Now we really are Gambling (2004-3)

[Fat Nige]

August 10th, 2004

As we move into August there was some signs that the GM’s changes were starting to have an effect as Atlantic City went 6-4 to start the month. In a rare outburst of pop off the bat the Gamblers hit 13 doubles, two triples and two Grand Slams but unfortunately wasted both triples and one of the Grand Slams. Both of the triples were hit with no-one out in the innings and on both occasions Gamblers failed to bring the runner home. While the first Grand Slam set the platform for new boy Jared Dorsey to win his first ever MBBA start, the second was wasted. Fredrick Simon hit it in the top of the ninth against New Orleans to tie the game at six but Nick Machiavelli promptly gave up a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom half of the innings.

The 24-year-old Dorsey had just arrived at Atlantic City having been claimed off waivers from New Orleans where he had just been promoted to Triple-A after two years in Double-A. He was thrown straight into his first ever MBBA start against the Kraken and Alfredo Méndez’s set him on the way to a debut win by 9-2. He went 5.2 innings walking three while striking out seven and probably would have gone deeper if it hadn’t have been for a fifth innings rain delay. He followed it up with 6.2 innings over Buffalo posting a 6-2 win. Herman Mitchell had also arrived off waivers from Long Beach, his second waivers move of the year. Pitching out of the ‘pen he managed 3.1 innings and only gave up one hit although he did walk three on his second outing. Albert Guerro might have only hit .241 in his eight games but he did draw an impressive nine walks while Melvin Lopez hit three doubles and a homer on the way to a .300 average.

Lead-off man Donald Gray managed a slash line of .405/.488/.514 while pitchers Dorsey and Pompy hit .400 (2-5) with Dorsey rounding off an impressive start to his Atlantic City career by scoring three times as well. While the pitchers generally pitched well so far in August joint closers Machavelli and Ratt Mectenwald had poor stints posting ERA’s of 7.20 & 20.25 respectively while walking seven.

It’s still a poor season come what may for the Gamblers but with 43 wins now it does give them a shot at beating their lowest ever win total of 58 posted way back in 1995. Despite sweeping the Atlantic league leaders Buffalo they failed to gain any ground on third-place Carolina and look likely to finish in the AL basement for only the third time in Gambler history.

[mrbornac]

That sweep was a little disheartening, however I hope we can get 4 good teams battling out for the FLA top spot next season!

[recte44]

The FLA is the new FLM now, I think. Four active GM's.

For those who don't know the reference, back in the "original" MBBA (1973-1994), the FLM was the same 4 GM's for like 20 years and all four were extremely active. The FLM ALWAYS led in PP's earned year to year, and the division was always a dogfight.

[Fat Nige]

I'll try my best Matt