R.A. Diculous

So everybody is all abuzz now about R.A. Dickey.  Most of what I have been reading and hearing from the media has been overwhelmingly positive, however I did witness MLB tonight commentators Al Lieter and Mitch Williams being a little down on the Dickster.

These two took the apparent "prevailing baseball" mindset towards R.A. and his craft, saying that while it's nice so see Dickey have some success at this point in his journeyman career, he is by no means the best pitcher in baseball right now.  To that I say, "Sirs, I respectfully disagree."

It's fairly arrogant and short sighted to assume that just because a pitcher does not have the ability to dial up his velocity 10MPH in the later innings of a game, a la Justin Verlander, does not mean that said pitcher lacks the talent to become successful in the MLB.  R.A. Dickey is a unique specimen in baseball, and possibly Baseball history.

R.A. Dickey has mastered a pitch that requires enormous precision and control, and needs to be repeated almost perfectly in order to be effective.  To imply that Dickey has been successful due to luck or "trickery", as the MLB Network commentators did, is asinine.

I think other Met fans can relate to the current media frenzy around R.A. Dickey as being a little bit confusing.  Met fans  have been here for the whole ride, and witnessed the evolution of R.A. Dickey personally.  Dickey took the mound in Washington for Stephen Strasburg's home debut, and OUT-DUELED HIM.  The Mets wound up losing the game on a K-Rod blown save, but had the lead by the time both starters had made their exits.  Dickey has gotten better each season, and has finally refined his particular brand of pitching to the point where he can throw it for an unhittable strike at will.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is enjoy this great run for R.A. for however long it lasts, but don't be surprised if he is able to sustain this level of success for longer than you might expect.

Oh, and LETS GO METS!

Best Weekend Ever

This past weekend was the best weekend I have yet to experience as a Met fan.  Three stellar performances against the defending World Series champions, including the franchise's first no-hitter, followed by a complete game shutout.  Even in today's loss, David Wright managed to tie the franchise record for runs scored.

I'm convinced that this team is for real.  The Mets have been changing the conversation on the national level.  For once it seems like the baseball gods are smiling down on the Mets and they've put together a competent team.  If the bullpen situation can improve a little bit, I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.