If you play in the SABL, chances are great that you’ve faced Dave Gemmell many times. With 425.2 innings pitched in the modern website era - in addition to countless more, pre-2010 - Gemmell trails only Brandon Marini of the Jays and Mike Dymond of the Reds for the most time spent on the mound in league history. Like few others, Gemmell is a SABL mainstay.

However, it’s not his historical success in the SABL that has Gemmell making headlines; it’s his incredible start to the 2015 season, particularly on the mound. Despite coming into this season with an excellent 40-19 record, Gemmell is in the midst of what is undoubtedly his career season as a pitcher. Since picking up a win with 5 solid innings against the Royals on opening day, Dave Gemmell has been on fire.

With a win against every team in the league, Gemmell shot out to a 9-0 record before taking his first loss of the season this past weekend. To go along with a sparkling ERA of 2.12, Gemmell leads the league with 9 wins, 66 innings pitched, and 7 complete games (tied with John Schade of the Pirates). More importantly, Gemmell has been instrumental in maintaining the Astros’ high level of success despite a heavy turnover of their roster - particularly the pitching staff - during the offseason.

The SABL Gazette caught up with Gemmell’s longtime catcher, Anthony Schiralli, and asked the veteran backstop about the keys to his batterymate’s transcendent 2015 season.

Anthony Schiralli: Dave starts his baseball workout regime very early in the year.  This year, it began at the end of January in the batting cages. Every week he'd throw a couple hundred batting practice pitches to our players to build up his arm strength.  With a large pitching staff behind him, we've only had to ask Dave to throw one game a week this year, allowing him to stay strong and keep from being injured. Dave's fastball is harder this year and he's used it to keep batters off balance. It’s made his other pitches even better. Even though he is trying to set a career high in wins in the regular season, his numbers are not that much different from previous seasons. In five of the last six seasons, he's had at least 8 wins.

AS: Dave’s best attribute is his control. He's able to attack weaknesses of batters and often works ahead in the count. He has a keen knowledge of his opponents and often discusses strategies to use against individual batters before a game.

AS: The loss of Brandon was huge. The innings - along with the quality of those innings - were going to be very hard to replace. Finding additional pitching was the team's number one priority in the offseason. Dave going undefeated so far has helped replace some of the wins we got from Brandon last year.

AS: Dave is the Greg Maddux of the SABL. He may not have the best velocity but he has the control, pitch movement, and competitive attitude of one of the best pitchers in modern-day baseball. 

AS: Dave and I have worked together for 14 years, and I've caught him almost exclusively for the past eight. We are always on the same page when it comes to pitching. I know his strengths and weaknesses, and call the game that gives the team the best chance to win. The truth is, I'm just the receiver and Dave is the one making us successful.

AS: Dave has been one of the most important Astros - if not the most important Astro - since he joined the team. His dedication is irreplaceable. He's at every practice, early to every game, and currently has to drive the furthest out of anyone in the league to get to the ballpark. He always wants the ball, is ultra competitive, and plays whether he's hurt or not. A double header that is indicative of Dave's career happened last season. He won the first game, got injured, went to the hospital to get stitches in his face, then came back to record the save in game two. Dave is the heart of the Astros.