For nearly 50 years, the Oakland Raiders have embraced their image as the NFL’s most notorious franchise. The rebellious owner, the crazy fans, the questionable draft pics-—they're all part of a compelling narrative that reporters have been all too happy to buy into. But while the cameras focus only on the guy with the painted face and shoulder pads, the reality is that today’s Raiders fans run the gamut, from suburban housewives to aging hippies. While controversial QB Terrell Pryor fits perfectly into the bad boy Raiders mold, the two guys he’s behind on the depth chart (Carson Palmer and ...
Since our first checkpoint of the season (when the A's were 19-18), the team has gone 20-24. Does not sound like the best record. But when considering the injuries to Yoenis Cespedes, Bartolo Colon, Brandon McCarthy as well as the designated hitter that never played a single game as a member of this ball club, it could have been much worse.The A's now sit at 39-42, on pace for 78 wins, an improvement over any season in the Bob Geren era. However, there are signs that suggest the A's could potentially be a sleeper team in the second half of the ...
Jarrod Parker's 6.2 solid innings and home runs by Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss paced the A's to a 6-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox in the first game of their three-game series.Parker won his fifth game on the year, allowing a single run on six hits and three walks before Sean Doolittle pitched the final 2.1 innings of shutout relief.The Red Sox jumped on the board quickly with a leadoff double by Daniel Nava and an RBI single by Dustin Pedroia. But Parker induced a double play off of the bat of David Ortiz, and the threat was ...
Denarius Moore was an absolute steal for the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft.He made contributions to the offense early and often, beginning with a five-catch and 142-yard explosion in his second NFL game. Look at this absolutely incredible 50-yard touchdown catch.Did I mention it was incredible?It may have only been Week 2, and yes, against the Buffalo Bills, but let's not go there. That was a flash of brilliance from someone who was only a rookie.This guy has talent through the roof and has performed when the quarterback position hasn't been exactly steady (going ...
What is an expendable player? In my mind it's a player that has proven they can play at the NFL level, but that the team reluctantly has kept around until they can find a better option. Depth at a particular position can make veterans expendable. Younger players might be expendable if they stopped improving and are being pushed down the depth chart by other players. Players that can't stay healthy might be expendable too as the team has likely found a suitable replacement while they are waiting for them to heal. There are all kinds if reasons a player ...
As the Oakland A’s play their 81st game of the MLB Regular Season against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, the half-way point of the year, they’re just five games back of the two American League Wild Card spots. This should be seen by every single A’s fan as an overwhelming success. Who figured the A’s would be within a few games of the .500 mark at this point of the regular season? Not many. How many figured they would-be within an earshot of a playoff berth? NOBODY. It’s been the transactions of Billy Beane before and during this ...
Both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders lost their starting running back for the season in 2011. The Chiefs lost Charles in Week 2 and the Raiders lost McFadden in Week 7. Neither team would play over .500 the rest of the way.While the Chargers and the Broncos remain the favorite to win the division, both the Chiefs and the Raiders are confident they can make a run at the playoffs if their playmaking running backs stay healthy.Which running back will have a greater impact on 2012 depends on a variety of factors like health, role and scheme. Jamaal ...
There is no denying that the Oakland Raiders will go into the 2012-13 NFL season with a high-octane offense.With Carson Palmer, Darren McFadden and a lightning-quick receiving core leading the way, Oakland should be able to put points on the board.The biggest question mark on the offensive side of the ball is at the tight end position.It will be a battle between four-year veteran Brandon Meyers and the former USC wide receiver. Meyers brings a steadier blocking presence whereas Ausberry can do more in the passing game.While we should expect to see Meyers, especially in run situations, David Ausberry will ...
When this four-game series began, odds would have been against Travis Blackley being the pitcher most likely to shut down the Texas Rangers' lineup. But that's exactly what happened as he went seven strong innings to help the A's salvage the final game of the series. Blackley was great, allowing a single run on seven hits and striking out three. Most impressively, he did not walk a batter, enabling himself to avoid many stressful situations.After falling behind 1-0, Derek Norris started the rally by scorching a single in the fifth inning off of Yu Darvish to plate Seth Smith and ...
First and foremost, congratulations to Ryan Cook on making the American League All-Star team in 2012. To most Oakland A's fans and even the media, Cook was a throw-in to the trade that shipped out Trevor Cahill and brought in Jarrod Parker. As it turned out, he just might have been the biggest component to swing the deal in Oakland's favor.Do not misunderstand that statement: Jarrod Parker, long-term, has a chance to be the A's ace and could very well be an all-star himself down the line. He is the centerpiece to this trade, but Parker alone would have evened ...