Florida Day One: Max's Team

Finally Florida! After a seemingly endless winter, my first Spring Training game of 2015 -- and first hot dog of the year, too. (I can't eat the de-facto official food of baseball during the off-season.) At 7:30am, we flew out from Westchester County Airport, where it was cloudy and 30 degrees. By 1:05, we were at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, as the Nationals hosted the Braves.
After signing a seven-year, $210-million contract, you have to consider the Nats Max's team. We didn't see Scherzer on mound. Fortunately, since Dennis scouted out seats in the second row behind the home team dugout, I did see Max pop his head out of the dugout for a few moments.
Instead, lefty Gio Gonzalez was on the mound, He worked two shutout innings.
Shortstop Ian Desmond, the subject of off-season trade rumors, enters his "walk year" with Washington. He takes a good swing here.

Eric Young was hustling all afternoon. The ex-Met, who signed with Atlanta this winter, belted a home run earlier in the game -- and below, unsuccessfully tried to stretch a double into a triple.
Atlanta's Alberto Callaspo is out in a close play at 1st (Ryan Zimmerman now mans that position for the Nats.
It was one of those absolutely perfect Florida days. 84 degrees, a nice breeze to keep us comfortable. Just the remedy for a rough winter, and (save for hockey) ugly New York pro sports scene.


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