The Best of FanGraphs: September 8 – September 12, 2014

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, orange for TechGraphs and blue for Community Research.

MONDAY
A Discussion About Improving WAR, by Dave Cameron
Jeff opened the discussion — or perhaps re-opened it is the more appropriate phrase. In any case, Dave continued it here, and then they hashed it out some more on FanGraphs Audio on Wednesday.

The Strike Zone’s Still Dropping, by Jeff Sullivan
But perhaps not like it’s hot? I’ll get back to you on that.

TUESDAY
Scouting Explained: The Mysterious Hit Tool, Pt. 1, by Kiley McDaniel
This was like the Fantastic Four of posts about scouting hitters. Or not. But there were four parts. Click here for Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

The History of Baseball in One Day, by Alex Remington
Six players help reveal a lot about our national pastime.

Ten Bold Prophecies for the 2014 Playoffs, by Bradley Woodrum
Poor Mike Zunino.

WEDNESDAY
Marcus Stroman Has Arrived, by Chris Cwik
Oh, INDEED.

Derek Jeter Day, 2038, by David G. Temple
“We always have corn with Derek Jeter Day dinner.”

October 27, 2011, by Craig Robinson
That’s a good question — I do wonder if the Astros’ owners were pissed about that!

THURSDAY
The Most Important Video Game Build of Ever, by Bradley Woodrum
If you grew up in the 1980s and don’t read this article, then you should feel shame.

FRIDAY
Scouting Rusney Castillo, From Video, by Dan Farnsworth
A great, in-depth report. And Dan hasn’t even seen him in person yet!

Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, and a Nice Problem to Have, by Eno Sarris
Most of the times, problems aren’t good to have. But every once in awhile, a problem is a good problem.

Annual What To Do Now That David Wright Is Hurt, by Michael Barr
Picking through the bones of the third-base market.

Quick Looks at Gausman, Carrasco, Nelson, Doubront, Turner, by Jeff Zimmerman
These posts are a refreshing change of pace, and have turned into a nice series for Jeff.

Review: “No No: A Dockumentary”, by Dayn Perry
I usually don’t see documentaries in the theater, but there are always exceptions, and this looks like one of them.

Could It Be Time to Update WAR’s Positional Adjustments?, by Chris Mitchell
This week at least, what WAR was good for was content, and Chris closed out the week with this thoughtful piece.