Dickey's Signature Pitch Is Apparently Too Much To Handle

The San Francisco Giants fans stuffed the All-Star ballot. They have three starters in the National League lineup with Melky Cabrera in center field, Buster Posey behind the plate, and Pedro Sandoval at third base.

For good measure, National League manager Tony LaRussa decided to have Giants pitcher Matt Cain start the game.

Now I don't want to take anything away from Matt Cain. He has had an excellent year to date, going 9-3 with a 2.62 ERA and a perfect game to boot.

But come on. How do you now start R.A. Dickey? The guy has been the best pitcher in baseball in the first half with a 12-1 record and a 2.40 ERA. Not to mention he threw back-to-back one-hitters.

So you may be asking yourself, "Why isn't Dickey starting?" The answer: Buster Posey can't catch a knuckleball.

An "All-Star" catcher can't figure out, or be bothered to figure out, how to catch Dickey's signature pitch.

I don't know what's gone on behind the scenes. Maybe Posey wanted to catch Dickey. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he didn't have an issue with it. But in the end, LaRussa made the final decision.

(Side note: Don't pitchers in the ASG normally throw just 1-2 innings anyway?)

According to The New York Times, LaRussa stated that he also wanted to, "Honor Cain's 'career of excellence, and it's getting better and better.'" 

Forgive me, but I thought the 2012 All-Star Game was about honoring those who have shown excellence in, ya know, 2012. 

Dickey has taken the nation by storm. He has become a feel-good story. Always the underdog, he has fought to get where he is today and it's finally his time to shine.

None of that matters apparently.

Hope everyone enjoys watching the American League vs. The San Francisco Giants tomorrow night.