Just think of the WARs as ways to quantify the value of a player’s contribution. You don’t need to ignore traditional metrics, although some like RBI & pitcher wins

Posted on August 9, 2026 at 09:34:26 AM by brick (edited August 9, 2026 at 09:35:10 AM)

are understood today as far less meaningful than they once were since they reflect so many other players’ contributions.

One thing that has changed dramatically since the 1980s-90s is that singles hitters who don’t hit HRs have very short tenures. That means there are very few guys who hit >.350 in a season now, and the guys who might get 3,000 hits are also great power hitters (eg Freddie Freeman).

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i’ve been a huge baseball fan most of my life 60s 70s and 80s and just a casual fan more recently, but am I the only one that doesn’t care at all about whip and war and all other modern statistics - I still don’t know what they mean nm - By sim August 9, 2026 at 09:08:59 AM
- I’m not into the super nerd stuff like BABIP or Fpa etc but I think of OPS and whip as simple improvements on what we grew up with…. - By Rich August 9, 2026 at 10:16:49 AM
  - I should add I am not as big of a far of war. I think it overvalues defense - By Rich August 9, 2026 at 10:21:01 AM
    - isn't taking away a hit from the other team just as valuable as getting a hit for your team? - By DoctorD August 9, 2026 at 10:32:40 AM
      - It is chances driven though, right? So you can be a good fielder who doesn't get many chances. Also I don't think it credits first basemen for difficult putouts on throws - By Rich August 9, 2026 at 10:49:30 AM
        
        there are a couple different ways to do it, but basically just measuring how many outs you generated compared to a league average defender at your position* - By DoctorD August 9, 2026 at 11:40:34 AM
- Just think of the WARs as ways to quantify the value of a player’s contribution. You don’t need to ignore traditional metrics, although some like RBI & pitcher wins - By brick August 9, 2026 at 09:34:26 AM
  - Is it that the slap hitters have short tenures, or is it that they have now spent years practicing driving the ball harder? Luis Arraez is the extreme outlier today - By DoctorD August 9, 2026 at 09:49:56 AM
- I suspect you are not alone. And not knowing what those stats mean doesn't mean you don't care about them, you just don't know what things they are demonstrating that you do care about - By DoctorD August 9, 2026 at 09:23:17 AM

The Victors

Just think of the WARs as ways to quantify the value of a player’s contribution. You don’t need to ignore traditional metrics, although some like RBI & pitcher wins