It’s sometimes part and parcel with becoming a pitching ace. Throughout the ages, New York Met pitching aces have learned to survive and even thrive with little to no run support. Many a time a starting pitcher has to carefully navigate through a game knowing that the outcome might unravel based on the results of a single pitch. Against that backdrop, Robert Gsellman is getting on the job training as the ace of the staff for the Binghamton Mets.
On Saturday night, Gsellman was impressive again on the hill for the B-Mets throwing six innings and allowing just one run, his only mistake a home run pitch to Akron’s Bradley Zimmer in the fifth. Gsellman exited the contest with Binghamton and Akron locked in a 1-1 tie, a game Akron would eventually win, 2-1, in 11 innings.
In his six starts, Gsellman has surrendered a lone run on four occasions, and just three runs in each of his other two starts for Binghamton. All told, that gives the 6-foot-4 right-hander a sterling 1.77 ERA so far in 35.2 innings of work in 2016.
Gsellman has shown improved command this spring only walking 12 batters against 28 strikeouts with a 1.01 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting just .194 against the B-Met ace.
All those impressive pitching statistics have only translated into one win so far for Gsellman. His teammates have scored two or fewer runs while he was pitching in 5 of his 6 starts, only plating single runs when he was on the mound on four separate occasions.
As he hones his pitching craft in Binghamton, Robert Gsellman is learning to survive on the mound by living on the edge without the luxury of even modest run support. He is coming to understand you can’t allow the score to dictate your frame of mind and how you pitch. Ironically, that’s not uncommon for any New York Met pitching ace.
Gsellman will be on the mound tonight in Portland as the B-Mets take on the SeaDogs in a 6:00 PM contest. Here’s hoping for 3-4 runs of support for Robert. but regardless he’ll be on the mound dealing as usual. And isn’t that what a true ace is supposed to do?
