With baseball honoring its All-Stars next week, I’ve decided to honor the game’s No-Stars this week. These players earned their spots on my No-Star team by playing worse than any other player at their position over the first half of the season. Extra points go to former All-Stars who are having particularly dreadful seasons.

Keep reading to find out who made the team…

Catcher: Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers (.248, 1 HR, 23 RBIs)
The two-time All-Star didn’t come close to making the team this season. A career .280-hitter, Martin hasn’t hit for power or average this season. Luckily, the MLB-best Dodgers haven’t missed his production at the plate.

First base: Jason Giambi, Oakland Athletics (.198, 11 HRs, 40 RBIs)
It seems as if Giambi left his swing in New York. The A’s slugger is on pace for career lows in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Maybe he should try bringing back that ugly mustache. Or just stop trying to hit a home run every time he’s up.

Second base: Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels (.227, 4 HRs, 22 RBIs)
When you’re a contact hitter, you’re supposed to be doing a little better than Kendrick at the plate. The Angels former prized prospect has nearly as many strikeouts (40) as hits (45) in 2009.

Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies (.224, 7 HRs, 33 RBIs)
The 2007 NL Most Valuable Player might be this year’s Least Valuable Player. Rollins hit only .167 in June and endured a career-worst 0-for-28 slump. Most scary of all: his .276 on-base percentage, which is more than 70 points lower than it was last season.

Third base: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (.244, 14 HRs, 43 RBIs)
Sorry, A-Rod. But when you’re getting paid $28 million dollars a year, you can’t be hitting .244. Like Rollins, Rodriguez is happy to see June in his rearview mirror after batting only .207 in the month.

Outfield: Chris Young, Arizona Diamondbacks (.196, 6 HRs, 21 RBIs)
Young might be the worst-hitting everyday player in the league. His strikeout total (70) almost surpasses his hits and walks combined (76). With his .196 average, the Diamondbacks likely would have turned to someone else if they had anyone else worth playing by now.

Outfield: Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs (.227, 14 HRs, 32 RBIs)
It looks as if Father Time is catching up with Soriano. The seven-time All-Star, once an annual 40-40 threat, has slowed on the base paths and at the plate this season. He beats out teammate Milton Bradley for a coveted spot on the No-Star team.

Outfield: Rick Ankiel, St. Louis Cardinals (.227, 5 HRs, 22 RBIs)
Maybe Ankiel should go back to pitching. Nevermind, I take that back. But the Cards’ centerfielder hasn’t had much luck hitting this season. At the halfway point, it doesn’t look like he’ll get anywhere close to his power numbers from last season (25 HRs, 71 RBIs).

Starting pitcher: Chien-Ming Wang, New York Yankees (1-6, 9.64 ERA)
Wang had a lot of competition for this roster spot, but it’s impossible not to acknowledge his awful performances this season. The pitcher who tied for the AL-lead in wins (19) in 2006 is nowhere to be seen. He’ll be lucky to keep his rotation spot through 2009.

Relief pitcher: Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies (Six blown saves, 7.06 ERA)
Lidge hasn’t closed much of anything this season. Opponents are hitting .300 against the Phillies’ closer as Lidge continues to have control issues. His six blown saves are tied for most in the MLB.

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