9. SP R.A. Dickey, 2012
2012 Season stats — 20-6 record, 233.2 innings pitched, five complete games, three shutouts, 2.73 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 54 walks/230 strikeouts
The knuckleballer came out of nowhere for the Mets in 2010, throwing a wicked, low 80s knuckleball, mixed with a mid-80s fastball. He pitched a 2.84 ERA that season and showed great control for a pitch that is typically very hard to place.Dickey’s 2012 season was the peak of his time in New York though, striking out nearly a batter an inning – a completely absurd feat for a knuckleballer – and winning 20 games. His work in the rotation that season earned him the NL Cy-Young Award.
Alderson seems to have known what he was doing though by trading Dickey away after his Cy-Young campaign to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Noah Syndergaard, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, and prospect outfielder Wuilmer Becerra. Dickey fell off in a major league way after leaving Queens and the Mets were handed a fireballer ace in Syndergaard in the exchange.
