To say that New York Mets' starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (initials R.A.D.) is back may be the wrong way to put it. It would be more accurate to say that R.A. Dickey has finally arrived. The 35-year old veteran has been in the majors since 2001 (spent 2002 and 2007 in the minors), but has only thrown over 100 IP three times. In each of those three seasons (2003, 2004, and 2008) he also posted an ERA over 5.00 (5.09, 5.61, and 5.21 respectively) and had a combined win-loss record of 20-23.
So why, you ask, do I even bother posting an article about him?
Well, in 2010, Dickey has been on a run that could earn him Comeback Player of the Year honors. He didn't make his first major league start until May 19th, but in his 7 starts since then he is 6-0 with a 2.33 ERA. Furthermore, he has pitched a "quality start" in 6 of 7 outings and has saved the Mets' bullpen by throwing an average of 7+ IP per game. He reached the peak of his young season in his last start against Detroit by throwing 8 innings of shutout ball and giving up only 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4.
What is R.A.'s recipe for success?
The knuckleball! About 67% of the pitches he has thrown so far this season have been knucklers. His next most popular pitch, at 28% of his total pitches, is his fastball. The other 5% of his pitches are a combination of curveballs, sliders, and change-ups. However, his knuckleball is not your common knuckler, he throws it much harder than the norm. It has good sink on it though, which allows it to be his bread-and-butter pitch because he can get a quick groundout or flyout whenever he needs to.
Dickey will make his 8th start of the season later today against the Florida Marlins in Puerto Rico. His one previous start this season against Florida was, to be kind, decent (6.1 IP, 7 hits, 3 ER's, 2 walks, and 4 K's), but he still came away victorious. Today, he will oppose Marlin's hurler Ricky Nolasco as he searches for his seventh victory.
My prediction: He will be successful in obtaining his victory and bringing his season win-loss record to 7-0.
RAD was the Rangers 1st draft pick in 1996 out of Tenn. and they offered him an $810,000 signing bonus. The Rangers team doc looked at his picture and thought his arm hung funny. They examined him and it turns out he has no UCL in his pitching arm. They cut the offer to $75,000! He still has no ucl and din't have TJ surgery because there was nothing to replace.
ReplyDeleteHe learned the knuckler in 2004 after a suggestion from then Rangers' pitching coach, Orel Hershiser. During the 2004 offseason, he worked with Charlie Hough (a great knuckleballer from back in the day)to refine it and would throw 100 knucklers against a gym wall every day.
Being an English Lit major in college, he compares his career to the Greek poet Homer's classic - The Oddysey.
Well, looks like the league caught up to Dickey although Jose Reyes' error didn't help. I believe this was the first time he had faced the same team a second time. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteHe got hammered yesterday. Hopefully, he will rebound and finish off the year with some success. It's nice to see the veteran underdog having some unprecedented success so far.
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