The Best of FanGraphs: May 22-26, 2017

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 and blue for Community Research.

MONDAY
It’s Time for a Pitcher to Throw 80% Breaking Balls, by Eno Sarris
I’m not sure I agree, but Eno makes a compelling case.

Projecting Anthony Alford, by Chris Mitchell
I love Projecting Season.

TUESDAY
The 2017 Draft Sortable Board and Thoughts on the Class, by Eric Longenhagen
It’s not officially draft season until the Sortable Board comes out. And now, it’s out!

Baseball’s on Track for Another All-Time High, by Jeff Sullivan
Surprisingly, this wasn’t an article about the stores in the general vicinity of Coors Field.

More Plate Coverage Isn’t Necessarily Better, by Ryan Pollack
A very interesting piece from Ryan, who continuously has original ideas.

Christian Yelich’s Growing Pains by Jan Moffett
Jan is troubled by Christian Yelich’s averageness, but is still hopeful that he will become the franchise player he has appeared on the verge of becoming.

WEDNESDAY
The Preposterous Mike Trout, by Nicolas Stellini
He’s really built himself up into something. And not in a George Costanza way.

The Yankees and the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment, by Travis Sawchick
I agree with the premise of this article, and I even learned some psychology too! BONUS!

Red Sox Prospect Jalen Beeks Is Breeding Contempt in the Eastern League, by David Laurila
Poor Jalen. It’s not his fault his dad stole the orange crop reports.

Really not a nice guy though. Yeesh.

The Unwritten Rules, by Justin Mason
You had questions. Justin had answers.

Jake Lamb’s Remarkable May & Continued Outlook, by Randy Holt
Randy puts it succinctly in his conclusion — how can you not be excited?

THURSDAY
It’s Not Time to Talk About the Brewers, by Dave Cameron
Although, that’s precisely what he did in this article.

The Dodgers Basically Have a Six-Man Rotation, by Travis Sawchick
Sometimes a thing happens even when a team doesn’t brand it as such.

FRIDAY
Joey Votto Has Just Simply Stopped Striking Out, by Jeff Sullivan
Betting against Joey Votto is something that you shouldn’t do.

Prospect Stock Watch: Dubon, Farmer, McKenzie, by Marc Hulet
Some interesting players in here, including a player the Red Sox might regret trading eventually.

Remembering the First Major Leaguer to Die in War, by Mike Bates
Mike writes his long-awaited first piece for THT, and this touching story does not disappoint.