Between 2010-2011, Michael Morse posted an .896 OPS for the Washington Nationals. I like to think he was a big reason why the team didn't splurge on Prince Fielder this past winter, even though I should probably know better. The bigger point: the Nationals figured they had a reliable, powerful bat in Michael Morse.

Then, in spring, Morse injured his lat. It wasn't supposed to be a major injury at the time. It's become more of a major injury. Morse was placed on the disabled list to open the year. Then, during a rehab assignment, he had a setback. The latest:

Davey said #Nats are sending Michael Morse's test results to Dr. Andrews for evaluation. Morse has been shut down with strained lat.

— Dan Kolko (@DanKolko) April 11, 2012

We'll know more about Morse's status before long. But the whole "indefinite" thing is worrisome. In Morse's absence, the Nationals have been playing Mark DeRosa and Xavier Nady, and while Mark DeRosa and Xavier Nady are probably perfectly neat people, they aren't Michael Morse. If the Nationals are to hang around first place in the NL East, they're probably going to need Morse's bat to help them do it.