Nonperturbative effective field theory calculations for NN scattering seem to
break down at rather low momenta. By examining several toy models, we clarify
how effective field theory expansions can in general be used to properly
separate long- and short-range effects. We find that one-pion exchange has a
large effect on the scattering phase shift near poles in the amplitude, but
otherwise can be treated perturbatively. Analysis of a toy model that
reproduces 1S0 NN scattering data rather well suggests that failures of
effective field theories for momenta above the pion mass can be due to
short-range physics rather than the treatment of pion exchange. We discuss the
implications this has for extending the applicability of effective field
theories.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures, references corrected, minor modification