If you’re into stats and the MLB, you’ve heard of WAR. Here’s a French D1 adaptation to wrap up the 2024 season with some fun.
WAR (Win Above Replacement) has become one of the most widely used advanced stats in modern baseball. WAR measures a player’s value in wins compared to a replacement-level player—a journeyman, if you’re thinking MLB. But the translation isn’t straightforward.
Its strength is that it aggregates all aspects of a player’s performance, allowing for a true comparison. One downside is that it’s a cumulative stat, favoring players who see more action.
Baseball TV France used the off-season to calculate a ‘Made in France’ WAR. The WAR used by sites like Baseball Reference or FanGraphs relies on data not available in France’s D1 league. So, we adjusted and balanced some equations to reach a final result.
The WAR (FanGraphs version) is calculated as follows: (Batting Runs + Base Running Runs + Fielding Runs + Positional Adjustment + League Adjustment + Replacement Runs) / Runs Per Win.
Without diving into every detail, here’s how we did it.
1) Batting Runs
This stat accounts for several weighted advanced metrics, including Weighted On-Base Average (wOBA), Weighted Runs Created (WRC), and Weighted Runs Above Average (wRAA), plus park factors. Essentially, it shows how many runs a hitter contributes. These stats are calibrated for MLB seasons, with adjusted coefficients to fit French league numbers.
2) Base Running Runs
This evaluates a player’s baserunning performance. We had to adapt since the base formula includes Ultimate Baserunning (UBR), which requires precise video analysis of every baserunning play—impossible in France. So, we only used Weighted Stolen Base and Weighted Grounded into Double Play (GDP).
3) Fielding Runs
This assesses defensive performance. Again, these aren’t calculable in France since they rely on statistical probabilities of making a play. We used a Fielding Percentage +, smoothed based on D1 performance at each position, with adjustments for innings played and, for catchers, stolen bases and passed balls. It’s not perfect, but it’s the closest we can get to MLB numbers.
4) Positional Adjustment
This stat boosts or reduces performance based on positional demands. Catchers get a +12.5, while left fielders lose -2.5.
5) League Adjustment
Since D1 is a single table, we didn’t use this formula, which only plays a minor role anyway.
6) Runs Per Win
This equation converts runs into wins.
7) Replacement Runs
Here too, we had to adjust from the base equation, which considers 2,430 MLB games. We weighted it to fit French league criteria.
Here are the WAR stats for French D1 position players in 2024 (70+ at-bats)
Exceptional Season (6+ WAR)
Smith (Rou) 6.1
Outstanding Season (5-6 WAR)
Defries (Rou) 5.6; Ruiz (Met) 5.3; Acuna (Sav) 5.0
Remarkable Season (4-5 WAR)
Very Good Season (3-4 WAR)
Rodriguez (Mtp) 3.7; Jiminian (Sav) 3.2; Partington (Met) 3.2; Kovacs (Mpt) 3.2
Solid Season (2-3 WAR)
Briones (LaR) 2.7; A. Soriano (Mpt) 2.6; M. Esteban (LaR) 2.5; Harrison (Rou) 2.4; Navarro (Tou) 2.3; Ogawa (Sen) 2.3; Masson (Rou) 2.3; Gleeson (Rou) 2.2; Bouniol (Sen) 2.2; Brossier (Mpt) 2.1
Decent Season (1-2 WAR)
Algeni (Met) 1.4; Blondel (Rou) 1.4; Spring (Mtp) 1.3; Brown (Sen) 1.2; Saumande (Tou) 1.1; Hrytishvili (Sen) 1.1; Cegielski (Tou) 1.0
Average Season (0-1 WAR)
Baisse-Depontieu (Tou) 0.9; Perdomo (Tou) 0.8; Viger (Sav) 0.8; Nakamura (Sen) 0.7; Tissera (Sav) 0.5; Gonzalez (LaR) 0.5; Brito (LaR) 0.2; Lassaline (Mon) 0.2; Rioux (Sav) 0.0
Tough Season (Negative WAR)
Roze (Met) -0.1; Rosell (LaR) -0.2; Brainville (Rou) -0.2; Lopez (Mon) -0.2; Mendoza (Tou) -0.3; Khoury (Mtp) -0.5; Crawford (LaR) -0.6; Do Carmo (Mon) -0.7; Cailteux (Met) -0.7; Ouanyou (Sen) -0.7; A. Amoros (Sav) -0.8; Launay (Met) -1.1; Surjus (LaR) -1.5; Gras (Sen) -1.7; D. Mayeux (Mon) -2.2; Laufenbuchler (Sen) -2.5
F.C.
