R.A. Dickey Injury: Knuckleballer Leaves Game With Foot Pain

Already missing Johan Santana and having lost Chris Young and prospect Jennry Mejia to injuries this spring, the New York Mets can hardly afford to lose another starting pitcher. So they can only hope that R.A. Dickey hasn't hurt himself seriously. Andy Martino:

R.A. Dickey left today's game at Wrigley Field in the third inning with what the Mets termed "pain in the bottom of the heel and the foot." While running from the mound to first to cover the base, Dickey fell onto the grass, and ultimately needed help leaving the field.

Dickey will be re-evaluted tomorrow atthe Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Special surgery? Jeez, that doesn't sound good.

Then again, Dickey's entire season hasn't gone good. He exited Thursday's outing with a 4.50 ERA, and between April 3 and May 20 he went eight starts without winning.

Dickey hasn't really pitched badly this season, though. His walks are up some, but not ridiculously, and Dickey's still been perfectly deserving of his slot in the rotation. "Heel pain" doesn't sound so awful, but anything's possible. If Dickey's out for a while, the Mets could turn to 24-year-old Chris Schwinden, who's not on anyone's prospect list but has pitched exceptionally well with triple-A Buffalo this season (and Pat Misch is also an option, despite his 10.29 ERA).