The first taste of baseball

I don't put much stock in exhibition games, but knowing the first spring training game is here is always a nice feeling to have. And sure it doesn't count, but it's always nice to see a score that says Pirates 9 Other Guys (in today's case, the Nats) 1. The first thing I look at in spring training games is the pitching, and thus we see today that Vogelsong had a pretty Vogelsong-ish outing, 2 innings, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 K, 1 run. The guy I'd consider to be a darkhorse for the bullpen, Scott Strickland (depending on his bionic elbow) pitched two scoreless innings, as did Victor Santos (though he gave up four hits). Brad Eldred hit a homer and I'll just presume that it was mashed because that's what he does. Maybe it's snowing in Pittsburgh, but it's definitely spring somewhere.

Box score is here for anyone that wants it.