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August 7th
The San Jose Raiders’ struggles continued into the opening week of August, with results once again offering little sign of a sustained turnaround. The month began with two road losses to the Phoenix Coyotes, before a scheduled day off appeared to help reset things slightly. Back at home, the Raiders showed improved energy and execution, taking two of three games against the Philadelphia Freedom.
One player who could not have done more over the week was Joey Watts. Watts put together an outstanding stretch, hitting for a remarkable .520 average, smashing three home runs, driving in 12 RBIs, and scoring eight runs. His performances were rightly rewarded with the Wolf Conference Player of the Week award. Beyond Watts, production at the plate remained inconsistent. Steve Kibler has continued to provide reliable support near the top of the order, but the rest of the lineup has struggled to find rhythm from game to game.
On the mound, the Raiders’ pitching woes remain a major concern. Willie Baca is still the lone starter holding a winning record, while team ERAs have begun to climb again as opponents continue to generate runs in bunches. Both the rotation and bullpen have shown flashes, but consistency remains elusive.
In response to injuries and uneven form, the Raiders made several roster moves on August 2nd. Third baseman Andrew McRaven was sidelined for a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain, prompting the call-up of Andrew Kehrer. The front office also opted to send Jordan Sandoval back down to AAA Las Vegas for further development, while adding veteran first baseman Manuel Garcia as a free agent.
Garcia, released by the Houston Drillers on July 20th after just three pinch-hit appearances, arrives in San Jose looking for a fresh opportunity. Viewed as a fringe everyday player, the Raiders are hoping Garcia can provide useful depth and help patch what they see as a thin spot in the batting order.
The Raiders on the Bay team caught up briefly with Garcia after his arrival, and true to reputation, the veteran had plenty to say:
“I’ve been around this game long enough to know when a good story’s just getting started,” Garcia said with a grin. “People can call me a role player, a bench bat, whatever they like—but I’ve started games in tougher spots than this and lived to tell the tale.”
Garcia also spoke about joining a club that has clearly had its ups and downs:
“This team’s got talent. You don’t hit behind a guy like Joey Watts unless you’re ready to see some fireworks. I’m here to give them good at-bats, maybe steal a few chapters in the story along the way. Who knows—by the end of the season, this might be one of those tall tales people swear couldn’t have happened.”
Whether Garcia becomes a regular contributor or simply a steady depth piece remains to be seen, but with the Raiders searching for answers, even small sparks could prove valuable as August unfolds.
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