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Hello Razzballers! Happy Sunday before the non-waiver trade deadline. *Pops party popper* Today I bring you a Creeper that feels more like a buy, but because Josh Rutledge is only 7.4% owned, he qualifies for my purposes. This is the time of the year that we need to make moves fast, cut the dead weight and change how we value our players ROS. When an opportunity arises we need to jump on it like Sky at a creepy Korean mask sale. Josh Rutledge is this opportunity, and we need to do it while the getting is good. When Tulo went down for his annual DL visit, Josh got his chance to be the post post-hype sleeper we know and loathe. He was Brad Miller and Jedd Gyorko before we even knew them. One thing I have always felt about Josh is that his manager has been one of the driving forces to both mine and Josh’s frustration. When you jerk a player around with his development, you start to mess with their psychological approach. I’ve watched this over the years and never understood it. The Sciosciapath and the Maddening Hatter come to mind first. Excuse me for a second while I go punch some holes in the wall.

Okay, I feel better, now let’s get on to the business side of things. We always viewed JR as a play at home guy, but that’s not necessarily the case this year. To date, he has batted .300 with 3 HR’s on the road as opposed to .314 with zero HR’ at home. Yes guys, this is correct, he has no home dongs this year. The sample size is small, like turtling at the beach, but it’s what I have to work with. He opens his week with four games at Wrigley and finishes with three at Detroit. There is little history at either park or with either staff but that’s not stopping me. Tsuyoshi Wada, Edwin Jackson and Travis Wood strike no fear in me and neither does Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello or Anibal Sanchez. The only pitcher that scares me is when he faces Jake Arrieta on Thursday. One thing in his pocket is he’s been batting second in a Rockies lineup that is 1st in batting average, 3rd in runs, 4th in RBI’s and 3rd in HR’s. You don’t put up these kind of numbers with the Coors Correction alone, the road has been good to them. Since July 19th he’s hit safely in every game with 5 of those being multi hit performances with 5 runs, 1 HR, 9 RBI’s, 4 doubles and triple. This is the very definition of a Hot Schmotato. Add him now and thank me later. I like him better than Scooter Gennett, who’s hurt and Kolten Wong, who came back to earth. If you are scratching and crawling your way back to the top then I would grab Rutledge and move on from some of these other guys.

Bonus Creepers: Power Edition

Juan Francisco (14.2%) – started hitting again and looks ready for another bout of hotness. It doesn’t take me much to jump on a guy that can get hot fast and then die just as quick. Just sit him vs. lefties unless the Jays do it for you.

Mark Reynolds (11.2%) – the NL version of Juan Francisco who feasts on the souls of right handers and makes dongs rain all over the place. A great batty call and nothing more

Josh Willingham (9.6%) – starting to heat up again and if any of you remember the last time he got hot saw his ownership hit the high 80% realm. Over his last 19 AB’s he’s put up a 4/2/4 line. Yummy!

Mike Moustakas (6.8%) Three dongs the last week and not sucking the life out of your patience if you have used him. I have! Grab while the getting is good and don’t fear dumping when the tank is empty.

Before I close this out I want to share a little about the great bachelor party I attended last weekend. Bachelor parties are such a random series of events that singularly would make for a good little story but collectively leave you with a lifetime of hazy memories. My liver is still pissed at me but it was worth it. A few things I learned was that you always need “that guy” at the party. My buddy Satchel Paige was either kicked out or not allowed into more places than he got into. I think TSA and the airlines wouldn’t even let him go home after one of the all time epic benders. If your too drunk to see then ask for help, no bouncer will let you in the bar if you hand him your CVS wellness card instead of your ID and lastly, if you get lost don’t call your wife because she’ll call everyone else panic stricken and kill a good time. Who calls their wife from a bachelor party at one in the morning? Please don’t ever do that. Never ever ever ever do that!!! Bottom line is I had a blast, found out that a bloody mary and a dip in the ocean is a great cure for a hangover and that if you are going bald to just own it like Red Foreman. Yes, that’s you T-Dog. I’ll see you all Tuesday when I take over the RCL round-up from Jay for the rest of the season. Peace! I’m Out!