Boardwalk Empire - 2047.7 - Manager, Hitting Coach, Pitching Coach Hired

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Hire Stone as Manager, Lihalakha as Pitching Coach, Gonzales as Hitting Coach

The Atlantic City Gamblers have officially hired Mike Stone as manager, Yami Lihalakha as pitching coach, and Jose Gonzales as hitting coach.

Stone, 61, joins the Gamblers as manager on a multi-year contract, a gig that will be his first at the BBA level. Stone began his career with the Rockville Pikeman organization, spending eight seasons from 2035 through 2042 as manager of Class-Short Season A Port of Spain Royales, finishing with a 314-270 (.538) record and one playoff appearance. Stone was then promoted to manager of Class-AAA Dodge City Gunslingers, where he managed for four seasons from 2043 through 2046 to a 223-353 (.387) record with no playoff appearances. The Gamblers reportedly were interested in a baseball lifer with a chip on his shoulder, and an individual who could prepare Ernest Zamora, the apparent manager-in-waiting.

Lihalakha, 47, was a surprising outside hire. Lihalakha has spent twelve seasons as a pitching coach in the minor leagues and has no experience at the BBA level. Lihalakha began his career with the Brooklyn Robins organization, spending the 2035 season with Class-Short Season A George Town Palms. Lihalakha then departed for the Rockville Pikeman organization, where he spent eleven seasons. He spent seven seasons from 2036 to 2042 with Class-Short Season A Port of Spain Royales and four seasons from 2043 to 2046 with Class-AAA Dodge City Gunslingers. The hire was made on the recommendation of Mike Stone, who worked with Lihalakha for seven seasons at the Class-Short Season A level and four seasons at the Class-AAA level.

Gonzales, 39, was a raw hire with no prior coaching experience.