Questions follow Phillies north from Clearwater

March Madness is about to play its April championship game.

And the Flyers and Penguins are getting to know each other in a pre-playoff confrontation that featured an epic brawl.

That can mean only one thing.

It’s baseball season.

All eyes will turn once again to South Philly tonight, and not just because of the arrival of Xfinity Live.

The Phillies packed up their stuff, shut down operations in Clearwater and headed north Sunday. Perhaps fitting, they ended the Grapefruit League with a 7-7 tie with the Braves.

Nobody is quite sure what to expect from this Phillies team. They will enter the season without the right side of their infield, as Ryan Howard continues to rehab from Achilles surgery, and Chase Utley does a repeat of last year, on the shelf to start the season as he deal with achy knees.

The Marlins and Nationals have gotten better, but the Phils’ starting pitching is still the best in the National League.

The Phillies will play two “On Deck” exhibition games vs. the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park tonight and tomorrow before they kick off the regular season in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

The Phils don’t open at home until a week from today.

In the meantime, make sure you check out DelcoTimes.com and the print edition of the Daily Times on Wednesday for a special section examining the 2012 Phils’ chances, and a great full color season schedule you’ll want to slap on the fridge.

It’s all in the Wednesday Daily Times.

Comments