Scouting: Who do you trust?

[Mike Lowe]

It seems that OSA and scouts are so vastly different on younger players...is this even that realistic? I mean, it would be cool to see for a few players (I found a gem!) but I'm looking at the draft wondering how this would all sound played out on MLB Network or something.

"We think this guy is great! It appears scouts think he is trash; not even a little bit of talent."

Or, "This guy really has no shot at the big leagues in any capacity, but Tigers GM Mike Lowe feels, after the draft, that this player is one of the most talented available and worthy of a 1st round pick."

What gives?!?! I like playing with scouts on as it makes it more challenging, I just don't understand the vast differences with these younger players.

[TNCubsFan]

Mike from personal experience I think it is a pretty good representation of how things do work in the real world. The MLB scouting department has a pool of "scouts in training". These are guys who have been to scout school but dont have enough of a track record for a team to hire them. To me these are the OSA guys in game.

The scouting inside a team is a wonder to behold in its own right. You have "birddogs", "area scouts", "cross checkers", "rippers", "regional scouts", "regional cross checkers", "special assistant/front office scouts/player development people helping scout for the draft".

Every team I dealt with co-ordinating times to have guys seen, and who was pitching where has several levels just like described above.

As I said I think OOTP works well as the scouting is done now. The pool of money covers the hiring of the people to fill all these roles and pay to get the better people. Hiring the scouting director to me is the thing. They will hire the people they are comfortable with because they think alike. So you know to expect reports that are schewed that way. Makes you earn a bit of your money as a GM picking through the slant to find the diamonds in the rough.