Why Batting Average Is Dying in MLB (And That’s a Good Thing)

Why Batting Average is Dying in MLB: Why That’s a Good Thing

Batting average has been the defining stat in baseball for decades, but is it still relevant in today’s MLB? In this video essay, we dive into the history of batting average, why it became baseball’s most iconic statistic, and why it’s losing its importance in modern analytics. MLB fans, sabermetrics enthusiasts, and casual baseball lovers alike will learn how stats like WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and fWAR have taken over as better measures of a player’s true value.

We’ll explore the flaws of batting average, its inability to measure walks, power, and baserunning, and why advanced metrics are revolutionizing how we view player performance. Using examples from players like Juan Soto, Mike Trout, and Mookie Betts, we’ll show how these modern stars dominate despite not always posting eye-popping batting averages.

If you’re interested in understanding the evolution of baseball analytics, the rise of sabermetrics, or how advanced stats like wOBA and WAR are shaping the game, this is the video for you. Perfect for MLB video essay fans, baseball historians, and anyone curious about the future of the sport.

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Also, sorry for the oversaturation early in the video, my camera decided to ignore all the settings I put in!

Credits:

Music provided by:
No Copyright Sounds -    / @nocopyrightsounds  
Breaking Copyright -    / @breakingcopyright  

Statistics and statistical graphics from Baseball Savant - https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/

All MLB video clips used are the sole property of Major League Baseball and MLB Film Room. No infringement intended. -    / @mlb   and https://www.mlb.com/filmroom-community

Chapters:
00:00 - 00:32 Introduction
00:33 - 01:19 What is Batting Average?
01:20 - 02:43 My Experience with BA
02:44 - 03:48 History of BA
03:49 - 04:55 What is WAR?
04:56 - 05:49 Why is WAR Better?
05:50 - 06:29 The Evolution of Sabermetrics
06:30 - 09:43 The Modern Marvel: Juan Soto
09:44 - 11:24 The Unicorn: Shoehi Ohtani
11:25 - 12:17 The End of an Era (Conclusion)

#MLB #BaseballAnalytics #BattingAverage #Sabermetrics #WAR #BaseballVideoEssay