Boardwalk Empire - 2049.1 - 2048 Season in Review

[Joshua Biddle]

Gamblers Finish 2048 Season 93-69, Clinch Playoff Berth

The Atlantic City Gamblers finished the 2048 season with a 93-69 record, finishing in third place of eight teams in the Johnson League Atlantic Division; five games back of the division winning Jacksonville Hurricanes; and clinching a playoff berth via the third of four available wildcard spots. The third place finish for the Gamblers is their best standing in the Johnson League Atlantic Division since the 2040 BBA realignment; is only their second playoff appearance in the past twelve years; and is only the fourth playoff appearance in eighteen seasons since BBBS Enterprises purchased the organization.

The Gamblers had solid offensive production, though it was more about the team's power prowess versus overall run scoring ability. Of the sixteen Johnson League teams, the Gamblers ranked 8th in batting average (.270), 7th in on-base percentage (.329), 2nd in slugging percentage (.453), 5th in on-base plus slugging / OPS (.781), 8th in hits (1,514), 9th in runs scored (725), 2nd in extra base hits (563), 2nd in home runs (211), 9th in walks (464), 11th in strikeouts (1,301), 9th in stolen bases (170), and 8th in base running (+4.8). The Gamblers were by a power potent outfield, which included 32+ home runs hit by Cinema Jones (.308/.383/.578, 35 HR, 73 RBI), superstar Juan Rivera (.311/.385/.583, 35 HR, 111 RBI)), and right fielder José Romero (.274/.333/.504, 32 HR, 107 RBI). Jones and Romero saw massive bumps to their production compared to last season -- with Romero entering the final season under team control, the question is whether Atlantic City will look to lock up the former first round pick. 28-year old third baseman Ernesto González had a career year, slashing .331/.347/.491 with 15 home runs, 67 RBIs, and a 5.5 WAR, also having a solid season defensively at the hot corner.

The Gamblers pitching is what fueled their successful season, primarily the young starting pitching. The Gamblers finished 4th in the JL in ERA (3.58); 2nd in starters' ERA (3.56); 7th in bullpen ERA (3.63); 3rd in runs allowed (612); 2nd in hits allowed (1,379); 2nd in opponents' average (.253); 7th in home runs allowed (173); and 7th in walks (448); and 6th in strikeouts (1,256). The Gamblers were led by starting left-handed pitcher Carlos 'Tag' Flores (17-2, 1.78 ERA, 0.94 WHIP), who after several solid seasons, finally emerged as a legitimate ace and is the favorite to win the JL Steve Nebraska Golden Arm Award. Third-year starting right-hander Woody Tyler (13-10, 3.45 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) delivered another solid performance, and rookie starting right-handers Curt Fields (12-8, 4.14 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) and Kevin Shepard (13-11, 4.37 ERA, 1.42 WHIP) exceeded expectations. Closer Pat "Muscles" Waites (5-4, 2.81 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) converted 38 saves in 40 opportunities (.950 save percentage), a reliable cog in the back end of the Gamblers' bullpen.

The team performed very well defensively, ranking 2nd in the JL in defensive efficiency (.694) and 2nd in zone rating (+25.3).

In the playoffs, the Gamblers were able to defeat the Charlotte Cougars (95-67) in five games in the Geoghegan Round; but had their season come to the end in a seven-game Doubleday Series loss to the eventual champion Las Vegas Hustlers (107-55).