[TuckerDuckson]

Originally Posted by injury log

Saves are very definitely not factored into WAR calculations. What is factored in, at least on FanGraphs, is leverage. A reliever pitching in a very close game is pitching more important innings than a guy pitching in a blowout. So a great performance in a 2-1 game is worth more than a great performance in a 10-1 game. It's because closers pitch more important innings, and do it well (or they wouldn't have their job) that their WARs tend to be higher.

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

Saves are not included in reliever WAR. Fangraphs WAR as you have there is a FIP-based WAR, basically a function of IP, BB, K, and HR. The reason reliever WAR is so low is because they simply don't pitch that many innings.

But WAR is a bad stat to measure relievers on, because the top closers will tend to pitch more in high leverage situations, so their innings are more "valuable" than an average inning.

As for their demands, and their demands in-game, reliever demands might be a bit high now, but there's such a fine line between a bit too high, and way too low. The other flaw is that there are so many ways to set up leagues that it's hard to adjust for all of them. We do our best, but it won't always be perfect.

Ah so it was Leverage not saves that was tripping me up then, but if you just change saves to leverage the point is still made, thank you for the clarification