Pat Burrell.

BY ROB SHAW
sportsnet.ca

A major flaw for fantasy managers is valuing a player based solely on past results. That can lead to fantasy managers sticking with a player in their lineup, despite disappointing production.

It's time to realize that players who may have won fantasy leagues in the past could be the very reason why a fantasy team is struggling now.

Here's a look at some past successes who are currently fantasy failures.

1) Pat Burrell, OF, Giants

THEN: 2008: 33 HR, 86 RBI, .250 AVG

NOW: 2010: 14 HR, 45 RBI, .251 AVG

Just 21 home runs shy of 300 for his career, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 draft is now a hired slugger for the San Francisco Giants. For some reason, Burrell lost his power in Tampa Bay. He struggled throughout the 2009 season with the Rays blasting just 14 homers with a .221 average, and he was even worse this season with two homeruns and a .202 average in 24 games before signing with the the Giants. Once again in the National League, Burrell has improved with a .274 average and 12 bombs in 60 games. While he remains a very-streaky hitter, the 33-year-old Burrell could be a streaky source for power.

2) Jim Thome, DH, Twins

THEN: 2008: 34 HR, 90 RBI, .245 AVG

NOW: 2010: 17 HR, 44 RBI, .269 AVG

The White Sox are usually right on the money when it comes to personnel decisions, but they clearly dropped the ball on Jim Thome. The veteran slugger who is just 19 homeruns shy of 600 for his career struggled last season with 23 homeruns and a .249 average in 345 at bats. They then traded Thome to the Dodgers who used him as a pinch hitter. During the off-season the former Indians slugger signed with the rival Twins. Thome has been a part-time designated hitter for the Twins, but his .588 slugging percentage is actually 30 points better than his career average. Thome, even at 40-year's old, is still a legit power source for a Major League contender.

3) Bill Hall, 2B, 3B, OF, Red Sox

THEN: 2006: 35 HR, 85 RBI, .270 AVG

NOW: 2010: 16 HR, 38 RBI, .243 AVG

For several years the Brewers looked for ways to get Bill Hall into their lineup, as he appeared to be a promising prospect who hit .291 with 17 homeruns and 18 steals in 2005 and then blasted 35 homeruns in 2006. As it turned out, Hall would never again be able to live up to that hype. He combined for 29 homers the following two seasons and was limited to a part-time role by 2009. The Red Sox then signed him this off-season as a utility player capable of playing both the infield and outfield. After hitting just eight homeruns last season for the Mariners and Brewers, Hall's power has returned this season with 16 round-trippers. His continued struggles to make contact and a .243 average, however, will likely forever keep him in a part-time role.

4) Andruw Jones, OF, White Sox

THEN: 2008: 41 HR, 129 RBI, .262 AVG

NOW: 2010: 17 HR, 40 RBI, .210 AVG

We love to discuss Andruw Jones, because no other player clearly went from being a future Hall of Famer to a washed-up veteran. Just two years after blasting 41 dingers for the Braves, Jones hit just three for the Dodgers. Last season, Jones signed with the Rangers and offered 17 homers in a part-time role. This year, Jones remains in that role for the White Sox, and earlier in the season he belted his 400th career homerun. Jones has blasted a solid 17 homeruns this season with a surprising nine steals (the most in nine years). However, his average sits at .210, which will keep him in a part-time position, and even though he is just 33-year's old and has 405 homers under his belt, Jones will never be enshrined in Cooperstown.

5) Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies

THEN: 2004: 32 HR, 96 RBI, .347 AVG

NOW: 2010: 4 HR, 21 RBI, .247 AVG

A career .325 average is normally worthy of the Hall of Fame, but Todd Helton has been helped a great deal by Coors Field. The 37-year-old first baseman owns a .357 career average at home compared to a .292 mark on the road. However, even home-cooking can't help Helton anymore. Though he batted .325 last season, Helton has not hit as many as 20 homeruns since 2005. His bat speed is slowing down and he no longer warrants a full-time role. Despite an impressive seven-year run as an elite Major League hitter, Helton will likely lack the longevity to earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

6) Travis Hafner, DH, Indians

THEN: 2006: 42 HR, 117 RBI, .308 AVG

NOW: 2010: 10 HR, 38 RBI, .268 AVG

From 2004 to 2006, Travis Hafner was a perennial MVP contender combining power with a high average. However, since the All-Star break of the 2007 season, success has eluded Hafner. After belting 16 homers with a .272 average last season, Hafner has just 10 homers with a .268 batting clip this season while enduring several injuries. He is bound to lose playing time to younger players with greater upside as the Indians continue to struggle.

7) JJ Hardy, SS, Twins

THEN: 2008: 24 HR, 74 RBI, .283 AVG

NOW: 2010: 5 HR, 26 RBI, .263 AVG

Just 28-year's old, JJ Hardy is plenty young, however, by now he should be in his prime. Instead, his best season came in 2007 when he blasted 26 homers with 80 RBI. While injuries have severely hampered Hardy's development, his total of 16 homeruns over his last 188 games played makes you wonder if his ceiling has been lowered. The Twins should be very concerned considering he has yet to hit a single homerun at home this season.