Mets Pitcher R.A. Dickey Claims He Was Hurt All Season

Will 20 wins be enough for a National League Cy Young Award? Will a record of 20-6, an ERA of 2.73, 230 strikeouts and two one hitters be enough to push Dickey over the top? That question will be answered soon by the baseball writers voting for the award.

Dickey finished second in ERA behind Dodgers hurler and defending Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. Dickey is second in wins, one behind Washington Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez and is currently second in strikeouts. It has been a great year for the knuckleball specialist. Now it is revealed by Dickey, after his last start against Miami Tuesday night, that Dickey pitched virtually the entire year with an injured stomach muscle.

Dickey told the assembled media he first hurt himself way back in April after a start on a cold night in Philadelphia. Dickey says he was diagnosed with a possibly torn stomach muscle and will have surgery on October 18th to fix the problem. He says doctors told him it was comparable to a sports hernia. Dickey said "the pain was fairly significant from time to time." Dickey says if he had to pitch again in five days he is not sure he would be able to make that start.

Also memorable on this final night for Dickey was facing Adam Greenberg who, seven years after being hit in the head in his first at bat in the big leagues for the Chicago Cubs finally got another big league at bat. Dickey fanned him on three pitches.

Dickey got a no decision in his final start of the year. He says the pain was significant and started to really hurt during the second inning of the ball game. Dickey says he and his wife prayed throughout the season that he would be able to make it to the finish line.

Dickey pitched more innings than any Met since Johan Santana hurled 234.1 back in 2008. Dickey finished at 233.2 for the campaign.

Dickey is signed by the Mets through the 2013 season. He could be part of a solid rotation for the Mets in 2013 if Santana is healthy and rookie Matt Harvey continues to improve. There is also Jonathan Neise, as well as Dillon Gee, who will hopefully be back, and who knows the status of young Scott Wheeler and injured pitcher Mike Pelfrey.