We Keep Coming Back - Gary Armida's Blog

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Gary Armida's Blog

We Keep Coming Back Stuck

Posted on September 28, 2012 at 08:47 AM.

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It can get a little lost at times, but we all have this deep passion about a game. Baseball inspires both the very good in us and, at times, some ugly actions and comments. But, all of that is the byproduct of a deep love of the sport. Football and basketball may be labeled as more popular, but baseball has a different connection with its fans. There is a love and appreciation of the sport, both the accomplishments of today�s athletes and an appreciation of what yesteryear�s stars did.

And, while the mistakes of some players may take a piece of our faith in the sport away, we keep coming back. We keep coming back because the game is still good no matter what happens off the field. We keep coming back because of our connection with the sport and the players who get to play the game we all wish we were still playing.

We come back because of a players like RA Dickey. Dickey came up as a prototypical power pitcher. He featured a good fastball, but struggled throughout the Minor Leagues and during his Major League time with the Texas Rangers. Almost out of the game, Dickey was encouraged to be a full-time knuckleball pitcher by then-Rangers Pitching Coach Orel Hershiser. It took a few seasons, but Dickey began to master the pitch. Since signing with the New York Mets in 2010, he has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the sport.

He�s also a bit of an oddity. He isn�t the conventional knuckleballer as he still throws a fastball around 83 MPH and actually throws the knuckler at various speeds, averaging 77 MPH this season with it. He is a man who began to find his way in the sport at 35 years old. Now, at 37 years old, he should be the National League Cy Young Award winner.

Aside from having one of the best seasons in the National League this season, he is arguably finishing up the single most dominant season ever by a knuckleball pitcher. He is the first knuckleball pitcher to win 20 games since 1980 when Joe Neikro turned in his second consecutive 20 win season.

But, no knuckleballer has ever been as dominant as Dickey. Now 20-6 in 32 starts, Dickey has pitched 227.2 innings and has allowed 185 hits, while averaging 2.13 BB/9 and 8.78 K/9. His 2.69 ERA is impressive as is his 3.24 FIP. And, he is keeping the ball in the park to the tune of 0.86 HR/9.

A man who has fought through many obstacles in his life--both professionally and personally--RA Dickey�s 2012 season is not only historic, but special in so many ways.

We come back for stories like the Oakland A�s and Baltimore Orioles. Nobody predicted even a .500 season for either club, but they enter the last week of the season clinging to playoff spots. Within their own teams, there are special stories. The A�s cast of characters include once heralded prospects who didn�t meet expectations, but have found homes in Oakland. Brandon Moss, Jonny Gomes, Seth Smith, and Brandon Inge found redemption on the West Coast. Chris Carter finally looks like he can match his advanced billing at age 25.

But, the A�s season is special for even more reasons. Yoenis Cespedes was a raw talent in March, but the adjustments he has made at the Major League level have been astounding. In a short period of time, the 26 year old Cuban has become one of the best young players in the sport. The A�s also have, at the moment, an entire rotation comprised of rookies. It wasn�t like that all season, but during their most difficult part of the season, the A�s are led by rookie hurlers.

The Orioles were supposed to be the team that held up the rest of the AL East. At the beginning of the season, there was talk of the AL East being the division that would house the most over .500 teams. The Orioles were not in that mix. But, they have 89 wins with a rotation that has been almost completely overturned during the season. They also have a General Manager who spent a decade on the sidelines after making big splashes in his first two jobs. Year one has been a smashing success for Dan Duquette.

We come back because we see that more than one approach can work. Ken Williams has always been a fascinating case study in team management. He�s made bold moves, often ones that don�t make a ton of sense. He took Alex Rios off of waivers from the Blue Jays a couple of seasons ago, inheriting his contract. But, a number of international signings and some good, quality young talent, have made his White Sox contenders for most of the season.

We keep coming back because the Texas Rangers keep coming back. After two straight World Series losses, the Rangers are once again the American League�s best team. We wonder if they�ll finally get that one last out.

We come back to watch Aroldis Chapman pitch, Justin Verlander throw harder as the game goes on, and Stephen Strasburg give us glimpses of the special pitcher he can be over the course of a full season.

We watch in awe of Mike Trout, who has dominated a season like few have. We watch with our imagination running wild of the possibilities of Bryce Harper.

We keep coming back because of...

Every Josh Hamilton swing.

Miguel Cabrera going after a Triple Crown.

Edwin Encarnacion finally putting together that 40 home run season that we�ve been waiting for and thought would never be.

Chipper Jones finishing his career with yet another playoff appearance in nearly two decades of dignity, grace, and excellence.

Jered Weaver dominating without a dominating fastball.

Yadier Molina showing that the art of catching isn�t dead and quietly making himself into a quality hitter.

Buster Posey coming back and being the lone offensive force for the Giants.

David Wright becoming the Mets all-time hits leader.

Andrew McCutchen trying to carry the Pirates all by himself.

The Rays� Joe Maddon making his team and us believe that they can win every single night and that they can still make the playoffs with just a week to go.

And, we keep coming back because of players like Adam Greenberg.

Only Baseball can give us a story like Adam Greenberg. Greenberg made his big league debut on July 9th, 2005 as a member of the Chicago Cubs against the Florida Marlins. The very first pitch he saw, he really didn�t see it. The Valerio de los Santos 92 MPH fastball hit him in the head, just below the right ear. That was it for his Major League career: one plate appearance, zero at bats, and a 1.000 OBP.

Greenberg suffered from vision problems and vertigo after the single Major League pitch. He did come back and play in 674 Minor League games, including three seasons in an Independent League. Now 31 years old, Greenberg played for Team Israel for the WBC qualifier. His career looked like it would end with that one Major League pitch.

But, the Miami Marlins announced that they will sign Greenberg to a one day contract and give him the one at bat he longed for. Cynics can call this whatever they like, but this is nothing but special. The contract will become official on Tuesday. The Marlins are facing the Mets that day.

The Mets scheduled starter for the day? RA Dickey.

You can�t make this stuff up. Aside from all of the great pennant race drama still to be determined in the American League, Major League Baseball will be giving us another special moment that will involved the bottom two teams in the National League East. RA Dickey, a man who overcame so much, will be the pitcher who will allow Adam Greenberg to complete his own comeback.

No wonder we keep coming back.

Comments

# 1 ghm125 @ Sep 28

EXCELLENT!

# 2 Joe Chacon @ Sep 28

I hope any baseball fan who clicks on this site took the time to read this.

Gary, this is excellent. Wonderful job describing what it is that keeps us coming back to baseball. This is the type of column somebody would be lucky to find in a well known sports publication such as Sports Illustrated or any national newspaper/magazine.

Keep following your passion for writing. It benefits the rest of us.