For Pittsburgh Pirates fans, Tony La Russa, National League manager in Tuesday's 76th baseball All-Star Game, deserves boos for allowing Pirate Jason Bay to wind up the only position player on either all-star squad not to participate.

That was in contrast with American League manager Terry Francona's decision to use three pitchers in the game's final inning, to get as many players into the game as possible.

It was baseball's showcase, after all, and the fans who attended paid to see all of baseball's finest during the mid-summer extravaganza - this year held at Detroit's Comerica Park.

La Russa should have made it a point to allow every member of his talented squad to display his skills in the all-star contest, even though the Pirates as a team aren't exactly "burning up" the National League or its Central Division. Bay is having a great year, however, and he deserved to play on Tuesday in Detroit.

Had he been allowed into the batters' box, he might have helped change the National League's fortunes in the game. The American League won the game, 7-5.

Perhaps when La Russa's St. Louis Cardinals come to PNC Park, the Pirates' faithful will vocally express their displeasure at LaRussa's player-substitution skills, especially when he's on the mound to remove a pitcher.