With their win last night, the Blue Jays moved to a tie for first place in the AL East with the Orioles. They showed with the trade deadline acquisitions that they want 2016 to be just like 2015, one that ends with a deep playoff run, and hopefully a World Series. As we start August, it is now time for the contenders to knuckle under and play with the grit and determination winners have. This leads me to this weeks’ player, R.A. Dickey. The veteran starter has a 7-12 record this season with a 4.66 ERA. Not exactly what you’d want from a pitcher only four seasons removed from a Cy Young, but Dickey brings much more to the rotation. He eats up innings, with 131.2 already this season, and baffles batter with his knuckleball. It is a high risk and reward option to have in the rotation though, when the ball is dancing he’s nearly unhittable, but if it’s off he’ll be lucky to get through five innings.
Drafted 18th overall by the Rangers in 1996, he made his MLB debut in 2001 and spent the first six seasons of his big league career in Texas. Before joining the Mets rotation in 2010 he spent one season with the Mariners in ’08 and another with the Twins in ’09. In his three seasons with the Mets he emerged as one of the premiere pitchers in all of baseball. He had a 39-28 record with eight complete games in his time there. If that wasn’t enough he threw 616.2 innings with 468 K’s and had a 2.95 ERA to boot. His best season to date was, not surprisingly, 2012. He walked away with NL Cy Young honours after going 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA and 230 K’s over 233.2 innings. He also recorded five complete games that season and managed to walk a mere 54 batters. Spirits were high amongst Jays fans when he was traded to them in the off season, but the Cy Young version of Dickey has not been seen in Toronto.
A reliable pitcher he has certainly been, but looking back at the trade where Toronto gave up Noah Syndergaard, Travis d’Arnaud, Wuilmer Becerra, and John Buck for R.A. Dickey, Josh Thole, and Mike NIckeas, one has to bite their lip when they see Syndergaard take the mound for the Mets this season. Dickey has been a solid member of the rotation for the past four seasons, but the pending free agent is likely playing his last games in a Blue Jays uniform. He has gone 46-49 as a Blue Jay with 571 K’s over 786 innings. His 4.12 ERA as a Jay is nothing to get excited about, but his leadership and calm demeanour have paid dividends in the development of Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez.
One thing that gets overlooked for many pitchers is their ability to play the field. A low ERA, high strikeout numbers, and ability to work into the sixth inning, are all great, but a pitchers’ ability to field a come-back or bunt are important. Dickey earned a Gold Glove in 2013 and over his 1845.1 innings on the mound has only recorded fourteen errors, five as a Jay. That’s less than one every 130 IP!
R.A. Dickey has had a remarkable career and embodies what determination and hard work can get you. A 107-105 record with a 4.02 ERA may not get him into Cooperstown, but his time in the big leagues will be remembered fondly. He recently surpassed 1300 career strikeouts and currently sits at 1310. Depending on how much he has left in the tank he may join the 2000 IP (1845.1) and 1500 K clubs before he retires.
You can follow Dickey on Twitter @RADickey43 along with myself @GHam614. I hope you have enjoyed this weeks’ edition of the Blue Jays Player Profile and are looking forward to the playoff push as much as I am.
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