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Archive for July, 2013
Neither Matt Barkley nor Tyler Wilson are can't-miss prospects. Both have physical limitations, and it's possible that neither will be the long-term solution for their respective teams at quarterback. But the Raiders missed an opportunity to bring in immediate competition for Matt Flynn by failing to land Barkley in the 2013 NFL draft. According to Len Pasquarelli of the National Football Post, the Raiders actually preferred Barkley to Wilson and were prepared to select him with their fourth-round pick. According to a report by Steve Corkran of the ContraCostaTimes.com, Raiders head coach Dennis Allen stated earlier this offseason that Flynn is his starter "until ...
I can't say I am shocked, but I am most definitely surprised at the news that Oakland's Josh Donaldson was left off the American League All-Star team by manager Jim Leyland. Yes, the third-base position in the AL was absolutely loaded, and there was no one undeserving player of the five in the running. Beyond the obvious choice in starter Miguel Cabrera, Donaldson, Evan Longoria, Adrian Beltre and Manny Machado were all deserving. I would go as far as to say maybe even more so than a few reserves who did make it (i.e. Prince Fielder and Ben Zobrist). That said, if ...
The Oakland Raiders enter the 2013 season without a proven quarterback. Matt Flynn—with two career starts on his resume—is the presumptive starter, and rookie Tyler Wilson is considered his biggest threat for the job, leaving third-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor stuck in between. Realistically, if Pryor isn’t considered starting material by now, he never will be. Actions speak louder than words, and the offseason signing of Flynn and drafting of Wilson are a reflection on how Pryor is viewed within the organization, even if they won’t admit it publicly. However, it would be a shame to waste Pryor’s amazing athleticism because it ...
The Oakland Athletics, which are currently tied for first with the Texas Rangers in the American League West and also have the fourth most wins in the majors, only have one All-Star representative: Bartolo Colon.Colon is definitely having a great year and is deserving of this spot; however, excluding Josh Donaldson and Grant Balfour from their first All-Star Game is mind-boggling.Let's put up some stats:.317 AVG, 15 HR, 57 RBI, .385 OBP.315 AVG, 6 HR, 42 RBI, .344 OBPOne of the lines is for Donaldson, and the other is for an AL All-Star reserve. Which one do you think is ...
This article is from my blog entitled "Baseball History: Beyond the Stats." Click here to view the blog.The name Curt Young probably does not come to mind when you think of great pitchers of the 1980s. He finished his 11-year career (1983-1993) with a fairly ordinary 69-53 record with Oakland, New York Yankees and Kansas City. But it was in 1986 and 1987 that Young pitched two of the best games of each season. Usually the No. 13 is bad luck, but it was a great number for Young. He finished 13-9 in 1986, followed by a 13-7 ...
When we think of the O.co Coliseum, we don't always associate the home of the Oakland Athletics with luxury. But the truth is it's a great place to see a baseball game.With a great, young team and an amazing fanbase, the "Green Collar Baseball" mindset is what makes attending an A's game so spectacular. Tune into the video above to see the nicer side of the Coliseum.A special thanks to everyone at the A's for giving us a behind-the-scenes tour!Read more Oakland Athletics news on BleacherReport.com
The Oakland Raiders and former quarterback JaMarcus Russell are finally getting some much-needed closure on their rocky three-year relationship. According to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Raiders and Russell recently agreed on a settlement over his rookie contract that will award the former No. 1 overall pick nearly $3 million.Both sides had previously filed grievances over the six-year, $68 million deal, with the Raiders looking to recoup nearly $10 million in salary advances and Russell attempting to get the full value of his guaranteed money. A settlement was reached before the case went to court. Over six years after the Raiders ...
Standing at 49-35 and in first place in the AL West as of Wednesday, July 3, the Oakland A's have received contributions from many sources so far in 2013.Some have surprised while others have been as expected. That said, the A's are also winning in spite of a couple of players who have not performed up to their standards or early expectations. As such, it is time to recognize the best and the worst of the A's over the first half of the 2013 season.Here are the first-half awards for offense and pitching for the A's.Begin Slideshow
Thus far in the 2013 NFL offseason, the Oakland Raiders have done well to address some key positions of need and bring depth to many of them as well.  In the NFL, a league where injuries are something that every team must deal with throughout any given season, a team’s depth and development very much include the players who make up the practice squad.  Given that a player must not have an accrued season of free-agent eligibility (on the active roster for more than eight games in one season) to be placed on the practice squad, it is most often ...
What if I were to tell you 10 bold predictions for the Oakland Athletics, including that they will finish as statistical leaders in two categories. Would that be something you're interested in?The A's are setting themselves up for big things in the second half. The ball is already rolling.Hot hitters, rebounding pitchers, aging wonders and ownership of rivals are just some of the top headlines from the first half. So what could possibly be even more inspiring and awesome in the second half?How about a big trade, more wins for a pitcher than two hands can count and a crazy ...