Nelson Cruz is for real.

Did you ever buy something trendy and had buyer's remorse? Maybe the latest techno-gadget or perhaps those sneakers that everyone just had to have?  A couple of months later you were wondering, "What was I thinking?"

Assembling your fantasy team is a lot like shopping. You can't have everything. You have to make some tough decisions. Those decisions can be influenced by what you hear and read. Each spring the fantasy groupthink will elevate some 20-somethings into breakout candidates. That nudges them up spring draft boards, higher than their credentials warrant. Sometimes the trendy spring picks pan out (for better) and sometimes they don't (for worse).

For Better

Nelson Cruz, OF, Rangers:  Cruz was a trendy draft pick this spring based on a strong showing late last season. The Rangers called him up for the last five weeks of the season and he hit like gangbusters: .330 with 7 HR in only 115 at bats.  Cruz was either a late-bloomer, at 28, or a flash in the pan.  Cruz is now validating last year's success.  Texas' cleanup hitter is hitting .291 with 17 HR and a .961 OPS. He’s for real.

Jayson Werth, OF, Phillies: Werth is another late-bloomer, turning 30 this year. In 2008 he played his way into the lineup, finally becoming a regular. Werth hit 24 HR and stole 20 for in his breakout season.  Would Werth, a trendy pick, repeat his success in 2009? He is on pace for 24 HR, 30 SB and 110 runs scored.  A recent slump dropped his average to .255, but he should hit somewhere between his career average (.262) and last season’s .273. 

Denard Span, OF, Twins: Span was a popular choice when you were looking for speed in the later rounds of fantasy drafts.  Span, 25, blossomed last year in Triple-A and earned playing time with the big club.  Span played roughly half a season in Minnesota, hitting .294 with an impressive .387 OBP and 18 steals.  Span has not lost a beat, hitting the same .294 in 2009 with a .383 OBP and 12 steals.

Andre Ethier, OF, Dodgers: Ethier, 27, shares an outfield with Matt Kemp and Manny Ramirez, so he can get over looked by the average fan -- but, not the fantasy fan.  Ethier was a trendy selection this spring based on last year's .305 average and 20 HR. A slump lowered his average from .302 on May 1st to .255 on June 1st. Ethier got his bat going again and has his average is at .271 and climbing. He is on pace to surpass last year’s totals in homeruns, RBI and runs scored.

For Worse

Billy Butler, 1B, Royals: Butler has an excellent minor-league history, hitting .336 over the course of four seasons.  Since arriving in Kansas City in 2007 Butler has hit .282.  Butler is only 23 and has the potential to be a .300 hitter for a long time. That's what made him a trendy late round pick.  The problem with Butler is he has shown little power in the big leagues.  Even in the minor leagues, his power numbers declined from a high of 25 HR in single-A ball in 2005. At a very deep position, Butler may never hit enough homers to be a starter in mixed league formats.

Howie Kendrick, 2B, Angels: The 25-year old Kendrick was poised to move into that upper echelon of second basemen, in the same conversation as Utley, Pedroia and Kinsler. Fantasy owners that missed out on the big three, were happy to snap up Kendrick. In the spring the only question was, how good would Kendrick be if he got 500 at bats? This summer the question is what the heck happened to Kendrick?  He is mired in a season-long slump, hitting only .229, 65 points below his career average.  Manager Mike Scioscia has benched Kendick on occasion for Maicer Izturis. If this continues much longer, the Angels will be tempted to give minor league prospect Sean Rodriguez a shot.  Kendrick's ownership is at 60% and falling.

Chris B. Young, OF, Diamondbacks: The 25-year old Young is a four-tool talent with 30/30 potential. People that drafted Young expected to take their lumps in the average but to make up for it on the other categories. Nevertheless, .178 is a little tough to swallow.  The power is down too, only 4 HR, and Young strikes out every fourth at bat.

Mike Pelfrey, SP, Mets: Pelfrey, 25, took a step forward last season. He was 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA -- good enough to make him the Mets' number 2 starter going into 2009. At times Pelfrey has pitched like number 2.  Pelfrey has a winning record despite a bad ERA (4.85), nearly as many walks as strikeouts (23:26) and a high WHIP (1.50).  The Mets are missing big chunks of their batting order, so Pelfrey can't count on his continued good fortune.

Sean Marshall, SP, Cubs: Marshall, 26, pitched well last season with a 3.86 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 65.1 innings.  He seemed like a safe choice as the Cubs' fifth starter. However, Marshall has been out pitched by rookie Randy Wells, and with the imminent return of Rich Harden, he's out of the rotation.  His fantasy value shrinks to zero.