Now, The Hard Part

Raul’s blast and more bullpen zeroes added up to another come-from-behind win last night at New York, ending a tough 10-game, 11-day road trip at 7-3.

With a 23-9 record away from home, we’re on top of the baseball world.  That is an amazing record.

Now, the hard part.

It is a different story at Citizens Bank Park so far this season.  Only two N. L. teams have fewer wins at home than our 12-14 mark, Washington (10-22) and Colorado (9-14). 

Starting tonight, the next 15 games are against American League Eastern Division clubs as interleague play heats up.  We’re 92-110 in interleague play.

Our record against the A. L. teams we’re playing: Red Sox (14-20), Blue Jays (12-12), Orioles (21-21) and Rays (5-10).  Three games against each club except Toronto.  We have six with the Blue Jays.  Our road record in Toronto’s Rogers Centre is 5-4; in Tropicana Field, 2-4.

What’s Next
The draft is completed and now it is time for the area scouts to swoop in on our draftees and get them signed to a professional contract.

Most of the players selected this week will be assigned to the Williamsport Crosscutters or Gulf Coast League Phillies in Clearwater. 

Williamsport Crosscutters
New York-Penn League Pinckney Division, 14 teams . . . 76-game season begins June 19; ends September 6 . . . 30-player active roster, but only 25 eligible for each game . . . No more than four players 23 or older; no more than three players on active list may have four or more years of prior service.

Gulf Coast League Phillies
Gulf Coast Rookie League, 16 teams . . . 60-game season begins June 23; ends August 31 . . . 35-player active roster, but only 30 eligible for each game . . . No player who has three or more years of prior minor league and/or major league service time can participate.

Officially a Sr. Citizen
Among the players we drafted were 3B Robert Amaro and 1B Cory Wine, grandsons of Ruben Amaro Sr. and Bobby Wine, a pair of shortstops a long time ago.

I’m sure of two things:  (1) I’m officially a senior citizen when grandchildren are being drafted, and (2) both Robert and Cory are better hitters than their grandpops!