Update: "Of course I was disappointed I didn't get in the game, but it's not a big deal," Pujols said. "People are making a big deal about it, saying I don't respect Tony or that he disrespected me. Are you kidding?"

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Judging by the meltdown in message board land, Cardinals fans haven't been this upset since Don Denkinger was a World Series umpire.

To play or not to play Albert Pujols was the question. Manager Tony La Russa's answer was no.

In an All-Star game featuring a St. Louis manager, the only St. Louis player watched the entire affair from the dugout.

Pujols' absence became obvious in the bottom of the 9th. The National League had started to rally, a two-run homer from Alfonso Soriano cut the American League lead to one run. The NL then loaded the bases with two outs before Phillies center fielder Aaron Rowand lifted a flyball to end the game.

Tony's explanation -- he was saving Albert in case the game went to extra innings.

Albert's response? He was "angry" according to the AP report.

"It's the All-Star game. He can do what he wants," Pujols said Tuesday night. "He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here."

The San Francisco Chronicle had a little more nuanced version of the events.

It was hard to tell if Pujols was upset with La Russa or not. Shortly after the game he said light-heartedly, "Maybe he was saving me for next year's game." Later, however, when a reporter mentioned that La Russa told reporters his reasoning, Pujols snapped, "Did he explain why? If he did, I don't have to explain anything."

There are a couple of ways of looking at this -- one would be the narrow focus on the game and the proper strategy. The other would be the larger picture of the relationship between a manager and his best player.

As for the game strategy, La Russa offered this reasoning.

"Once we lost (Miguel) Cabrera and (Freddy) Sanchez, he was the guy we were going to use to protect ourselves in case we kept playing because of Albert's versatility," La Russa said. "I think we had the right guy at bat."

Somebody help me out here -- I'm not following this. How was Sanchez "lost"? The box score shows him as the third baseman at the end of the game.

The play-by-play summary shows he made an assist on the last out in the top of the 9th.

Was he hurt?

I suppose Sanchez was lost from the bench but as an active player, he was eligible to play wherever La Russa wanted to put him.

Pujols could have pinch-hit for Rowand and played left field (or third base and let Sanchez play left). Soriano, who was playing left field, could have slid over to center for extra innings.

Rowand had struck out in his previous at-bat. With the bases loaded and the game on the line, how could he not give Pujols a chance?

The larger issue here is the relationship between Tony and Albert, and what, if any, lasting impact this will have.

La Russa has endured player feuds before. He and Scott Rolen didn't see eye-to-eye in last year's playoffs and the Cardinals ended up World Series champs.

But a manager in post-season play has a lot more leverage than one who's 40-45 and in third place.

I think it's all up to Albert. If he continues to feud with his manager, and the Cardinals struggle the rest of the year, it's the final nail in the coffin. La Russa's St. Louis career will be over. Why pick a fight with your best player at the All-Star Game?

But if Albert takes out his punishment on opposing teams and the Cardinals turn things around, this will end up as some silly dust-up that's quickly forgotten.

Whether he knows it or not, the Cardinals manager just put his fate in the hands of his first baseman.

So, Albert -- does he stay or does he go?

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MLB.com has a more detailed quote behind La Russa's reasoning.

"As soon as Cabrera got hurt, the guy who [had been] our versatile, protection player was Freddy Sanchez, and he became our [backup] third baseman," La Russa said. "If you look at the guys who are left, who's the guy who has that versatility? It's Albert Pujols. We're required to be ready to play extra innings. So where are you going to use Albert? You can't use him. You've got to protect him."

Albert is apparently so versatile, he can't be used.