Mets' Dickey sails through another start
When a pitcher throws two consecutive one-hitters, people take notice. When a pitcher with R.A. Dickey's unique back story does it, the result is a mass media overflow.
Leading up to his uncharacteristically spotty start Sunday, the New York Mets' sensation fielded countless media requests on a daily basis, cutting into his preparation. Mets manager Terry Collins believes that might have hurt Dickey during his nationally televised game against the Yankees.
"I watched all the interviews he had to do, pulled aside for this and pulled aside for that, all the hoopla and all the lead-up into the thing," Collins said. "That was the first experience that we've had of this R.A. mania that's been going on, because it was the Yankees, and it was home and it was a big deal. Otherwise it's just been smooth sailing for him, and I hope it's back to being smooth sailing for him."
It was certainly smooth sailing Friday for Dickey, who pitched another eight shutout innings in a 9-0 win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
So it appears that Sunday's game, in which Dickey gave up five runs over six innings, was nothing more than a blip. Before that game, Dickey had pitched consecutive one-hitters and gone 6-0 with a 0.18 ERA over his previous six stats.
"Ultimately, it's about results," Collins said. "As much as we know that this is certainly a PR-oriented sport as far as what you have to do in the game, you've still got to go perform. When that performance is dragged down because you don't have time to get ready, that's an issue."
