Second baseman Mark Loretta finds a home in San Diego: former utility player hit .314 with 13 homers and 72 RBI as a starter for Padres in '03

Baseball Digest, Feb, 2004 by Al Doyle

WITH THE MODERN EMPHASIS on home runs and swinging for the fences, it's easy to overlook the other aspects of baseball.

Consistently doing the so-called "little" things such as advancing runners, getting on base for run producers, and proper defensive positioning can mean the difference between victory and defeat in countless contests. Fundamentally sound play may not be spectacular, but it's an absolute necessity.

Those who enjoy baseball beyond the Home Run Derby mentality appreciate Padres second baseman Mark Loretta and his intelligent approach to the game. With an ability to play any infield position competently, a line-drive, high-average batting style and excellent bat control, Loretta is an ideal number two hitter and a valuable asset to the team.

Loretta closed out the 2003 season with a .314 batting average (ninth in the National League), 13 home runs and 72 RBI. It wasn't Loretta's first time above the .300 level. A career .297, hitter, the righty swinger hit .316 for the Brewers in 1998 and .304 for Milwaukee and the Astros in 2002.

Aside from moving to a new team, there was one other important change for Loretta last season. Instead of bouncing from one position to another, he played almost exclusively at second base. San Diego's willingness to keep Loretta in the same spot was a significant factor in his decision to sign a one-year contract with the Padres.

"I was looking for a team that would commit to me playing second everyday, because that's my best position," he said. "The Padres stepped up and said they would do that. The team has spring training in Arizona, where I have an off-season home. San Diego is also close to my parents. I grew up in Orange County."

Steady as always, Loretta committed just seven errors in 150 games for a .990 fielding percentage tops in the National League among players at his position. That kind of consistency with the glove has been one of Loretta's trademarks as a player.

As a member of the Brewers from late 1995 to August 2002, Loretta was somewhere between an everyday player and super sub. He was in the lineup most of the time, but his role and position changed constantly.

"Being versatile worked to my advantage early in my career," Loretta believes. "It allowed me to get more playing time. That's the case for a tot of young players, particularly infielders. It took some getting used to, and I would take grounders at all four infield positions before a game."

Ironically, the man without a position appeared in 425 games from 1997 to 1999.

"Fernando Vina and Jose Valentin played second and short for the Brewers when I was there," Loretta said. They had periodic injuries, so I would fill in. Even though I'm not a power biter, I played a lot at first base (70 games) in '98. It got to the point where I could pretty much anticipate where I would playing before a game."

Loretta's opportunity to become a regular shortstop was ruined by an injury.

"Davey Lopes named me the starting shortstop in 2000," Loretta recalled.

"Unfortunately, I broke my foot in June and never really came back all the way that season."

After hitting .289 in 102 games in 2001 as one of the few contact hitters on the only team with more strikeouts than hits in a season, Loretta found himself spending more time on the bench in 2002. He hit .424 in 66 at-bats after a late-season trade to the Astros. Despite Loretta's performance, Houston finished second to the Cardinals in the N.L. Central race.

"In my time at Houston, I mostly played third and batted in the number five hole behind Jeff Bagwell," Loretta said. "Getting Waded and having a chance to play in a pennant race was a blessing in disguise."

Loretta spent a fair amount of time batting third for the Padres until Brian Giles was acquired from the Pirates in late August, so he's not totally unfamiliar with being a run producer.

"I've taken pride in trying to drive guys in without hitting homers," he remarked. "I feel I've done a good job of it."

Loretta was named the Big 10 Conference's Most Valuable Player during his college days at Northwestern. When a player is named to such an honor in a major conference, the only question is where he will be drafted in the first round, but that didn't happen to Loretta.

He wasn't taken until the seventh round by Milwaukee. With an average infielder's arm and so-so foot speed, Loretta's physical tools don't make a smashing first impression, but his consistency and dedication to playing intelligently stand out in the long run.

"I'm not one of those five-tool guys," Loretta admitted. "I wasn't even drafted as a high school senior or college junior. I try to make up for that with smart positioning, fundamentals and thinking. People who are immersed in baseball realize that defense, pitching and doing things right makes the difference between a winning team and a second-division team."

Loretta's approach to the game has caught the attention of his fellow players and other baseball veterans. In a recent MLB.com poll, he was among the players mentioned most often as a candidate for a future job as a manager.