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Mets' R.A. Dickey Won't Get Start In All-Star Game; Cain Instead

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- National League manager Tony La Russa has announced his starter for Tuesday's All-Star game -- and it's not R.A. Dickey.

That honor will instead go to Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants.

The retired manager expressed concern last week over who would be able to handle the Mets pitcher's dancing knuckleball. With home field advantage for the World Series at stake, 25-year-old starting catcher Buster Posey won't need to worry about the tricky pitch.

Mets manager Terry Collins, who will serve on the NL staff, said last week that La Russa's worries carried "some validity."

In the year of Linsanity and Tebow-mania, Dickey has been one of the best stories in New York sports -- not to mention Major League Baseball. The 37-year-old has twirled his way to an ERA of 2.40 and a 12-1 record, including 10 straight decisions in the 'W' column.

Cain is 9-3 with a 2.62 ERA. He also has a perfect game under his belt this season.

"Dickey deserves it," tweeted Jon Heyman of WFAN and CBSSports.com, "but so does mr. perfecto."

Justin Verlander will start the game for the American League.

Did La Russa swing and miss here? Be heard in the comments below!

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