Isn’t it time to let go of the painful past?

I know all about the psychic wounds inflicted by outfielder Corey Patterson, now with Baltimore. Oh, that five-category potential he flashed with the Cubs. And the ensuing abuse: his .215-13-34 last year ruined your entire fantasy season.

You watched him whiff four times against the Brewers one Thursday night in June and nearly tore open that nice baby blue couch pillow your mom knit for you.

I’m guessing.

So I say this tentatively, knowing the traumatic memories it will dredge up: If you’ll just give him one more try, Patterson is going to help you win your fantasy league this year.

That’s right: Corey Patterson.

Patterson was available on the waiver wire in five of the nine mixed leagues to which I have access. That’s astounding, since any other player with numbers similar to his (.304-5-18 with 15 steals) is busy anchoring someone’s team.

He’s on the waiver wire because fantasy owners are bitter, bitter people who rarely forget the past. But sometimes, one needs to stop thinking about past seasons and trends in order to win.

The lesson is, occasionally players progress in surprising ways that couldn’t have been predicted. One only needs to look as far back as 2004 with Chris Carpenter to recognize that.

Patterson has new life and a great opportunity with the Orioles. Sure, he hit .310 with 10 home runs through May last year, too. And then tanked. We know all the facts.

It’s a new year, my friend. Forget everything you knew about the following players:

Forgive and Forget

Patterson, OF, Orioles

Perhaps no player in baseball has been more disappointing, more often, than Patterson. Billed as a can’t-miss prospect, Patterson has made an art of missing – pitches, mostly. So it’s not surprising that in many mixed leagues, he remains untouched despite stellar numbers. Reds SS Felipe Lopez is the only other player in the major leagues with at least five homers and 15 stolen bases. Manager Sam Perlozzo says he wants Patterson as a mainstay in center field, and is giving him the green light to steal constantly. This could be the year Patterson steals 40 bases and hits 20 home runs. Why not have him do it for your team?

Casey Blake, OF, Indians

Blake did hit 51 home runs the last two years combined, but what’s astounding about his start (.354-9-34) is that batting average. Blake hit .241 last season. Many think he can’t keep that up, but keep in mind that Blake has really improved his plate discipline. While he’s still on pace to strike out 116 times, his walk rate is up considerably, meaning he seems to be laying off bad pitches. So why shouldn’t this fine power hitter evolve?

Just Simply Forget

Felix Hernandez, RHP, Mariners

King Felix was supposed to be Dwight Gooden reincarnated. After a spectacular 12 starts last year at the age of 19, Hernandez was one of the most sought-after fantasy pitchers in drafts, and almost everyone was curious to see what he could do. So far, he’s been a rotisserie nightmare, allowing nine home runs in his first 49 innings, and an opponent batting average of .298. He appears to be throwing hard but without a lot of movement, and seems prone to big innings. His upside at this point is not terribly high. Wait until next year with Felix.

Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies

Granted, Helton was hospitalized for an intestinal ailment earlier this year, lost 10 pounds and spent a few weeks on the disabled list. But the fact is, even if Helton seems primed for another second half like he had last year (.367), it’s the power numbers that are concerning. Last year he only hit 10 home runs after the All-Star break. This year, he has only three in his first 116 at-bats. Might he hit .330? Sure. But so might Lyle Overbay. It’s time to downgrade the expectations of Helton, who simply doesn’t appear capable of 30 homers or 100 RBIs in a season anymore. He’s just not Mr. Clutch anymore; with men on base and two out this year, Helton is 1-for-15. Ouch.

Kerry Wood, RHP, Cubs

Which pitcher, considered among baseball’s elite, has never won more than 14 games in a season or had an ERA under 3.00? Wood is the guy. The injury-plagued hurler has now had eight years to put things together and it hasn’t happened yet. In his first two starts, he’s allowed four home runs in 10 innings. Punt with this guy. He’s not going to help your team.