Part 7/8:
Continuing on the topic of valuing players, Whit highlighted the shift towards advanced metrics in modern baseball. He mentioned how teams now focus on figures like on-base plus slugging (OBP) and weighted runs created plus (wRC+) rather than purely counting stats, leading to different evaluations of player worth. This new framework can sometimes favor players who appear better on paper while not adequately rewarding those who consistently contribute to a team's overall success.
Whit also shared his feelings about the impact of this analytical approach on players' decisions to take time off due to injuries. He suggested that it may foster a “load management” mentality that detracts from the enduring spirit once common among baseball players.