R.A. Dickey just got

[wardhenke1]

I think we have to check the anger at Dickey at the door. We traded a lot for him and he was a CY young winner coming off three seasons where he led baseball in most number of quality starts (3 years not just one). So many were expecting an ace.

 

What he is in the AL is a 1.3 WHIP innings eater who would be a number 3-4 starter on an elite team. If he were on that hypothetical team and was making $10 million per we'd all be very happy with him.

 

The problem is the Jays brass gave up two big time prospects and touted him as a true Ace. So people will go on a rant every time he pitches less than 7 innings and gives up more than 3 runs.

 

The frustration is that Jays fan know the reality that if we make it into the playoffs that our rotation doesn't have an Ace and we know that as good as our offense is that when we face a guy like Tanaka - our offense will get shut down and our number 3/4 starters are likely to give up 3+ runs.

 

And we know the only way to get an ace is to trade our four best prospects (Sanchez, Norris + and +). So we kind of have to ride it out this year - maybe make the playoffs and be "lucky" that our offense gets red hot and guys like Buerhle and Happ and Hutch pitch career games in the playoffs (assuming we get there).

 

Excellent post. We need to stop looking at Dickey as a number 1, 2 or even 3. I would liken him more to a Tim Wakefield who in his forties still ate innings for the Red Sox and was quite effective in that role. Dickey is never going to be what we hoped for or were told he was; the loss of Syndergaard and d'Arnaud are going to hurt us long term but that is AA's fault, not Dickey's.

[MrMariusz]

Shame they didnt put him on a much shorter leash in the 7th.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Dickey pitched fine but we can't just keep labeling him as "unlucky". He's an old knuckleballer who is obviously displaying durability issues. He looked untouchable for a few innings and then just hit the wall again. Absolutely same routine every single game.

[Dick_Pole]

There sure are a lot of guys vying to be Dickey's agent.

 

Baseball fans in the 1980's:

Fan #1: Our pitcher gave up four home runs late in the game and lost it for us. What a piece of s***.

Fan #2: Yup, I agree.

 

Baseball fans in the 2010's:

Fan #1: Our pitcher gave up four home runs late in the game and lost it for us. What a piece of s***.

Fan #2: No, he's not a piece of s***, he just got unlucky. A 80% HR to fly ball ratio is really unsustainable. There is no such thing as being "clutch" and pitcher wins and losses are over rated stats.

Fan #1: Well too bad that was game #162 for us, and this loss cost us a playoff spot. But don't worry, the pitcher will have plenty of time to revert back to the mean for spring training.

 

Seriously, f*** all of you who are calling Dickey unlucky. We can harp on AA overpaying for the prospects, but it's still Dickey who signed a contract extension knowing what the expectations of him were here. He is not living up to those expectations, nor is he living up to his contract even when ignoring the prospects. Should the Jays DFA him? No, he still has value as a mediocre #4 inning eater. But do fans have every right to rage every time he doesn't live up to expectations? Absolutely. He's not paid like a mediocre #4 inning eater.

[Key22]

$10 million per is under the going rate for number 4 starters. His overall numbers since being here is still a good deal in terms of contract. The prospects are on AA. But until either prospect actually does something at the MLB level who knows. One of the best homer hitters in baseball hit 2 homers off him. It happens. Jays should be scoring more runs off scrub baseball teams like the White Sox.

[Solaxys]

Seriously, f*** all of you who are calling Dickey unlucky. We can harp on AA overpaying for the prospects, but it's still Dickey who signed a contract extension knowing what the expectations of him were here. He is not living up to those expectations, nor is he living up to his contract even when ignoring the prospects. Should the Jays DFA him? No, he still has value as a mediocre #4 inning eater. But do fans have every right to rage every time he doesn't live up to expectations? Absolutely. He's not paid like a mediocre #4 inning eater.

 

+1

 

I don't understand this kind of fandom at all. Rational thought is fine and all; but he is causing Blue Jays to lose. Period. Every single game. You'd think he'd have access to this data himself (considering he is the one on the mound) and figure out a way BY NOW on how to fix it. But it is the same shenanigans over and over and over and over again.

 

I don't care how unlucky he is; I still cannot put an ounce of trust in him. And as a fan that scares me.

 

All these white knighters, god damn.

[admin]

Agree.

I'm tired of the "he's pitching okay" or "You guys are expecting too much from him" or "He's pitching like a #3 or #4".

That would be great if we didn't trade for him valuing him as an ace. Only good thing is we didn't extend him at a price of an ace.

The only 'luck' Dickey has had, is when his bullpen bailed him out on more than one occassion. His ERA could easily be mid to high 4s right now.

[Slot Machine]

+1

 

I don't understand this kind of fandom at all. Rational thought is fine and all; but he is causing Blue Jays to lose. Period. Every single game. You'd think he'd have access to this data himself (considering he is the one on the mound) and figure out a way BY NOW on how to fix it. But it is the same shenanigans over and over and over and over again.

 

I don't care how unlucky he is; I still cannot put an ounce of trust in him. And as a fan that scares me.

 

All these white knighters, god damn.

 

As long as you are twice as angry at Jose Reyes then by all means continue ripping on RA.

[frizzer1]

No matter how well it's going,sooner or later Dickey will give up runs and it happens fast.

He cannot sustain his stuff after 4 to 5 innings.

Perhaps the bulllpen is where he is better suited..didn't Wakefield work in the pen?

[admin]

If Dickey was taken out every game after four innings, he'd have a 2.65ERA.

If he was taken out after five innings, he would have a 3.71ERA.

[GD]

I wonder if the times-through-the-order ERA penalty is greater for knuckleballs.

[admin]

His past years haven't been as extreme as this.

Sure a lot of pitchers' numbers will go up as the game goes on, but his are quite substantial.