This game reminded me why  I stay faithful to the Raiders after 39 years. Forget about the last 6 seasons. Forget about blown 1st round draft choices. Forget about an owner who still thinks his antiquated views of player assessment and foolish control of player personnel has sold this team into the depths of dysfunction that makes other football fans shake their heads at us and chuckle.

This game, for 60 minutes and as important to a team attempting to make the playoffs in 2009 faced the grit and determination from a local highschool  QB who broke all of Dan Marino's passing records. The Steelers faced a team whose faithful continue to question the undying loyalty of their head coach who has absolutely refused to give up on the talent he sees in a mostly undisciplined team. This game, if I could just forget about all of the anguish this team has caused me recently. This game showed me that somewhere deep inside we really do have players that if they just believe the way their 4th yr QB believes, can beat any team on any given Sunday. I never want to see Jamarcus line behind a Raider center again.  We have found a quarterback.

Not since the home opener in 1976 when Ken Stabler guided the Raiders to a stirring 31-28 home victory over the Steelers with 17 points within the last 90 seconds have I felt like a did all of those years ago. Excited about a Raiders victory.  Of course, we won the SuperBowl XI that season, but it's just nice spend a Sunday afternoon with a smile on my face. That's why I stay faithful to the Raiders.

It's been an arduos process keeping up with the A's radio stations over the past several years but they just reached an agreement  and can be found at 860 on the am dial.

Here's the link:    http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=21&entry_id=34165#comments

The question is how much will this change our listening habits given a potentially stronger signal throughout most of the bay area. I think a special reward should go out to anyone on AN who can list the A's stations going back to...KNBR in the 70's (yes, THAT KNBR which we've grown to despise).

 I believe it was Finley that had a larger impact than Kuhn could have dreamed of. Okay, orange fluorescent baseballs didn't stick. What did was the DH and prime time playoffs and WS, which was Finley's idea. Kuhn...I'm really not so sure of his efforts and how productive they were. Indellible, yes but not productive.

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  I thought just for fun we can talk about our fantasy baseball teams given our enlightened perspective on managing our fantasy baseball rosters.

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   Alright AN our heads are spinning with all of the injuries that have taken place. So what's this roster going to look like in the next month, by July and beyond? Theorists, prognosticators and cynics are all welcome.

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  Thought I'd share my thoughts about the latest set of injuries as I have some experience dealing with them.

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   Every year it seems like we go through the same story. This is almost as frustrating as watching "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray. So every season, after the players file out of the locker rooms and pack their bags for home we lose track of them except for a few words when the Carribean Series starts up.

  Yet, our players from the Carribean (who know when Spring Training starts) invariably have trouble attaining their visas on time and show up at camp late. How can this be? It's not as if they don't have calenders down there. I know that because I've seen the calenders. At this point in their careers, they are essentially consecrated due to thier abilities and money is not an issue for them as much anymore.

   This year, we see our favorite alias (although mine had her show cancelled) Santiago Cassilla and Antonio Perez delayed in arriving to Papago Park. So what's the excuse this time? Yet another name change, shaky birth certificates, bad food (bad crop year for beans and rice)...what could it possibly be this time? Please share your insights.

   The A's have reportedly signed lefty Scott Sauerbeck who was recently released by the Cleveland Indians.

  He was recently involved in a DUI case in which the woman who was driving his was intoxicated. In their attempt to evade authorities, they were found hiding in the bushes.

   The question for us is whether or not he remains with the team short or longterm.

   Now that Nico stuck a needle in my side with his  entry "At What Point..." regarding the health of Bobby Crosby, then Monkeyball twisted it (ouch), I've been compelled to ask the question regarding the depth of infield.
   This roster has been carefully put together by Beane with the purpose of adding enough depth at all positions to handle any potential injuries to our starters. Most agree that this team has the deepest roster in terms of ability that we've seen in several years.
   With the latest information about Crosby's injury, are we collectively comfortable with Marco Scutaro, Antonio Perez and possibly Mark Ellis filling in at SS?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I completely missed this story yesterday until I woke up and saw it in the morning paper today. I think baseball took a great step in getting this rectified. It's just too bad that it took the threat of Congressional action for it to happen. Also, what about the folks still using human growth hormone? Can we see an addition to that, please? Then we might finally know whether or not Bonds is actually hitting those home runs clean or not. - Blez]

MLB finally woke up to the 21st century regarding substance abuse. The penalties are much more severe for abuse steroids and (finally) amphetamines.

Apparently 1st offense for steroid abuse is 50 games, the 2nd is 100 games and the 3rd is banishment for 2 years before applying for reinstatement.

The details of amphetamine abuse is I believe 40 games, 80 games and then up to the Commissioner for further penalty (please forgive me I forgot the exact details).

Testing will be performed during Spring training and then randomly 1-2 times per season. The key point is random testing during the season.