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amead17 · 12-13-2025, 09:49 AM

January 3, 2023

Raiders Name John Bernklau as Manager — Then Hand Him the Microphone

The San Jose Raiders have their first manager.

The club announced today that John Bernklau, 35, of La Habra, California, will lead the team into its inaugural season. Bernklau arrives without prior managerial experience, an unconventional choice for a franchise still defining itself—but perhaps a fitting one.

Those familiar with Bernklau describe him as a people person, approachable and steady, with a conventional managerial style. He carries no strong bias toward veterans or young players, a trait that may serve him well given the roster’s blend of youth and experience. Philosophically, there are early signs of tension: Bernklau leans slightly toward hitting over pitching, but places a clear emphasis on defense over offense, and shows a preference for on-base percentage over batting average—positions that do not fully align with general manager Emanuel Black.

Whether that difference becomes friction or balance remains to be seen.

Bernklau spoke with Raiders on the Bay shortly after the announcement.

Interview: John Bernklau

Q: Are you looking forward to managing the San Jose Raiders?

Bernklau:
“Absolutely. This is a rare opportunity. You don’t often get to be part of something from day one, where everything is new and everyone’s learning together. That excites me. I’m looking forward to building relationships, setting expectations, and helping these players find their footing as a group.”

Follow-up: Does the lack of history make the job harder—or easier?

Bernklau:
“I think it makes it honest. There’s no baggage. No one can point to ‘the way it’s always been done here.’ We get to establish our own standards, and that’s something I take seriously.”

Q: How do you think you’ll get on with GM Emanuel Black? Do you expect it to be a fruitful working relationship?

Bernklau:
“I do. Emanuel and I don’t have to agree on everything to work well together. In fact, I think healthy disagreement can be productive. My job is to put the best version of the team on the field. His job is to give me the best possible group of players within our realities. As long as we’re honest with each other, that relationship will work.”

Follow-up: You do differ philosophically in some areas. Is that a concern?

Bernklau:
“No. Philosophies aren’t rules; they’re starting points. What matters is what the players show us. We’ll adjust to what gives us the best chance to win.”

Q: What do you think of the roster that’s been built so far?

Bernklau:
“There’s a lot to like. It’s a group with energy, especially on the pitching side, and there’s experience in the lineup where it matters. We have players in their prime, players with something to prove, and players who are just starting out. That’s a good mix. Now the challenge is turning it into a team instead of a list of names.”

Q: How do you think you’ll work with Joey Watts? There’s already a sense that you two may connect well.

Bernklau:
“Joey’s young, talented, and from everything I’ve seen, eager to learn. I enjoy working with players at that stage of their careers. The goal isn’t to overwhelm him—it’s to give him structure, confidence, and room to grow. Center field is a demanding spot, and I think he’s capable of handling both the responsibility and the opportunity.”

Follow-up: Will you lean on him early?

Bernklau:
“We’ll see. He doesn’t have to carry the team. He just has to be himself and keep improving.”

Q: There are rumors that you and Dave Jones aren’t seeing eye to eye yet. Any truth to that?

Bernklau:
“Dave’s been around a long time, and I respect that. We’re still getting to know each other. Different backgrounds, different perspectives—that’s normal. What matters is that we both want the same thing for this team. Those things tend to sort themselves out once the season gets going.”

Q: Where do you hope you can take this team in year one?

Bernklau:
“I think it’s important to be realistic. We’re operating with limitations, and there are a lot of unknowns—about the league, about our players, about how everything fits together. For me, success this year looks like growth, consistency, and competing the right way. If we do that, the results will take care of themselves over time.”

A Manager Fits the Moment

John Bernklau isn’t arriving with a résumé full of past success, but perhaps that’s the point. The Raiders aren’t looking backward. They’re trying to establish something new—quietly, carefully, and without shortcuts.

How Bernklau navigates philosophical differences, a young roster, and the realities of a constrained budget will shape the early identity of this franchise. For now, he sounds exactly like a man aware of the scale of the task in front of him—and willing to start anyway.

The Raiders have a manager.

Next comes the proving ground.

12-13-2025, 09:49 AM	#5
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,275	January 3, 2023 Raiders Name John Bernklau as Manager — Then Hand Him the Microphone The San Jose Raiders have their first manager. The club announced today that John Bernklau, 35, of La Habra, California, will lead the team into its inaugural season. Bernklau arrives without prior managerial experience, an unconventional choice for a franchise still defining itself—but perhaps a fitting one. Those familiar with Bernklau describe him as a people person, approachable and steady, with a conventional managerial style. He carries no strong bias toward veterans or young players, a trait that may serve him well given the roster’s blend of youth and experience. Philosophically, there are early signs of tension: Bernklau leans slightly toward hitting over pitching, but places a clear emphasis on defense over offense, and shows a preference for on-base percentage over batting average—positions that do not fully align with general manager Emanuel Black. Whether that difference becomes friction or balance remains to be seen. Bernklau spoke with Raiders on the Bay shortly after the announcement. Interview: John Bernklau Q: Are you looking forward to managing the San Jose Raiders? Bernklau: “Absolutely. This is a rare opportunity. You don’t often get to be part of something from day one, where everything is new and everyone’s learning together. That excites me. I’m looking forward to building relationships, setting expectations, and helping these players find their footing as a group.” Follow-up: Does the lack of history make the job harder—or easier? Bernklau: “I think it makes it honest. There’s no baggage. No one can point to ‘the way it’s always been done here.’ We get to establish our own standards, and that’s something I take seriously.” Q: How do you think you’ll get on with GM Emanuel Black? Do you expect it to be a fruitful working relationship? Bernklau: “I do. Emanuel and I don’t have to agree on everything to work well together. In fact, I think healthy disagreement can be productive. My job is to put the best version of the team on the field. His job is to give me the best possible group of players within our realities. As long as we’re honest with each other, that relationship will work.” Follow-up: You do differ philosophically in some areas. Is that a concern? Bernklau: “No. Philosophies aren’t rules; they’re starting points. What matters is what the players show us. We’ll adjust to what gives us the best chance to win.” Q: What do you think of the roster that’s been built so far? Bernklau: “There’s a lot to like. It’s a group with energy, especially on the pitching side, and there’s experience in the lineup where it matters. We have players in their prime, players with something to prove, and players who are just starting out. That’s a good mix. Now the challenge is turning it into a team instead of a list of names.” Q: How do you think you’ll work with Joey Watts? There’s already a sense that you two may connect well. Bernklau: “Joey’s young, talented, and from everything I’ve seen, eager to learn. I enjoy working with players at that stage of their careers. The goal isn’t to overwhelm him—it’s to give him structure, confidence, and room to grow. Center field is a demanding spot, and I think he’s capable of handling both the responsibility and the opportunity.” Follow-up: Will you lean on him early? Bernklau: “We’ll see. He doesn’t have to carry the team. He just has to be himself and keep improving.” Q: There are rumors that you and Dave Jones aren’t seeing eye to eye yet. Any truth to that? Bernklau: “Dave’s been around a long time, and I respect that. We’re still getting to know each other. Different backgrounds, different perspectives—that’s normal. What matters is that we both want the same thing for this team. Those things tend to sort themselves out once the season gets going.” Q: Where do you hope you can take this team in year one? Bernklau: “I think it’s important to be realistic. We’re operating with limitations, and there are a lot of unknowns—about the league, about our players, about how everything fits together. For me, success this year looks like growth, consistency, and competing the right way. If we do that, the results will take care of themselves over time.” A Manager Fits the Moment John Bernklau isn’t arriving with a résumé full of past success, but perhaps that’s the point. The Raiders aren’t looking backward. They’re trying to establish something new—quietly, carefully, and without shortcuts. How Bernklau navigates philosophical differences, a young roster, and the realities of a constrained budget will shape the early identity of this franchise. For now, he sounds exactly like a man aware of the scale of the task in front of him—and willing to start anyway. The Raiders have a manager. Next comes the proving ground.