R.A. Next year's # 1 pick?

[TOXIC ASSETS]

R.A Dickey's amazing season continued last night, now 17 up and 4 down, mid 2's ERA and a ton of strikeouts. All this while pitching for a bad team. Who is going to have the cajones to pull the trigger on this guy for the # 1 overall pick next year? Sign me up right now.

[MadCow Sez]

Sign me up for your league...nothing as consistent in this game as a 37 year old knuckleballer without a track record of success. Glad you're high on him but a famous NFBC player once said, "Missouri/Missouri." I see a guy that I'd likely not jump at in 4th round.

[TOXIC ASSETS]

1. 37 year old knuckleballer.....that is not old for a knuckleballer.
2. Without a track record of success?
2010 1.19 whip and 2.84 ERA
2011 1.23 whip and 3.28 ERA
2012 1.01 whip and 2.63 ERA

That look like a pretty decent track record to me. That looks like consistent production which is what you want from a top pick. You can throw out all of Dickey's early career work since he wasn't throwing the knuckleball then. This guy is throwing his pitch about as well as anyone ever has. Plus he doesn't get hurt. You want to take your chances instead on a younger guy who throws hard? Be my guest.

[Edwards Kings]

No doubt Dickey is having a great year and "found" his career late (pretty bleak stats through 2009). Not a fan of knucklers either. Not a fan of starting pitchers in the first round, who by their nature are at best helpful in four categories. All that means I admittedly would look for reasons not to draft Dickey in the 1st round because of my prejudices. Dickey makes it easy.

The difference between Dickey this year and Dickey 2010 and 2011 is mainly K's. The 200+ K's he will have by the end of the year are far more than any other time in his career (2010 and 2011 104 and 134 K's respectively). Also the wins. He had 19 total in 2010 and 2011 combined. This year he could match that two-year total in one. That means 2012 is the first time he actually helped in more than two categories. So I agree with Dan that he really does not have much of a track record of success, especially not one that screams first round.

Quite a career year for a soon to be 38 year old.

First round guy who will be nearly 39 by next seasons end? I do not think so.
First round guy coming of his career year at 37/38? I do not think so.
First round pitcher? I do not think so and definitely not this one.

Your team, your money, your choice. Be glad you have until March to cool your jets a bit. You might change your mind, my friend.

[TOXIC ASSETS]

R.A. Dickey became the first knuckleballer to win 20 games since Joe Niekro way back in 1980. Kudo's on a great season, R.A.!
This guy has first round written all over him for next year.

[DOUGHBOYS]

He went in the second round of the Pre-Mature League.

[TOXIC ASSETS]

Dan - somebody got themselves a good deal with that pick. Personally I think everyone is too hung up on where guys are picked rather than on getting talent regardless of round.

[Greg Ambrosius]

R.A. Dickey became the first knuckleballer to win 20 games since Joe Niekro way back in 1980. Kudo's on a great season, R.A.!
This guy has first round written all over him for next year.

I'd be surprised if Dickey goes in the first round of ANY NFBC draft next year, but we'll see. He's had one helluva season, but do you really pick him ahead of these pitchers?

Justin Verlander
David Price
Felix Hernandez
Justin Weaver
Matt Cain
Clayton Kershaw
Cole Hamels
Chris Sale

And he's definitely not going ahead of these hitters:

Miguel Cabrera
Ryan Braun
Mike Trout
Josh Hamilton
Robinson Cano
Andrew McCutchen
Prince Fielder
Albert Pujols
Adrian Beltre
Carlos Gonzalez
David Wright

Great season for any pitcher, but at 38 it will be tough to duplicate it. But it's great to start the talk for next year.