“Everyone doubted me from day one,” says Bob Gibson, about his performance last season, “and that just wears on you.”
When Simulated Baseball (now known as FODEUSS) was established, Gibson was expected to be dominant force. That didn’t pan out the first two seasons, and entering the third season, it seemed everyone knew it.
“I wasn’t given a chance to be me, you know? I wasn’t given the expectation to succeed. They expected failure, and anything better than that? It was just icing on their cake.”
With those negative expectations causing an additional burden on Gibson, and mental health literally not being a thing anyone cares about in the world of simulated baseball, Gibson seemed like he might be lost forever.
But, there came the perfect opportunity. An expansion team in need of an ace. And an ace in need of a completely fresh start.
And, it turns out, a perfect compliment to help him find the road back. In the form of another guy named Gibson – Josh Gibson. Who’d been through his share of negative expectations.
“We met the first day of training camp,” said Bob, “and it just sort of clicked. We joked right away about being the Gibson-Squared battery, and how we wanted to power the league, and it just clicked.”
It’s been clicking on the field, too.
Gibson – the pitcher – has produced two fantastic starts for Northern Shores Gales of November. With 12.2 Innings Pitched, he’s struck out 11, logged an 0.81 ERA, and an 0.87 WHIP. His ERA+ is off the charts at 583, and he’s getting more than half the hitters that do make contact to do so via a ground ball. It’s been a phenomenal early recovery for the ace.
Meanwhile, Gibson – the catcher – is hot at the plate to start the year, slashing .273/.304/.682, with an impressive 149 OPS+. His whiff rate is a little high – 12 strikeouts in 22 at-bats – but if he keeps hitting with power – three homers already – it’s something the team can live with. He’s also thrown out 100% of the potential base runners attempting to steal he’s faced so far this season, though that’s an admittedly small number (2).
There’s a feeling of belief in the dugout in Minnesota. And if Gibson-Squared can keep producing, they might just achieve those beliefs.
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