FanPost

Statistics are a result of the 5 tools of a pro prospect...

The comment below is from a prospect service "In order for a player to qualify for the "Top Prospect Team", the player must have received a 4* or 5* rating on the... The rating is given out not based on statistics, but on tools, projectability, ceiling, etc. It should also be noted that ... would rather underrate a player and build his rating and increase it over time, rather than overrate a player and decrease his rating over time. A player in the 4*/5* range is a player who should definitely get drafted out of high school in the top 40 rounds. A 3* is a big time division 1 player who may get drafted late out of high school, or become a college draft pick. It should be noted that like any "list", this list is an opinion. Our entire staff got together during and after the event from pressbox scouts to on field scouts to on field coaches and went through every player ignoring stats and this is what we came up with as a staff. Colleges form their own opinions and scouts form their own opinions. These are projections based on years and years of playing and scouting experience on our staff." BBOleSchool Guy's comment on the above paragraphs I am amazed at statements like the above when it comes to rating players. I do understand that some organizations do not value statistics and I do know that some want to have stats to back up their evaluations. First of all when you make a statement with the word "ignoring stats" ... My point is that statistics are the measuring tool of all professional sports and if they weren't tracked - then there could not be any accountability to measure by. I could not recommend a 5 tool player to my crosschecker if his numbers in HS or College Baseball were below average. This past 2011 draft, there was a player from Avon Park area that had 6.3 speed and a great arm but barely hit .160 in his HS season. He was drafted with the thinking that they could teach him how to hit. Well, common sense tells me if he can't hit HS pitching, - how is hegoing hit professional pitching? The thinking is flawed and destined for failure... I have built many teams over theyears with X MLB, Minor league and College players and have built a few Perfect Game 16U & 17U teams with a couple of Mens Baseball National Championships under my belt. My 17U Perfect Game team had several players drafted over the years and 10 of 18 were offered baseball scholarships. I have watched scouts ignore players with proven 5 tool talent & great consistent statistics and have watched many of them draft players that can run great but can't hit or field. I know projecting is part of the business but not utilizing production/statistics is something that amazes me. I believe that the five tools are naturally the most important variable when it comes to evaluating talent. I also believe the 6th tool is "makeup" of a player and I also believe young adults make mistakes as we all have over the years. One key ingredient missing is another tool which must be a player's production / stats in every year starting with his sophomore year in HS throughout college. Some can argue that stats are not a tool but stats are the bi-product or results of the tools and some will argue that a players pride, heart and determination can be measured by his stats and to ignore them is simply foolish. Here is a question. Would you build a team to win a National Championship or win a World Series with players that hit below the Mendoza line and pitchers that have high ERA's and Walks to K's ratio? Would the best teams in MLB baseball sign players with poor statistics and boast about the signings? Then why would you draft them? Thinking outside of the box but not the batter's box... comments...

Trending Discussions