MLB All-Star Game: Each team’s worst All-Star selections ever
Tampa Bay Rays – Lance Carter (2003)
Back in 2003, the Tampa Bay Rays were still known as the Devil Rays and they were a long way from being good. In fact, it would be four more seasons before they finally exercised their demons and started putting real All-Stars on the roster. However, for the years leading up to the name change, they had to deal with such luminary choices as Lance Carter.
A right-handed reliever, Carter was a classic “Devil Ray”, good enough to compete for their roster, but not quite talented enough to go elsewhere. Alas, he was good enough to be the Rays closer, at least as far as a 63-99 ball club would require. That was apparently the only real qualifier he needed in order to become the team’s lone representative at the All-Star Game.
During the first half of the 2003 season, Carter held opponents to a .246 batting average and locked down 15 saves. However, he did so by giving up a .425 slugging percentage and a meager 5.8 K/9 ratio. Things got a little rougher for Carter in the second half, when his ERA dipped to 4.73 and he tallied just 11 saves down the stretch.
Carter would put together just two more seasons in Tampa, but neither as the team’s closer. Three years after his lone All-Star Game, he was out of baseball.
Like Hasagawa, Carter was one late-inning arm too many, especially when A.L. WAR leader Pedro Martinez was left at home. Aubrey Huff, who put together a solid 3.1 win season, would have been a worthy selection, but the crowded outfield, DH, and first base situation made it a moot point. So, we get stuck with a lackluster All-Star in Lance Carter.
Next: Texas Rangers - Roger Pavlik (1996)