Are baseball players inherently replaceable? According to legendary baseball statistician Bill James, yes. According to pretty much everyone else, including his own employer, the Boston Red Sox, no. The 2018 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. In an official press release. And the player’s union, too, disagreed with James. And multiple current players.
It was not exactly the response James was looking for, and for good reason.
James’ tweet was deleted, but here’s what James said, in full, in response to someone daring to argue that the players are the product of Major League Baseball:
No.