The Best of FanGraphs, June 29-July 3, 2015
Each week, we publish north of 100 posts on our various blogs. With this post, we hope to highlight 10 to 15 of them. You can read more on it here. The links below are color coded — green for FanGraphs, brown for RotoGraphs, purple for NotGraphs, dark red for The Hardball Times and blue for Community.
Monday
It’s not just BABIP-driven. He really is hitting like a .600 hitter.
Catchers: Can’t Live Without Them, But They’re All Dead
Is it new helmets? Is it new balls? Is it a new Plague? We’ll never know, but Carlos Santana is counting his lucky stars that he got moved out from behind the plate!
A look at the new cannibalistic fantasy leagues taking over Ottoneu.
Tuesday
David Price: Remind Us How He Became an Astro…?
After sixteen trades over the past twelve months, David Price takes a turn at the top of the Astros’ rotation.
Can You Find The New Stat Somewhere On Our Player Pages?
When you do, please explain it to us. We’re not sure how it works.
Okay, Mike Moustakas, I’m Finally Starting to Get Convinced You Are Not That Great at Hitting
.091/.121/.262 since last year’s All-Star Break. Well, okay, maybe let’s give him a few more weeks.
Which Starters Haven’t Had Tommy John Surgery?
None of them. None of them.
How Many Hairs Are in the Average Mustache, and is it Different for Hitters than Pitchers?
A six-month research study funded entirely by reader contributions, both financial and bodily.
Wednesday
Investigating our country’s achievements-above-replacement-militia in the latest Middle East conflict.
A Retrospective Analysis of High School Ballplayers, 1881-1885
Long, but worth the read.
Did the President’s Announcement that the World is Ending Affect the West Coast Games?
Shutout and 14K for Kershaw. So I think we’re doing fine. Although this does explain the whole catcher situation, we think.
Thursday
How Should ZIPS Treat What We Assume Will Be A Partial Season?
If the world’s going to end, we assume play will stop for the year. Will your favorite projection formula be able to accurately assess the impact?
Can you Justify Playing Fantasy Baseball Even as the World Ends?
In a follow-up to yesterday’s Presidential announcement heralding the end of life on Earth for 85% of all species including humans, can you justify taking the time to play fantasy baseball? Or is it in fact even more important at a time like this?
Pictures of players flipping their bats into the circles of flames that will apparently devour us all quite soon.
Friday
George Springer on Home Runs, Strikeouts, and the Future of the Astros
We already had this is the queue, so we didn’t think it made sense to pull it. (Editor’s note: yes, we realize the future of the Astros is now very much in doubt.)
The Rising Cost of Tickets During a Time of Anarchy, by Wendy Thurm
At this point, conditions have started to deteriorate and the government has abdicated responsibility. Should you still trust online ticket brokers?
Your Dream Co-Owners in the Afterlife
We asked our RotoGraphs writers to weigh in on who they’ll be asking to join their leagues as soon as we all arrive on the other side.
For real this time. There is no food left.
Thank you for stopping the meteor, Alex. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for saving us all.
Jeremy Blachman is the author of Anonymous Lawyer, a satirical novel that should make people who didn't go to law school feel good about their life choices. Read more at McSweeney's or elsewhere. He likes e-mail.
What else could stop a meteor besides A-Rod and his A-Steroids?