That Balls Outta Here » R.A. Dickey

What A Dickey: Phils Can’t Solve Mets Knuckleballer

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 18:33:23 +0000

What the hell is going on out there? Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

It’s always surprising when you hear that a guy like R.A. Dickey was a first round draft choice. He would have gotten a big signing bonus as a high draft pick, but they discovered that he was missing parts of his arm (specifically, his ulnar collateral ligament). He muddled through his first years in pro baseball and as a last resort, developed a knuckle ball. Now, he pitches extremely well against the Phillies. In summation, a guy with a broken arm who throws a weird pitch owns the Phillies.

The Phillies countered with Cliff Lee. All Cliff’s body parts are in place and he is considered one of the best pitchers in the league. He has also had some success against the Mets in his carrer. It would make sense that the Mets would throw up a three spot in the first inning on Lee. Cliff gave up back to back doubles to begin the game. All you Met fans out there, apparently there is a way to get Jason Bay to hit the ball; throw the ball directly down the middle. Lee grooved a fastball and Bay deposited it into the center field bleachers. Lee settled in after the first, but the three first inning runs would stand up. (more…)

Mayberry Drives in Five as Phils Solve Knuckleballer

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:24:37 +0000

R.A. Dickey looks like he is screaming when he throws a pitch. This sort of makes me wonder how much effort actually goes into throwing a knuckleball.

YEAHHHARRRGGG!!!!

It is really one of the more intriguing things about the sport based on the fact that the pitch does not need to be hurled with velocity to be effective. Dickey learned the craft from noted cigarette enthusiast/baseball pitcher Charlie Hough. This would leave one to believe that R.A. would emulate the looping 50 MPH junk and constant stream of Tareyton smoke emanating from from the respective right arm and mouth of Hough. (more…)

R.A. Dickey Comes to Terms with Mets Being Terrible

Justin Klugh — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:00:27 +0000

“I think we have to find some kind of way to be honest about what kind of team we are. We can’t just keep telling ourselves, ‘We’re a better team than this.’ We may not be.”

–R.A. Dickey

You can’t do that.

You can’t say your own team is really, really bad. What happened to false hope and chronic depression? Is all of this going in R.A.’s really, really well-written book? WHY ARE YOU RUINING YOUR SUCKING FOR US?! (more…)