Gamethread 3/10: Tigers at Phillies

Sweet, sweet optimism.

Spencer Howard is on the bump today for the Phillies and his talent just oozes optimism for his season. His spring debut was immaculate, the discussion around his starting the season with Philadelphia has grown and it all makes everything right with the Phillies world. Today, we’ll be able to watch him throw (hopefully) more than one inning as he continues his bid to make the rotation out of camp.

It’s interesting because the team has not been shy about wanting to limit his innings this year thanks to a shorter history as a starter and the shoulder issues he’s had the past few years. It just brings up that eternal question: do you want the innings now, when he’s (mostly) healthy and firing on all cylinders, or do you want to bring him along slowly, ramp up his time and then bring him to Philadelphia in the middle of summer when he might be needed because of the injury bug striking the team? We’re talking real chicken and egg stuff, but it is something to think about.

Here are your lineups for today.

The team is on television today, so watch along and chat with us here.