Joe McEwing, WAR model

[Warner2BruceTD]

So legend has it that Joe McEwing's career was used as the 'base' for the 'R' in WAR. Basically, McEwing is the prototypical 'replacement level' player, and the formula was developed around his stats. I don't know if this is true, but a lot of people say it, so the legend has grown.

McEwing has been retired for some time now, having played during the steroid era. Lately baseball has swung in the other direction, particularly in the last two years, to the point that many experts think we are in the midst of the latest pitcher friendly era.

With that said, wouldn't the standards for a 'replacement level' player have changed? Based on the WAR formula, who in today's game is the AAAA-replacement model?

McEwing: http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...cewijo01.shtml

[NAHSTE]

Holy shit, McEwing has a career bWAR of 0.5 in nine seasons. Literally the most average career ever.

As for current players, Don Kelly comes to mind. Very replacement level.

[Warner2BruceTD]

How the hell does Don Kelly's 2010 season with a slash line of .242/.272/.374 with a OPS+ of 73, add up to a 2.0 WAR???

This is why it's hard to take WAR very seriously sometimes. Especially bWAR with the wacky defensive values.

[EmpireWF]

SUPER JOE

[NAHSTE]

How the hell does Don Kelly's 2010 season with a slash line of .242/.272/.374 with a OPS+ of 73, add up to a 2.0 WAR???

This is why it's hard to take WAR very seriously sometimes. Especially bWAR with the wacky defensive values.

I'm guessing the 12 games he played in CF skewed his positional value, but I have no idea.

[Woy]

Little Mac!

[EmpireWF]

Joe as 10-for-38 with five doubles off Randy Johnson.

[Goober]

I'm guessing the 12 games he played in CF skewed his positional value, but I have no idea.

He had a 59.5 UZR/150 in the 90 innings he played in CF in 2010. That number isn't sustainable over a full season. Fangraphs has his war at 1.3 for that season. I've always preferred Fangraphs WAR and the use of UZR, but that's just me.

[Warner2BruceTD]

He had a 59.5 UZR/150 in the 90 innings he played in CF in 2010. That number isn't sustainable over a full season. Fangraphs has his war at 1.3 for that season. I've always preferred Fangraphs WAR and the use of UZR, but that's just me.

It's not just you.

Didn't BRef recently scrap their old fielding WAR formula? If so, long over due, and hopefully no longer broken. Brandon Phillips, negative value fielder. Clint Barmes, totally awesome.

[NAHSTE]

It's not just you.

Didn't BRef recently scrap their old fielding WAR formula? If so, long over due, and hopefully no longer broken. Brandon Phillips, negative value fielder. Clint Barmes, totally awesome.

Yes, they recalibrated it literally minutes before I cited Andruw Jones' dWAR in a HOF discussion. It ruined my credibility.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I see Clint Barmes is still woefully overrated, but some other players look better now.

[Guest]

How about Bill Hall?

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1605&position=3B/SS

Take out his two outlier seasons, or just the one with 5.2 WAR, and he's damn near replacement level.