New thought about a slight improvement to WAR

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

While I disagree WAR is a pure counting stat (it can be negative, which to me disqualifies it) it can have that affect over a long average career. How about we calculate ABs per WAR.

For example

Pete Rose Achieved 1 WAR every 176 AB's
Ichiro Achieved 1 WAR every 167 AB's
Harold Baines 1 WAR every 256 AB's
Craig Biggio 1 / 165
Scott Rolen 1 / 103
Ted Williams 1 /63

My only other thought is maybe I should do it out of PA's and not AB's since walks figure so prominently in WAR using AB's almost rewards walks twice.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

While I disagree WAR is a pure counting stat (it can be negative, which to me disqualifies it) it can have that affect over a long average career. How about we calculate ABs per WAR.

For example

Pete Rose Achieved 1 WAR every 176 AB's
Ichiro Achieved 1 WAR every 167 AB's
Harold Baines 1 WAR every 256 AB's
Craig Biggio 1 / 165
Scott Rolen 1 / 103
Ted Williams 1 /63

My only other thought is maybe I should do it out of PA's and not AB's since walks figure so prominently in WAR using AB's almost rewards walks twice.

Just rename negative WARs as LAR* or WBR** and eliminate the minus sign. Only the kids in Lake Wobegon are all above average. One problem solved.

* Losses above replacement

** Wins below replacement

Linking the metric to Plate Appearances might well be useful though

[bn2cardz]

I look at it per season. WAR, though, is not a purely offensive stat (Offensive WAR is a thing, maybe that is what you are talking about). So for your purposes it may be more accurate to go off per game.