R.A. Dickey Wins The Cy Young

R.A. Dickey won the Cy Young and it wasn't even really close. The final tally was 209-96 with Dickey taking the hardware over runner up Clayton Kershaw. He joins Tom Seaver (1969, 1973, 1975) and Dwight Gooden (1985) as the only Mets to ever win that award, and his story was singular.

Knuckleballers don't usually strike out batters like Dickey did this year, when he lead the league in strikeouts with 230. At 38, he also led the league in complete games and shutouts, perhaps because his pitch takes less effort.

Tim Brown of Yahoo and Jerry Crasnick of ESPN voted for Kershaw first, and as James Kannengeiser pointed out this weekend, that's a defensible stance given the numbers. Gio Gonzalez, who ended up third, stole a lot of second place votes from the Dodgers' ace, which ended up making the race less close than it maybe should have been.

But let's not get bogged down in the numbers for once. This is a great day for a great man. He's accessible, funny, and down-to-earth, and he immediately said that this latest win was "for all of us." (He probably meant all of us, here, you know he's a fan.) But it's for all of us mostly because he's not one to separate himself from those of us that struggle every day -- how could he, given all the obstacles he's faced in his life? Nobody deserved it more in the emotional sense of the award. Just look at the man.

So, R.A. Dickey, let this Mets fan say that without a doubt, you've only brought happiness into my life. I wish you many more accolades in the future, and I don't think I'm alone. Congratulations.