Thoughts on Spencer Howard? Seemed OK - was expecting a bit more from his fastball based on the hype

blueclaw wrote:How does Austin Davis survive all of this?

technically, someone has to pitch

Stay_Disappointed wrote:Thoughts on Spencer Howard? Seemed OK - was expecting a bit more from his fastball based on the hype

There were some good moments. Considering this was both his major league debut and the first real game he's pitched since who knows when, I'm not going to put too much stock in the final line.

Gelb was saying he hadn't faced live hitters in over a week in the taxi squad. Not sure how that happened and seems like an incredible disservice to keeping a guy ready.

Agreed

Stay_Disappointed wrote:Thoughts on Spencer Howard? Seemed OK - was expecting a bit more from his fastball based on the hype

The Braves and Indians have multiple Howards

But really, if Arrieta is going to be ok, I think our starting pitching looks decent right now. The offense looks ok. There are a lot of playerss around the league hitting under .200, maybe because of the layoff, so I'm not concerned about the offense yet. If Kingery, Cutch, Hoskins, and Segura are still not hitting two weeks from now, I'll feel differently.

The bullpen is what it is. It will have to be addressed soon.

Are they allowing trades?

Trade deadline is the end of August.

They should trade Quinn for Trout. I think it would really help the lineup.

Cutch getting the day off (notwithstanding that Newcomb is a LHP). Gosselin is leading off as the DH. Jay Bruce in LF.

Sounds like the Phillies are kicking around the Minor League Piggyback starter thing with Velasquez/Howard rotation slot (each go 3-4IP)

Stay_Disappointed wrote:Thoughts on Spencer Howard? Seemed OK - was expecting a bit more from his fastball based on the hype

Mixed. He got hit hard multiple times. But they all seemed to be the Braves better hitters. And I saw flashes of really good. I think he is what he is; a guy who should be really good eventually but who was pitching his first big league game and found out just how good some of them are at this level. He'll be fine. I just don't think he'll be our savior this year.

he didn't get any swings and misses on his fastball, which seemed to be a bit down in velo. that will be the exception not the norm.

Spencer himself said he wasn't sharp at all, so expect better things ahead

He was a bit all over the place, which is what you might expect from a guy who hasn't really pitched and was making his big league debut.

But he doesn't have that aura Hamels had where you could just tell he was going to be great. He could be great or he could be a slightly better Pivetta. Time will tell.

Spencer Howard is the least of our concerns. Let him keep pitching and learning unless he starts getting knocked around to the point it could affect his confidence.

Speaking of Pivetta, can we please now just get rid of him?

I get grumpy when I can't enjoy a 13-1 lead in the 9th. Total buzzkill.

Phred wrote:They should trade Quinn for Trout. I think it would really help the lineup.

Nice idea but the Angels would probably need the Phillies to take on some of Quinn’s salary to make that work.

JFLNYC wrote:Speaking of Pivetta, can we please now just get rid of him?

If the ride is the issue I will personally drive him to wherever the fuck it is he’s from.

Wolfgang622 wrote:

JFLNYC wrote:Speaking of Pivetta, can we please now just get rid of him?

If the ride is the issue I will personally drive him to wherever the fuck it is he’s from.

Somewhere in Canada they won't let you in so you'll have to drop him off at the border.