MLB All-Star Game: Each team’s worst All-Star selections ever
Boston Red Sox – Mark Loretta (2006)
It used to be that playing in a major market was a sure way to garner All-Star votes. Sometimes, it is the only sure-fired way to make the game outside of playing for the manager. The former was the case for Mark Loretta in 2006.
After being acquired by the Boston Red Sox prior to the 2006 season in exchange for Boston legend Doug Miraelli, there were some heavy expectations in place for Loretta when he arrived. After struggling out the gate in April (.218/.282/.297), Loretta caught fire in May, hitting .404/.442/.495. Given that most of the voting is cast during the season’s second month, Loretta was seen as the second coming of sliced bread. The only problem is there were six better slices of bread.
Loretta’s 0.6 WAR at the All-Star break ranked 7th in the American League, behind such luminaries as Luis Castillo, Tadahito Iguchi, Jose Lopez, and Mark Grudzielanek. Of those four, only Lopez was chosen to the game as a reserve, with Robinson Cano (who ranked 9th) won the other back-up spot. In fact, A.L. WAR leader Brian Roberts spent the game watching from home.
Loretta would see two plate appearances in the game, but ultimately was a non-factor. Interestingly enough, Lopez would enter the game and play third, while Cano didn’t see any action. Instead, back-up shortstop Michael Young was inserted at second base and took home the game MVP, delivering a two-run triple off of Trevor Hoffman in the top of the ninth inning to give the A.L. the win.
As for Mark Loretta, he would have been better served with the midseason break. He slumped to .261/.335/.331 in the second half and found himself in Houston in 2007.
Next: Chicago Cubs - Jerry Morales (1977)