Boardwalk Empire - 2049.15 - July

[Joshua Biddle]

Atlantic City Gamblers - July

The Atlantic City Gamblers finished the month of July with a 13-12 (.520) record, bringing the Gamblers' record to 58-50 (.537), 4th place of 8 teams in the Johnson League Atlantic Division, 9 games back of the division leading Jacksonville Hurricanes.

Offensively, the Gamblers had a very poor month of July and ranked as follows in the Johnson League (out of 16 teams): 12th in runs scored per game (4.12), tied for 11th in RBIs per game (4.00), 15th in home runs per game (0.76), 11th in walks per game (2.56), 7th in strikeouts per game (7.92), 9th in stolen bases per game (1.00), 9th in batting average (.253), tied for 11th in on-base percentage (.306), 15th in slugging percentage (.380), and 14th in OPS (.701). Third baseman Ernesto González by far had the best month of July of the Gamblers' hitters, finishing the month of July hitting .408/.448/.633 with 12 runs scored, 16 doubles, 2 home runs, 17 RBIs, 6 stolen bases in 10 attempts (.600 success rate), and a 1.9 WAR in 107 plate appearances. Reserve infielder Asher Chuang (.346/.414/.462, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 RBI, 0.8 WAR in 30 PA) delivered an excellent month offensively and defensively in limited action; and second baseman Don Pérez had an excellent month, finishing the month hitting .345/.385/.464 with 14 runs scored, 10 doubles, 8 RBIs, 3 stolen bases in 5 attempts (.600 success rate), and a 0.5 WAR in 91 plate appearances. Team stars like first baseman Carlomaria Donadoni (.250/.296/.359, 2 HR, 9 RBI, -1.1 WAR in 98 PA) and right fielder José Romero (.216/.278/.375, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 97 PA) struggled, along with other starters / platoon players who were expected to provide consistent offense, including designated hitter José Calderón (.129/.217/.306, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 69 PA), center fielder Jorge Rincón (.165/.202/.247, 8 RBI, 91 PA), designated hitter Fletcher Wheeler (.222/.255/.333, 5 RBI, 47 PA), and left fielder Pedro Trejo (.128/.171/.128, 0 RBI, 41 PA).

Conversely, the Gamblers had an excellent July from a pitching standpoint, ranking as follows in the Johnson League (out of 16 teams): 2nd in ERA (3.23), 3rd in home runs allowed (23), tied for 10th in walks allowed (76), 2nd in strikeouts (228), 2nd in opponents' batting average (.241), 3rd in opponents' on-base percentage (.307), 3rd in opponents' slugging percentage (.373), and 2nd opponents' OPS (.680). Left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Flores yet again was the standout starter for the Gamblers, finishing the month of July 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, a 2.35 FIP, a .195 opponents' average, a .581 opponents' OPS, 30 strikeouts, and a 0.8 WAR in 23 innings pitched (4 starts). Starting right-handed pitchers Curt Fields (1-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 5 starts), Kevin Shepard (4-1, 2.52 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 5 starts), and Woody Tyler (2-1, 2.25 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 5 starts) all delivered solid performances over the course of the month of July, helping stabilize the team while the offense floundered. Thirty-four year old right-handed reliever Tony Cabrera (1-0, 2.02 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 13 1/3 IP / 12 appearances) - who finally got his chance with the Gamblers after four years with Class-AAA Brooklyn - was the team's best reliever for the month, while right-handed reliever Chris Hilliard (2-1, 2.53 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 10 2/3 IP / 10 appearances) also had a great month. Right-handed relievers Jason Ramey (1-2, 6.07 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 13 1/3 IP / 8 appearances / 1 start) and Roger Koch (0-1, 6.35 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 11 1/3 IP / 12 appearances) had a disappointing July for the Gamblers.