EXTRA BAGGS: Cain or Dickey to start for NL All-Stars?

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BOX SCOREWASHINGTONBuster Posey hasnt received any guidance orhints from major league officials on whether he should be ready to catch NewYork Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in the All-Star game.

NL manager Tony LaRussa seemed to drop hints on a conferencecall that hell wait to use Dickey until catcher Yadier Molina, whose defensehe knows and trusts, replaces Posey behind the plate.

Dickey is considered a top possibility to start, along withthe Giants Matt Cain. Dickey probably didnt aid his cause by allowing fiveruns on 11 hits in seven innings while getting a no-decision in the Metsvictory over the Phillies on Thursday.

Cain was doing more to aid his cause when he led 5-1 in theseventh at Washington. But he gave up a pair of home runs and his 10thvictory disappeared when Jeremy Affeldt and Santiago Casilla combined to losethe lead in the Giants 6-5 loss.

Posey said he isnt worried about whom hell catch. He wasglad to hear that Dickey plans to bring a special, extra-large sized catchersmitt to Kansas City for the All-Star Game. He also has the phone number forJosh Thole, the Mets catcher. He said former teammate Andres Torres passed italong to him.

But right now Im focused on what we need to do, Poseytold me. After Sunday, maybe Ill give him a call.

The Giants have a few amateur knuckleballers hanging around.Bruce Bochy throws a pretty good one. So does bullpen catcher Bill Hayes. AndBochy can offer advice gleaned from his experience working with Phil Niekroduring his playing days in Houston.

I wont lie, Bochy said. Sometimes the game becomes nofun. You almost become a goalie back there, and it gets a little embarrassing.

In case it isnt abundantly clear, Posey has never caught aknuckler before.

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Aubrey Huff took batting practice and fielded ground ballsat first base but didnt start for Single-A San Jose Thursday night.

Huffs knee was sore following Wednesdays game, the firstof his minor league rehab assignment. Observers said he looked gimpy whiletrying to score from second base on a single.

Huff is remaining with the club and its hoped he will beable to play on Friday, San Jose announcer Joe Ritzo reported on his Twitteraccount.

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Bochy took advantage of Wednesdays 11:05 a.m. game to pulla July 4 doubleheader. He drove nearly two hours to see the night game atDouble-A Richmond.

His son, Brett, didnt pitch. Hed gone in two of theprevious three games, and the Flying Squirrels didnt have a save situation. SoBochy wasnt going to demand a special command appearance. But he liked what hesaw.

They played well, Bochy said. (Tommy) Joseph crushed one,(Gary) Brown had a great night and (Ehire) Adrianza had some kind of gamedefensively, and he hit a double and a homer.

So I got to see one Giants win yesterday.

Good thing Bochy wasnt able to go to Thursday nights game.Their former top prospect, Zack Wheeler, dominated his former buddies in 7 13innings in Binghamtons 5-1 victory.

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Bochy is being consistent while taking Pablo Sandoval out forlate inning defense. As I understand it, Sandoval will be allowed to play tothe end once he hits a certain weight on the scale.

The late-inning moves paid off several times, including inMatt Cains perfect game. But newly entered shortstop Brandon Crawford bounceda potential double-play throw on the games final play.

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What was Ryan Zimmermans view of the play, when AdamLaRoche rolled a ground ball to second base with the bases loaded? WouldLaRoche be fast enough to beat it out?

Zimmermans thoughts at the time:

Hopefully Adams fast enoughActually I know hes notfast enough, Zimmerman said. Hopefully they mess it up.

And with that, on to Pittsburgh

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