Welcome, HomeSiders

Welcome, HomeSiders, this is where we have moved to. This way, all you have to do is log on and come to this blog and find out all you want to know about BlueClaws and former BlueClaws. I know the team has it's own blog, this will be the fan's perspective. Well, Superfan's perspective, anyway!!

To start us off, let's see where some of our boys outside the Phillies organization are and how they are doing.

The most prominent former 'Claw will be 2004 Lakewood star Michael Bourn. Bourn, who stole 58 bases for Lakewood in '04, will be the starting center fielder for the Houston Astros to start 2008. Michael has been leading off pretty regularly this spring in Florida, and is hitting over .300 with 7 steals.

Bourn's Lakewood teammate, Randy Ruiz, is currently in spring training with the Minnesota Twins. Randy (my Homie from the Bronx for those who don't know) his hitting .455 this spring, and although he finds himself behind Justin Morneau at first base, his hot bat may earn him a spot on the Twins roster as a pinch hitter, and a DH. He has also been spotted playing a bit in the outfield. The Twins also have 2002 BlueClaw Bobby Korecky, who was recently returned to minor league camp and appears to be heading to AAA Rochester to assume closer duties there.

Gavin Floyd, a 2002 'Claw is likely to find himself in the White Sox starting rotation to start this year. Gavin has only made 2 appearances this spring as a result of a bout with the flu, but Sox skipper Ozzie Guillen has repeated his spot is secure, at least to start the season. At the time of this posting, he is making his 3rd appearance for Chicago against Arizona. You can check the Sox' website for results in an hour or so.

Other former BlueClaws in major league camps are Robinson Tejeda (14 major league wins including 5 last year) with Texas, Taylor Buchholz (12 major league wins, 6 last year) with Colorado, and Chris Roberson (who holds the stolen base record for Lakewood with 59 in 2003) fighting for a roster spot with the Orioles.

As the end of spring training nears, and teams make final cuts and minor league assignments, we will try to keep up with them. As always, I welcome any input anyone has to add, and look foward to feedback from around the Phillies system, and anywhere around minor league ball concerning "our boys".

18 days until opening day.....HERE WE GO NOW!!