EXPECTATIONS FOR 18: Robert Gsellman

[Edgy MD]

If you hate me, somebody ought to remind you of 2016. If you love me, somebody might remind you of 2017. It was that different. I was a revelation the first year, and went into the next as a meaningful candidate for Rookie of the Year, if I could somehow get the opportunities.

Oh, I got the opportunities, all right. And if you were like most people, you spent a lot of Tuesday nights dreading them. Twenty-five starts, with an ERA north of five. Walks up. Homers up. Strikeouts way down.

But it's spring. I think I found my sinker. I better have. It's the difference between me being a big league pitcher and a guy who likes to drink beer in the sun with his shirt off, rocking out to Styx, turning pink and dripping hamburger grease on his belly. And that's just no way to be.

If you hate me, somebody ought to remind you of 2016. If you love me, somebody might remind you of 2017. And then, maybe you can let me know how 2018 is going to be.

[fimg=350:1ijfe3ru]https://static01.nyt.com/images/2016/09/04/sports/04METS2/04METS2-master768.jpg[/fimg:1ijfe3ru] [fimg=350:1ijfe3ru]https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wYTBa2BriNhmHdLvSltBO04_D8M=/0x0:3000x2000/1200x800/filters:focal(1249x579:1729x1059)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52243837/594431582.0.jpeg[/fimg:1ijfe3ru]
[fimg=398:1ijfe3ru]http://a2.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2017%2F0203%2Fr177712_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg[/fimg:1ijfe3ru] [fimg=302:1ijfe3ru]https://cdn.elitesportsny.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/USATSI_9504862.jpg[/fimg:1ijfe3ru]

You what makes me even better? A little bit of the old CORPORATE ROCK!!

[youtube:1ijfe3ru]0IO-zoGRqrA[/youtube:1ijfe3ru]

[A Boy Named Seo]

I think Gsellman was punching above his weight in 2016. It worked for a bit, but I think the K/9 numbers we've seen before and since are more the real deal.

I think he'll get about half the starts he got last year (~12 or so) and pitch more towards his career ERA (4.44) and K/9 (6.8) numbers. I predict the better Gsellman will show himself coming out of the pen.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

When John Harper spoke at the QBC event he discussed Gsellman's bad attitude as a matter of fact. I asked further about that and he said it related to his "I don't care" comment about Sandy's remarks. I sort of interpreted that as a bad way of expressing the tired baseball cliche "I can only control what I do" but Harper said there was no doubt it sat very poorly with Sandy. In the end Harper said Gsellman "was not a personable guy."

As to my Expectations for Eighteen, I think it indicates that Gselly will be a short leash and probably the last of the pretenders to get a shot unless he really forces things. His inconsistent big league track record indicates he'll need to do that from Vegas.

So I'm gonna say he gets 2 starts, 6 relief appearances and has a decent but not great season in Vegas.

[Edgy MD]

That's unfortunate if true. Even at his best, he punches out way too few batters to be a dick.

Not that that look particularly works on Harvey or Syndergaard either.

Five starts, 24 relief appearances, and a 3.63 ERA, about a run higher as a starter, and a run lower as a bullpenner.

[Guest 41Forever]

I think he fills the Montero role of bouncing back and forth. If he's getting a lot of starts, bad things are happening.

[smg58]

I don't really know with Gsellman. He might not get as many chances as he has the last two seasons, but he could move forward and take advantage when he gets one. Or he could regress and disappear. I'll say an even 4 ERA over 75 IP (mixed starter and reliever), but the error bars are very high.

[Batty31]

I actually think he’ll be a surprise this season since finding his sinker (so he claims) However his appearances will probably be limited so that could also affect his performance.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Good stint in AAA Vegas and traded in July in the big one I still haven't
predicted yet. Huge! Huge, I tell ya...

[nymr83]

i have no idea what to expect from this guy.

Edgy - could we create a thread that indexes (links to) all the "expectations" threads and pin it either here or in the predictions archives?

[Edgy MD]

Sure, but you have to give me more than "I have no idea," or there's nothing worth archiving.

Be bold! He got the save yesterday!

[Benjamin Grimm]

More starts than Steven Matz.

[MFS62]

Brought up in June.
Key member of the bullpen by September.
Later