Fantasy owners and major league executives have been drawn to the promise of Rich Harden since he was called up by the Oakland A's in 2003. In a career derailed by injuries, Harden has compiled a 59-36 record with a 9.76 K/9, a 3.65 ERA and an impressive 3.95 xFIP. He was able to compile these numbers despite only making more than 30 starts once in his career. In terms of overall stuff, Harden has improved since his disastrous 2010 season with the Texas Rangers, when he finished the season with a 5.58 ERA (5.67 xFIP), a 7.34 K/9 (a career low) and a ...
The A's are playing well, but let's face it, they're playing for 2012.At least, that's the best way to remain positive about the results of this current up and down season.With just over 30 games remaining, rookies Jemile Weeks and Brandon Allen stand out as the main reasons for optimism moving into another long offseason.True, the team has been hitting and scoring runs at a pace that would make any manager proud since the All Star break.What is also true is that the pitching through most of the first half of the season was the best in the American League, ...
The Bay Area Preseason classic takes place this evening, with the Raiders traveling across the bay to visit the San Francisco 49ers.Both teams have a number of questions to address before the beginning of the season:The 49ers are forced to answer the age-old question of "How bad does Alex Smith need to mess up before he gets replaced?" The Niners signed veteran Josh McCown over the past week to pair with rookie Colin Kapernick behind Smith on the depth chart.The Raiders have battled numerous injuries to their receiving corps this preseason with Louis Murphy, Jacoby Ford and Chaz Schilens all ...
Terrelle Pryor finally had his much-anticipated pro day in Hempfield, Pennsylvania. There were representatives from 17 teams. The Oakland Raiders were one of the teams in attendance. As expected, Terrelle Pryor showed off some amazing athleticism for a man who stands 6'5'' and weighs 232 pounds. His 40 times were between 4.31 and 4.41 depending on whose stop watch you go by. Most had him at 4.37-4.38. Either way for a man his size that is a blazing time. Scouts also said that the turf he ran on was soft and that he would be faster on a harder, NFL ...
There is nothing wrong with an article that covers Football 101—a beginning course to understand where the Oakland Raiders have been and where they are going.
Many of this writer's supporters and readers are young college students in basic mathematics classes who do not understand the power that numbers and statistical analysis convey. Some things are measurable in football, so that is why there is so much NFL data to discuss.
Let's focus on an era, say, once upon a time, when the Oakland Raiders went after touchdowns more than field goals. At least, that is my opinion of the situation in the ...
Denarius Moore lit up the Oakland Raiders training camp. He brings two characteristics that Al Davis, Hue Jackson and the Raiders can’t get enough of: speed and electricity.He has the ability to break a huge play in the return game, as well as take a ball to the house in the passing game on any given Sunday. The question will be whether or not he gets enough looks. One thing working for him is the fact that Chaz Schilens just can’t stay healthy and Louis Murphy likely won’t be available at the beginning of the season, which should at least ...
One of the things to watch for in Saturday night's preseason matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders is the performance of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, and how well he can connect with quarterback Jason Campbell.If Heyward-Bey wants to remain in the NFL, he needs to increase his chemistry with his starting quarterback, and fast.Heyward-Bey, the Raiders' first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, has been little more than a bust in his first two seasons with the Raiders. His combined stats do not echo that of a starting wide receiver: 35 total receptions for 490 yards, with ...
On a team that specializes in initialed nicknames (DHB, Run DMC, CJ, etc.), we introduce you to someone you already know: DeMarcus Van Dyke.From this point on, possibly for the rest of his career, we shall refer to him as DVD. I like the ring to it.DVD is a player who, with a little grooming, might have a chance to make a huge splash in his first couple of years. Unfortunately (perhaps fortunate for DVD), the Raiders have been bitten by the injury bug early, and DBs are the most affected.DVD is suddenly catapulted near a starting role should CJ ...
It looks as though the Oakland A's are going to miss the playoffs again for the fifth consecutive season. When the season began there were high hopes in Oakland. The starting pitching staff was considered to be one of the best in the game and a few acquisitions on offense was supposed to improve an anemic offense.Fast forward to August and the A's are in third place in the American League West at 55-69 and 16.5 games out of first place.Injuries to key members of the pitching staff and the acquisitions on offense not quite working out has landed the A's in the spot ...
Foreword Some men may wonder if what they contributed in life has influenced others to attain excellence. Many former Oakland Raiders, like George Atkinson, have tangible evidence that what they achieved in professional football has established a foundation for excellence in their friends and children. Atkinson has twins who now attend Notre Dame. The twins may someday become great NFL players like their father. Atkinson and Warren Wells were colleagues and friends during their days with the Raiders. Wells, too, has impacted the visions and dreams of young people in this generation of aspiring NFL players. Wisdom teaches us to ...