Weighted on-base average is a catch-all offensive metric that addresses deficiencies in other offensive stats. <0 WAR: Below replacement level ( Kendrys Morales)Ģ-3 WAR: Solid starter ( Jackie Bradley Jr.)Ħ+ WAR: MVP ( Giancarlo Stanton) wOBA: Weighted On-Base Average They also include positional adjustments, because, for example, playing shortstop is more difficult than playing first base and more difficult positions should be rewarded in a metric that compares players of all positions.Īs provided by Fangraphs, below is a rough WAR scale that tracks pretty well across the different calculations with an example of a player in each range from the 2017 season (by Fangraphs’ numbers): The three main types of WAR are from Baseball Reference (bWAR or rWAR), Fangraphs (fWAR) and Baseball Prospectus’ Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP). Fangraph’s WAR bases the pitching portion of their metric on Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), a metric (explained later in this piece) that attempts to strip a team’s defensive contributions out of a pitcher’s stats. For example, Baseball Prospectus’ calculations include added value to catchers who frame pitches well and steal strikes. The longer the sustained contributions, the higher the WAR.ĭifferent outlets use different stats and methods to calculate their versions of WAR, putting slightly different emphases on various aspects of the game. It is a stat that accumulates contributions over time.
Unlike, say, batting average, one solid game doesn’t produce a perfect WAR - 4-for-4 is a 1.000 average, but one incredible game of baseball won’t produce a high-caliber WAR. Every 10 runs added or saved equals 1.0 WAR - for example, 20 runs is 2.0 WAR.Īs in life, it’s difficult to produce significant value without putting in the time necessary. Since the universal goal of the game is to win games, these run totals are converted into wins. While the basis of the stat is wins added compared to that of a replacement-level player, its calculation centers around the number of runs a player adds offensively and the number of runs he saves his team either defensively or on the mound.
This number compares a player’s actions to the expected contributions of an easily available replacement-level player - think your typical minor-league free agent or quad-A player. Likely the most widely used sabermetric concept, Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is a metric that attempts to distill a player’s contributions into a single number. If you have questions or feedback after reading, please let me know in the comments, where we can continue the discussion. We won’t tailor our coverage only to those well-versed in sabermetrics and ostracize those who aren’t, but if you’re interested in these concepts, we want to help you understand them and grow your knowledge of the game. We’re not here to tell you that you’re dumb if you’re not a stathead we’re here to provide you with information that will allow you to fully immerse yourself in and better appreciate some of our stories. Here, we want to lay out many of the topics and statistics driving the analytic community that we will reference in stories. The analytic baseball community continues to grow, as do the tools the community relies on. Which brings me to the topic of this piece. These fans want to consume the game in a more in-depth and knowledgeable fashion. Many fans no longer want to just know that a pitcher is pitching well, they want to know why he’s pitching well, and whether that success is sustainable, in addition to hearing the pitcher, coach and general manager’s opinions on the matter. In the current climate, many of baseball’s most interesting stories are found at the intersection of the game’s humanity and its vast statistical troves. In addition to compelling reporting and insight, we aim to set our coverage apart with a keen eye toward analytics and an ability to mesh those numbers with stories that get to the heart of the game. The stories and human aspects of baseball are still as vital as ever. Given both the Phillies front office and new coaching staff’s predilection for analytics, this will be even more crucial in covering the franchise this season and in the future. In the 21st century baseball landscape - where top-down organizations and you, the fans, are more well-informed than ever before - it’s important for us to understand and embrace the sabermetric advancements impacting the game. One thing we will not shy away from is analytic content. Our staff is dedicated to providing you with the highest quality Phillies coverage available. We here at The Athletic Philadelphia are thrilled to have our baseball coverage firing on all cylinders with spring training under way.