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Expectations of Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Edgy MD Jan 13 2011 08:36 AM

Pos: RH SP Born: 10/29/1974 in Nashville, Tennessee (36 in 2011), on the day the Mets traded Ken Boswell to Houston for Bob Gallagher. Acquired: Signed as a free agent December 21, 2009 away from the Twins, as recalled in no thread I can find. 2010 Stats: Tm Lg W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF ERA+ WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB BB-R WAR FanGraphs WAR Buffalo IL (AAA) 4 2 .667 2.23 8 8 0 2 1 0 60.67 55 21 15 3 8 0 37 3 1 4 243 1.038 8.2 0.4 1.2 5.5 4.63 NYM NL 11 9 .550 2.84 27 26 0 2 1 0 174.33 165 62 55 13 42 3 104 4 0 11 713 138 1.187 8.5 0.7 2.2 5.4 2.48 3.4 2.9 Total All 15 11 .577 2.68 35 34 0 4 2 0 235.00 220 83 70 16 50 3 141 7 1 15 956 1.149 8.4 0.6 1.9 5.4 2.82 Wifey: Anne. Last Word: R.A. is to be honored by the BBWAA for the You Gotta Have Heart award, which is nice, but there was supposedly some Official MLB "Breakout" or "Breakthrough" Award, and the Mets official nominee was Angel Pagan, who fans visiting the Mets website were urged to vote for. I loved Angel's season, and thought he may have been the most valuable Met, but what he really did was have a full-year version of 2009's fine half a season. R.A. kicked through the wall and saw what was on the other side in 2010, and it was good. There were hints that the Mets might be negotiating a multi-year deal for him earlier in the offseason. They continue to negotiate as arbitration approaches, but nobody's really mentioned "multi-year" in a while. He also earned himself a Craig Swan Award. Best Day in 2010: Rodney Allen Rippey pitched the equivelant of a perfect game for Bufalo on April 29, a day that perhaps turned his life around, but it wouldn't have meant all that much if he didn't follow up the promotion it earned him with the silly goodness embodied in this game, a 1-0, one-hi, one-wak shutout for the not-yet-dead-in-the-water Mets of Cole Hamels and the Phils on August 13, which simply personified the Bearded Wonder's Don't-Quittiness --- and, as demonstated in this thread, also demonstrated the magic clairvoyance of John Cougar Lunchbucket. What do you expect of Reluctantly Arbitrating Dickey in 2011?

batmagadanleadoff Jan 13 2011 08:42 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Last Word: R.A. is to be honored by the BBWAA for the You Gotta Have Heart award, which is nice ... R.A. would be the favorite for the You Gotta Have an Ulnar Collateral Ligament Award.

Edgy MD Jan 13 2011 08:47 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

I may be wrong, but I think those 235 innings totalled is the most for any Met pitcher since 1990.

Ceetar Jan 13 2011 08:48 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Last Word: R.A. is to be honored by the BBWAA for the You Gotta Have Heart award, which is nice ... I suppose he's not eligible for the Ulnar Collateral Ligament Award. Why not? He has one in the other arm after all! I suspect good things from R.A. I was extremely skeptical through most of the season last year, thinking that the wheels would fall off and teams would figure it out and the Knuckler wouldn't always work, but it does really seem like he's figured out how to be a knuckleball pitcher and I don't think that goes away. I don't know that we can expect what we got last year (which was basically the best performance out of _any_ of the free agent pitchers Omar could've signed), but with his changing speeds and his not completely useless fastball, plus his obvious intelligence when it comes to pitching and understanding the game, I think his ERA will still be ar ound 3. so .. 16-6 3.14 ERA. Consistantly reliable all season, AND maybe even throws an inning or two in relief here or there. I think he tops the 235 innings from last year.

metirish Jan 13 2011 09:05 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

I expect more of the same , and more of a leadership role for R.A.

attgig Jan 13 2011 09:34 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Becomes our ace out of spring training, starting opening day. because of the status, he's matched up against the toughest opposing pitchers which hurts his record, but his pitching hurts the other pitchers too. 14-5. 35 games started. 3 relief apperances 1 save 255 innings 146 SO 2.86 ERA 1.195 WHIP 1 no-hitter 1 huge regret for sandy for not signing him to something longer.

Edgy MD Jan 13 2011 09:40 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Don't believe for a minute that opening day starters have their record meaningfully affected by any tendency to get more challenging matchups than other pitchers.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 13 2011 09:57 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

14-10, 3.50 ERA.

Frayed Knot Jan 13 2011 10:04 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

I expect a Real Ass-kicking season, or at least a Reasonably Astute one.

Ashie62 Jan 13 2011 10:17 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Edgy DC wrote: Don't believe for a minute that opening day starters have their record meaningfully affected by any tendency to get more challenging matchups than other pitchers. I think it was being suggested that Dickey may be lacking as a "1"

Ashie62 Jan 13 2011 10:18 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

14-10 4.00 ERA

TransMonk Jan 13 2011 10:35 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

A Regression to Average: 9-11, 4.46 ERA

attgig Jan 13 2011 10:40 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Edgy DC wrote: Don't believe for a minute that opening day starters have their record meaningfully affected by any tendency to get more challenging matchups than other pitchers. I think for the first month or so, there is an adverse affect. after a few weeks, with days off and schedules, you don't have it as much, but i think at least in april, you have that. Once teams start having their offdays and whatnot, the matches start to shift a bit. If dickey is the #1, he'd be going up against johnson, halladay, Jimenez, and hudson as his first four opponents. If you're the opposing pitcher, it's not going to be easy to start off the season with a great W-L record. Even if you do well, a lot of times, the decision could end up going to the bullpen.

Edgy MD Jan 13 2011 10:45 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Well, virtually whoever he catches against the Phillies is going to be a tough draw, but let's bounce this forward when those first four starts happen and see if it shakes out that way.

Edgy MD Jan 13 2011 10:47 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Asides, I'm guessing the Mets are eyeing Pelfrey for their opening day start.

Frayed Knot Jan 13 2011 10:59 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Between differing opening days, differing off-days, rain-outs, skipped back-of-the-rotation starters, injuries, etc., those #1 vs #1, #2 vs #2, and on down the line matchups are pretty much blown up by the 2nd week of the season.

attgig Jan 13 2011 11:36 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Edgy DC wrote: Asides, I'm guessing the Mets are eyeing Pelfrey for their opening day start. not in my head. =)

Ceetar Jan 13 2011 11:42 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

It works out, the #2 starter probably gets the home opener. Unless they skip the 5th guy the first time through, which I'd consider for the right circumstances.

G-Fafif Jan 13 2011 11:46 AM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

I expect my vocabulary to be expanded every fifth day after R.A. pitches, and not in the way I find new ways to say "FUCK!" after Ollie pitches.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 13 2011 12:20 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Last Word: R.A. is to be honored by the BBWAA for the You Gotta Have Heart award, which is nice ... R.A. would be the favorite for the You Gotta Have an Ulnar Collateral Ligament Award. If anything, I would think that he might be a favorite for the You DON'T Gotta have an Ulnar Collateral Ligament Award. He throws knucklers of varying speeds, and appears to be able to locate 'em. His performance didn't suffer markedly on his "second time through" the league. Perhaps it's mere Ridiculous Ardor on my part, but I think it's closer to sustainable than not. Put me down for... 36 G/34 GS 13-11 239 IP 139 K 3.52 ERA 1.29 WHIP

Ceetar Jan 13 2011 12:26 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Imagine he actually _built_ on his success rather than regressed in some way? No, stop trying to tell me It's silly. IMAGINE. Imagine Ryan Howard flailing at the knuckleball for strike three on 9/25 to end the game, and the division race.

smg58 Jan 13 2011 01:15 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

The error bars are huge, but I'm going to go with 15-11, 3.50. Teams will adjust to him a bit, but he'll still be legit.

willpie Jan 13 2011 02:41 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

33 starts 6 relief appearances 16-12 1 (3-inning) Save 4.12 ERA 1.39 WHIP

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 13 2011 06:31 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

I'm going old school and high hopes with this and borrowing Wilbur Wood's 1971 season verbatim: 22-13, 1.91 ERA, 210 K, 44 games, 42 starts, 7 shutouts, 1 save in 334 IP.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 13 2011 06:41 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

In 1971, Wilbur Wood led the league in Pitcher WAR (10.7) and ERA+ (189). He finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting, though -- behind Vida Blue and Mickey Lolich. (career years for all three). As a way of gauging Wood's 10.7 WAR, Dwight Gooden's WAR in his great season of 1985 was 11.7. From 1971-1973, Wood may have been baseball's best pitcher --perhaps even better than Seaver. I'll take Wood's '71 from RA.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 13 2011 06:45 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Wilbur Wood was one of the first baseball cards that I recall really arrested me. He was the shizz back then, and like Dickey a late bloomer once he got the knuckler happening.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 13 2011 06:49 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Arrested? I don't think that Wood gets the historical love he deserves. Wood never won a major award, and although Bill Veeck was the master at getting attention, Wood's teams were mediocre. Check out the SI cover for Wood's claw like grip on the incoming knuckler.

Edgy MD Jan 13 2011 06:54 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

Almost no knuckler gets the love he deserves. Even as Niekro's in the Hall of Fame, you got folks acting like he snuck in the back way.

Fman99 Jan 13 2011 07:52 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

I expect him to Rape Anally the competition. 17-5, 3.22 ERA, 170 K, best quotes, hot wife. Kills Bin Laden. Legalizes dope and brings me some sticky bud.

Ashie62 Jan 13 2011 07:56 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm going old school and high hopes with this and borrowing Wilbur Wood's 1971 season verbatim: 22-13, 1.91 ERA, 210 K, 44 games, 42 starts, 7 shutouts, 1 save in 334 IP. Can Dickey start both ends of a day-night doubleheader?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 13 2011 10:01 PM Re: Expectations for Eleven: R.A. Dickey

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Arrested? Well, you know. Intrigued. Crazy name, fat guy.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 03 2011 08:59 PM Re: Expectations of Eleven: R.A. Dickey

When the Mets opt to field an 18 man roster in 2011, Dickey responds by pitching 1,245 innings.

El Segundo Escupidor Feb 04 2011 04:06 AM Re: Expectations of Eleven: R.A. Dickey

195IP, 13-9, 3.59ERA