Boardwalk Empire - 2047.12 - Season in Review

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Finish 2047 Season 71-91

The Atlantic City Gamblers struggled during the 2047 season, finishing a disappointing 71-91 with a roster that featured significant turnover compared to past iterations. The Gamblers had in recent years been a good offensive team with poor pitching, but the struggles this season were both offensively and on the mound. The Gamblers finished 40-41 (.493) at home; 31-50 (.382) on the road; and didn't show many signs of life other than a 17-11 (.607) month of August.

Out of sixteen Johnson League teams, the Gamblers ranked 13th in batting average (.248), 14th in on-base percentage (.304), 14th in slugging percentage (.406), 14th in OPS (.710), 13th in WAR (14.5), 13th in runs scored (636), 14th in hits (1,351), 13th in extra-base hits (502), 12th in home runs (159), 13th in walks (410), 14th in strikeouts (1,445), 5th in stolen bases (230), and 4th in baserunning (+11.8). Despite the overall team struggles, Juan Rivera was his usual, dependable self, slashing .304/.368/.615 with 37 home runs and 91 RBIs, also recording 37 stolen bases. First baseman Cinema Jones, who shifted from center field to first base, provided a huge bump in defensive metrics at the position, but saw a 58-point hit in his OPS from 2046 to 2047. Nonetheless, he still ranked 3rd on the team in OPS (.780), second in slugging percentage (.446), and 3rd in WAR (3.1). The team had poor offensive production at shortstop between Ewan Allman (.217/.266/.272) and Rule 5 selection Asher Chuang (.153/.237/.256); and center field with Marat Harutyunian (.190/.240/.294).

The Gamblers ranked 14th in ERA (4.47), 14th in starters' ERA (4.83), 12th in bullpen ERA (3.87), 14th in runs allowed (758), 14th in WAR (13.3), 3rd in hits allowed (1,412), 4th in opponents' average (.257), 2nd in BABIP (.290), 14th in home runs allowed (217), 12th in walks (468), and 9th in strikeouts (1,200). And the poor pitching performance cannot be blamed on the team's defense; a prior weakness for the Gamblers improved to the tune of a 2nd place ranking in both defensive efficiency (.699) and zone rating (+40.0). Left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Flores put up similar numbers to last season (4.06 ERA / 3.20 FIP) and recorded 12 more strikeouts in 10 less innings pitched. 24-year old right-handed starting pitcher Woody Tyler took another step towards claiming a long-term rotation spot with a 4.17 ERA and 1.22 WHIP. Out of the bullpen, second-year closer Pat "Muscles" Waites (2.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) improved from his outstanding rookie campaign, and Henry "Oh Rye" Fudge (2.37 ERA) and Elijah "Half Pack" Campos (3.36 ERA) delivered solid relief.