Part 2/10:
However, the narrative surrounding batting titles is increasingly complicated by the emergence of advanced metrics, which have transformed the way players' performances are evaluated. Despite his accolades, Arraez's performance might not align satisfactorily with the new standards of player valuation promulgated by statisticians like Bill James and Pete Palmer.
The Metrics Evolution in Baseball
From the late 1970s onward, baseball analytics began to evolve significantly. Bill James, along with contemporaries such as Tom Tango, developed statistics that quantify a player's overall value, leading to concepts like Wins Above Replacement (WAR). This metric assesses a player’s contribution to their team beyond basic stats, taking into account offense, defense, and positional scarcity.