MIAMI — R.A. Dickey’s storybook season added a new twist Tuesday night, when the Mets knuckleballer said he pitched most of this season with an abdominal tear and will need surgery.
The announcement was made by Dickey after he added the final line — albeit a shaky one — to his Cy Young award resume in the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Marlins in 11 innings.
Dickey, 37, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Oct. 18 in Philadelphia and has been told to expect a 4-to-6-week recovery period. The right-hander, who said the injury is comparable with a sports hernia, indicated he pitched with varying degrees of discomfort since mid-April. He suspects he sustained the tear pitching on a cold night in Philadelphia on April 13.
He said the pain was most acute Tuesday night, starting in the second inning. Dickey allowed three earned runs over six innings and finished with a no-decision.
“If I had another start in five days, could I make it? I don’t know,” Dickey said. “I guess the timing is fortuitous. The significant pain I’m feeling now I haven’t felt before.”
Dickey said he pitched through discomfort earlier in the year but kept quiet to the team’s medical staff. It wasn’t until Dickey underwent an MRI exam about two months ago that the tear was diagnosed.
At various points, Dickey says he prayed he would make it through the season. Not only was it evident early he had a chance at a special year, but the Mets remained in playoff contention into July and Dickey said he did not want to hurt the team’s postseason chances by having in-season surgery.
“I was on my knees about it many times, hoping that it was not going to get more significant than it was,” Dickey said.
As it was, the Mets lost Dillon Gee for the season at the All-Star break after a blood clot developed in his right shoulder. Johan Santana was subsequently placed on the disabled list and later shut down completely.
The Mets will pick up Dickey’s $5 million option for 2013 after the World Series and then presumably begin the process of negotiating a multi-year contract with him.
Dickey, like David Wright, has said he will not negotiate a new deal once next season begins. He will be a free agent after the 2013 season.
In the Cy Young conversation, Dickey, with 20 wins, will finish one behind Washington’s Gio Gonzalez for the NL lead in victories. Dickey’s 2.73 ERA is second to Clayton Kershaw’s 2.58 for Los Angeles. The lefty Kershaw is scheduled to pitch today against the Giants.
Thirty-two voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will submit ballots by tonight for the NL Cy Young award, with the results announced in November. Dickey, who leads the league in innings pitched (233²/₃ ) and strikeouts (230) is attempting to become the first Mets pitcher since Dwight Gooden in 1985 to win the award.
Last night, Dickey allowed solo homers to Gorkys Hernandez and Rob Brantly before Carlos Lee’s RBI single in the sixth accounted for the Marlins’ final run against him. Dickey, who allowed seven hits and three walks, departed with the Mets trailing 3-0.
“It was a tremendous year for him,” manager Terry Collins said. “I’m very proud of him. I’m very proud of what he’s done, what kind of person he is.”
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The most anticipated at-bat of the night came in the sixth, when 31-year-old Adam Greenberg entered as a pinch-hitter and struck out on three pitches against Dickey.
It was Greenberg’s first big league appearance since July 9, 2005, when he was drilled in the head on the first pitch he saw as a major leaguer. Greenberg suffered post concussion syndrome for the next several years while playing in the minor leagues. The Marlins last week signed him to a one-day contract to give him another opportunity in the majors. Greenberg was playing for the Cubs against the Marlins when he was beaned by Valerio De Los Santos.