Michael Morse is out for six weeks leaving Washington Nationals without a punch - MLB Update
While scheduled to play in the Washington Nationals’ home opener, Michael Morse received his lat strain hurt during a rehabilitation practice in Class A Hagerstown. Morse faces uncertainty about his season prospects now.
As per the reports, he will be at-least missing 50 games in the season, something alarming enough to leave Nationals thinking about internal and external options.
Nationals’ general manager Mike Rizzo announced the news. He stated that serous effort was made to bring him back at the earliest, but his injury proved too severe and they are bound to rely on other options.
He did acknowledge however Morse’s importance to the side and the kind of boost he gives to the whole offence.
“We tried to ramp him up, get him ready as quickly as we could, because he’s a big piece of our lineup,” Rizzo said. “He just re-aggravated it. So now we’re going to have to be ultra cautious to make sure that he’s right for the majority of the season.”
His absence is likely to be filled by Mark DeRosa and Xavier Nady. While not as good as Morse, they are the best option under the circumstances.
Nationals had foreseen the problem and had actually negotiated for an outside option.
Diamondbacks’ outfielder Gerardo Parra was approached in Spring Training but later modalities of the contract were not in compliance to what both parties wanted and thus it did not go through.
So far Nationals have been the most impressive side in National League East Division. Ian Desmond and Jayson Werth are a pillar for the offensive strength and have delivered necessary hits in the season so far.
The fact Morse knows the art of hitting home-runs even if other players are doing well he was to prove decisive during particular junctures in the game.
For example, at a time when the team is trailing by two or three runs and the innings are nearing an end, timely homers from him can turn the tables on the opponents.
The kind of role he played last year, there is no denying of his talent in this regard.
The matches ahead will explain to what extent Nationals will be missing him if he does not recover earlier.
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