Boardwalk Empire - 2049.13 - June

[Joshua Biddle]

Atlantic City Gamblers - June

The Atlantic City Gamblers finished the month of June with a 17-10 record (.629), bringing the Gamblers record to 46-37 (.554), 3rd place of 8 teams in the Johnson League Atlantic Division, 7.5 games back of the division leading Jacksonville Hurricanes.

Offensively, the Gamblers had an excellent month of June and ranked as follows in the Johnson League (out of 16 teams): 2nd in runs scored per game (5.67), 3rd in home runs per game (1.41), 6th in walks per game (3.15), 12th in strikeouts per game (8.48), 1st in batting average (.302), 1st in on-base percentage (.361), 2nd in slugging percentage (.493), and 2nd in OPS (.854). Center fielder Juan Rivera had an amazing month, hitting .384/.445/.667 with 24 runs scored, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 16 RBIs, 9 stolen bases in 11 attempts (.818 success rate), and a 1.3 WAR in 111 plate appearances. After a terrible month of April (.169/.264/.286, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 87 PA) and an underwhelming May (.253/.286/.392, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 84 PA), catcher Octávio Moreno recovered from his early season struggles to finish the month of June hitting .337/.391/.614 with 13 runs scored, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, 19 RBIs, and a 1.8 WAR in 93 plate appearances. Third baseman Ernesto González recovered from a disappointing May (.234/.246/.405, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 114 PA), finishing the month of June hitting .391/.414/.591 with 15 runs scored, 8 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 16 RBIs, 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts (.833 success rate), and a 1.9 WAR in 116 plate appearances. Right fielder José Romero (.295/.356/.589, 8 HR, 17 RBI, 104 PA) rewarded the Gamblers for the recent contract extension; designated hitter José Calderón (.267/.409/.507, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 93 PA) provided power in a platoon role and slashed an impressive .288/.434/.515 vs right-handed pitching; left fielder Cinema Jones (.308/.357/.516, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 99 PA) continued to maintain the .300+ hitting that fans are accustomed to; first baseman Carlomaria Donadoni (.276/.325/.533, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 114 PA) was ranked 2nd for the Gamblers in home runs for the month; and second baseman Don Pérez (.307/.349/.406, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 109 PA) quietly impressed. Shortstop Ewan Allman (.247/.302/.292, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 97 PA) struggled offensively, but continued to provide excellent defense at shortstop.

In terms of pitching, the Gamblers had a good month, ranking as follows in the Johnson League: 4th in ERA (3.51), 9th in home runs surrendered (30), tied for 6th in walks surrendered (76), 10th in strikeouts (194), 9th in batting average against (.260), 8th in on-base percentage (.319), tied for 9th in on-base percentage against (.428), and 10th in OPS against (.747). Right-handed starting pitcher Woody Tyler had an excellent June, finishing the month of June 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP, a 3.91 FIP, a .223 opponents' average, a .622 opponents' OPS, 23 strikeouts, and a 0.5 WAR in 34 2/3 innings pitched (5 starts). Left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Flores continued his impressive season, finishing the month of June 3-0 with a 2.23 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, a 2.06 FIP, a .200 opponents' average, a .571 opponents' OPS, 52 strikeouts, and a 1.5 WAR in 36 1/3 innings pitched (6 starts). Out of the bullpen, right-handed relievers Akio Ishikawa and Chris Hilliard had an incredible month of June. Ishikawa finished the month 1-0 with 1 save in 1 attempt (1.000 success rate), a 0.64 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, a 3.06 FIP, a .170 opponents' average, a .479 opponents' OPS, 8 strikeouts, and a 0.2 WAR in 14 innings pitched (10 appearances); and Hilliard finished the month 0-0 with a 0.69 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, a 2.52 FIP, a .222 opponents' average, a .591 opponents' OPS, 10 strikeouts, and a 0.3 WAR in 13 innings pitched (10 appearances). Right-handed reliever Roger Koch (1-1, 1 save, 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 4.20 FIP, 9 1/3 IP) also delivered a quality month of work out of the Gamblers' bullpen. Right-handed reliever Jason Ramey (2-1, 6.60 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 4.60 FIP, 15 IP) and right-handed closer Cheuk-yan Liu (0-1, 4 saves, 8.10 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 3.58 FIP, 6 2/3 IP) both struggled during the month of June.