Morse open to playing third base

The Washington Nationals put Laynce Nix in the clean-up spot Sunday. Nix has had a pretty good start of the season at the plate in an utility role. Nix is batting .314 with three homers and nine RBIs. He hit a home run off of Tim Lincecum to start the series against the San Francisco Giants, and is an impressive 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Sunday is second game for the Nationals with the knowledge that third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will be out of the lineup until at least late June with an abdominal tear. With Nix in left field Sunday, that is half of the proposal I laid out this morning as to how the Nationals could get another big bat in the lineup. Michael Morse was given the day off and Jerry Hairston, Jr., led off at third base. Morse said he would be open to the idea of moving to third base if Jim Riggleman asked him to. "Of course, I will play anything," Morse said. "That is how I have always played." Morse has played a handful of games over the years at the hot corner in his career, as well as shortstop and first base. Morse played 55 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2005 at short and says it would not be a difficult transition to third base. "I am used to being in the infield," Morse continued. "It is no big deal." Morse showed in spring training he could wield a big bat, hitting .364 with nine homers and 18 RBIs. If he can find his way at the plate in May, that would give Riggleman an option at third if he wanted to get some power from that position on the field.