I am looking for help from anyone out there who may be able to bestow some knowledge upon me. Here's the deal....I am looking to learn more about how scouts do what they do. I'm not interested in becoming a scout, but I would like to learn that side of the game, and there seem to be few resources out there to help me. I have read some books (Dollar Sign on The Muscle, Prophet of the Sandlots, etc) which provide a good look at a "day in the life" so to speak. I pretty much have a good idea of what they do, but I would like to learn more about how they do what they do. I hope I'm getting my point across, but I fear I'm not so feel free to ask questions.
I know the best way to learn is most likely by riding around with a scout during the summer and being a detailed observer, but I'm probably beyond the stage of being able to do that. So I'm hoping that with the group of coaches, parents, scouts, etc. on this board someone will have some advice. Short of talking the MLB Scouting Bureau into letting me attend scout school without any affiliation with a team, this is the best I can think to do for now but I'm open to other suggestions. So please, I'll take more books, manuals, videos, links to websites....whatever info you guys may have, I'm all ears. Thanks in advance!
Posts: 388 | Location: Richmond, VA | Registered: December 27, 2006
Years ago I really wanted to be a scout. It turns out that one of my father in laws best friend used to scout for the D'backs. He told me that the best way to learn what a scout does is real simple. Just watch a game. He said to sit behind home plate, and watch as if you are scouting, not as a fan.
Originally posted by Prepster: (1) Stalker radar gun. (2) Extra, fully-charged Stalker battery. (3) Stalker carrying case. (4) Notebook to write down Stalker times
You can spot the "rookies" a MILE away. They got the gun on every little Johnny Cake throwing 78!
That was a good line, but I actually look at things much differently.
I think the hard part is looking at thousands of players. The more you work the more you see the better scout you become.
I know some very successful scouts who do simply watch the game. They just set there and wait for someone to knock their socks off. If they are there for a specific player, they will gear on on him, yet might still get blown away by someone else. It's amazing how often a player is found because someone came to the game to look at someone else.
Anyway, it is real helpful to have been around the game a lot. Having a good understanding of the mechanics are important. Having a good feel for comparing players. Understanding the numbers are fairly easy. Being able to grade them properly can be more difficult in areas that require your opinion rather than data, ie. stopwatch times, radar readings. Grading is based on Major League standards, so most high school players don't have major league average tools.
It really requires experience, but it is not rocket science. The more you know about baseball the better you will be. Sometimes young people get too caught up in who is the best player they saw that day. Sometimes (often) that player is not really a good prospect at all, but just better than the rest you saw that day.
When you see the very best... They will stick out like a sore thumb once you get enough experience. Yet some other people might not think that player is the best on his team. Lots of people wondered why all the scouts were so high on Justin Upton.
Best way, is to hang around scouts at games or events. Some will surprise you with their politeness, others will surprise you the other way. Sooner than later you will find a good guy who can help you a lot. Just remember he is there to work and pick your spots. Then you will start picking up things fast. Who knows he might actually end up liking you and that's how you get a start.
Reading is always good, but just can't teach you enough. Things like good arm action are hard to describe without actually watching it. Watching the right things are vitally important. Sometimes where you watch from can be important. It's not always that behind the plate is the best place to see everything.
You really need to be around it somehow. It takes experience, yet that experience isn't easy to get.
Good luck
Posts: 4832 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
Originally posted by Emanski's Heroes: I am looking for help from anyone out there who may be able to bestow some knowledge upon me. Here's the deal....I am looking to learn more about how scouts do what they do.
I know the best way to learn is most likely by riding around with a scout during the summer and being a detailed observer, .... ....I'm all ears. Thanks in advance!
Originally posted by Prepster: If your goal is to learn how a scout evaluates right-handed pitchers for the purpose of the draft, there's some essential equipment you'll need: That pretty much sums it up.
Posts: 1516 | Location: Fairland, Maryland USA | Registered: December 26, 2002
I do get a chuckle out of the "just get a radar gun and a folding chair" comments. They are funny, but a bit far from reality. PG Staff pretty much nails it with his comments. I'll offer a couple examples of what constitutes a little bit more of what goes into scouting players.
Just today, I saw a kid that I'll be sending an email about, to the area scout I'm associated with. This kid is someone he saw two years ago, when he was scouting Lars Anderson. This kid did very well that day, and he began following him then. He's now a juco pitcher, a redshirt freshman who suffered an arm injury that shut him down last year. Today was only his third day back on the mound since that injury. He went 3 solid innings, which is what he was scheduled to go. He threw very well, so they ran him out there for a 4th inning. He isn't in game shape yet, and it showed in the 4th. He left a few balls up and they got hit hard. Till that time, he sat upper 80s, touching low 90s a few times. Had solid command of his FB, with some run to it. Curveball was outstanding today. Command to both sides in all counts, change thrown well too. Pitched aggresively inside. The other stuff that goes into it, though, was talking to his mother while he was pitching about her son's health, and also talking to his pitching coach about his progress and what might be expected as the year goes on. Also talked to the kid while he was getting wrapped with ice about a couple of key pitches, how his arm felt, and what kind of shape he considered himself to be in at that point. I already know a lot about the kid's character and signability, as I've known him for about 7 years. One of the biggest keys for me today was that I saw him compete better than I've known him to do when he was a bit younger. THAT is a little bit of what goes into evaluating players.
Here's another example of what a scout would look for. In December 2005, we were down in Australia with Bob Williams and Goodwill Series. One of our players was hit right on the ear flap with an upper 80s fastball. He went down like he'd been shot with a gun, and didn't get up for several minutes. When he finally got up, he wouldn't come out of the game. He walked to 1st, and then stole 2nd on the first pitch. A few pitches later, he stole 3rd and scored on a sac fly that was way too shallow for anyone to come home on. Next at bat, he smokes the 1st pitch he sees way out of the yard(remember, they're hitting with wood on Bob's trips). I was sitting next to Bob down the line past the dugout, and when the young man got done being congratulated by his teammates, Bob motioned for him to come down to talk. First question Bob asked was "What was the pitch you just hit out?" The player answered "Four seam fastball, sir, but the pitch that hit me was a two seamer." This is an example of seeing a player who has "IT", whatever IT is. You can't coach what this kid naturally has, and it was instantly obvious when you saw what he did, and heard what he said. That young man's name is Trayvon Robinson and he got drafted, straight out of high school six months later in, I beleive, the 10th round.
Posts: 1233 | Location: California | Registered: January 10, 2004
In all the years of Area Code Baseball and the the 25 years of International Baseball, this was the greatest story that I ever listen to. Tray was from Crenshaw HS in Los Angeles
thank you for the memories.
bob Williams
Posts: 378 | Location: Santa Rosa, California | Registered: February 23, 2005
Anyone interested in scouting please email me at kdison@xclusivesm.com
I am a scouting director at a Sports Agency we are currently looking for 2 low level scouts. You will learn and recieve everything there is to know about pro scouting. Thanks
Posts: 6 | Location: U.S. | Registered: March 05, 2008
