Which Atlanta Braves players are the best?

Does WAR reflect this? While there is a natural skepticism towards contemporary analytics and data, does WAR accurately represent how the greatest players on the Atlanta Braves are perceived?

Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is the one statistic in the age of baseball statistics that may be considered strange. The concept that a player’s worth is determined by a single figure in relation to a replacement player has permeated sports statistical dictionaries. We even have a baseline of 70 career-aggregate WAR, which is the minimum required to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. This statistic will be used by many to determine who the best player in the league and on the teams they support is this season.

Here, we’ll examine whether this one comprehensive figure accurately represents the Atlanta Braves’ top player in 2024. We’ll be using WAR as a baseball reference in this article. Starting pitcher Chris Sale leads the Atlanta Braves in WAR (4.7). This year, Sale has had by far the best season of any starter. That checks while talking about rotational excellence.

Marcell Ozuna, on the other hand, has a 4.3 WAR. It’s arguable that Ozuna is the team’s top player this season, even though he’s worth one less victory than Sale. However, this number seems strange to me because he had a season where he was arguably poorer but had a higher WAR. In 2017, he was able to record a WAR of 5.6 with the Marlins, which was also higher than Sale’s this year.

He had a better WAR seven years ago despite having the same number of home runs he has now (37) but required 31 more games. Ozuna also has a better slash line all around compared to 2017. He has a slash line of .308/.379/.588/.968 this season vs a .312/.376/.548/.924 in 2017. Only his batting average was better and his power stats are much better now.

There is a potential argument that he doesn’t benefit from defensive WAR like he used to, but Ozuna has didn’t have a positive dWAR that year. His defense was such a hazard that he’s now a designated hitter.

The formulas for WAR are a bit of a secret, so it’s hard to say why it’s substantially different. But this difference will be an argument in favor of who is better.

Ozuna could win the MVP and Sale misses out on the Cy Young, but someone will still point to the stats to say, “actually.”

You know what, let’s circle back to who is the best pitcher in the conversation of who the best player is. Enter closer Raisel Iglesias. He has a 1.39 ERA and hasn’t given up an earned run in over two months. However, he only has a 2.5 WAR – half the player Sale is according to the stat. Or at least, much easier to replace than the starting pitcher.

But another stat, ERA+, which has a similar goal as WAR would say he is better than Sale. Iglesias has a 301 ERA+ while Sale’s a 160. Here, the closer is twice as valuable as the starter. After all, he appears in more games and gives up fewer runs.