Terry Francona's Scott Kazmir Dilemma Reveals MLB's All-Star Problem

One of the more compelling dramas late in Tuesday's All-Star Game (well, Wednesday morning's) was how Terry Francona and Clint Hurdle would manage their bullpens with limited options available.

Specifically, Joe Buck and the intolerable Tim McCarver went to great lengths talking about how the Tampa Bay Rays told Francona not to use left-hander Scott Kazmir, except in dire circumstances. That's fine. I have no problem with Kazmir, Brandon Webb, or Tim Lincecum not wanting to pitch.

They have every right to put their teams first and treat the All-Star Game as an exhibition game. If I were Joe Maddon, there is no way I would want my somewhat injury-prone ace going just two days after throwing 104 pitches.

But if that's the case, why keep him on the roster?

David Ortiz and Alfonso Soriano are both All-Stars. Like Kazmir and Lincecum, they are unavailable to participate in the All-Star Game. Unlike the pitchers, Ortiz and Soriano opted out of the game because of their injuries. Replacements were named to each team, and the teams were left with full benches.

If this game counts, and these games are forced to end, give the teams full pitching staffs, too. If you don't want to pitch for your league's All-Star team, give that privilege to someone else.

If he was still awake, Mike Mussina had to be wondering why the American League might have had to forfeit the game or switch Kazmir with a position player.

Either scenario would have cheapened the game considerably. If the game is supposed to count, both teams need to have enough pitchers to complete a game. 15 innings won't happen often, but if it happens again, the two managers will have the exact same problems.

Unless, of course, Major League Baseball fixes the stupidity that is the All-Star Game.