Is Dickey A Viable Candidate For The Cy Young?

This is a question that will be asked from today until the official announcement is made well after a World Series Champion is declared.

Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzales has the most wins (20) but he is also pitching for a first place team; Reds Johnny Cueto is having a solid season with 18 wins. There are more candidates, but who is the most deserving of the NL Cy Young award? NY Mets knuckleballer RA Dickey. Period.

Dickey is second in wins (19) playing for a team 14 games under .500. Let’s look more deeply into some of his other stats:

Category                              League Ranking                                                Stats

Wins                                              2                                                                  19

ERA                                              1                                                                 2.66

Strikeouts                                     2                                                                 209

Complete Games                         1                                                                   5

Innings Pitched                             1                                                                 220

WHIP                                            1 (T)                                                          1.04

Runs Allowed                                8                                                                 72

Shut Outs                                      1                                                                  3

Double Plays                                 1                                                                 24

The Mets Ace has had a tremendous season, especially when you consider how few runs have been scored by this team, especially since the All Star Break. Every game Dickey goes out, the Mets have a legitimate chance to be victorious.

Every time he takes the mound, not only the Mets, but their fans believe they have a better chance of winning than not; In Dickey We Trust!

Dickey has the chance to become the Mets first 20 game winner since East Meadow’s Frank ‘Sweet Music’ Viola accomplished this feat in 1990. Hard to believe it’s been 22 years since the Mets have had a 20 game winner, but with two starts left, RA Dickey has a punchers chance to reach that milestone.

RA Dickey seemed to gain more confidence in his game once it was revealed in his memoir, “Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball” , of his physical and emotional abuse as a child. Once that albatross was off his shoulders, he seemed to lock in as a pitcher. Granted, this is most likely coincidental, but it does make one wonder. 

Regardless of the reason, this year the Mad Knuckler has been second to none.

RA Dickey has had a career year, and when the votes are tallied around the holiday’s, if there is justice in this game, RA Dickey will be the 2012 NL Cy Young winner.

Source: ESPN