The Best of FanGraphs: August 17-21, 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, dark red for The Hardball Times, orange for TechGraphs and blue for Community Research.

MONDAY
The Collapse of the Nationals, by Dave Cameron
As far as Nationals hitters go, there’s basically Bryce Harper and everyone else.

How To Use R for Sports Data, Part 3: Projections, by Brice Russ
Though this did not help me project when I’ll learn to love again, it’s still a good piece. Read the other two as well.

The Currently Exploding Jackie Bradley, Jr., by Matthew Kory
JBJ is finally getting his bat to catch up to his amazing defense.

TUESDAY
Sergio Romo’s No-Dot Slider Revealed, by Eno Sarris
Eno has a really great look at the mechanics behind and results of Romo’s famous slider.

Chris Davis’ Incredible Feat of Strength, by Craig Edwards
This is why Chris Davis wins every Festivus.

The Change: Velocity Gainers and Losers, by Eno Sarris
Eno gets mentioned twice on the same day because he’s a great writer and he gave me $20 to say so.

WEDNESDAY
The 2015 In-Season Prospect Update, by Kiley McDaniel
Make sure to look at the list, and if your favorite player isn’t listed, let Kiley know about it in the comments and on social media.

David  Cone on Pitching, by David Laurila
Just a couple ‘o Davids chatting about pitching. A very good look at a pitcher’s mentality.

THURSDAY
The Dodgers Can’t Afford Their Bullpen Problem, by Owen Watson
I mean, technically the Dodgers can afford almost anything, but that’s not really Owen’s point here.

VR’s Sports Invasion is Coming: Part 1, by Seth Keichline
The upside of the inevitability of all of us wearing VR headsets is that I finally won’t have to feel self-conscious about my terrible eyeball acne.

The Evan Gattis Triples Game, by dodski85
Big dude hits triples. You wont be sorry you clicked.

FRIDAY
Clayton Kershaw Chases Zack Greinke, Nerd History, by Neil Weinberg
Clayton Kershaw is a good pitcher, it turns out, and Neil Weinberg is ON IT!

The Physics of the Dog Days of Summer, by David Kagan
Really great research, though whoever decided on that image at the top needs a stern talking to.