How much can six pro scouts possibly cost? Or I guess six 'regular' scouts as the pros are being 'demoted'. Weird.

When it comes to pro scouting, yes I do think video can replace guys in the stadium. There is a much bigger book already established on guys in the pros, so the value add of guys there a series or two in advance is diminished. A lot of things that a scout may add, like that a hitter is really pulling off the ball at the moment or something, is probably even more easily deduced from video.

We can say the scouts are cheap and Angelos should just pony up a few hundred grand for more of them to cover both worlds, but if that isn't going to happen, then the resources that are available are more wisely spent in the amateur ranks.

I wonder what video they will be using. If it's the broadcast feeds, then the Orioles will be flying completely blind when it comes to evaluating outfield range.

I also wonder how much more reliable Pitch f/x is than the uncalibrated subjective impressions of six different scouts.

When it comes to pro scouting, yes I do think video can replace guys in the stadium. There is a much bigger book already established on guys in the pros, so the value add of guys there a series or two in advance is diminished. A lot of things that a scout may add, like that a hitter is really pulling off the ball at the moment or something, is probably even more easily deduced from video.

This is pro scouting, not big league scouting - in other words, the scouts assigned to the minor leagues.

This is pro scouting, not big league scouting - in other words, the scouts assigned to the minor leagues.

I know a few scouts who scout amateur players in their assigned area until the draft in June. Afterwards, they switch over to the minors until August or so. I'm assuming the O's are going to have their scouts pull double duty as well? Seems like they're just getting rid of the guys who focused on the minors. I can't imagine they'll give up scouting the minors entirely.

If it's the broadcast feeds, then the Orioles will be flying completely blind when it comes to evaluating outfield range.

Honest question: how much extra information about outfield range does a single scout give you that a subscription to Baseball America doesn't?

Honest question: how much extra information about outfield range does a single scout give you that a subscription to Baseball America doesn't?

You're kidding me right?

I love Baseball America, but wouldn't you want your own scouts to be telling you things rather than hoping to read what some other team's scout told a magazine?

I know a few scouts who scout amateur players in their assigned area until the draft in June. Afterwards, they switch over to the minors until August or so. I'm assuming the O's are going to have their scouts pull double duty as well? Seems like they're just getting rid of the guys who focused on the minors. I can't imagine they'll give up scouting the minors entirely.

Still, it is hardly a good sign. Scouting costs nothing. Nothing. Getting rid of these guys won't even save you a MLB minimum salary's worth of money.

If you're a struggling team you should be pouring money into scouting. Like the amateur draft, it is a chance to dramatically improve your organization's talent at a tiny, tiny cost.

You'd be surprised how much video is shot at minor league ballparks.

That said, I agree with MM1f on the ROI of good scouting, and I don't think video will replace that.

-- MWE

You're kidding me right?

I love Baseball America, but wouldn't you want your own scouts to be telling you things rather than hoping to read what some other team's scout told a magazine?

I'm not kidding. I mean, of course I would want my own scouts telling me things directly. I'm just honestly curious about how much extra value it provides.

I agree with MM1f on the ROI of good scouting,

The word "good" here kind of loads the dice, doesn't it?

edit: goddammit wrong thread

This is a very 2002`ish kind of GM reinventing the wheel move. Reads like Ricciardi upon being hired. I believe by `05 he was having to reverse this to a more traditional number level of org scouts.

This is a very 2002`ish kind of GM reinventing the wheel move. Reads like Ricciardi upon being hired. I believe by `05 he was having to reverse this to a more traditional number level of org scouts.

Sorry, but Duquette was already an MLB GM twice before he took this job and has proven that he knows about scouting. What he's not very good at, IMHO, is cutting the cord with the scrap-heap and reclamation projects once he's breathed a little life into them (see Troy O'Leary). And he's not gutting scouting, just MLB advance scouting and scouts who are assigned to scout other MLB teams. That seems like a waste of money to me. He's reinvested the money in minor league scouting and offered all of those guys jobs in the minors. I bet scouting is not exactly cheap. In addition to the salary, you've got to pay for tickets, meals, hotels, plane flights, just to follow teams around that you play 18 times a year at most. Why send someone to watch all 162 games of a division rival? There actually is a limit to what you can learn via scouting, and I'm willing to bet money that the O's will be a better team if they spend more resources on scouting and player development than on advance scouting. To put it in other words, this is nothing like what Ricciardi did.

Still, it is hardly a good sign. Scouting costs nothing. Nothing. Getting rid of these guys won't even save you a MLB minimum salary's worth of money.

If you're a struggling team you should be pouring money into scouting. Like the amateur draft, it is a chance to dramatically improve your organization's talent at a tiny, tiny cost.

I think Alvin Dark said it best: "Pay your scouts chicken feed, and you'll end up with turkeys in your infield."

But while I agree with the POV expressed in Post #7, I don't think that's what's going on here. I think Piehole has it right with his Post #12:

[H]e's not gutting scouting, just MLB advance scouting and scouts who are assigned to scout other MLB teams. That seems like a waste of money to me. He's reinvested the money in minor league scouting and offered all of those guys jobs in the minors.

Agree; the scouting isn't being gutted; rather, the resources are being re-directed into an area where they can produce the most benefit. At least, that's the impression I'm getting from the excerpt.

Oh, and because I want to make sure I get in my daily recommended output of snark:

That list includes...Lee MacPhail IV, who had been the pro scouting director.

Nepotism is a beautiful thing.

DB

Sorry, but Duquette was already an MLB GM twice before he took this job and has proven that he knows about scouting...

Sure. Whatever you say. Matters zero to me. I am aware of his entire career eh. Wasn't born yesterday. Law and Goldstein in particular panned yesterdays moves. Of course all of his moves to this brief point seem to be drawing negative review. Hopefully he's embarking on a successful GM term again. Either way, will be interesting and intstructive to watch.

And he's not gutting scouting, just MLB advance scouting and scouts who are assigned to scout other MLB teams. That seems like a waste of money to me. He's reinvested the money in minor league scouting and offered all of those guys jobs in the minors.

The blog post distinguishes between pro and amateur and mentions that pro scouts are now assigned to cover "organizations" not teams. If that isn't clear enough that minor league scouting is being cut, the newspaper article has this:

Six pro scouts — including former pro scouting director Lee MacPhail IV and advance scout Jim Thrift — have been reassigned and offered jobs as regional amateur scouts, meaning that instead of attending minor league and major league games, they will be observing high school and college players in preparation for the annual draft.

Law and Goldstein in particular panned yesterdays moves.

Of course they did. Scouts are like unpaid interns for prospects writers.

If that isn't clear enough that minor league scouting is being cut, the newspaper article has this:

But, it's being cut in favor of amateur scouting, not as cost cutting, correct?