Peter Bourjos was one of my sleeper picks last year, so here we are doing our fantasy baseball 2012 sleeper posts with more of the same? Yawn! Hey, Random Italicized Voice, yawning and sleepers go hand in hand. I’m going to ignore you said that. Probably for the best. You know the Sciosciapath on the top step of the dugout down there in the Los Angeles Suburb of Los Angeles? He loves these players. These Peter Bourjos players. I’d argue — or at least state, as I’m about to do — that he’d give one of ‘these players’ 500 plate appearances even if they’re hitting .220. Alberto Callapso saw 536 plate appearances last year just for rolling out of bed and getting to the ballpark on time to walk The Rally Monkey around the grounds so it didn’t shat in Scioscia’s office. To go further, Bourjos’ glove will keep him in the lineup. Like Michael Bay on a movie set, he’ll have his 500 PAs. With or without Mike Trout, as the slightly-crazy Angel fan karaokes. So that preemptively answers your “What about Mike Trout question?” So what can we expect of Peter Bourjos for 2012 fantasy baseball and what makes him a sleeper?
It’s easy to write off Peter Bourjos as a speed-only guy and move on. But where are you moving on to? Is this a metaphorical ‘move on’ like when you go to a bar and put the metaphorical moves on metaphorical ladies? He’s not a speed-only guy. Last year, he had a .167 ISO, which would have him sandwiched between Torii Hunter and Billy Butler — Butler, “Did someone say sandwich?!” Now these two guys aren’t huge power threats, but have some power. Same with Bourjos. If Bourjos can bump up his homers per fly ball, he could get to 17 homers. I know, I know, and if Tom Cruise were taller, he could see the top of Katie Holmes’s head. Know what else those two other players don’t have? 35 steal speed like Bourjos. One year in the minors, he stole 50 bags. That he only stole 22 bases last year is surprising. He should be able to roll out of bed, walk The Rally Monkey for Callaspo and steal 30 bags. Next year, I’ll give him the line of 85/15/50/.255/35 with considerable upside for more speed and a bit more power. Jeepers, creepers how about that sleeper?! Sorry, I’ll never do that again.
