" No Regrets !"
First off let me reiterate my main point from yesterday’s column – THIS TEAM IS TOTALLY SCHIZO !!!
Okay now with that off my chest I have to admit that I am worried about last season’s big surprise R.A Dickey. I don’t know if his problems are due to faulty mechanics or if the cracked fingernail that he suffered earlier this season is to blame, all I know is that he does not look like the same pitcher who confused and perplexed hitters last season.
Maybe this is a case of the league familiarizing themselves with his knuckleball, and devising a strategy to get to him. All I know is that he has not won a game since his first start and he is now 1-5 with a E.R.A just north of five . He has a rough first inning yesterday before settling down for the next four innings – and then melting down again in the sixth against a not so impressive Houston Astros offense.
I do hold out hope that what Dickey is going through can be diagnosed and adjusted, but he has just looked way to hittable of late, and when you are a knuckleballer whose knuckler isn’t knuckling ( try saying that three times fast ! ) well then you shouldn’t expect to win too many ball games.
Let me get one thing straight, I haven’t given up nor am I down on R.A. I think he is integral to this ball club. He from what I have seen brings a leadership quality to this team, and he is not afraid to speak his mind. He owns up to his performance, whether it is good or bad, and he never shies away from talking to the media.
I just hope that he can get his mojo working because he is one of the keys to the Mets finishing this season above .500.
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes :
One time Major League pitcher and Mets pitching coach from the ’93 season, Rick Waits is 59 (1952). He until this past winter was the Mets minor league pitching coordinator.
Failed starting pitching prospect turned middle reliever, Tyler Walker is 35 (1976). He was the Mets second round draft pick during the 1997 amateur draft. He appeared in five games with the Mets during the ’02 season. He went 1-0 with a E.R.A of 5.91, and was last seen pitching for the Washington Nationals last season.
The Cleveland Indians claimed back up cather, Brook Fordyce of the New York Mets on waivers on May 15, 1995.
Mo Vaughn has been inspired by the R.A Dickey book club !! The first book he has decided to read – well it’s not really a book – it’s the menu for Famous Dave’s Barbecue restaurant !!!
17 comments
stickguy
5/15/2011-10:44am at 10:44 am (UTC -4)
yeah, they really needed dickey to be solid this year. If he was even close to what he was last year, they could easily be right there with the Braves.
I hope it is something mechanical/physical that can be corrected. maybe he still has a big finish?
But I am actually more concerned about him because he is signed for next year too!
rustyjr
5/15/2011-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
if he flops – I won’t regret the contract
metsfan4decades
5/15/2011-11:21am at 11:21 am (UTC -4)
Same here.
ajgmets
5/15/2011-9:10pm at 9:10 pm (UTC -4)
To be honest, I expected RA Dickey to be the anchor of this Mets staff especially at the start of the season. Based on his consistency last year and the fact that he did indeed sign a new contract giving him some security I would have been silly not to. However I’m not sure how, but I simply forgot to factor in the fact that he throws 70-80 percent knuckle balls.
Rethinking my assessment with this variable included I now realize that Dickey and his fluffer Knuckler will be far more consistent and thus effective when the weather warms up and the conditions are ripe for his dipsy doodle pitches to weave their way past opposing bats.
At least I am planning on this being the case or boy are these Mets in deep …..Umm doodles.
As scary as it may be, I agree with Ed to the extent that I don’t begrudge a veteran journeyman getting a multiyear contract which may well be his biggest big league contract.
So here’s to the welcoming of the heat and humidity of another summer that will again prove beneficial for the bearded knuckle baller. And so with his fortuitous rebound, hopefully will come a better, more consistent Mets pitching staff and ballclub as a whole.
fongy2
5/15/2011-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Maybe Dickey simply resembles the Pitcher he was for a decade prior to last years great 4 or 5 months???……….Just sayin’…..
B/T/W, TRADE BELTRAN NOW!!!!!!……While his value is still high!
rustyjr
5/15/2011-11:00am at 11:00 am (UTC -4)
he will be gone by june 1 I think
njstuckintx
5/15/2011-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
For who?
njstuckintx
5/15/2011-2:31pm at 2:31 pm (UTC -4)
Where’ve you been, holmes?
metsfan4decades
5/15/2011-11:23am at 11:23 am (UTC -4)
I’m still holding out hope Dickey’s knuckleball finds the ‘life’ it had last year. Right now, it’s looking a little flat.
I have absolutely no idea if that has anything to do with mechanics or not. I’ll admit to not knowing much about the knuckleball. Not sure many do.
TC said on the post game though no one is an expert in that area and if anyone is going to know what’s wrong and how to fix it, it’s RA.
And IMO, if he does fail this year, it won’t be from lack of trying and smarts.
metsfan4decades
5/15/2011-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
Off topic:
How about that Posada?
Wonder if the Yankees are thinking about Beltran for a DH?
Given the fact that Beltran has a no trade clause, do you think he’ll O.K. a trade to a team that will want to use him strictly as a DH, or does he still see himself as an OF as well?
kistics
5/15/2011-11:33am at 11:33 am (UTC -4)
I’m not sure if the Mets would do the trade. Maybe if the Yanks eat all of Beltran’s $$.
metsfan4decades
5/15/2011-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
The Yanks eat all the $$?
I thought the idea behind trading Beltran by the deadline was to get a prospect or two back. Or at least I hope that’s the idea because we could sure use those.
kingman 26
5/15/2011-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
If the Yanks wanted Beltran, he probably would be ecstatic.
A chance for much more publicity and the postseason in his walk year?
He would jump through hoops at the chance, and hell, maybe even slide hard into second a time or two for the opportunity.
TRS86
5/15/2011-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
I think it could work. They could easily get him some time in the OF as well. It’s not like Swisher has been doing well this year.
kistics
5/15/2011-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
I’m worried about Dickey. I know it’s still early but here’s a sign where the league is adjusting to his knuckler…
His H/9 is up by 2.7 compared to last season
Opposite BA is 60 points higher, SLG is 100 points higher
His K/BB ratio is lower by ~1
He has given up 7 or more hits in 6 of his 8 starts.
I think the teams are being more patient at the plate and have better approach against him. He needs to alter his game plan and out think the opposition.
metsfan4decades
5/15/2011-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
While numbers don’t lie, I think it’s because the knuckleball doesn’t have the movement we saw last year. Therefore, it’s got to be easier to hit if it’s coming in flat.
But as I said above, I know so little about a knuckleball that I could be off base. It’s just that so many commented last year about how it was moving all over the place so it was hard for batters to get a read on it. I haven’t heard anyone commenting on that this year.
metsfan4decades
5/15/2011-6:03pm at 6:03 pm (UTC -4)
Took another series. NIce.
We’re not that good but the Astros are worse.
And the more I see him pitch, the more I’m impressed with Capuano.
It was the Turner and Pridie show for the most part today. Good for them but 0-15 for the top 4 in the order? Ouch.