29
2012
R.A. Dickey – Is Mets Knuckleballer An All-Star?
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Photo by Ed Leyro/Studious Metsimus (Yeah, that's right. I took it. Not bad, huh?)
On Sunday, R.A. Dickey pitched 7⅓ innings of shutout ball against the Padres, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out ten batters. The 10-K performance gave Dickey 29 strikeouts over his last three starts (20⅓ IP). It also helped in lowering his ERA to 3.06, a number Dickey had not seen since his sole bad start of the year in rain-soaked Atlanta on April 18. On that day, a day in which Dickey admitted the weather conditions made it seem like he was throwing “a wet water balloon”, the knuckleballer allowed eight runs in 4⅓ innings, ending his streak of consecutive quality starts at 14.
Since his damp debacle against the Braves, Dickey has been magnificent. He has made seven consecutive quality starts, giving him 21 in his last 22 starts. In those seven quality starts, he has a 2.09 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and opponents are batting a measly .193 against him. The most important number in Dickey’s line is the big fat zero in the loss column since April 18. Over the past six weeks, Dickey is 5-0, helping the Mets improve to a season-high six games over .500.
For the season, Dickey is 7-1 with a 3.06 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 64⅔ innings. His seven wins tie him with Gio Gonzalez, Cole Hamels, Lance Lynn and former Met teammate Chris Capuano for first place in the National League, as does his .875 winning percentage. Dickey is also ninth in the NL in innings pitched and eighth in strikeouts. He is also an excellent fielder, as evidenced by his 16 assists in ten starts. This is nothing new, as Dickey led the league in assists by a pitcher in 2011 and was second in 2010. He is currently third in the National League in assists by a pitcher, picking up his 16th assist on Sunday after making a beautiful diving stop to his right on a ground ball by Chase Headley.
Given all this data, the question must be asked. Should R.A. Dickey represent the National League in the 2012 All-Star Game?
Every team must be represented by at least one player, but David Wright’s scalding start has pretty much made him a lock for the All-Star team. Therefore, Dickey would probably not be chosen because he “has to be” chosen as the Mets’ sole representative. He would have to earn his spot on the roster.
Looking at his numbers, you would think that he already has earned a spot on the roster. Seven wins, 61 strikeouts, low ERA, low WHIP. That just screams All-Star, right? Not so fast.
Two years ago, Mike Pelfrey pitched seven shutout innings against the Phillies on May 27 (the same date Dickey pitched 7⅓ shutout innings against the Padres this year). After Pelfrey’s masterpiece, his record improved to (you guessed it) 7-1, the same record Dickey has on the same date Pelfrey had it in 2010.
But Pelfrey didn’t fall off the face of the Earth after improving to 7-1. In fact, on June 25, 2010, he defeated the Minnesota Twins in an interleague matchup to improve to 10-2. He was also the proud owner of a spiffy 2.71 ERA. Please note that June 25 was only two weeks before pitchers were to be selected for the All-Star Game by players, coaches and managers (fans do not participate in the pitcher selection process). Pelfrey did not make the All-Star team in 2010, despite his outstanding first-half performance.
Pelfrey isn’t alone in recent All-Star snubbery. (Yes, I just made up that word. What are you going to do, kick me off the All-Star team?) In 2007, John Maine won his first five decisions and was 10-4 with a 2.71 ERA on July 5. Just like Pelfrey, he also did not make the National League All-Star team.
So where does that leave Dickey? If I had a vote, I’d give it to the Mets’ resident knuckleballer. But I don’t have a vote. And the people who do have a plethora of choices amongst pitchers.
There are currently ten pitchers in the National League with an ERA of 2.50 or less. Dickey is still above 3.00. Seven pitchers in the National League have a WHIP of 1.00 or less. Dickey is just barely below 1.10 (1.098, to be exact). And some players, such as Houston’s Brett Myers (12 saves, 1.59 ERA, 0.82 WHIP), might “have to be” chosen before a player like Dickey is. No other Astro hitter or pitcher is having an All-Star caliber season, so Myers might force his way onto the team as the sole Astros’ representative, taking a roster spot away from another deserving candidate, someone like R.A. Dickey.
If R.A. Dickey is going to become a first-time All-Star in 2012, he’s going to have to keep pitching the way he has since his one poor outing in Atlanta. He’ll need to get his ERA below 3.00. He’ll need to continue striking out batters. He’ll need to keep piling on the wins. Then again, as recent history shows with Met pitchers, that doesn’t guarantee anything when it comes to making the All-Star team. To me, R.A. Dickey is an All-Star in 2012. Let’s hope the players, managers and coaches feel the same way.
About the Author: Ed Leyro
Ed Leyro was hatched in the Bronx, but spent most of his youth in Queens at Shea Stadium. Apparently, all that time spent at Mets games paid off as Ed met his wife (The Coop) for the first time at Citi Field during its inaugural season. Guess the 2009 season was good for something after all. In addition to his work at Mets Merized Online, Ed also owns, operates and is head janitor at Studious Metsimus, where he shares blogging duties with Joey Beartran. For those not in the know, Joey is a teddy bear dressed in a Mets hoodie. Clearly, Studious Metsimus is not your typical Mets blog.
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One area in which Dickey has an advantage over Maine and Pelfrey is his demeanor. I know this seems small but man this has become a popularity contest as much as a showcase of the best of the best. Dickey’s philanthropy and his awesomeness as a dude should help to push him up the ranks. His numbers of course are important but almost as equally important is that everyone loves the Dickey story.
At this rate, if Dickey isn’t an all star, and Johan to for that matter, Congress should launch a probe into it. The Mets have three legit All Stars; Dickey, Santana and Wright.
I don’t know if Dickey will make it to the ASG…He probably does deserve it with his Ace Like Numbers but there is so much that goes into getting on the All Star Roster when pitchers are concerned. Getting voted in, Our Rotation schedule…Remember the ASG usually consists of Aces and while he may be pitching like an Ace still very hard to get on as a Pitcher since there are so many for so few spots.
But I think Dickey is on his way to a much greater accolade…
He could be the greatest Knuckleballer in the History of Baseball!
Better than Niekro even!
He’s done things with a Knuckleball that no one has even suggested was possible!
And if he has the same long career most guys who throw it have we will have a damn good pitcher for another 5-8 years!
Ahemm Tim Wakefield would like a word with you. Dickey has been unbelievable since coming here and he has the right attitude to get there.
I don’t ever remember Wakefield locating a Knuckleball the way Dickey has been lately!
I don’t know if there ever was such thing as location with Wakefiled, I think Veritek still has nightmares from the rare times he caught him.
Well thats kind of my point it supposedly a very unpredictable pitch yet Dickey seems to have zero problem locating it wherever he wants, He even Elevated a few yesterday!
66 Strikes out of 100 Pitches only 30 via contact 13 Swinging and 23 Looking.
It may be unpredictable to everyone else but Dickey seems to be able to put wherever he wants it and changes speeds with it as well!
Probably has something to do with how hard he throws it. I’ve never seen any of the other true knuckleballers throw it nearly as hard as Dickey does. I’f I’m Sandy I excercise his option for 2013 or rip it up and give him a 3 year deal. He’s earned it.
He’s not a lock yet.
For me right now you have
Gio, Kershaw, Hamels, Lee, Cain, Beachy, Dempster, Capuano, McDonald, Lynn
All ahead of him either because of their performance or because of their team (or both). IE Dempster.
Then Sanchez, Wandy, Strasburg, Zambrano, Vogel, Dickey, Johan are all in a group together in my view.
You know what I never really thought of. How many All Star teams featured a manager replacing a WSChamp? What I mean is, Matheny will be the Mgr right? Even though he didn’t manage the WS, let alone the WS Champs…
According to this article, LaRussa will still manage the 2012 NL All-Star team.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120124&content_id=26452800&vkey=allstar2012
nice, thanks for the info
I wouldn’t give Lee the nod over Johan, let alone Dickey. Lee missed time on the DL and doesn’t have a win, mostly due to the Phils offense but he’s also blown 2 wins on his own.
2nd point I could’ve sworn I heard LaRussa was going to manage the allstar game unless it was just an unfounded rumor, not sure.
You’re right about Lee, he’s pitched like an AS in his 7 starts but hasn’t gotten the support so he likely will not be an All-Star. He should probably have 5 wins right now.
I think he’ll be ignored because he throws a knuckle ball. That is still treated like it is some kind of novelty act and not counted as serious pitching.
Don’t forget Wakefield was on the 09 AL Roster (Managed by Maddon)
I think if Dickey has the #s come July, he’ll be an AS regardless of the knuckleball. I just think there is still a lot of time and not a lot of spots left.
Congrats to Dickey on being named NL Player of the Week.
https://twitter.com/#!/Mets/status/207567228625895425