R.A. Dickey's life story will be made into a movie: Report

R.A. Dickey has seen more valleys and peaks during his 39 years than most people see in a lifetime — both literally and figuratively — and now it looks like the well-travelled knuckleballer's autobiography will be made into a movie.

And all the low points from Dickey's 2012 memoir Wherever I Wind Up will be there — including  Dickey's revelation that he suffered sexual abuse as a child — among several other hardships — to his frustrating 14 year stint in the minors and struggles with suicidal thoughts as an adult. 

On the upside, Dickey climbed Mount Kilimanjaro before going out and winning the 2012 NL Cy Young award — becoming the first knuckleballer ever to accomplish the feat. He even put his 2012 salary on the line in order to climb the mountain while raising awareness for human trafficking in India.

Though the last two events aren't in the book — it had already been written — it seems like two things that would make a rousing end to Dickey's long odyssey in the movie.

Actors Ben McKenzie and Logan Marshall-Green (both from "The O.C.") have joined forces to launch the production company A Thing Or Two Productions and get the ball floating. Tom Rothman's TriStar Pictures has made a deal on the baseball memoir which the duo will produce with Michael De Luca.  Buzz Bissinger — of "Friday Night Lights" fame —has been set to write the script.

Dickey was a subject in the 2012 documentary "Knuckleball." Now it's time to see who'll play him in the Hollywood version of his life. 

R.A. Dickey didn't like Yankees' 'Eye-Gate' stall tactic

R.A. Dickey had just been rocked by Lyle Overbay's two-run homer as the Toronto Blue Jays knuckleballer got ready to throw one of his gimmicky pitches to the next batter. In the New York Yankees bullpen, David Robertson — who had just caught Overbay's dinger — was warming up to preserve the 3-2 Yankees lead.

Out in front of the dugout was that next batter — Eduardo Nunez — who was being treated by trainer Steve Donohue with eye wash. And Dickey didn't like it.

“What had happened, and it was fairly obvious to everyone in our dugout, was that Joe (Girardi) was trying to get (Nunez) to take some extra time so he could get Robertson warmed up in the bullpen,” Dickey said. “(It’s) just gamesmanship on his part.”

Dickey approached plate umpire Chris Conroy to voice his objection. Toronto manager John Gibbons came out of the dugout to ask Conroy about it. Before the debate could get any more heated, Nunez came to bat.

Even before Dickey opened his mouth, Girardi was asked about what was happening and said, “Nunie had something in his eye.”

Told of the accusation, Nunez said, “You can’t predict you’re going to have something in your eyes. It happens. It was only for a moment. Why he said that, I don’t know.”

The Yankees were stuck between a rock and a hard place.  There was no way Nunez was coming out of the game — with only sore Kevin Youkilis waiting as the only replacement infielder — and Girardi wasn't going to take chances on his already thin bench.

Dickey’s ire was more directed at the umpiring crew than at Girardi and the Yankees.

“It’s well within the confines of the rules, it’s just that the umpire needs to have a feel for the game and know what’s going on,” Dickey said. “It’s certainly not Joe’s fault. He’s doing what he can to get his team ready to win the game. It’s the umpire’s responsibility to know what’s going on there.”

The knuckleballer gave up four hits in seven innings but two of them were home runs.  The tough loss dropped Dickey to 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA as the Yankees completed the four-game sweep of their northern neighbors.

R.A. Dickey throws parting knuckleball at Mets

R.A. Dickey was formally introduced as a Toronto Blue Jay Tuesday and lobbed a floating knuckleball — maybe more like high-and-inside fastball — at his former team — the New York Mets.

Dickey said he is thankful the Mets did not meet his contract demands and he is thrilled to join the Blue Jays, a team he said is "all in" to win the World Series.

The Blue Jays showed off their new pitcher at Rogers Centre after acquiring the National League Cy Young winner from the Mets last month.

The 38-year-old knuckleballer admitted the Mets helped him cultivate his pitching style but said he was glad to move on.

Dickey, who signed a $30 million, three-year deal, took a backhanded parting shot at the Mets by saying if Toronto doesn't win, it won't be because Alex Anthopoulos didn't try. The Blue Jays general manager had a busy off-season and also acquired high profile studs like shortstop Jose Reyes, and pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buerhle to go with the signing of Dickey.

"You can see that he's made all the moves that he made," Dickey said. "If we don't win it won't be because of him."

If Dickey's comment was a jab at the Mets front office, Anthopoulos added a hook. Speaking about the Mets offer of two years, $20 million to Dickey, the Jays GM told him it was beneath Dickey's dignity to accept such an offer.

"I even told him this when I met him," Anthopoulos said.  "I didn't think he got the respect he deserved."

Th GM went on to thank the Mets for making Dickey available.

"Guys like this don't come around very often," said Anthopoulos. "And  they don't get traded very often."

It sounds like Dickey is going to enjoy his six months a year north of the border with the vastly improved Blue Jays.

"I think this could be a few special years for this city, this this country and the players," he said.

New Mets prospect apologizes for anti-gay slur

New Mets prospect Noah Synderaard — acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the R.A. Dickey trade — has already mastered the fine art of heading off the New York media before they get a chance to splatter a misstep all over the back pages.

Yesterday, when the righthanded pitcher was asked to comment during a conference call where he was introduced — along with catcher Travis d'Arnaud and John Buck — as the newest members of the Mets.

 Syndergaard, not wasting any time,  immediately apologized for an anti-gay remark he posted on Twitter last week, calling it "a poor attempt at humor."

The 20-year-old Syndergaard tweeted to the account of fellow minor leaguer Dayton Marze this tweet on Dec. 9.:

"@DMarze89 nice crocs f-- lol."

The tweet no longer appears on Syndergaard's timeline.

"I had a little mishap on Twitter about a month ago, and it was just brought to my attention this morning," Syndergaard said during the Tuesday conference call.

"I'd just like to apologize for anything that was said.  A buddy and I were having a little conversation.  I had a poor attempt at humor and an even worse attempt at using a term I shouldn't have used.  I hope I didn't offend anybody.  I'm really sorry my first introduction to being a New York Met had to be like this."

Syndergarrd — the No. 3 rated prospect in the Blue Jays' farm system — was a crucial part off the deal that sent NL Cy Young winner Dickey, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas to Toronto.

Welcome to New York newbie.  Just watch what you say, do or tweet.

R.A. Dickey teaches Letterman how to throw a knuckleball

R.A. Dickey's wild ride this season just keeps getting better.  The New York Mets surprise star this season appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and showed the host how to throw his now famous knuckleball last night.

Letterman— a huge baseball fan— said he was "dumbfounded" about the rotation of the knuckleball pitch when it is leaves Dickey's hand.

"Are you squirting the ball out with the momentum?" asked Dave to audience laughter.

"It doesn't feel like a squirt, but a popping," replied Dickey.



The 37 year-old developed his knuckleball— which many argue might be the best one ever— to prolong his career and it is paying off.

After appearing in the All-Star Game Tuesday, the 12-game winner was back in New York pitching the ball to Letterman on his "The Late Night" set Wednesday.

After tossing the ball back-and-forth a few times with the amused host, Dickey joked, "I feel like I'm at the circus."

The audience loved it almost as much as Dave.