R.A. Dickey: From being an ordinary pitcher to a rare knuckleballer in baseball - Part 2
Texas Rangers dumped him into the Minors in an attempt to get rid of such a horrible existence in their rotation, at the earliest. As a result, they left Dickey catching at a straw for prevalence.
Aware of the fact no club will risk him for the Majors, he inked a Minor League deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. That was the time he actually polished the knuckler to perfection. He became assured inside his heart that the stature for which years of struggle
was made has been reached.
It was for the same reason he declined the Seattle Mariners bluntly that he will not spend time in the Minors. Instead, he preferred being thrown in free agency.
Years of investment Dickey made in fine-tuning the arsenal of skills came as free lunch for the New York Mets. At the time of signing contract with the Mets, his best was about to materialise. Thus, the club cannot think of any time better than this to have
Dickey in the rotation.
In 2010 witnessed Dickey throwing shut-out games and surprising batters with what he had become by then. Astronomical change in performance can be observed from the fact that between the year 1996 and 2010. It was only at the end of 2010 that he was able
to reach double digit of number of wins as Major Leaguer.
To general observer, current ERA of 4.20 that Dickey owns can easily make one wonder why he is being attached so much importance. Take a glance of his performance in the last two seasons and one will be disillusioned. Just 2.84 ERA in 2010 and following
with somewhat similar ERA of 3.28 in 2011 meant Dickey is well on his way to spearhead the Mets in third consecutive season.
Thus far, Dickey possesses a 2.69 ERA, with 8-1 win-loss record in 2012 regular season. The art which he began learning many years ago is at the climax of exhibition. With all loop-holes worked-out, every game he is staring for the Mets is ending up in a
misery for the batters.
A tradition that only pitchers with horrifying fastballs can sustain dominance throughout the game begs exception from Dickey. With just 80 mph fastball, he is proving so lethal that with two months into the season, he has gained 70 strike-outs.
A knuckler which once was a source of home runs just four to five years ago has turned into a harbinger of shut-out games and drought of hits.
Compare his career win-loss record of 49-51 with 8-1 in 2012 and one can comprehend the extent to which effectiveness of knucklers has reached. It is just beginning of the season and if present pace of recording wins continues until end of the season, flurry
of distinctions will follow to possibly take him to the pinnacle of his career.
That will be the culmination of his potential. In effect, a role model will be there for the budding young players. A pitcher who believed in introspection and digging one’s talent more than making fuss of what others thought of him will be available to
stir tumultuous hopes. Those, disheartened with a mediocre pitching repertoire, will have a day to celebrate, a day which can rejuvenate their energy.
Their passion to succeed will accelerate. Yes, Dickey can pave way for re-defining the realm of pitching. One can brace for eccentricity making way into baseball and changed dynamics of pitching, in the years to come.
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