12/21/24
May 19, 2010
Mets Call Up Knuckleballer R. A. Dickey: R. A. Dickey, a pitcher who learned the knuckleball with the help of Charlie Hough, makes his first start tonight for the New York Mets against the Washington Nationals. Like most knuckleheads, Dickey had an unusual path to picking it up. He was a 1996 Texas Rangers prospect who was about to sign his first contract for $810,000 when a doctor saw a Baseball America cover photo of him holding his arm oddly. A medical exam revealed he has no ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm, the one replaced during Tommy John surgery, and reduced his deal to $75,000.
Yawn....
posted by DudeDykstra at 05:27 PM on May 20, 2010
I posted this link because I'm interested in knuckleballers. I'd like to see Dickey master this pitch and carry the tradition on for another couple decades, as Tim Wakefield did after Charlie Hough retired.
If you don't like a link, post one of your own or find a discussion you like better.
posted by rcade at 05:33 PM on May 20, 2010
No, he was assuming you're just another big city slicker who doesn't think something actually happens until it happens in New York.
What he doesn't know is that you live in Florida. Florida! Like. Wow.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:30 PM on May 20, 2010
Yup. I'm no city slicker. I grew up in the south and am incapable of living more than five miles from a Wal-Mart.
posted by rcade at 07:03 AM on May 21, 2010
Not to be a turd, but I don't see why this is noteworthy. Dickey has been bouncing between AAA and the majors for several years now, including stints with the Twins, Mariners and aforementioned Rangers. Just because the Mets (a New York team) calls him up doesn't make it anymore noteworthy than when the Mariners or Twins did in each of the past two seasons.