By Beulah Tuttle / The Citizen

MARSEILLE — It’s been a tough three weeks for the reigning Imperial League Royal Raker and, according to his latest post-game interview, a big part of it has been the absence of Rob Raines. Before an ill-fated slide ended his season Raines shared a locker with Pat Barry, and the 25-year-old has attributed much of his early success to Raines’ mentoring. By his own admission, the 13-year veteran has more of a ‘lead by example’ type personality but Barry is quite the opposite. He’s loud and jovial in the dugout and locker room and hasn’t left Raines’ side since he was called up to the Bureaucrats two seasons ago.

“Yeah, he’s like a remora – I had to blow up my knee just to get rid of him,” Raines quipped. “But seriously, he just wants to learn everything – what the pitchers up here are trying to do, what we do to prepare. He’s a good kid. And a hell of a player too. But tell Pepe I’m sorry that he’s stuck with him now.”

Though Raines remains nonchalant, his future with the Bureaucrats is very much in the air. The seven year extension he signed after the 2015 season expires this year and his status with the club is very much in the air. Off to another hot start it seemed certain the the front office would come knocking with an offer to keep the face of the franchise around for at least a few more years. Now 37-years-old and rehabbing a catastrophic knee injury it’s no sure thing that he will be able to maintain his prolific production at the plate.

At this time not two seasons ago it was unthinkable that the team could survive without their franchise player, but now Pat Barry’s presence makes that almost palatable. No fan wants to see a star player go but it would soften the blow having a 25-year-old who already has a Royal Raker trophy to his name. Raines is likely a first-ballot hall-of-famer when the time comes so Barry definitely has some comically large shoes to fill.