The most important stat in baseball: Why WAR rules...
Key takeaways
- "I'm a big fan of Roger Clemens, and I watch a lot of his stuff on YouTube," Woodruff told ESPN.
- After the meeting, Woodruff spoke to MLB.com about the pitcher's appearance.
- Instead, Woodruff cited another stat: "I mean, that's the eighth-highest WAR in the history of baseball right there, hitters and pitchers," he said then.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The most important statistic in baseball, wins above replacement, is as polarizing as it is powerful. Rob Tringali/Getty Images Bradford Doolittle Jun 30, 2026, 07:00 AM ETClose MLB writer and analyst for ESPN.com Former NBA writer and analyst for ESPN.com Been with ESPN since 2013Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions Earlier this month, Roger Clemens visited the Milwaukee Brewers during the team's recent trip to Houston, and among the awestruck Brewers pitchers was veteran Brandon Woodruff, who relished the chance to talk pitching with the all-time great.
"I'm a big fan of Roger Clemens, and I watch a lot of his stuff on YouTube," Woodruff told ESPN. "I like to go back and watch highlights. I just love his demeanor."
After the meeting, Woodruff spoke to MLB.com about the pitcher's appearance. In describing Clemens, Woodruff had a number of superlatives to choose from. He could have mentioned Clemens' membership in the 300-win club or the 4,000-strikeout club, or simply alluded to the Rocket's record seven Cy Young Awards.