[DC 86]

I think WAR is a nice analytic for salary negotiations.  Certainly it tells us something.  I’m just sick of it being the be all end all.  But then I think mathematicians have turned baseball into the Three True Outcome fest that it is. I guess that’s just the old Phogge in me…..

And finally, I do think intangibles matter.  And that good baseball people throw those into the equation as well.

Intangibles, eye test and analytics are not (or at least IMO should not be) mutually exclusive.

I haven't disagreed with any of this in this thread or in general.

WAR is not the end all, especially the publicly available versions.
Analytics have certainly changed the way the game is played, perhaps for the worse from a fan standpoint.
Intangibles matter and are actually quantified through various models by front offices in their evaluations, especially with regard to the amateur draft.

My argument is that WAR is the best starting point for holistic player evaluation that we have, and dismissing out of hand it as part of any discussion about a player's merits makes the discussion itself pointless. To paraphrase Churchill: it's the worst form of player evaluation, except for all the others.

[DC 86]

I think WAR is a nice analytic for salary negotiations.  Certainly it tells us something.  I’m just sick of it being the be all end all.  But then I think mathematicians have turned baseball into the Three True Outcome fest that it is. I guess that’s just the old Phogge in me…..

And finally, I do think intangibles matter.  And that good baseball people throw those into the equation as well.

Intangibles, eye test and analytics are not (or at least IMO should not be) mutually exclusive.

I haven't disagreed with any of this in this thread or in general.

WAR is not the end all, especially the publicly available versions.
Analytics have certainly changed the way the game is played, perhaps for the worse from a fan standpoint.
Intangibles matter and are actually quantified through various models by front offices in their evaluations, especially with regard to the amateur draft.

My argument is that WAR is the best starting point for holistic player evaluation that we have, and dismissing out of hand it as part of any discussion about a player's merits makes the discussion itself pointless. To paraphrase Churchill: it's the worst form of player evaluation, except for all the others.