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Not a happy time for R.A. Dickey, family
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SEATTLE — The numbers caught up with R.A. Dickey this time.
After spending eight days with Seattle, the former University of Tennessee pitcher was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma on Tuesday to make room for the closer J.J. Putz.
“I understand the business of that,” the 33-year-old Dickey told mlb.com. “But again, it ain’t easy to swallow,” said Dickey.
Dickey made two appearances, including a start last Friday in Los Angeles. He allowed five runs in six innings.
“They said I was in their plans,” said Dickey, who had spent the past two years in the minors working on his knuckler in the hope of making the major leagues again. “I’m the 13th pitcher on a 12-man staff. It’s a tough position to be in right now. It comes with the territory.”
His timing hasn’t been right with his family the past week. His wife, Anne, and two daughters flew to Seattle for the homestand in which he won’t pitch. But the club allowed the family to stay together here for a couple days before he will fly to Tucson for his Sunday start with the Rainiers.
“It’s as hard for them as it is for me,” Dickey said.
Mariners manager John McLaren said, “It wasn’t easy telling him. He has the versatility to do just about any type of role. We feel real confident in him. Whatever we needed, he stepped in to do a real good job for us.”
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by nicksjuzunk on April 25, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tough to be a career minor leaguer. So close to the big bucks but just scraping by sometimes.
Posted by chefjorge on April 26, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I live up here in Seattle, and with the middle relief having blown several saves this year and two of the last three games, I really think he'll be back. Like Mclaren says he's too versatile. The mistake I think they've made has been using as a starter. He's better suited to long relief at this point in the season. With Bedard back today though there's even less room.
Posted by wewhite on April 26, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ouch! It's going to be tough to tell people, "Yeah, I was replaced by a Putz." (Sorry, way too easy. Had to go for it as no one else had.)
Posted by johnlg00 on April 26, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad; when he was at UT, he looked like a sure-fire major-league pitcher. Just goes to show how hard it is to make a consistent living as a pro athlete, no matter how much talent and reputation one starts out with.
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