GregAlso

Shane, there has been some great advances through linear weights about the value of a players offense. That is definitely becoming possible to quantify and compare. It is defense and pitching that is difficult right now. That is where WAR can break down. As the variables are better understood the stat will greatly improve.

I agree it's over relied upon (you can read my last blog and know that,) but its not useless. It is a point of reference to compare and start a conversation. Understanding it is helpful and gives overall perspective. No it isn't 100% perfect. Yes, a player helps & WAR helps us quantify that in terms of runs (10 runs=1 Win.) It is a start that helps frame a discussion, not end it. Understanding how it works helps know where it's weak just like understanding the weakness of traditional stats helps us too. There has yet to be developed a perfect stat. There are just a series of stats that we can look at to get a complete picture. Shane, where you asking me in your post?

No Shane, not 24 different players but a player like those 24, for which those 24 players are examples of last year. Each year other players are examples of it. It is a player that can easily be had on the waiver wire but is valuable enough to be a major league backup/part time starter. Someone slightly better than a AAA player. What other fixed point should we compare them to? Huh?

At its basic level WAR compares how many RUNS a player is personally responsible for adding or preventing. Pitching and defensive WAR is still developing as a true understanding of what is controllable or what a player is personally responsible for is not complete yet.

If you agree that the team who out scores the other wins than any amount of runs a player adds through offense or takes away through defense helps determine the wins/losses of a team. If you don't agree then yes it's bogus.

Read the FanGraphs article and you'll see exactly what a replacement player looks like and what every player is being compared to. To have a discussion we need a fixed point to compare them to to determine their value. Troll, WAR is meant to be a comprehensive counting stat, which means it'll incorporate playing time, to help start an overall comparison between players. The other stats compare specific parts of a players game. WAR allows us a comprehensive look to compare across seasons and eras.

Alright, every year I see posts about this game I'm very intrigued. I don't have a gaming system to keep myself productive. I've considered getting a xBox to play the moving/excercising type games. Does this game appear on that platform or maybe on my pc? Just wondered

Agree Brian. It isn't the end all stat but it is useful. This "reporter", used loosely, makes no real point in his piece except a replacement level player is mythical. He just isn't smart enough to realize that to compare players we must have a point of reference. A truly ridiculous stat would be one that changes it's name each year, ie Wins Above Matt Downs or Wins Above Scott Cousins. So a composite is made and called replacement level. Here is a good article about it that totally refutes this drivel. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-recent-examples-of-a-replacement-level-player/

Stormngt, here is a quote from an article posted today about Hamilton. Take it as the apparently you need some kind of phd to understand how much better Josh is than Torii. "3) Is he really that much better than Torii Hunter? According to WAR, not not even close (Torii was nearly two wins better according to fWAR and rWAR but Josh was a little better according to WARP). A lot of that was Hamilton rating out with a very rough defensive season versus a very good one for Hunter. One would have to believe that Hamilton would bounce back with the glove this season now that he is no longer being forced into center field though. However, he does bring some more things to the table than Torii does. Obviously, Josh is more talented than Torii and a lock to have a better season this year, however Hamilton is being asked to replaced Hunter's overachieving 2012 production. It could be a bit much to ask for him to replicate that OBP given Hamilton's obvious discipline issues, but he will easily post better power numbers. What I really like about Hamilton though is he gives the lineup some balance with a left-handed power bat in between Pujols and Trumbo. That should help the lineup on a bit of an intangible level that WAR can't capture as could his ability to protect Pujols, if you believe in the whole lineup protection myth."

The beauty of MLB.com At Bat is you have access to the radio feeds for all games. Only way I know to do that since KLAA isn't allowed to stream them. Good app. Don't know the others.

Anybody know anymore about this? I heard it for the first time today on the radio. All I heard is there will be a Trout cheering section similar to Hernandez's King's Court. Each person gets a t-shirt and 'fish sticks' to cheer with. Anybody know more about it? Where it is in the stadium? Left field, by the bullpen? Also, are season seats sold in the section? Just curious and didn't see any other posts about it.

I tend to agree Homebrewer but I've seen articles about Hamilton not being an upgrade over Hunter. I was more trying to find an angle to respond to those. I just thought the response of the casual fan was the best way to engage the discussion in a fun way.

The assumption made about the 1-out contact play is it should allow the hitter to get to second while the play happens at the plate or the runner at third is in a run down. Thereby a runner at second with 2 outs isn't much worse than a runner at third, minus the infield hit.

Thanks guys! That's my hope to try to make it interesting, accessible, and yet still utilize all the sabermetric stats available. Glad to be aboard!

Hmmm... JeDi Mindtricks and Angels Moneyball anyone? Smart moves we will have to wait and see the payoff to.

Looks like we can scratch his name off the 25 man for awhile. I imagine Cordero or Kobayashi or one of the young guys is moving up in the mind of JeDi. I kind of hope Bobby accepts minor league assignment.

I think it's cool what he's doing but I wonder what the Angels think about his trademark? They sell outa here shirts from Terry's HR call and I imagine they'd want to sell LTBU shirts in the future too. This could be interesting. Love the cause VR is supporting.

18-20 pounds in 10 days!! I want to know which diet that is. We could make a killing! I see the whole thing: The Baseball Diet.

Yep, can't get it on tunein app either. Had to default to MLB.com At Bat app. Free today to listen but it looks like I'll have to buy it.