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N.L. Manager Tony La Russa Yet To Decide If Mets' R.A. Dickey Will Start All-Star Game

NEW YORK (WFAN) - Despite his otherworldly statistics through the first half of the Major League season, Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey may not start for the National League in the All-Star Game.

National League manager Tony La Russa has not committed to starting the hard-throwing knuckleballer, Newsday reported.

"This isn't to highlight one player or one pitcher, or a handful of players or a handful of pitchers," La Russa told reporters on a conference call on Thursday. "Dickey could certainly start the game. He's got the credentials. But I look at the starter-types of the five guys that were selected, and each of those guys can make a claim."

Heading into Thursday night's series finale against the Phillies -- Dickey's final start of the first half -- the 37-year-old leads the National League in wins and WHIP, and is third in the league in ERA and strikeouts.

The first-round pick of the Texas Rangers in 1996 (at that time he was a conventional fastball pitcher), the right-hander made history last month by throwing back-to-back one hitters for the Amazins' on June 13 and June 18. In doing so, he became the first pitcher in modern baseball history to toss back-to-back one hitters while striking out 10 in each contest.

Dickey earned National League Player of the Week honors in late May and was named the National League Pitcher of the Month for June.

Still, La Russa isn't completely sold.

"With Dickey, I've given that a lot of thought," La Russa told reporters. "There is an issue about catching him and what spot to use him. His season has gotten everybody's attention, including our staff's, and we're talking about the best way to just win the game with the personnel. And how we use Dickey will be a part of that."

In sixteen starts entering Thursday, the nine-year MLB veteran is 12-1 with a 2.15 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He has tossed three complete games -- two of which were shutouts -- all the while recording 116 strikeouts to just 25 walks.

Is there any way that La Russa can justify not starting Dickey in the Midsummer Classic after his unbelievable first half? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...

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