For instance, in the aftermath of Texas Rangers’ third baseman Adrian Beltre’s hamstring injury, which has landed him on the disabled list, Richard Durrett writes for ESPN.com:
Perhaps the best measurement of Beltre’s worth is Wins Above Replacement or WAR. Basically, it looks at the wins a player adds above what a “replacement level” player would do. ESPN Stats & Information (shout out Joshua Kritz) tells me that Beltre had a value of 3.6 entering Friday’s game, the second-highest on the club behind Ian Kinsler (4.5 entering Friday). To put that in a little perspective, the Rangers are three games up on the Angels. So three-plus wins certainly matters.
No knock against Beltre and Kinsler, both quite valuable players, but is “WAR” short-changing a particular Ranger?
Let’s repeat what Durrett writes about “WAR:”
“Basically, it looks at the wins a player adds above what a ‘replacement level’ player would do.”
Some very simple numbers tell us that the Rangers have a 41-21 record with outfielder Josh Hamilton in the lineup this season and a 16-22 record with him out of the lineup—most of the missed games when he was recovering from a broken bone in his upper right arm.
Maybe I’m not understanding what “Wins Above Replacement” means, but it must not matter much that Texas is playing .661 winning baseball with Hamilton and .421 without him.
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1. McCoy Posted: July 23, 2011 at 11:41 PM (#3883987)Correct.
Hamilton's injury kept him out from April 12 to May 23.
Nelson Cruz had an injury that kept him out from May 3 to May 23.
What color are his eyes?
You jest, but I actually did run across a similar statement about the Cubs when Felix Pie played a few years ago; Pie, of course, was primarily used as a defensive replacement, which is a substitution that's made when the team is ahead in the late innings.
I recall, many decades ago, running across a similar statement about the Orioles when Jim Busby played back in the late '50s/early '60s.
There have always been fools, damn fools, and junk statistics. Thus it shall ever be.
30-7 when he merely makes an appearance. Surely, to guarantee a playoff spot, they need to get Feliz in more games.
In 1976, the Phillies were 95-35 when Jerry Martin played.
No doubt why the Cubs traded for him.
What kind of logic is that? They're a mere 10-7 when he doesn't get a save. You're better off starting Derek Holland. They need to save Feliz for save situations only. Give the rest of his innings to Dave Bush or somebody else useless like that.
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