Can All-Star catastrophe be avoided?

If you happened to still be awake, near 2 a.m. Wednesday, you saw perhaps the biggest celebration from an All-Star manager, as Justin Morneau lumbered home and squeezed into home plate, inches in front of Corey Hart's two-hop throw.

Terry Francona looked like a kid coming down the steps on Christmas morning.

Sure, he was excited about the American League winning - and the home field advantage that comes with it.

But Francona was visibly elated because he wouldn't have to decide whether or not to use Scott Kazmir for a second inning.

The Rays management had already asked Francona not to use Kazmir, because he threw 108 pitches on Sunday and has had recent arm problems. But Francona was out of bullets, so after using George Sherill for 2 1/3 innings, he took a deep breath and went to the lefty.

Some may say that Francona mismanaged his pitching staff. That using Francisco Rodriguez for 1/3 of an inning in the 9th, then bringing in Mariano Rivera was a waste.

That's debatable.

But managers have a tough job, trying to manage all these high-priced arms, while at the same time trying to get everyone into the game.

Here's the solution: Pitcher at least the first three guys two innings each. Clint Hurdle did so, partly because Tim Lincecum was in the hospital with flu-like symptoms. But he knew Brandon Webb didn't want to pitch and he had more arms at the end.

Although even Hurdle was on his last guy, Brad Lidge, who could've gone another inning or two.

What would have happened if Michael Young's sacrifice fly wasn't quite as deep and Morneau got thrown out?

We probably would've seen either J.D. Drew or Evan Longoria come in.

And on the N.L. side? I hear CF Nate McLouth has a stifling 81-mph fastball.

At least we would've seen a lot of runs scored. But talk about a bad way to end things.

This isn't Little League. And every player should be content enough to just be on the team.

Who cares if you have three or four guys left at the end of your bullpen when the game ends. To me, if there's going to be something like home-field advantage attached, managers should manage like it means something.

Otherwise, let's strip the "meaning" from the game and call it what it is: Just another exhibition.