Meet notable members of the Mendoza Line All-Stars

	Richie Sexson has a knack for putting up bad first-half stats. Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

By John Rakowski, Special to SI.com, SportsGrumblings.com

Mario Mendoza hung up his spikes a quarter century ago, but the light-hitting Pirates, Mariners and Rangers shortstop set a standard for mediocrity that is a benchmark to this day. The Mendoza Line, set at .200, sets a bare minimum of performance. Below that, you're either a pitcher or packing your bags for Triple A.

A typical fantasy league will have about one-third of the players in the majors. That's presumably the top third. Normally your fantasy roster should not have anyone near or below the Mendoza Line. However, at this early stage of the season there are still some big names "traveling on the interstate." Many are due for a rebound and might come cheap in a deal. For others it's a sign of something more ominous and you should cut your losses. You could field a Mendoza lineup with these struggling stars.

For Better

1. Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies: Howard started slow and has tapered off, flirting with the Mendoza Line at .204 through Wednesday. Last year at this time, he was hitting .300. Still the power numbers are similar -- five homers in April this year versus five homers in April last year. Howard really took off in May in 2006 and never looked back. He will come around.

2. Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox: Konerko finished April on the interstate (.198), rose above the Mendoza Line and then got back on the interstate again. He has been a notoriously streaky hitter during his career. Having a 6-for-46 spell is nothing new to him. In spite of the streakiness, he is a lifetime .280 hitter. No cause for alarm.

3. Richie Sexson, 1B, Mariners: Sexson is hitting .167 and only had his first multi-hit game of the season on Wednesday. Nevertheless, he has been a slow starter throughout his career (.248 hitter before the All-Star break, .290 after). In 2006 he hit .218 in the first half of the season versus .322 in the second. Don't feel compelled to start him every day until June, when he usually heats up.

4. Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pirates: Like Sexson, LaRoche's average (.164) looks like a disaster. Also like Sexson, he is consistently slow starter. LaRoche is a lifetime .218 hitter in the month of April. He is already showing signs of coming out of his slump. July/August/September are typically his best months.

5. Andruw Jones, OF, Braves: Jones saw his average slide down to the .220s before a two straight two-hit games on Tuesday and Wednesday got him back up to .241. Jones is in the walk year of his deal, which usually gooses a player's stats, but he may be pressing and putting pressure on himself. Jones has been one of the most consistent power hitters of the last decade. He is only 30, so bat speed should not be an issue. He is a safe bet to rebound.

Honorable Mention

Rafael Furcal, SS, Dodgers: Struggling with an OBP of .300 and only three steals so far. Furcal tends to start slowly, especially the last four seasons.

Michael Young, SS, Rangers: Another slumping shortstop like Furcal, Young has had better run production so far. He 's starting to hit and leaving the Mendoza Line in the rearview mirror.

Joe Crede, 3B, White Sox: Another disappointing start for a White Sox hitter. Must be something in the water at U.S. Cellular Field. He has no injuries or other concerns and could just be caught in the offensive malaise that has afflicted the White Sox.

Carlos Delgado, 1B, Mets: The age (35) is a concern, but he went hot and cold last year too. Looking more comfortable lately.