NEW YORK -- For the better part of a minute, Robert Gsellman trudged from the pitcher's mound to the dugout, twice glancing behind him to the open bullpen doors. Gsellman appeared agitated, distressed -- hardly the emotionless soul he purported to be just one night earlier, when Gsellman defied Mets general manager Sandy Alderson's concern over his poor results.
Asked Tuesday if he was aware Alderson said he needs to pitch better, Gsellman replied: "I don't really care." But before giving up three runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings Wednesday in the Mets' 5-3 Subway Series loss to the Yankees, Gsellman apologized to the GM for those words.
"I definitely do need to pitch better," Gsellman said. "I really care. It's my job, so I definitely care. I apologized to Sandy for saying that, and we talked it out. We're fine."

Gsellman was at Citi Field on Wednesday only because the Mets scratched Seth Lugo due to a right shoulder impingement. Until then, the Mets had no imminent plans to activate Gsellman from his Minor League rehab assignment, wary of the six runs he allowed in one particular 2 2/3-inning outing for Double-A Binghamton while recovering from a strained left hamstring.
When asked about Gsellman's situation last week, Alderson said that the rookie, who held a 6.16 ERA in 17 big league appearances, "needs to pitch better." That led to Gsellman's demonstration of apathy, and, before Wednesday's game, Alderson's rebuttal. The GM grew agitated when told of Gsellman's comments, repeating his contention that the rookie must improve.
"I hope that he reflects on the implications of that statement, and the potential consequences of that statement, and has a better response the next time out," Alderson said.
On the mound later that night, Gsellman offered the same type of performance he has for much of this season: he walked three batters in 5 1/3 innings and gave up four hits, including the second home run ever to reach Citi Field's third deck. But it wasn't just Aaron Judge who dinged Gsellman. A walk and a wild pitch in the second inning hurt him, as did two more free passes in the sixth.

Gsellman did add a walk and a single at the plate, testing his hamstring on the basepaths. He'll start again in five games.
"I think he ran out of gas," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He talked more about running the bases ... than anything. I thought he was fine. His changeup was outstanding. The ball had good sink. You just can't give runs away, and we gave [them one] in the second. That's too good of a lineup."