The expectations are more blessing than burden. After a career spent fighting for a place on a major league roster, Morse brushes aside the notion that it will be difficult to fulfill a lofty standard. In January, Morse signed a two-year, $10 million contract that he suggested will not make him complacent, but rather allow him to surpass his breakout 2011 season. Morse arrived at this spring training with an unfamiliar comfort, "feeling like he's not on the razor's edge," Manager Davey Johnson said. Said Morse: "Instead of coming out in spring training and playing every game and being tired by the time spring training is over, I have an opportunity now of getting ready for the season. I feel like last year was just of a touch of what I can do. I feel like I can do so much more. I have an idea now. I believe in myself. When Morse felt a small twinge on the right side of his back earlier this week, he exercised a luxury he said he would never have considered in previous years: He told someone about it. In years past, Morse would have kept his injury to himself and played through the pain, afraid any time on the sideline could cost him the chance to make the team. Last spring, Morse built on his strong finish in 2010 by hammering nine home runs, more than any other player in the Grapefruit League. He gave the Nationals no choice but to make him their everyday left fielder. "Then the season starts," Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth said, "and nothing mattered." By the end of April, Morse was hitting .211 with a .253 on-base percentage, a .268 slugging percentage and one home run. The Nationals started playing Laynce Nix in left field against right-handed starting pitchers. Morse had pressed so hard claiming his job in the spring that, when the season began, he couldn't perform. "I was going to camp giving 120 percent trying to make the team," Morse said. When the season came around, I was kind of trying to push it to another gear, which, there wasn't another gear. It actually hurt me. When I realized, "Slow down, take one pitch at a time," I landed back on my feet." Morse may have lost his spot had the labrum tear in Adam LaRoche's left shoulder not widened to the point he could not play. When LaRoche underwent surgery, the Nationals shifted Morse to first base. And then he became one the most destructive hitters in the National League: From May 1 until the end of the year, Morse led the majors with a .594 slugging percentage.