Perfection has its perks.
San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain beat out New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey as the starter for the National League All-Star team. The New York Daily News was first to report the selection, citing an unnamed source.
Even though Dickey has the better record and ERA, throwing to Giants catcher Buster Posey - who has never seen his knuckleball - could have played a role in Cain's selection over Dickey.
At least, that's what Dickey thinks.
"If I'm brought into the game - because you only have two catchers now, and Buster Posey hasn't seen me at all - and all of a sudden here he is with seven warm-up pitches, that's a whole different animal," Dickey said Sunday of the Giants' All-Star catcher.
Nevertheless, Cain will be the starter and he is very much deserving as he sports a 9-3 record with a 2.62 ERA and his perfect game against Houston on June 13.
According to FoxSports.com, Cain will face the Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander.
For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. For complete coverage of the All-Star Game and all things MLB, check out Baseball Nation.