Robert Allen Dickey began pitching in the Major Leagues in 2001 with the Texas Rangers. He had been drafted in the first round of the 1996 draft by the team out of the University of Tennessee. During his 5 years as a spot starter/long reliever for the Rangers, Dickey was terrible. Terrible would be an understatement. Over 5 years, his WAR was (-0.3).  For those unaware of WAR, that means that his performances took away .3 wins from the Texas Rangers.

Dickey stopped over in Minnesota and Seattle and was never a solid contributor.  His WHIP of 1.60 during those two stops was clearly indicative of that.

Few expected anything, or even noticed, when Dickey signed with the New York Mets in 2010. He was a knuckleballer with a terrible career record. He had never finished a season with an ERA under 4.60. His K/BB ratio fell in the pedestrian 1.25 range. He was, at best, a replacement level player.

That 2010 season was a bit of a revelation for Dickey, though. He began to control his knuckleball (if that’s even possible) better than he had previously. His statistics improved drastically. A WHIP of 1.19. An ERA below 3.00. Dickey had a breakout season.

If 2010 was a breakout season for Dickey, I’m not sure what to call 2012, other than the best. Dickey has been, unquestionably, the best starting pitcher in baseball in 2012. To say that seasons like this don’t happen normally would be an understatement.  Dickey is a 37 year old journeyman knuckleball pitcher. He’ll earn $4.25 million for his services; not chump change, but nowhere near the number that a pitcher of his statistical caliber should earn.

Last night, Dickey threw his second consecutive complete game, 1 hitter. He struck out 13 Baltimore Orioles. He leads the National League in Wins, ERA, WHIP, and Strikeouts.

The knuckleball is but a fleeting, fluttering thing. No pitcher has been able to control the knuckler like Dickey has in 2012. He’s on a collision course with the Cy Young award and an All-Star Game start, 6 years after it appeared like he was a major draft bust.

Dickey’s next start will come on Sunday night in front of a national TV audience against the red hot New York Yankees. What Dickey is doing right now is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for a pitcher with his repertoire. Make a point to tune in.

Thanks to a late goal by Jesus Nava, Spain advanced to the Quarterfinals of the European Championship as the winner of Group C. That, combined with a 2-0 Italy win over Ireland, meant happy times for the Italians, as they advanced as well to the quarterfinals. Both teams will watch Group D action today to see who their opponents will be.

The Nationals did not lose to the New York Yankees yesterday. So there’s that…

The Nats were off yesterday. They begin a three-game series tonight with the Tampa Bay Rays in D.C.  Chien-Ming Wang will oppose David Price. In the world of sport, that is referred to as a “mismatch.”  Game time is 7:05 on one of the MASN networks.

NBA:

Oklahoma City @ Miami (MIA leads 2-1): 9:00 p.m./ABC

Euro (2:45/ESPN and ESPN2):

England v. Ukraine (England advances with a win or draw. Ukraine advances only with a win.)

France v. Sweden (France advances with a  win or draw. Sweden advances only if the other three teams forfeit their previous games.)