Ever made a girl swoon for you? Now, obviously I’m writing this from the angle of a guy, asking the question to other guys, even though if you listen to the podcast maybe we should change that direction after Grey being called effeminate in the most recent episode (haha!). But before you puff up your pride and answer that question in your head, ‘Well, yeah!’ let’s play the comparison game. Teddy Roosevelt says ‘Comparison is the thief of joy,’ and if ole Teddy is right then let me sap your joy for a moment: none of us could serenade and swoon like Frank Sinatra. Dude’s timeless, suave, and the epitome of cool. But why in the world am I beginning a fantasy baseball post by discussing Frank Sinatra’s game? Because even the best of ’em need a little luck.

Typically I argue that fantasy football requires much more luck than fantasy baseball, as the length and grueling nature of the season allows for managers to actually manage themselves into the playoffs and further. It’s a fallacy to believe that luck isn’t involved, though. In ‘Luck Be a Lady,’ one of Sinatra’s most iconic songs, he tells the story of needing Lady Luck’s presence to win his bet. In order to win your league, you better start swooning that scantily-clad dame of fortune as soon as you can. How? Nail the draft, avoid the DL, and pick up the right hitters at the right time. I’m here for the last one, you could probably use some help on the first one, and we’re gonna need a lot of help with that middle portion for this week’s Creeper of the Week (and even the honorable mention).

• Jed Lowrie, 2B/3B (18.7%) – I’m not a gamblin’ man, but I’d gamble on Lowrie this week if you’re in a pinch at either 2B or 3B slots. Or, if you’re like me and tired of a few names, want a fresh start from guys like Anthony Rendon (smh), Lowrie may be a great addition. Proceed with caution, though, because he’s bound for the DL at some point after only eclipsing 400 ABs twice in his 9-year MLB career. He’s already nursed a sore calf this season, but he’s also started to rake. While he will miss time, he’s one of the few MI options who can get near an .800 OPS. He’s cemented in the middle of an underrated A’s lineup and is hitting .314 without a crazy inflated BABIP. For now. Does he crack the Top 100? No. And I don’t know that he will this year, but if you’re clawing through the scrap heap he’s one of the hotter names in the bin by hitting north of .400 the past 15 days. If you’re waiting on Kang, tired of dealing with disappointment at MI or just lost Valencia or Gennett to the DL, he’s a solid fill in. While luck’s on his side. Oh, and the honorable mention? Another frequent friend of the DL: Michael Saunders, OF (16.5%)

Enough creeping…Here are your Top 100 Hitters for Week 5! With lots of shakeups further down!

The Top 100 Hitters

Dropped from Rankings: Dee Gordon (30), Anthony Rendon (66), Kendrys Morales (74), Delino DeShields, Jr. (80), Jonathan Lucroy (82), Kole Calhoun (83), Mark Teixeira (86), Brandon Crawford (91), Sin-Shoo Choo (93), Brandon Phillips (100)

• A comment was made two weeks ago about me being crazy for ranking Mookie Betts over Miguel Cabrera. Hopefully one month in it’s clear to everyone now who the better option is. I moved Mookie up to a 1st round grade this week, and an argument could be made Top 10 over Cutch and Stanton. He really is that good across 5 cats, and the average should rise. Meanwhile Cabrera may be hanging onto Top 25 status solely on his name and track record. He’s gotta turn it around here in the power department soon to garner that high of a ranking.
• See ya later Dee Gordon. I love how all the comments immediately went to Barry Bonds being his hitting coach, but he tested positive for stuff you’ll find at Kroger, not a BALCO lab. Let’s calm down on demolishing the potential reclamation that is Barry Bonds. But, Dee…c’mon man! This probably hurts a lot of owners, and there’s not an easy replacement in Miami. Gordon wasn’t living up to his 2nd round grade this year, but he’s worth the stash if you have the bench spot. 50 games of Dee Gordon could still win your a couple points in SB in roto leagues.
• And, as you noticed, Gordon wasn’t the only name dropped from the rankings. Listen, we’re one month in now and I’m not playing the draft/name value game anymore. Now, be smart about it, but Michael Conforto is a better option than Corey Dickerson. I don’t care where they were drafted. Every name removed could creep back in eventually, but they’re all just…meh. I’ll take the hotter name at their positions right now over every one of them.
• If Ian Desmond keeps this up he could really shake up the fantasy landscape with that SS eligibility.

Agree? Disagree? Who did I miss? Drop those comments!