Memories of R.A. Dickey

[Edgy MD]

I'm with Willets of course. Certainly all good things must pass, but not before their time and of the team's volition.

A really attractive trade. That's a big part of why I hate trades --- they're attractive enough to lure you into heartless action.

[Gwreck]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Gwreck wrote: Edgy MD wrote: is why Charlie Samuels needed to be thrown in prison. NO team dressed like that deserves to win. Bud Selig, too. Those white caps were the truly horrendous "Stars and Stripes" model that they made everyone wear for Independence Day weekend (among other occasions). You guys know the whole stars-n-stripes hats was a Fred Wilpon Thing. It is tied somehow to the veterans charity he was (is?) trying to get going with Seaver as the spokesman.

Goes without saying that Fred Wilpon should be in prison too, charitable work for Veterans notwithstanding

[G-Fafif]

is why Charlie Samuels needed to be thrown in prison. NO team dressed like that deserves to win. Bud Selig, too. Those white caps were the truly horrendous "Stars and Stripes" model that they made everyone wear for Independence Day weekend (among other occasions). You guys know the whole stars-n-stripes hats was a Fred Wilpon Thing. It is tied somehow to the veterans charity he was (is?) trying to get going with Seaver as the spokesman. Goes without saying that Fred Wilpon should be in prison too, charitable work for Veterans notwithstanding

Where he can make these:

[Guest themetfairy]

I have many memories of R.A.

From his less than stellar performance in Philly on MK's 14th birthday -



To his much better Mets Build a Bear Day performance that inspired me to name my Bear du Jour Dickey -



To the last game of the 2010 season, where he hugged starter Mike Pelfrey when he left the game -





To goofing off with Phil Niekro while promoting the Knuckleball documentary -




To, finally, his 20th win this season -







Thank you R.A. for a plethora of rich memories!

[Frayed Knot]

In our Rankings project, we voted Dickey the 4th best Met in 2010 (despite not being called up until mid-May), 2nd best in 2011, and then the top spot in 2012.
In all he finishes 59th overall, just ahead of Wally Backman and barely missed overtaking Robin Ventura.
He winds up as the 3rd best three-year NYM, again barely behind Ventura but 17 slots in back of John Olerud.
Had he remained to pitch one more season he was almost certain to surpass Carlos Delgado as the best ever four-year Met.

This, btw, was the 2nd year in a row where the top voted guy leaves the team before the start of the next season as Reyes was #1 in 2011.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

O Captain! My Captain!

[Ceetar]

Saw this on Twitter.

[seawolf17]

Love that. The best part might be Nickeas (?) just closing his eyes and hoping it hits his glove.

[Ceetar]

looks like Mike yeah. He thinks he's got it and then it tails off again and he's like "oh shit"

[Edgy MD]

That shit breaks three times. What the hell?

[seawolf17]

The 7 Line just posted a photo of the new blue jerseys, DICKEY 43 on the back, marked down to $20 at Modell's. I'd absolutely buy that.

[Ceetar]

The inverse of this thread:

The Mets gave me that chance almost exactly three years ago, and I will always be grateful to them for that. Only God could�ve written the narrative that has played out in the three years since. That is what I want to focus on, and what I want to hold in my heart. BY R.A. DICKEY / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS PUBLISHED: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2012, 10:00 PM UPDATED: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2012, 10:00 PM 637 116 0 Print KATHY WILLENS/AP RELATED STORIES Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher says Yankees fans got under his skin after he misplayed a line drive Saturday A Harlem friar who swung for the fences in 1966 was not inspiration for the San Diego Padres' first logo, the team says. Former Cincinnati Reds player Ryan Freel reportedly commits suicide with self-inflcted shotgun blast Yankees playoff hero Raul Ibanez signs one-year pact with Seattle Mariners A little over a year ago I was knocking around book titles with my publisher when we finally found a keeper. The minute I heard the words, �Wherever I Wind Up,� I liked the cadence of them. I liked the mystery of them. Most of all, I liked the way they captured the essence of my nomadic pitching life � which has now taken another completely unforeseen turn. I never expected to be writing a farewell �holiday card� to Mets fans. I never expected to be doing anything but celebrating the joy of the season with my wife and kids and looking toward the spring, and the start of my fourth season with an organization that gave me maybe the greatest gift an athlete can get: A chance. A chance for a fresh start. A chance to prove that maybe I could be somebody on a big league mound, an authentic and trustworthy pitcher, not just a retread with a weird name and an even weirder pitch � a man who was so in need of financial stability that he had to get talked out of taking a guaranteed contract to go pitch in Korea. The Mets gave me that chance almost exactly three years ago, and I will always be grateful to them for that. Only God could�ve written the narrative that has played out in the three years since. That is what I want to focus on, and what I want to hold in my heart. I am not going to lie to you, though. The trade was hard for me at first. This is where my heart was, where I wanted to be, where I lived out a story of redemption and felt that every one of you shared it with me in some form or fashion. I loved pitching for you. I loved your passion, the way you embraced me from the start, and the way you seemed to appreciate the effort I was putting forth. Every time I�d walk off the mound after an outing, I�d look in your faces, the people behind the dugout, and felt as if all your energy and support was pouring right into me � even when I was lousy. It gives me chill bumps thinking about it even now. Every organization has to do what it feels is in its best interest, and I have no doubt that that�s what the Mets did by trading Josh Thole, Mike Nickeas and me for two young players who, by all accounts, are terrific prospects. It doesn�t make saying goodbye any easier. From the beginning of last season to the end � when you cheered with all you had that Thursday afternoon when I won my 20th game � I felt that this was a shared journey, that we were all in it together. What a great way for an athlete to feel. There were so many special relationships I formed that made my time with the Mets so much richer. Not just in the clubhouse, either. I enjoyed talking with Bill Deacon, the head groundskeeper, about his craft, and all that went into it. The security people who helped my wife and kids get in and out of the family lounge, the policemen who helped me get out of the parking lot, the folks at the Hodges Gate � so many people went out of their way to be kind to me, and they should know how much it was, and is, appreciated. I was going to take out an advertisement to express these thank yous, but decided in the end that there was too much I wanted to say. So I am writing this instead. As I move beyond the sadness over leaving here, I know I have a tremendous amount to look forward to. The Blue Jays may need name tags on the first day of spring training, but once we get acquainted, well, this team could be something. I appreciate the welcome I�ve already gotten from them, and what they�re trying to build. We�ll see how it all unfolds. God has blessed me in so many ways. His grace and mercy are at the center of my life. I may not pitch for the home team anymore (a friend told me I now have to start calling myself a Canuckleball pitcher ) but wherever I go from here � wherever I might wind up in the future � I hope you know that I will never forget my three years in New York, and never be able to adequately thank you for everything you�ve given me. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/pens-bittersweet-farewell-mets-article-1.1225987#ixzz2Ft0nIR2b

[Chad ochoseis]

Every organization has to do what it feels is in its best interest, and I have no doubt that that�s what the Mets did by trading Josh Thole, Mike Nickeas and me for two young players who, by all accounts, are terrific prospects. It doesn�t make saying goodbye any easier.

Wuilmer Becerra just called. And he's pissed.

[G-Fafif]

Josh Thole's "Screw you guys, I'm going to Canada" letter in the Post not nearly as gracious.

[Ceetar]

G-Fafif wrote: Josh Thole's "Screw you guys, I'm going to Canada" letter in the Post not nearly as gracious.

And the reference to the mysterious M.N. that keeps following him everywhere makes him seem a little paranoid.

[smg58]

I always found his eccentricities very endearing, and the DN piece from yesterday was very gracious and classy. He'd have been my favorite Met if he was mediocre.

But I'm still not opposed to the deal.

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Edgy MD wrote: That shit breaks three times. What the hell?

Explained by this article.

[ashie62]

Hey! I got Crocs from the Mets for Christmas!

[Zvon]

Classy letter, classy guy. That gif of the movement on his knuckler is fantastic. It really shows what that pitch can do like no other image I've ever seen.