The problem with scouting is that while the general public think “OMG, if I become a scout I get to watch the best prospects in baseball play every, single day!” Well, maybe not the entire general public, but some.

Is there anyone here who thought this? I'm probably not a typical fan, but I always had the impression that being a scout was a fairly thankless job.

My absolute favorite scouting report is one that flat nail Greg Maddux as a high schooler.

And suggests he might be worth a second round pick.

And here's what you get when you do get a chance to see elite young talent.

On Willie Mays in early May 1951.

[...] outstanding player on the Minneapolis club and probably in all minor leagues for that matter. He is now in one of the best hitting streaks imaginable. hits to all fields, and hits all pitches, hits the ball where it is pitched as good as any player seen in many days. Every thing that he does is sensational. Has made the most spectacular catches. Runs and throws with the best of them. [...]

This player is the best prospect in America, it was a banner day for the Giants when this boy signed.

(He was hitting .477 with power at the time. And as noted was in a white hot streak over the previous 2 week, hitting .609)

This player is the best prospect in America, it was a banner day for the Giants when this boy signed.

(He was hitting .477 with power at the time. And as noted was in a white hot streak over the previous 2 week, hitting .609)

It's a good thing they deployed a scout to watch him and didn't rely on those numbers.

(kidding, kidding.)

Re: Maddux scouting reports: One scout loved him, the other one said he "lacks overall control on all pitches, just has to get ahead of the hitters more often." :)

[Maybe it was true at the time, I dunno.]

My absolute favorite scouting report is one that flat nail Greg Maddux as a high schooler.

And suggests he might be worth a second round pick.

I know you were going off of memory, Ron, but reading the link in #3, the scout actually wrote, "If available when we select on 2nd round, I would be surprised. We would be getting a 1st-round guy...."

I don't know if the team didn't have a 1st-round pick, or had such a high 1st-rounder that the scout thought Maddux wasn't under consideration for it, or was trying to push the team into using a 1st-rounder for him, or what.

He also started his comment, "I really believe that this boy would possibly be the number 1 player taken in the country if only he looked a bit more physical."

The scout clearly loved Maddux and was pushing his team to draft him.

EDIT: I'm assuming you were talking about that scouting report. If it was something different, umm, never mind.

I don't know if the team didn't have a 1st-round pick, or had such a high 1st-rounder that the scout thought Maddux wasn't under consideration for it, or was trying to push the team into using a 1st-rounder for him, or what.

The Cubs had the number three pick of the draft that year -- they chose the immortal Drew Hall out of Morehead St. It was a pretty anemic first round with the exception of McGwire and Jay Bell.

#4 That's the first time I've seen that particular scouting report on Maddux. Stan Hart's Scouting Reports has two others. The Scouting Bureau makes no recommendation. The Mets says he might be worth a second (and the Mets did eventually pass on him twice)

From the Scouting Bureau's report.

"Doubt if he'll be overpowering type, but should throw a lot of ground balls. Pot. to be front line pitcher".

From the Mets:

"Good live arm - Gd del. Throws with very little effort. F.B. has avg. or better vel. 84-89. Curve is sharp 74-76 change shows promise. Good control for H.S. pitcher".

Also culled from the reports:

Good competitor.
Should have good control.
Should add velocity as he fills out (listed at 160 -- even so his fastball was graded major league average)
Should use change more. (Good idea!)


Other fun from reports. Harold Baines was docked 5 points by a scout because he didn't approve of Baines' corn rows. (Personally I have trouble getting my head around the image of Harold Baines in corn rows)
Ryne Sandberg's weaknesses section includes "[...] takes a lot of pitches - he'll have to get more agressive"
Jimmy Key's suggests that he has no future as a pitcher and has the comment "position?" (what I really like about this one is there's also a note on it by the scout saying he blew that one)

There are 5 scouting reports on Tom Seaver. One of them has N. P. (No prospect) written in. (And only one of them is blown away by Seaver)

Not meaning to beat up on the scouts. Nobopdy's perfect and teenagers aren't easy to project. These are amusing to me, that's all.