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amead17 · 01-06-2026, 12:09 PM

June 22nd, 2023

Raiders Tread Water as Inconsistency Persists

The San Jose Raiders continue to struggle to find sustained momentum, splitting a four-game home series 2–2 against the Los Angeles Whitehawks before dropping a road series 2–1 to the Denver Grizzlies. The results push the Raiders to 34–40 on the season.

While the overall record remains disappointing, there is a small silver lining. The Raiders have not lost ground in the standings, sitting 13 games behind the Portland Bruins, but perhaps more importantly, they remain just two games out of a wild card spot. With time still left in the season, the door to playoff contention remains open — if the Raiders can finally string together a run of consistent performances.

Trade Rumours Swirl, Front Office Silent

Speculation has begun to circulate around the club, with reports suggesting the Raiders have been in preliminary trade discussions with the Raleigh Red Wings. At this stage, nothing has been confirmed and no player names have surfaced.

We reached out to the Raiders’ front office for clarification, but General Manager Emanuel Black declined to comment, neither confirming nor denying the rumours. Whether these talks signal an attempt to bolster the roster for a late push or a reshaping of the squad remains to be seen.

Injury List Clears — Almost

There was welcome news on the injury front, as the Raiders saw the return of Willie Baca, Miguel Esparza, and Dave Jones over the past few days. Their availability should provide a much-needed boost on both sides of the ball.

At present, Steve Kibler is the only remaining player on the injured list. There is growing hope within the club that the return of key contributors could spark a turnaround in form as the Raiders head into the final stretch of June.

Pitching: Familiar Problems, Tough Questions

Pitching continues to be the central concern for the Raiders. Mike Brown and Willie Baca remain the only starters with winning records, highlighting the lack of stability in the rotation.

For Joe Basinger, the situation has reached a critical point. He currently sits at 1–7 from 12 starts with a 5.22 ERA, and while his leadership and influence in the clubhouse are widely respected, questions are growing louder about his on-field performance. Rumours suggest that without his role as a stabilising presence during this difficult period, his rotation spot might already be under serious threat.

Some around the league are even speculating that a move to the bullpen — or a stint back in AAA — could help Basinger rediscover his form. For now, management appears to be weighing loyalty, leadership, and results.

Power Without Consistency at the Plate

Offensively, the Raiders continue to show flashes of power but struggle to string together rallies. Joey Watts and Carlos Olivarri remain the team’s primary threats, with 21 and 19 home runs respectively, but too often those blasts come without runners on base.

The broader concern lies in batting consistency. Among regular starters, only Dave Jones and Joey Watts currently hold batting averages above .300, leaving the lineup overly reliant on the long ball rather than sustained pressure.

What’s Next

The Raiders will close out June on the road with:

A three-game series against the 32–40 Boston Rebels, followed by

A tough three-game trip to face the 44–29 Milwaukee Bucks

They will then return home for a three-game stand against the 34–39 Cincinnati Wildcats.

With the wild card still within reach, the coming weeks may define whether the Raiders remain contenders — or finally begin to look toward the future.

01-06-2026, 12:09 PM	#20
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,084	June 22nd, 2023 Raiders Tread Water as Inconsistency Persists The San Jose Raiders continue to struggle to find sustained momentum, splitting a four-game home series 2–2 against the Los Angeles Whitehawks before dropping a road series 2–1 to the Denver Grizzlies. The results push the Raiders to 34–40 on the season. While the overall record remains disappointing, there is a small silver lining. The Raiders have not lost ground in the standings, sitting 13 games behind the Portland Bruins, but perhaps more importantly, they remain just two games out of a wild card spot. With time still left in the season, the door to playoff contention remains open — if the Raiders can finally string together a run of consistent performances. Trade Rumours Swirl, Front Office Silent Speculation has begun to circulate around the club, with reports suggesting the Raiders have been in preliminary trade discussions with the Raleigh Red Wings. At this stage, nothing has been confirmed and no player names have surfaced. We reached out to the Raiders’ front office for clarification, but General Manager Emanuel Black declined to comment, neither confirming nor denying the rumours. Whether these talks signal an attempt to bolster the roster for a late push or a reshaping of the squad remains to be seen. Injury List Clears — Almost There was welcome news on the injury front, as the Raiders saw the return of Willie Baca, Miguel Esparza, and Dave Jones over the past few days. Their availability should provide a much-needed boost on both sides of the ball. At present, Steve Kibler is the only remaining player on the injured list. There is growing hope within the club that the return of key contributors could spark a turnaround in form as the Raiders head into the final stretch of June. Pitching: Familiar Problems, Tough Questions Pitching continues to be the central concern for the Raiders. Mike Brown and Willie Baca remain the only starters with winning records, highlighting the lack of stability in the rotation. For Joe Basinger, the situation has reached a critical point. He currently sits at 1–7 from 12 starts with a 5.22 ERA, and while his leadership and influence in the clubhouse are widely respected, questions are growing louder about his on-field performance. Rumours suggest that without his role as a stabilising presence during this difficult period, his rotation spot might already be under serious threat. Some around the league are even speculating that a move to the bullpen — or a stint back in AAA — could help Basinger rediscover his form. For now, management appears to be weighing loyalty, leadership, and results. Power Without Consistency at the Plate Offensively, the Raiders continue to show flashes of power but struggle to string together rallies. Joey Watts and Carlos Olivarri remain the team’s primary threats, with 21 and 19 home runs respectively, but too often those blasts come without runners on base. The broader concern lies in batting consistency. Among regular starters, only Dave Jones and Joey Watts currently hold batting averages above .300, leaving the lineup overly reliant on the long ball rather than sustained pressure. What’s Next The Raiders will close out June on the road with: A three-game series against the 32–40 Boston Rebels, followed by A tough three-game trip to face the 44–29 Milwaukee Bucks They will then return home for a three-game stand against the 34–39 Cincinnati Wildcats. With the wild card still within reach, the coming weeks may define whether the Raiders remain contenders — or finally begin to look toward the future.