
"When you have a Authentic Casey Blake Jersey good Spring Training like that, it's sometimes not a good idea, because right when the season starts, the numbers are reset. I never had an Opening Day start. I did put pressure on myself."
Morse's confidence was at an all-time low by early Authentic Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey May. It was obvious to hitting coach Rick Eckstein that Morse was not the hitter he remembered from last year.
"As I watched him go through his at-bats, it wasn't the Mike Morse that I know," Eckstein said. "He would have a nice day here and there, but there was no consistency there. And then it kind of manifested itself to the point where I had a real good indication Anaheim Clayton Kershaw Jersey what he needed."
That was a stern lecture on hitting. One day after grounding out, Morse went into the dugout; his head was down. He then went into the video room near the Nationals' dugout to see what he was doing wrong.
Eckstein followed Morse into the computer room and was not happy that Morse didn't have a plan on what to do at the plate against the opposing pitcher.
Said Eckstein: "You are a good hitter. You are better than [the opposing pitcher]. Until you believe in yourself, nobody is going to believe in you."
"You could see in the way he said it, that he really meant it," Morse said about Eckstein's talk. "The way he was looking at me in the eye, I just told myself, 'I'm better than this. I'm better than this groundout.' I started taking the at-bats more seriously. I told myself, 'Don't waste at-bats.' Rafael Furcal Jersey He made me believe in myself."
As it turned out, Morse listened to every word Eckstein said. Morse would be back on the field on a regular basis by late May, at first base after Adam LaRoche was put on the disabled list because of a serious shoulder injury. Morse took advantage of the situation and now finds himself as the team's leading hitter, not to mention being an above-average defensive first baseman.
"It felt good to get that opportunity again, to come out and play every day and knowing you are going to be in the lineup," Morse said. "I just keep telling myself, 'I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to get Anaheim Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey three hits. I'm going to drive in runs. I'm better than this pitcher. There is no reason that this guy should get me out.' I think having that mentality is helping me a lot, and that's from talking to Rick and coaching me in that mental way."
But will it earn Morse a chance to James Loney Jersey make the All-Star team this year? That would make him happy.
"I Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey think that it would be one of the biggest accomplishments that I could ever achieve in this game, besides winning the World Series and going to the playoffs," Morse said. "Being able to get consistent playing time right now, words can't describe what it would mean to make the All-Star team."
