Coleman: Cy Young Voters Got It Right With R.A. Dickey

By Ed Coleman
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It's as it should be.

Clayton Kershaw was good, leading the NL in ERA, WHIP and WAR. Gio Gonzalez had the most wins on the winningest team in baseball.

But R.A. Dickey was the Cy Young Award winner for 2012 -- and he deserved it.

The Mets knuckleballer led the league in complete games (5) and shutouts (3), and he also led the majors in quality starts (27). Dickey captured the NL strikeout crown by one (230) over Kershaw (229), and he averaged an impressive 4.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In addition, he had a .769 winning percentage on a bad team, and logged a heavy workload with 233 2/3 innings.

If Dickey was allowed to vote for the Cy Young, what would have been the most important criteria for him? How about consistency.

There was much debate about how a knuckleball pitcher would be perceived when stacked up against a traditional hurler, and Dickey was thankful that the voters viewed the knuckler in its proper context.

As he approached 20 wins during the season, Dickey was constantly asked about reaching that milestone and what it would mean. Did thoughts of a Cy Young award creep into his mind at all over the summer?

Tampa Bay's David Price won the AL Cy Young Award. He and Dickey are both from Nashville and share the same agent. Similarities on the mound? Not really, and Dickey thinks that's terrific for baseball.

Was there one thing in particular that Dickey could attribute winning the Cy Young to?

Incredible yes, and a lot of people to thank as well, and Dickey wanted to make sure that Mets fans were at the top of the list.

Now that the Cy Young is in his trophy case, there's the small detail of a contract extension and remaining a Met in the future. And what exactly does Dickey see in his future?

C U soon
Eddie C.

Leave your congrats to R.A. in the comments below!

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