R.A. Dickey Pitched Season with Injury

The legend of R.A . Dickey grew immeasurably Tuesday night when he revealed that he has pitched this incredible season with a painful injury.

Dickey told reporters after the game that he tore and possibly detached a stomach muscle after his second start of the season back in April.

“The pain was fairly significant from time to time,” Dickey said, according to ESPNNewYork.com. “We just did a good job of managing that. Whether it was backing off in the bullpen in between starts or getting the treatment that I needed or whatever else I needed to help with that pain, we were able to do it in a way that I was able to perform and not worry about it.”

Dickey said an MRI taken a couple of months ago revealed that he will need surgery to repair it. That operation is set for October 18.

Dickey said the pain got worse during Tuesday’s game.

“I’m not going to pretend to know what happened inside there, but it was much more significant than I have experienced in the past,” Dickey said. “I guess the timing is fortuitous in that the significant pain that I’m feeling now, I hadn’t felt before. But, tonight, it was hard to catch my breath sometimes. It’s obvious that it needs to be taken care of. And we’re going to do that.”

Dickey, who allowed three runs in a no-decision in his final start, finishes with a record of 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA and 230 strikeouts. Imagine how much better he would have been in he were healthy!