RA Dickey is Better Than You Think

Buster Olney of ESPN tweeted out this afternoon that RA Dickey is officially the front-runner for the NL Cy Young Award after notching his 20th win of the season today. Dickey is currently .01 points behind Clayton Kershaw in ERA. He leads the league in strikeouts after recording 13 K's in his victory this afternoon. And he's currently tied for the lead in wins with the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez.

But even with all those achievements, Dickey is better than even what those numbers can say.

Dickey has recorded these league-leading totals with one of the worst bullpens in baseball finishing out many of his games. Off the top of my head I can think of at least 4 separate occasions where Dickey left with the lead and then had it blown by the infamous Mets' BLOWpen.

On top of that the anemic Mets offense has forced Dickey to lose several games where he has given up 2 runs or less because the Mets couldn't muster any support for their ace.

Add all that up and not only do you have a Cy Young candidate, but a pitcher that has achieved greatness with little to zero help. How many wins would Dickey have if he was on the Nationals or the Braves or even the Yankees? A case could be made that he might be pushing 24 or 25 wins.

Dickey has accounted for nearly 30% of the Mets wins this year, more than any other starting pitcher in baseball. He's the hands down Cy Young favorite, but beyond that his season is one all baseball fans should take notice of.

Fear the Knuckler.

RA Dickey is an Inspiration

This past week I've found myself back in a familiar place: being down on the Mets. It's an annual rite of passage Mets fans take when things predictably fall apart. There's nothing wrong with being down on this team. I still love them. I still cheer for them. But man they are frustrating to watch.

A friend forwarded me this video of Eric Fleming who works for the Corcoran Group in New York City, and it made me realize what an amazing thing we have this year in R.A. Dickey. Not just the magical Cy Young worthy run that he's making, but the fact that he is an incredible story and should be an inspiration to us all.

In an era of performance enhancing drugs, liars, cheaters and guys who just won't go away (ahem, Clemens), Dickey is a rarity. A humble, unselfish guy who is a wunderkind on the mound and from reading his book an even remarkable person.

Watch Eric's video and try to appreciate what we as Mets fans have been able to enjoy in RA Dickey in spite of blowpens, bad contracts and losing streaks. Don't lose sight of the good in the shadow of the bad.

Appreciating RA Dickey

I remember when the Mets called up R.A. Dickey a few years ago. I mocked that the best option the Mets had to fill a starting rotation hole was an aging pitcher who was banished to the minor leagues and forced to try a knuckle ball to save his career.

Since that point RA Dickey has done nothing but make me appreciate him. From his demeanor to his fastball to his Bugs Bunny knuckler to his consistency, R.A. Dickey is heaven sent.

Honestly he is. Without Dickey the Mets probably would have forced a young arm into the mix too early. They would certainly have fewer wins. And Santana would left alone on an island as being the one reliable option the Mets have as a starter.

Dickey is proving that it's never too late to change for the better. His life's story is a fantastic read if you haven't picked up his new book and if there ever was a player made for the NY media, it's Dickey.

The Mets should lock him up for a few more years and ride this amazing Dickey Train for as long as they can. No longer am I asking, "Is Santana pitching?" when headed to Citi Field. I'm hoping Dickey is on the mound so I can see the wonder that he has become.

What the Series with the Phillies Has Taught Mets Fans

Taking 2 out of the 3 from the Phillies in Philadelphia during any of the last 5 seasons would be an accomplishment. The fact that the Mets did it this year with this roster and the expectations that come with it make it even more incredible.

A sweep was within reach, but there was a sense throughout Sunday's game that this was not a win the Mets were meant to have. But even so there are some things that were revealed during this weekend series that I think we as Mets fans have to pay attention to:

1. You evidently don't need a pinky to play baseball - David Wright never could throw very well to first base so ignore that aspect. Rattling off 5 hits in two games including a home run...I'll take it, pinky or not.
2. RA Dickey is the Mets best pitcher - It's almost heresy to say this with Santana in the rotation, but 13 consecutive quality starts makes the case for me. You're always in the game when RA is on the mound.
3. Pelfrey is still Pelfrey - Yes, he got out of a bunch of jams. Yes, he only gave up one earned run. Yes, he got the Phils to ground out a lot. But if you can tell me that you comfortable watch and enjoy Pelfrey on the mound...you're crazy. He's a slightly less insane version of Oliver Perez, but he can't hit.
4. The bullpen is the key to the Mets season - Barring any more freak injuries, if the Mets can stay healthy their season may very well rest on the arms in the bullpen. Friday and Saturday showed how they have some quality arms who can hold a lead. Sunday on the other hand showed how if one thing goes wrong it can unravel faster than a Kardashian marriage. 
5. Jason Bay is needed more for defense than offense - I don't care that he hit a monstrous home run this weekend. Bay is still a nightmare at the plate. However, his glove in the outfield is the best asset he has. You saw this with Scott Hairston as our secondary option roaming around in left field. There were at least two plays that Hairston botched which led to runs that Bay would have potentially made. Is that really enough to keep Bay in the lineup? That's debatable.

So it's on to Atlanta. Brutal scheduling. If the Mets take 2 out of 3 in Atlanta, I think it would be more shocking than what happened this weekend in Philly.

Is Dickey Becoming Oliver Perez?

The Mets are becoming the team of the one year wonder starting pitcher. One great year does not a solid starter make. At least it doesn't in Flushing.

RA Dickey is reminding me more and more of what Oliver Perez was for this team. Think about it. Both pitchers had a great season which made you believe the following years would also bring success. Both have problems with control in the early innings. Both have lost movement on their main pitch. Both are notable head cases.

No one has been more disappointing in this short season than RA Dickey. I would say he needs to be sent down to the minors, but honestly who is going to pitch while he's out? Chin Lun Hu?

But if Dickey can't regain his mojo, he's not doing us any favors by staying in the rotation as he look completely useless out there.

The RA Dickey Experiment

Last year was a magical ride for RA Dickey. He was a Cinderella story that shocked Mets nation.

I had hoped he was more than a one hit wonder, but it appears he just might be that. Dickey has shown a lack of control over his knuckleball this season and it doesnt have the same movement as it did last year. I had hoped it was just the first month of warming up, but in his first start of May, it appears to be more of the same.

Last year a 3 run lead with Dickey was an automatic W, but Tuesday Dickey blew a 3 run lead early en route to giving up 5 runs.

I like Dickey. I am not saying the Mets should get rid of him and he is a nice arm to have in the rotation who can eat up innings. But we mistakenly pegged him as an unofficial ace because of last season where honestly he should be a #4 or #5 starter.

The problem for the Mets is they have no #1 starter and so we look down the depth chart in hopes of finding an answer. Instead we just find disappointment.

Almost Perfect Dickey

Cole Hamels was the lone blemish against Comeback Player of the Year candidate, RA Dickey, last night. It just figures that a pitcher would get a hit to blow the Mets chance at their first no hitter in team history. 

Dickey commented after the game that he could have blamed Jeff Francoeur for not throwing Hamels out at first, but decided to push through and finish the game. Not only has Dickey proven to be a tremendous asset on the mound, but his comments after the game are made for the New York media.

Dickey followed Santana's lead and came out with the goal of finishing the game and leaving no room for any bullpen drama. I don't think I can imagine how horrible this season would be without Dickey. It's bad enough the way the Mets have played over the last month, but with another question mark in the rotation we would have derailed back in May. Dickey should have 10+ wins by now and is pitching well enough to be considered the #2 starter in the rotation.

For the first time since June, the Mets finally won back to back games. Of course we have Pat Misch on the mound today against Roy Halladay so enjoy the feeling while it lasts.

Pelfrey's Epic Fail

Mike Pelfrey is unraveling before our very eyes. During Wednesday night's matchup with the Braves, Pelfrey came undone and every Mets Lifer knew it was over. You could just tell that once Pelfrey got into trouble and some ridiculous errors forced him into a tough spot that Pelfrey would not man-up and grind out a gritty inning like Dickey, but rather come unglued and bring his team along with him.

There's plenty of blame to go around. Mets didn't get hits with runners in scoring position. Ridiculous errors extended innings when they should have been over. But I'm sorry. Pelfrey is the goat of this one. In what was potentially his biggest start of the season and coming off a gutsy comeback win yesterday, Pelfrey crumbled under the pressure.

He's become almost as unreliable as Oliver Perez. What? Pelfrey has 10 wins you say? Yes, he does but since he got win #10, Pelfrey has reverted back to the timid, unstable and inconsistent pitcher that he was last year. How on earth does Jon Niese, a rookie pitcher, have more poise and control than Pelfrey?

The Mets lost two out of three from the Braves. Their play throughout the three games was lacking the intensity and focus that you would have hoped from a team with their season on the line. But the saddest thing was the paltry performances you received from your supposed top two pitchers in Santana and Pelfrey allowing the Braves to score runs early and dig holes your team would struggle to get out of.

Meanwhile, perennial journeyman R.A. Dickey, without his best stuff, manages to fight through 7 innings and put the Mets in position to try and win.

The Mets Have a Problem and His Name is Pray Rod

A 3 run lead in the 8th inning against the perennial bottom dwelling Nationals should be enough to seal a win for the Mets, but that was not the case on Saturday afternoon.

RA Dickey outpitched universal phenom Stephen Strasburg,but has absolutely nothing to show for it. Parnell gave up what appeared to be a harmless run to make it a 5-3 game only to have Pray Rod enter victoriously in the 9th to blow it.

Pray Rod was in mid season form out there walking the first batter he faced on 4 pitches and proceed through the inning without any semblance of control. The crazy thing is a 2 run lead with your closer should make you feel pretty good about your chances of winning. Not so much with Pray Rod. He has an uncanny ability to make the most comfortable of margins appear slim. He appears to be bouncing his fastball at least once an appearance and hangs his offspeed pitches high in the zone.

In summary, he's becoming worthless. Tell me what Pray Rod offers that Parnell, Feliciano, Dessens or Igarashi don't? What makes Pray Rod so worthy to be the Mets closer? Nothing.

But his contract, his career and his attitude make him the de facto option and thus he continues the Mets long history of closers who have a knack of crumbling when you need them most.

Jerry Manuel keeps whining about the Mets need for an 8th inning guy. Jerry, maybe the problem isn't the 8th inning. The Mets now have 10 walkoff losses on the season. Do the math Jerry.

But for now Mets fans, get on your knees and pray when #75 enters the game. It's our only hope for a favorable outcome.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Ah, it had to eventually end. The RA Dickey run of untouchable came to a screeching halt last night. Dickey gave up 5 runs in 5 innings, and it appeared the Marlins just weren't bothered by his knuckleball. He didn't seem to have the same speed on it as he did his last start, but I'm not bothered by this poor outing because Dickey has been so great since he came up from the minors.

The oddest event of the night was Jason Bay hitting two home runs. TWO! Must be that Puerto Rican air. It's a shame that Bay's two home runs came on a night when the Mets got pummeled but hopefully it's a sign he's finding his stroke again.

The last thing that stood out for me last night was the urgency for the Mets to get another top notch starter. Not because Dickey got tagged, but an extra starter allows Takahashi to move back to the bullpen where he is much needed. In addition a starter, like Cliff Lee, doesn't leave many days for the opposition to look forward to facing Mets pitching. Even with Santana's struggles, he's still an experienced picture who historically commands respect. Then you have a surging Pelfrey, a knuckleballer in Dickey and Niese as your back of the rotation guy.

Adding Cliff Lee to that mix would arguably be one of the best rotations in baseball. Of course you have to give up something to get something and who knows what that kind of move will require.

Chewbacca Fever

R.A. Dickey, who I still think looks like the human Chewbacca, is playing some unbelievable baseball right now. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop when Dickey takes the mound thinking, "well this has got to be the outing where he gets hammered." But it has yet to happen.

Dickey can't keep up this unbelievable performance all year...can he? His knuckleball has been just wicked at times and he mixes in his fastball nicely to keep hitters guessing. The amazing thing to me is how he improves his knuckleball over the course of the game.

In the first inning last night, it looked like Dickey didn't have command of his knuckleball, but as the game progressed it appeared that he made the adjustments he needed to get hitters out. He throws it high in the zone. He throws it in the dirt. And the results are all the same.

I was a Dickey Doubter when the Mets called him up, but he has transformed me into a Dickey Disciple. Of course the run support he gets certainly helps, but you can't question a guy who's undefeated with a 2.33 ERA.

RA Dickey is Chewbacca

Tell me you don't see the comparison? On TV the comparison is much more noticeable especially with the flowing hair coming out of the bottom of Dickey's hat.

In any case, the Mets Wookie wowed the Phillies lineup with his knuckleball and was able to contain their powerful bats pitching 6 shutout innings.

Dickey was a guy I had zero faith in, but after a performance like that it's hard not to see Dickey as a serviceable 5th starter let alone a last minute replacement. Of course the Mets bats coming alive and hitting with runners in scoring position tends to give confidence to any pitcher but it will be interesting to see if Dickey can make a repeat performance during his next start.

Long live the Wookie.