Fantasy Baseball Sleepers 2012: Overhyped Names Sure to Stink Up Your Roster

Do yourself a favor when you're drafting your fantasy baseball team. Read this list, and stay away from the names on it. Fantasy baseball is too much of a grind to base your hopes around these guys. It will lead to disaster. 

Mark Trumbo, 1B, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Fantasy baseball is all about getting at-bats. If you're not getting to the plate, then the numbers are going to be very hard to come by. 

With Albert Pujols coming to town, it's going to be hard for Trumbo to get those at-bats. Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells, Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout will need to compete for three outfield spots. 

Alberto Callaspo is at third base, and if he returns, Kendrys Morales' bat is too strong to keep out of the lineup. Even with the designated hitter, Trumbo is going to have a hard time finding consistent at-bats. There are only so many spots in the lineup. 

Even if Trumbo does find consistent at-bats, he'll be focusing a lot on defense, as Trumbo will be playing an uncomfortable position. That is usually a recipe for tough numbers on offense. 

The lack of at bats will help his average, but the counted categories will be down.

ESPN Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
53	22	70	6	.252

Realistic Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
47	14	59	2	.271

Jemile Weeks, 2B, Oakland Athletics

While fantasy numbers are based solely on the individual, you need help from your team to get those numbers. The Athletics lack the offense to get Weeks in when he gets on base. 

Sure, he will be on base a lot and will steal a great amount of bases, but nobody will be able to drive him on. When Weeks is batting, nobody will be on base to get Weeks the necessary RBI. 

What all of this amounts to is a highly one-dimensional player. Oakland just won't give Weeks the help he needs to compliment the high stolen base total.

ESPN Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
69	4	51	27	.284

Realistic Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
51	2	44	41	.278

David Freese, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals

If you take one lesson from this draft, let it be this: Do not be sucked in by Freese's stellar postseason. You will end up regretting it. Remember, this is a team that lost Albert Pujols. His absence is going to hurt anyone. 

Fantasy owners everywhere are going to reach for this guy remembering that he won the NLCS and World Series MVP. Still, Freese has not given enough production in his career to be anything more than a late-round flyer pick. 

If you expect Freese to repeat his postseason performance and reach for him, your team will suffer. 

ESPN Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
56	13	73	1	.285

Realistic Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
55	11	68	3	.278

Alcides Escobar, SS, Kansas City Royals

This is more or less the shortstop equivalent of Jemile Weeks, only he's not quite as good of a hitter or as prolific at stealing bases.  

This is offset a little bit by the fact that the Royals have a better offense than the A's, but the numbers aren't going to be there. Do not reach for Escobar. Shortstop is not the deepest position, but there are still many options that will bring you better overall punch. 

Even his reliable statistic of stolen bases isn't that good when you consider that shortstops tend to steal bases. Other players at that position will be right around Escobar in steals but much better in other areas. 

ESPN Projections: 

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
71	4	45	25	.263

Realistic Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
64	2	37	22	.248

Melky Cabrera, OF, San Francisco Giants

If I have learned one thing watching games at AT&T Park since 2000, it's that lefties don't put up good numbers. I will grant you Barry Bonds, but I have 12 seasons of disappointing left-handed hitters to offset that. I also know that Cabrera is a switch hitter, but most pitchers are right handed, so most of his at-bats will be from the left side. 

Cabrera has struggled to find a consistent swing all throughout his career. The pitching in the National League West is much better than it is in the American League Central, and the parks are generally much easier to pitch in. 

Don't expect Cabrera to be valuable for you. He will be an okay player for the Giants, but his fantasy value is minimal. He won't be better than average in any category. Now consider that he's an outfielder, which is supposed to be a big position. Let someone else deal with frustration. 

ESPN Projections: 

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
84	15	73	16	.287

Realistic Projections:

Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	Average
76	9	52	14	.276

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