Robert Allen Dickey Becomes 20-Game Winner

For the first time since 1990 a pitcher for the New York Mets has won 20 games in a season. His name is Robert Allen (R.A.) Dickey. Win number 20 on the season was picked up yesterday in the final home game of the 2012 season a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the win Dickey joins some pretty elite company as only the sixth Mets pitcher to ever win 20 games and only the tenth Knuckle Ball Pitcher to win 20 games in a season in baseball history. In Mets history Dickey joins Tom Seaver (who did it four times in his career), Jerry Koosman, Dwight Gooden, David Cone, and Frank Viola as the only ones in team history to ever win 20+ games in a season. Seaver did it in 1969 (25 wins), 1971 (20 wins), 1972 (21 wins) and 1975 (22 wins). Koosman won 21 games in 1976, Gooden won 24 gaomes in 1985, Cone won 20 games in 1988 and Viola was the last to do it winning 20 games in 1990. As for Knuckle Ball pitchers, Dickey becomes only the 10th in history to do it. The other nine: Eddie Cicotte (1917 and 1919), Jesse Hains (1923, 1927, 1928), Ted Lyons (1925, 1927, 1930), Dutch Lenoard (1939), Gene Bearden (1948), Bob Purkey (1962), Phil Niekro (1969, 1974, 1979), Wilbur Wood (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974) and Joe Niekro (1979, 1980). So that right there is in a class by itself. Its one of the true bright spots and major accomplishments in an otherwise down season for the Mets, who are going to finish the year with an under 500 record.

Now here comes the big question: With Dickey winning 20 games does he have a chance to win the NL Cy Young Award this year? Only two players in Mets history have every won the Cy Young Award; Tom Sever won it three times, 1969, 1973 and 1975. The other winner was Doc Gooden who won the Award in 1985. I still contend that based on his statistics Dickey should draw strong consideration for the award if not win the award. Here is what makes me say this. He is one of two guys (at time of this writing) with 20 wins this year, the other being Geo Gonzalez of the Nationals who has 21 wins. His 2.69 ERA is second best in the National League, behind only the 2.68 ERA of Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. His 227.2 innings pitched this year is tops in the Nation League, as is his 222 strikeouts. Opposing Hitters are hitting 225 off Dickey which is fourth best in the NL behind Geo Gonzalez of Washington, Matt Cain of San Fransisco, and Clayton Kershaw of Los Angeles. And the best part about all of this is that Dickey has put up these incredible numbers playing for a Mets team that is under 500 at 72-84.

There are 13 pitchers in the National League this year that have at least 15 wins to their credit. Of those 13 guys only two have that total for teams under 500; RA Dickey and AJ Burnett of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The only other one who is close to that is Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks who is 16-11 for the Diamondbacks who sit right at 500 with a 78-78 record.

The fact that Dickey has lost only six starts all year really helps his chances at winning the Cy Young this season. He has a .769 winning percentage this year, 2nd best in the National League and 4th best in all of baseball. The only National League pitcher with a better winning percentage then Dickey is Kyle Lohse of the St. Louis Cardinals. yes the Cardinals are going to have a winning season and yes they have a great chance of making the playoffs but Lohse has only 16 wins compared to the 20 by Dickey.

The numbers don't lie. RA has been by far the Mets best pitcher this year and deserves a better than even chance of winning the Cy Young. Only time will really tell but my vote is the Cy Young Award will be returning to Queens for the first time since 1985!