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amead17 · 01-12-2026, 11:02 AM

July 12th, 2023

All-Star Break Brings Little Relief for Struggling Raiders

The San Jose Raiders limped into the All-Star break on a sour note after being swept by the Oklahoma City Triplets, a result that dropped their record to 39–51 and underlined just how difficult the first half of the season has been.

There was at least some positive news during the series, as Steve Kibler returned to the lineup following his injury layoff. While his presence didn’t translate into wins against the Triplets, there is renewed hope that having a full complement of regular hitters back together could help stabilise an offense that has too often gone missing.

The pitching staff, however, continued to struggle throughout the series. Despite the rough outings, the Raiders have chosen to stick with the current rotation, backing the group to work their way through the rough patch rather than making knee-jerk changes.

Watts Shines on the All-Star Stage

At the All-Star Game in Charlotte, the Raiders had just one representative — but he made it count. Joey Watts started in centre field for the Wolf Conference and delivered a trademark moment, going 1-for-2 with a home run in the third inning. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure victory, as the Wolf Conference fell 4–3.

A Tough Road Ahead

The second half offers no easy reset. The Raiders return to action with a four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Whitehawks, followed by home series against the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Capitals. With little margin for error, the pressure is firmly on.

Interview: Manager John Bernklau — Full Q&A

During the All-Star break, Raiders on the Bay sat down with San Jose Raiders manager John Bernklau for an extended conversation about the difficult first half of the season, the state of the clubhouse, and what lies ahead. Below is the full interview, including all follow-up questions.

Q: Looking back at the first half of the season, how do you assess where the Raiders are right now, given the struggles in the standings?

Bernklau:
“It hasn’t been good enough, and I won’t pretend otherwise. We expected growing pains as a new club, but I also expected us to be a bit further along by now. That said, I don’t see a team that’s broken. I see a team that’s been inconsistent, a team that’s learning how hard it is to win at this level every single night. We’ve been close in a lot of games, and unfortunately close doesn’t count in the standings.”

Follow-up: Do you feel the record reflects the true ability of this roster?

Bernklau:
“I think it reflects our execution more than our talent. On paper, I believe we’re better than our record. But baseball isn’t played on paper. When you don’t execute — whether that’s missing spots on the mound, not cashing in runners, or making mental mistakes — you get exactly the record we have. So in that sense, yes, the record is fair. It’s on us to change it.”

Q: What do you think needs to improve in the second half for results to start turning around?

Bernklau:
“We need to simplify things. We’ve had stretches where guys try to do too much — pitchers trying to be perfect, hitters trying to hit five-run homers. The best teams do the small things well consistently. Quality at-bats, first-pitch strikes, clean defense. If we can stack those habits day after day, the wins will follow.”

Follow-up: Is there a specific area — pitching, defense, situational hitting — that you’ve circled internally?

Bernklau:
“If I had to pick one, it’s situational baseball. We’ve left too many runners out there and given away too many outs. That applies to both sides of the ball. Those moments swing games, especially tight ones, and we’ve lost our share of tight games.”

Q: With the trade deadline about three weeks away, do you expect the Raiders to make any moves? Have you spoken with Emanuel Black about the direction of the team?

Bernklau:
“Emanuel and I are in constant communication. Right now, it’s about information gathering. Where are we truly short? Who needs more opportunity? What makes sense not just for this year, but beyond? We’re not going to make moves just to say we made them. If something lines up that improves us, we’ll be ready.”

Follow-up: Would you prefer adding help, or creating opportunities for younger players if things don’t turn?

Bernklau:
“I don’t see those as mutually exclusive. If a younger player is ready, I’m all for giving him that chance. At the same time, leadership and experience matter, especially when things are tough. We’ll strike a balance. The goal is progress — whether that’s immediate or laying groundwork for next year.”

Q: There’s been talk that team chemistry is being tested and that a few leaders are holding things together. Do you think that’s affecting results?

Bernklau:
“When you’re losing, chemistry is always questioned. That’s part of the job. Are there frustrations? Of course. These guys care. I actually worry more when there’s silence than when there’s emotion. We have leaders who are speaking up, pulling guys together, and that’s a positive. But yes, tension can creep into performance if you don’t address it.”

Follow-up: How do you handle a team when things start to go off the rails a little in terms of confidence and chemistry?

Bernklau:
“You talk. You listen. You stay consistent. Players need to know the message doesn’t change just because the standings look ugly. I try to remind them that confidence comes from preparation, not results. If we keep doing the work the right way, the confidence comes back. You can’t fake it.”

Follow-up: How important is the All-Star break itself in resetting that confidence?

Bernklau:
“It’s huge. Physically and mentally. Sometimes guys just need to step away, breathe, and remember they’re good baseball players. You come back a little fresher, a little hungrier. What we do coming out of the break will tell us a lot about this group.”

As the Raiders open the second half facing a daunting schedule, Bernklau’s message is clear: the season isn’t over, but the response has to come now.

01-12-2026, 11:02 AM	#23
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,288	July 12th, 2023 All-Star Break Brings Little Relief for Struggling Raiders The San Jose Raiders limped into the All-Star break on a sour note after being swept by the Oklahoma City Triplets, a result that dropped their record to 39–51 and underlined just how difficult the first half of the season has been. There was at least some positive news during the series, as Steve Kibler returned to the lineup following his injury layoff. While his presence didn’t translate into wins against the Triplets, there is renewed hope that having a full complement of regular hitters back together could help stabilise an offense that has too often gone missing. The pitching staff, however, continued to struggle throughout the series. Despite the rough outings, the Raiders have chosen to stick with the current rotation, backing the group to work their way through the rough patch rather than making knee-jerk changes. Watts Shines on the All-Star Stage At the All-Star Game in Charlotte, the Raiders had just one representative — but he made it count. Joey Watts started in centre field for the Wolf Conference and delivered a trademark moment, going 1-for-2 with a home run in the third inning. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure victory, as the Wolf Conference fell 4–3. A Tough Road Ahead The second half offers no easy reset. The Raiders return to action with a four-game road trip against the Los Angeles Whitehawks, followed by home series against the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Capitals. With little margin for error, the pressure is firmly on. Interview: Manager John Bernklau — Full Q&A During the All-Star break, Raiders on the Bay sat down with San Jose Raiders manager John Bernklau for an extended conversation about the difficult first half of the season, the state of the clubhouse, and what lies ahead. Below is the full interview, including all follow-up questions. Q: Looking back at the first half of the season, how do you assess where the Raiders are right now, given the struggles in the standings? Bernklau: “It hasn’t been good enough, and I won’t pretend otherwise. We expected growing pains as a new club, but I also expected us to be a bit further along by now. That said, I don’t see a team that’s broken. I see a team that’s been inconsistent, a team that’s learning how hard it is to win at this level every single night. We’ve been close in a lot of games, and unfortunately close doesn’t count in the standings.” Follow-up: Do you feel the record reflects the true ability of this roster? Bernklau: “I think it reflects our execution more than our talent. On paper, I believe we’re better than our record. But baseball isn’t played on paper. When you don’t execute — whether that’s missing spots on the mound, not cashing in runners, or making mental mistakes — you get exactly the record we have. So in that sense, yes, the record is fair. It’s on us to change it.” Q: What do you think needs to improve in the second half for results to start turning around? Bernklau: “We need to simplify things. We’ve had stretches where guys try to do too much — pitchers trying to be perfect, hitters trying to hit five-run homers. The best teams do the small things well consistently. Quality at-bats, first-pitch strikes, clean defense. If we can stack those habits day after day, the wins will follow.” Follow-up: Is there a specific area — pitching, defense, situational hitting — that you’ve circled internally? Bernklau: “If I had to pick one, it’s situational baseball. We’ve left too many runners out there and given away too many outs. That applies to both sides of the ball. Those moments swing games, especially tight ones, and we’ve lost our share of tight games.” Q: With the trade deadline about three weeks away, do you expect the Raiders to make any moves? Have you spoken with Emanuel Black about the direction of the team? Bernklau: “Emanuel and I are in constant communication. Right now, it’s about information gathering. Where are we truly short? Who needs more opportunity? What makes sense not just for this year, but beyond? We’re not going to make moves just to say we made them. If something lines up that improves us, we’ll be ready.” Follow-up: Would you prefer adding help, or creating opportunities for younger players if things don’t turn? Bernklau: “I don’t see those as mutually exclusive. If a younger player is ready, I’m all for giving him that chance. At the same time, leadership and experience matter, especially when things are tough. We’ll strike a balance. The goal is progress — whether that’s immediate or laying groundwork for next year.” Q: There’s been talk that team chemistry is being tested and that a few leaders are holding things together. Do you think that’s affecting results? Bernklau: “When you’re losing, chemistry is always questioned. That’s part of the job. Are there frustrations? Of course. These guys care. I actually worry more when there’s silence than when there’s emotion. We have leaders who are speaking up, pulling guys together, and that’s a positive. But yes, tension can creep into performance if you don’t address it.” Follow-up: How do you handle a team when things start to go off the rails a little in terms of confidence and chemistry? Bernklau: “You talk. You listen. You stay consistent. Players need to know the message doesn’t change just because the standings look ugly. I try to remind them that confidence comes from preparation, not results. If we keep doing the work the right way, the confidence comes back. You can’t fake it.” Follow-up: How important is the All-Star break itself in resetting that confidence? Bernklau: “It’s huge. Physically and mentally. Sometimes guys just need to step away, breathe, and remember they’re good baseball players. You come back a little fresher, a little hungrier. What we do coming out of the break will tell us a lot about this group.” As the Raiders open the second half facing a daunting schedule, Bernklau’s message is clear: the season isn’t over, but the response has to come now.