Boardwalk Empire - 2048.5 - Rookie Class Retirees

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Announce Rookie Class Retirements

The Atlantic City Gamblers have officially announced the retirement of two players who most recently played for Rookie Class Albany Atoms -- right-handed relief pitchers Tashiro Nakamura and Byung-doo O.

Nakamura, 21, joined the Gamblers on 6/6/2043 on a minor league contract out of Japan, spending two seasons with Rookie Class Albany. During the 2046 season, Nakamura worked out the bullpen and finished the season 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA, a 2.10 WHIP, a 5.16 FIP, a .286 opponents' average, a .816 opponents' OPS, 6 strikeouts, and a -0.0 WAR in 6 2/3 innings pitched (3 appearances). Nakamura worked out of the bullpen again for the 2047 season, finishing his campaign 0-0 with a 16.20 ERA, a 2.70 WHIP, a 5.42 FIP, a .333 opponents' average, a .967 opponents' OPS, 3 strikeouts, and a -0.1 WAR in 3 1/3 innings pitched (2 appearances). Nakamura's lack of a third pitch and horrific control (10.8 walks per nine both seasons) doomed his staying power with the Gamblers organization and resulted in his release on 6/16/2047.

O, 21, joined the Gamblers on 8/22/2044 on a minor league contract out of South Korea, spending two seasons with Rookie Class Albany. O worked out of the bullpen and made one scoreless appearance in 2046, surrendering a walk and a single. O's 2047 season with Rookie Class Albany out of the bullpen was a struggle, finishing the campaign 1-0 with a 10.07 ERA, a 2.15 WHIP, a 6.79 FIP, a .282 opponents' average, a .924 opponents' OPS, 18 strikeouts, and a -0.7 WAR in 22 1/3 innings pitched (10 appearances), prior to his release on 9/22/2047. The team hoped O would develop a third pitch, or at least develop his fastball and sinker to the level of a successful reliever, but his lack of control (9.7 walks per nine) during his 2047 campaign was a fatal flaw in sticking with the organization. The organization hoped O would succeed as his jersey was a merchandising success for the Atoms despite O's underwhelming performance -- O's jersey was by far the most prominent and he was a fan favorite, spending considerable time signing autographs before games.