fWAR stands for “Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement” and is a statistic that is used to measure a baseball player’s value. This statistic was created to measure how much better or worse a player is compared to a “replacement-level” player at the same position. This statistic is a way to measure a player’s total value in all aspects of the game, including offense, defense, base running and pitching.
How Does fWAR Work?
fWAR is calculated by adding together offensive, defensive and base running value, then subtracting the value of a replacement-level player. The replacement-level player is determined by the current Major League Baseball player pool and is considered to be an average player who is readily available and could be signed to a minor league contract.
Offensive Value
The offensive portion of the fWAR calculation considers the offensive value of the player in the form of batting, walks, and other offensive stats. It is calculated by adding the player’s Runs Above Average (RAA) and Base Running Runs above Average (BRAA). RAA measures how many runs the player has created compared to the average player at the same position, while BRAA measures the number of runs created from base running.
Defensive Value
The defensive portion of the fWAR calculation considers the defensive value of the player in the form of fielding, throwing and other defensive stats. It is calculated by adding the player’s Defensive Runs Saved above Average (DRSA) and Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR). DRSA measures the number of runs saved compared to the average player at the same position, while UZR measures the number of runs saved due to the player’s range, arm and other defensive metrics.
Pitching Value
The pitching portion of the fWAR calculation considers the pitching value of the player in the form of earned runs allowed, strikeouts, walks and other pitching stats. It is calculated by adding the player’s Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Wins Above Average (WAA). WAR measures the number of wins the player has contributed compared to a replacement-level pitcher, while WAA measures the number of wins the player has contributed compared to the average pitcher.
Replacement-Level Player
The replacement-level player is determined by the current Major League Baseball player pool and is considered to be an average player who is readily available and could be signed to a minor league contract. This player is used as the baseline to compare the value of a player in the fWAR calculation.
Overall Value
The overall value of a player is determined by adding the offensive, defensive and pitching values together, then subtracting the value of a replacement-level player. A player with a higher fWAR score is considered to be more valuable to their team than a player with a lower score.
Conclusion
fWAR is a statistic that is used to measure a baseball player’s value. It is calculated by adding the offensive, defensive and pitching values together, then subtracting the value of a replacement-level player. This statistic is a way to measure a player’s total value in all aspects of the game, including offense, defense, base running and pitching. A player with a higher fWAR score is considered to be more valuable to their team than a player with a lower score.