Scouting Report Requirements

[Guest wsc425]

Scouting Report information: Judgement: Players are judged in five categories: Hitting, hitting for power, arm strength, fielding and running. A player who can do all of these things above average is sometimes referred to as a "five-tool player." Here's how they're judged:

2 - Poor

3 -- Well below average

4 -- Below average

5 -- Average

6 -- Above average

7 -- Well above average

8 -- Outstanding

 

The numbers are then added up and multiplied by two to get the OFP # (Overall Future Potential). Here's how OFPs break down:

80-65 -- Star

64-50 -- Regular

49-40-- Fringe

38-39 -- Organizational

 

Arm: What is a "5" arm and how do you judge it? The average Major League player has a 5 arm. It is an arm that makes the routine play. The arm has strength that allows his throws to have on-line carry. The ball doesn't die when it leaves his hand, it carries.

 

Fielding: What do you look for in an infielder?

1. Agility, quickness

2. Arm strength

3. Soft hands

4. Instincts

 

Player should also have "quick feet," which means a live, active lower body that allows a player to get into fielding position.

 

Running: Batters should be timed with a stopwatch from the moment they make contact with the ball until they touch first base. Here's how their speed should break down:

Right-handed hitters:

8 -- 4.0 seconds

7 -- 4.1

6 -- 4.2

5 -- 4.3

4 -- 4.4

3 -- 4.5

2 -- 4.6

Left-handed hitters:

8 -- 3.9 seconds

7 -- 4.0

6 -- 4.1

5 -- 4.2

4 -- 4.3

3 -- 4.4

2 -- 4.5

 

What if there's a wet field and you can't get a player running all out? You can base your judgement on technique. Look for fluidness and effortless motion vs. erratic, choppy, laboring strides. Look for easy, graceful strides.

 

Hands: What if a player has stiff hands. Can they get softer? Yes, to some degree. Learning to relax the hands and arms and changing the angle of the glove are all things that can be worked on.

 

Fielding: How do you judge an outfielder?

1. Agility, quickness and speed

2. Instincts

3. Fielding skills

4. Arm strength

 

What if you have to judge an outfielder who doesn't get a fly ball in a game or in pre-game? Observe his actions between innings playing catch, throwing. Look for arm action, arm strength and the carry on the ball when the throws. You can also look for his positioning, anticipation and reaction to balls off the bat.

 

Catchers: What does he have to do first, second? What about catchers who turn their heads and flinch? All catchers must at least show a 5 arm to throw out baserunners. He also must be able to catch the ball. If he can't catch, he won't have a chance to throw out baserunners. Catchers who flinch are very difficult to correct since it's an involuntary reaction, but it can sometimes be improved upon.

 

Hitting: How do I know who is going to be able to hit? What do you look for?

 

1. Strength (Hitting for power is one of the rarest abilities to find)

2. Lack of fear (Stepping away from plate is bad)

3. Starting the bat (Shouldn't have too long of a swing)

4. Plane of swing

Where should I sit to evaluate a hitter? Either behind home plate to look for the fear factor and his stance, or on the open side of the hitter - first base for right-handed hitters and third base for lefties. This will allow you to see his approach, start of the bat and his swing.

 

Arm action: What is it?

1. How the arm works

2. Flexibility, extension and arm speed

3. Movement of arm from glove to release point

 

What is delivery? The arm working in conjunction with the body in the process of throwing the baseball.

 

What is arm speed? The speed of the arm from the start/stop of delivery to the point of release.

 

What is bat speed? Generation of a quick, powerful swing and the velocity at which the bat travels through the hitting zone. When a player has good bat speed, the ball jumps off his bat.

 

What is flexibility/agility? Freedom of movement without restriction. Graceful, fluid actions.

 

What are the qualities a player must have at each position to be considered a prospect?

 

FIRST BASE

1. Hitting -- run production and power

2. Defensive skills -- ability to catch the ball

3. Arm -- doesn't necessarily need Major League arm if hitting is strongest tool

 

SECOND BASE

1. Agility -- able to move quickly around the bag

2. Arm strength -- able to turn the double play

3. Fielding tools -- soft, dependable hands

 

THIRD BASE

1. Hitting -- run producing position

2. Arm strength -- long and accurate throws

3. Defensive ability -- quick, agile movement, good glove, soft hands

 

SHORTSTOP

1. Agility -- active body, able to cover ground

2. Arm strength -- needs to be strong for tough plays in the hole

3. Fielding tools, soft hands -- ability to catch and release quickly

 

LEFT FIELD

1. Hitting -- power, run production

2. Defensive skills -- have playable ability

3. Arm strength -- playable and accurate

 

CENTER FIELD

1. Speed -- ability to cover ground

2. Defensive skills -- able to rule the field (take charge)

3. Instincts

 

RIGHT FIELD

1. Hitting -- get on base and drive in runs

2. Arm strength -- longest throw for outfield (Think Vlad Guerrero, Ichiro)

3. Defensive skills

 

CATCHER

1. Arm strength -- throw out runners

2. Receiving -- ability to catch ball, soft hands

3. Durability -- backbone of team, tough day in and day out

 

PITCHER

1. Arm strength -- must have at least average Major League fastball or fastball with movement and deception

2. Arm action and delivery -- no restrictions that cause arm to break down

3. Mental toughness -- wanting to get hitters out

 

What are the job requirements for becoming a scout

1. Evaluate players -- accurate evaluation is key to player selection.

2. Sign players

3. Legible communication -- use of correct grades and words. Promptness in reports to the Scouting Director

4. Organized territory -- building a working unit. Planning ahead.

5. Stick to convictions -- confidence in making the right evaluation

6. Represent your organization and Baseball in a professional manner.

With that you pretty much have an outline of everything. There's so much more, in terms of details and explanations that could be expanded upon. However, what is presented here is a good starting outline for everyone who wants to learn a bit more about scouting.

[Guest hotsoxchick1]

now we know why kw has such a hard time......thats too much for him to comprehend all at once............

[witesoxfan]

Sometimes he has to ask someone where left field is or what side of the plate a right-handed batter hits on....he doesn't quite understand that when a right-hander pulls a ball, it goes to left-field.

[Guest hotsoxchick1]

do ya think he has that on his lap top in some type of format that he can just point and click on the answers??? lol.............hey 50/50 is better than nothing huh.......