Anthony Gruppuso-US Presswire
New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey did exactly what he needed to do to win his 19th game of this season: pitch 8 scoreless innings and pray the offense would send a run across the board. Then the improbable came into play as he entered the ninth and promptly walked the first batter and gave up a double before passing the torch to Jon Rauch to bail him out. At the time, the Mets lead was 4-0 and as with most games recently, Rauch made it interesting when he gave up a 3-run shot to John Buck before striking out Gorkys Hernandez to end the game.
The Mets have come across the one team in MLB that shows more listlessness and quit than they do in the Miami Marlins. Even Jason Bay got in on the action with a 2-run homer in the second inning to give Dickey the lead. For some reason, the Mets have finally woken up at home after being killed by the media after a 16-1 mauling from the Philadelphia Phillies when everyone questioned their commitment and if they had quit on the season. After two straight losses for the first time this year, Dickey took the mound and looked determined to not let the offensive struggles defeat him again.
It is definitely a relief for Dickey, as he now trails Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez in the wins column by one game for the CY Young award. Dickey, however, has the best overall stats and it should be noted what team he is competing on. Just looking at the stats, it is impossible not to send Dickey home this year without the CY Young:
Dickey: 19-6, 2.66ERA, 209SO, 1.04WHIP, 5CG, 3SHO, .223BAA, 52BB
Gonzalez: 20-8, 2.84ERA, 201SO, 1.12WHIP, 2CG, 1SHO, .204BAA, 73BB
So form this point forward, it will be up to the writers who vote for the award to do what is right when choosing the recipient. The stats do not lie though, and even if Dickey does not get to 20 wins, he should be walking off the mound this year with a pitchers highest honor.
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