Parents and coaches lie and exaggerate about their kid all the time to other parents, players and coaches. You cant lie on the field.How does these stories benefit the player, is another parent gonna offer your kid a scholarship, HMMM no.
Good example a person who runs a baseball school and former pro player calls and says i have a player who runs 6.5 60 yard, great arm and great hitter. So is worked out, 7.1 runner, 78 mph arm and slow bat. You think anyone will listen to the guy that runs the baseball school again. Well no, he has no credibility now.
A few years back, a HS coach contacted a bunch of MLB scouts and said I have a player throwing 93mph, 8 MLB scouts show up, the pitcher was throwing 83-85 mph, every MLB scout left before the 1st inning was over and upset they had wasted their time.
Posts: 1032 | Location: Miami | Registered: November 14, 2006
First, to avoid all of this, we never gave out son's cell phone number, on every form he filled out or showcase, tournie form our number went on, not his. If a scout called asking for his schedule or to speak with him, I would never think to ask "where did you get our number, what level scout are you, why do you like my son", unless he offered that information. I would imagine the answers would include but not limited to, "I got your number from your son's HS coach, I got your number from the phone book or I got your number from a showcase bio, I know the coach you signed with", a no brainer really. If he showed up, he showed up, if he came to our house he came to our house. That was it. No big mystery, obviously he had interest and this time of year, until HS ball begins, that's just what it is.
This is sort of like the recruiting process, a scout can show up at every game and you may never see or hear from it again.
That's why it's important to just take in the moment for what it is and not question every call or visit (what does it mean).
If you can get past this, it makes it a whole lot more enjoyable.
If you want to call, go ahead and make the call, it's not going to stop a scout from coming.
As far as making the call, some parents take it as an open invitation to ask questions that really aren't necessary at this time.
JMO.
Posts: 10774 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
quote: I am sure any person who calls the front of office to confirm they work for the team can be certain that MLB scout will hear about it and very likley not come to see that player in question.
Why? Either the player is scouted or he isn't. It's about ability and value, not whether someone wants to check scouting credentials in the interest of their son.
Any scout who would not come see a player because that player's parents called to check credentials... shouldn't be employed as a scout.
What if the player is a potential first rounder? 29 clubs scout him, but one scout doesn't because his parents checked credentials? Why would it bother a legitimate scout for someone to check and find out he is legitimate?
If your a legitmate scout employed by a MLB club and you decide yo NOT go see a legitimate prospect in your area because of any reason... You won't be working for very long!
Posts: 4839 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
Talk to the guy. Meet with him if he wants. What have you got to lose?
I haven't experienced any counterfeit scouts. I guess if they come to your house, you can make sure they don't go near the fine silver or whatever.
Worst case scenario, you have a phone call or a meeting that doesn't amount to anything. You can still learn from even that experience.
I think it's safe to assume he's legit and have the discussion. I would think problems would arise so rarely that it's not really worth considering.
As long as you're not passing out SSN's or other identity-theft-enabling info, I think we're getting a bit paranoid. It sounds like we're dealing with a talented player (D-1 early sign at least), so why shouldn't he expect scouts to be contacting him during his senior year?
Posts: 2442 | Location: Virginia | Registered: February 01, 2006
A bunch of Frat Guys called Orel Hershiser and told him he was picked in the 1st round on draft day. Orel totally fell for it, actually drafted 17 th round.
Posts: 1032 | Location: Miami | Registered: November 14, 2006
Originally posted by Frank Martin: A bunch of Frat Guys called Orel Hershiser and told him he was picked in the 1st round on draft day. Orel totally fell for it, actually drafted 17 th round.
I am thinking that you avoided my question.
What has this got to do with the original post?
Posts: 10774 | Location: South Florida | Registered: July 28, 2003
Originally posted by Frank Martin: The big question is the player mention really a pro prospect? He threw Fastball 74 mph Curve 62 mph
60 YD:7.89 seconds ARM: 76 MPH at the Georgia Dugout Club Showcase in 2007
It is amazing how much people give advice on player without knowing anything about the player in question.
The player in question was at PG Tournaments this past summer, I am sure PG can tell you how he did.
OK, first of all I don't know who you're talking about, but if it were someone getting contacted by a person claiming he worked for a MLB club, I think there is reason to be skeptical.
Most of the very best draft prospects don't have to worry about these things. By this time in their life they and their family pretty much know all the scouts in their area. I could give a lot of "war stories" that could give many different examples of why someone would falsly claim they represent a MLB club or even Perfect Game. I know because it is done all over the country year around. Without going into specifics, these false representations are business related and motivated by profit. Some involving sports agencies, some involving other services, and a few just to feel or act like a big shot. It has even happened right here on the HSBBW that people have represented thenselves as something they are not.
Why would they do this? That's the big question that needs to be answered. Usually it is harmless, but sometimes it can be a problem.
One real quick erxample of how even high level prospects can be affected at times...
There was an outstanding talent in SC that nearly everyopne who follows amateur baseball knows about. His dad helped coach the high profile summer team this kid played for. His dad had lots of baseball experience, but was a bit confused about the draft process for some reason. They talked to lots of people giving out information. We ranked the kid at the very top of our rankings and he went undrafted out of high school. People started telling us we were stupid... What's new! After the draft during the summer this player was throwing 96 off the mound, hitting bombs, and I personally said he was the best catching prospect since Joe Mauer. Mauer was the first pick of the draft a few years earlier. I heard from a scouting director that the kid was pretty much unsignable due to a certain person representing him. That was the word traveling around baseball. You would think more homework was done, but for some reason it wasn't. Come to find out the reasons he was considered unsignable were not true at all. He was the best player on the summer circuit that year and at least one club offered him 6 figures to sign as a FA. He went to GA Tech instead and ended up being drafted and signed for the second largest bonus in draft history... $6,000,000!
You could say all worked out for the best, but what had he blown his arm or something? No matter how it worked out it goes to show it is important knowing who your talking to and what is being said. It can happen with legitimate people sometimes, so one can only imagine what the people who are misrepresenting themselves might be willing to do.
Not trying to alarm people, but there's nothing wrong with checking credentials. Especially if that part of the process is something new. There really are some bad apples running around out there.
Posts: 4839 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
Originally posted by Frank Martin: The big question is the player mention really a pro prospect? He threw Fastball 74 mph Curve 62 mph
60 YD:7.89 seconds ARM: 76 MPH at the Georgia Dugout Club Showcase in 2007
It is amazing how much people give advice on player without knowing anything about the player in question.
The player in question was at PG Tournaments this past summer, I am sure PG can tell you how he did.
Frank, I'm not really sure how to respond to this. This isn't the question that was initially asked by me in the beginning. What does this have to do with the price of eggs in China? Yes, son had a very bad outing at the showcase last summer due to a bad elbow and sore back. Hindsight afterwards, he realized he shouldn't have went. It happens. The more important thing about all this is that he was seen by a college and signed early. Isn't that what its all about? This particular person who called my son supposively saw him pitch last summer as a 17yr old in the WWBA 18U championships last summer against a very, very talented (18U)Knoxville Yard team. We faced a pitcher that we heard had already signed throwing 93-94 all game long! Not many, if one, of our boys had ever seen that speed all summer. My son was the starting pitcher and threw on avg. 85mph with a nasty hook that day. The final score: 1-1. That tie essentially knocked the Yard out of the running. There were a ton of college & mlb scouts there that day to I'm sure watch many of these 18U Yard boys perform. In 5 innings, they only got 1 hit off of him.
Personally, I don't think my son is a MLB prospect at all. But I'm a parent and have no clue as to what they look for. That's their job, not mine. He has gotten a little faster with some very good weightlifting and training this fall but in my opinion, still not a MLB prospect. But that's ok. We're just excited that he gets to play at the next level.
All I was trying to accomplish with this post was to establish some legitimacy about this person who called my son. That's it. I really don't care at this conjecture if my son is MLB material or not. That's for the scouts, if any come, to evaluate.
"Dedicate yourself to a mighty purpose. Win with humility, lose with grace."
Posts: 389 | Location: Georgia | Registered: July 15, 2005
Last spring, my son got a phone call from an 18u team in the midwest asking him to come play for them. The coach said that a scout for the Braves had seen our son and highly recommended him. The coach said based on this scout's report, he'd like to invite our son to play for him sight unseen. And vice versa: we would not be able to meet the coach either before the summer league started. I was a bit curious and concerned. So, I called the Atlanta Braves front office and asked them if this scout was in fact working for them. He was and the woman on the phone enthusiastically supported him. It all worked out. Son had a great summer, etc. Never found out nor did I ask where the scout saw my son. But, frankly, I wouldn't hesitate at all to verify anyone who is asking or recommending my son for anything..(he's still my child, after all).up to and including major league baseball scouts!
Posts: 449 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: October 14, 2005
Everyone knew about him, he was not drafted not because he lacked talent he just told eveyone he wanted to go to college no matter what and expected to get more money in the future. This is not unsual for Scott Boras clients.And yes MLB scouts called him and offered to draft him, but his asking price was too high, so teams passed.
I knew this one players mom all excited heard from his teammates her kid was throwing high 80's, travel coach said he was throwing 72-74mph. The player and mom totally bought he was throwing upper 80's.
His teammates got a good laugh at his expense, when they told him how fast he was realy throwing.
Posts: 1032 | Location: Miami | Registered: November 14, 2006
Everyone knew about him, he was not drafted not because he lacked talent he just told eveyone he wanted to go to college no matter what and expected to get more money in the future.
Being very close to this situation, the only true part of that is "not because he lacked talent".
Andrew Miller had a high price tag coming out of high school and was even more committed to college, yet he was picked in the 3rd rd that year. (people do change their mind some times)
Wieters went undrafted! Yet at least one club made a token offer in the late summer. Truth is he wasn't anywhere near as well known before the draft as he became after the draft that year.
We sat with a scouting director in Marietta that year. He knew who Wieters was, but was shocked by the ability he was seeing. At that point the Yankees were probably the only team that would have paid what it took and they didn't do it. They must not have seen what we did.
Georgia Tech knew what they were getting and I'm sure they sweated it out through all of this.
BTW, his dad not only helped coach him, he also was a former outstanding baseball player who was drafted early. Later his dad came to understand there were a lot of false rumors that were flying around.
Matt wasn't a "highest profile" guy for a long time before the draft, so those rumors weren't checked out as thoroughly as had he been a higher profile type. He went undrafted as perhaps the top high school talent in the country. That doesn't happen very often to someone "well known" as one of the very top guys. Even if they are strongly committed to college, some club usually uses a later pick on those types.
Sometimes what people read is not the actual story.
Posts: 4839 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
High School: A four-year letterwinner for coach John Chalus at Stratford High School as a catcher, pitcher and first baseman ... Rated as the No. 1 prospect in South Carolina and No. 60 in the nation ... An all-America, all-state and all-region selection in 2004 ... Hit .407 with seven home runs and 34 RBI as a senior ... Ranks in Stratford's career top 10 in RBI, walks, hits and total bases ... On the mound, went 5-2 with a 2.76 ERA, recording 72 strikeouts in 51 innings.
Summer 2004: Participated in the All-American Baseball Game on June 7 at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M. as well as the SC/NC Challenge game on June 12 at Conway, S.C....Played for Carolina Diamond Devils claiming co-MVP honors at the 18-and-under Perfect Game/Wood World Bat Association Summer Championship during mid-July in Marietta after hitting .400 (10-for-25) while also recording two saves and showing a 94-mph fastball.
Matt Wieters, a 6-4, 205-pound switch hitting catcher, is rated the No. 1 prospect in South Carolina and the No. 60 prospect in the nation. A four-year letterwinner at Stratford High School, he helped lead his team to the region championship in each of the last three seasons. Wieters hit .380 as a junior and .387 as a sophomore, and he ranks in his school's all-time top 10 in career RBI.
ATLANTA (Nov. 17, 2003) - Eleven high school seniors, including nine of the top 115 prospects in the nation according to Perfect Game USA, have signed National Letters of Intent to play baseball at Georgia Tech next year, head coach Danny Hall announced. "We were looking long and hard for a catcher, and Matt Wieters is a guy that we really locked on to," said Hall. "He is great behind the plate, and he is a switch hitter who can swing the bat. Lately he has been going 90-plus on the mound. I know that he is ranked highly as a catcher, but a lot of people have great interest in him as a pitcher. But again, he is a great student and we feel very strong that he is committed to coming to school."
