Q&A - Scouting System

Mark asked:

Mack, great job as always. I was just wondering your thoughts on the Mets scouting system. I know that all that the scouts can do is recommend someone to the Mets and then it is up to them to sign them but how do the Mets scouts rank against the rest of teams? Are there ways that the Mets could reorganize how they scout or what they look for that would make a difference? Organizational reports always focus on the players but I would like to know a little more about the number and type of scouts the Mets have and your thoughts on them. Just a suggestion for a possible topic. Thanks

Thanks for the question Mark. They are far and few between since I screwed up the settings here. Hopefully, people like Hobie will be back soon.

You have to break down a scouting system into two categories. One, what is the quality and depth of the information being gathered, and two, what does the team do with that data. Every major league team has a seasoned staff of scouts that know what they are doing. Many are ex-players, but that's not a pre-requisite. Some are ex- coaches, and some are just normal people who understand baseball. Their job is simply to single out the few players on every minor league team that look to have the God given talent to make it some day in the majors.

And, it is only a few on each team folks.Now, here's the trick. Every scout can recognize a David Price or Jesus Montero, but who was the guy that recognized that Angel Pagan was someone their team should steal away from the Mets (his name was Billy Blitzer)?

Next, what happens if you got a great bunch of scouts but all the information winds up in the hands of a paper pusher who never played the game, no less, understand it?

Mark, everything is changing as I write. Paul DePodesa brings to the Mets a wealth of minor league knowledge and, by the time the next draft comes up you are going to see a whole different way of drafting the future members of this team.

Remember, the past Mets drafting philosophy was not the Wilpons. It was the suits under Omar Minaya that determined whether or not they were going to draft someone. I don't think we will see any more players like Steve Matz picked with the first pick (noting against you, Steve). No, it will be the best out there regardless of how much money it will take to sign them.

Remember, all this money is slotted now. The math is done for you.All you have to do is deal with an agent that wants more than their client deserves. Isn't that every agent?