No all star game for these guys....

            The All Star game is meant to bring together some of baseball’s finest players onto one field for a nine inning game. Having the starters voted in by the fans helps ensure that the people can watch the players they want to see.

            On the flip side, there are those who are not in the All Star game. While there could be injuries involved for some players, others have just grossly underachieved, especially when compared to the size of their contract.

            Without further ado, the 2008 Star(r) Struck Non—Stars:

Catcher: Jason Varitek, Boston Red Sox

            When people complain about deserving players who get snubbed for the All Star game, the blame usually falls on players like Jason Varitek. Despite hitting a measly .220 for the year, Varitek has actually been named to the real All Star game.

First Base: Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

            With his team in first place in the AL Central, it wouldn’t be too far fetched to assume that a lot of that has to do with the production that Konerko is providing in the middle of the lineup.

            Well, that’s not really the case here.

            Konerko finds himself with a paltry .217 batting average – and that’s after raising it 13 points with a recent 4/4 night - and only nine home runs. If Konerko ever finds his misplaced bat, then the White Sox’s should have no problems running away with the Central division title.

Second Base: Freddy Sanchez, Pittsburgh Pirates

            It’s not surprising that the Pirates are once again in the midst of yet another mediocre season. What is surprising is that their hot hitting infielder isn’t really hitting. His .226 batting average is well below his .295 career average. And if he’s not hitting, he’s not getting on base considering his .251 on-base percentage (compared to his career .332 OBP).

Third Base: Melvin Mora, Baltimore Orioles

            At 36 years old, Melvin Mora’s career is seemingly winding down. However, at this rate, this may be it. His numbers across the board are below his career averages. To make matters worse, he’s already been caught stealing six times this year, twice as much as all of last season. So even though Mora has occasionally found himself on base, he’s been more than capable of finding a new way out.

Short Stop: Troy Tulowitz, Colorado Rockies

            After finishing runner up in the Rookie of the Year race and being a key piece in the Rockies’ unexpected run to the World Series, Tulowitz capped it all off with a big, fat contract extension. As a reward, Tulowitz has spent the year making different trips to the disabled list. When healthy, he’s been pinned below the Mendoza line with his .166 average.

Outfield: Gary Matthews (Los Angeles Angels); Jeff Francoeur (Atlanta Braves); Scott Podsednik (Colorado Rockies)

            People may remember Scott Podsednik as being the table setter for the 2005 World Series champions, Chicago White Sox. Right now, he’s eligible for an episode of “Where are they now?” After making a brief stop in the minor leagues, Podsednik is now a table setter for the underachieving Rockies.

            Jeff Francoeur went from being a main piece of the Atlanta Braves to being the centerpiece of the Mississippi Braves, the Atlanta AA club. After being recalled, Francoeur proclaimed that he felt “betrayed.” If he wasn’t hitting before, I’m not sure what Atlanta can expect for the rest of the year from their betrayed star.

            Gary Matthews was once famous for making acrobatic catches in the outfield. Then he became known as being one of the names in the steroid Mitchell Report. Now, he’s just some guy making $50 million dollars and hitting .235.

DH: Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians

            Oh where hath the man called Pronk gone?

            That’s what every Tribe fan and fantasy baseball player is wondering. Hafner, the Indians slugger, has looked completely lost while at the plate. Sure a shoulder injury has slowed him somewhat this season, but he wasn’t hitting much last year either.

            The Pronk used to be a player that could battle a pitcher over 10+ pitches and finished up with a double going to the opposite corner. The 2008 Hafner is a slugger just swinging his bat at any pitch that’s at shoulder-level or higher.

Starting Pitcher: Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants

            Some numbers to think about:

5.62 ERA.

            12 losses at the All Star break.

            $126 million dollar contract over seven years.

            While Zito hasn’t earned a cent of that contract, he has earned the distinction of owning the bad contract that all future busts will be compared to.

Manager: Willie Randolph, former skipper of the New York Mets

            The Mets were so frustrated with the performance of their team, that they couldn’t even wait for morning to arrive to give Manager Willie Randolph the boot. After the Mets’ monumental collapse last year, it really was only a matter of time before Randolph was let go. Despite bringing in Johan Santana, the Mets still hover around the .500 mark. So the front office thought a change was needed.

            They were so upset with the team’s performance that Randolph was fired before most American’s have had their first cup of coffee. He was dismissed before the sun even showed up.

            They were so fed up with Randolph and the floundering team, that the manager was let ago at 3:00…A.M.