Ever disagree with Perfect Game Rating?

Darkmoon, step back and think about this. Who is in a better position to evaluate talent now and how it might project. You as a father or a neutral party who has experience evaluating players over many years? Having asked that question, humans are doing the evaluating and humans are obviously wrong at times. Also philosophies come into play. The pro football combine controversies are a good analogy. In a combine a player can run faster, jump higher, lift more and score a 36 on the Wonderlic and fail in the NFL. Just can't play football. You've heard the arguements. Same in a one-day showcase. It is very difficult to determine who can really play and who can't IMHO. I've heard it on this website that stats and past performance don't mean anything. To that I say BULL without being humble. I have been around long enough to understand that I certainly don't know everything. I also have been around long enough to know that you cannot fully judge an individual in one day. I worked as a corporate headhunter and staffing manager for 8 years. I do have some expertise in the problems in evaluating people. Mr Ford from PG has posted very eloquently about this subject before. I ask him again to support, dispute or do a little of both regarding my feelings. I do know that he will tell you that their evaluations are not infallible and they have changed their opinions on players over time. I will also tell you that from what I can see, PG truly makes a great effort to provide an honest evaluation.

Additionally, I am but a youth coach and help out with the high school. I know what I am. I will tell you this though...if I were a low-mid Div I coach I would ignore every good player over 6'2" and scour the country for every under 6' scrapper I could find who could really play. Everyone competes for the former. I'll bet I could recruit and win big time with the latter. Having said all that, my son is a short RHP/SS...go back and read my first two sentences of this post. Bias is everywhere.

darkmoon...

As I see you are a new member to the hsbbweb and your first two posts were made this morning, one in the Texas forum and the other here. However, your post about Perfect Game is of interest.

These folks are currently the top showcase organizers in the game of baseball today. They have a "top notch" reputation by some of the highest vip's in professional baseball.

Families and others have posted on the hsbbweb "for years" about the professionalism and respect of Mr. Ford and his staff at Perfect Game.

You are entitled to your opinion as my response to your question is "my opinion", however, if you do your research thoroughly, you may see a different Perfect Game as you describe.

In reading your post about Perfect Game, my suggestion is for you to find another showcase that best suits your situation and "your approval" of their evaluation system.

Not all scouting reports are what we want to hear or read about our sons. But the staff at Perfect Game have clearly established their identity and professionalism that far exceeds their competitors today.

Good luck to your son and I wish you well.

Welcome to the "World Famous" hsbbweb...

I spoke to a college coach recently and asked what showcases they would suggest attending and the response was "anything Perfect Game puts on-we try to get to almost all of their events". Nuff said. Whatever I might think of PG (and my experience with them has been they do a nice job and gave fair evaluations), if the college coaches view their as fair and accurate, that's what matters most.

Darkmoon:

Your observation that pitchers you know with smooth deliveries were not graded as well as some with rougher deliveries may be quite correct.

Part of what PG is looking at is potential. If they see two young men throwing about the same speed, one has good mechanics, the second has some adjustments that could make them better, it is fairly likely that the second will get a higher rating with a note that they see the potential for improved velocity in the second pitcher's write-up. They will also note things such as the frame, potential with work to get stronger, etc.

PG is looking at the player now and projecting what he could be at the next level. That is different than who may be the best player against high school competition at this moment.

I have found PG to be very good people to deal with. At the same time, you will find that their events are loaded with good players and only the very best will get a lot of attention from the college coaches.

One final thing about PG....

The are going to always give the player the benefit of the doubt, and that's a good thing. Players improve mechanics, gain weight, get stronger, work harder. If you see a player with average numbers but who hasn't started to fill out at all, of course, give him the benefit of the doubt and grade him by his potential. Once the muscle sets on and he matures, he may be a beast. If he doesn't work out and never develops the muscle, O well ...

I have no problem with that method ... it's honest, open and it's encouraging the kids to work harder, particularly the younger ones.

Keep up the good work PG.

Darkmoon:
I agree with all stated above, Perfect Game is a very valuable resource for the HS player. That stated, an opinion is just that, an opinion. Projectability is not a science and one has only to look at the MLB drafting percentages to see that. You should not let one opinion upset you.
My son was never graded by PG, that did not prevent him from getting a very good scholorship to a D1, and he started as a freshman. As an aside, he played in several WWB summer tourn. where I am sure he was observed by PG, but unbelievably he was sick...twice stomach virus once sinus inf. He's the type of kid that will do that for the team and coach, not at all concerned with what he looked like to evaluators. So, if he had been "evaluated" it would not have been true to his talent. Would that have made us angry?..no, would that have made his evaluators wrong? ...no What if you decide to do PG and your son does not perform at his usual best? What if he does better that his usual best?
PG does a very good job, but an opinion should be used sumply as one assessment.
Even though it is my "opinion" that PG is very good at what they do, I have, on rare occasion, observed a "rating" that our baseball community thought was a little amusing! No-one is perfect! ...pardon the pun

Darkmoon,
Welcome to the HSBBW. I would probably agree that baseball talent evaluation is subjective....by everyone. Two things we as parents (myself included) must remember. Rose-colored glasses usually distort our opinions of our son’s abilities... and...if our opinions aren’t distorted, this distortion is widespread enough that no one wants our opinions. Perfect Game is highly respected in the area of evaluating baseball talent. This is not just one person’s opinion but common knowledge. I’m not being facetious when I recommend your son attend a PG event and use their evaluation as a guideline to assist him in improving his game. I might also suggest that each player focus on his own improvement and not be concerned with how another player is rated.
Best of luck,
Fungo

To answer your question, Yes, I disagree with my son's rating. However, that's my ego's problem because I may be guilty of parental prejudice.

I compared my son's rating to players of similar age, size, position, stats, and summary. In addition, I compared his rating to those of other players whom I personally know and others I observed at the same event. Bottom line: I think the rating depends on which PG person assigns the rating.

But here's the deal: I can get miffed because my son got rated 1/2 point or a full point lower than his peers. But it doesn't matter; that's just my ego. Is there really that much difference between a 7.5 and an 8, or a 6 and a 7? Probably not. But there is a significant difference between a 3 and a 9, and I don't think two people wihtin PG would rate the same player with that much of a disparity.

So take the rating for what it is - a general indicator, not a precise measurment.

My son got some great feedback from the PG folks and some thoughtful comments in the summary. I just wish his rating were higher!

Let me throw my 2 cents worth into this discussion. We went to a PG ID Showcase last summer and the assessment of my son's ability was dead nuts on. Although I did not agree with the rating, which I believe is somewhat subjective, the comments with regard to his hitting, fielding and arm strength were correct.

We used the assessment to focus his off season training program to strengthen specific areas of his game and prepare for this upcoming season. PG is a great feed back tool if used properly.

There is astory out there (can't find it or remember who wrote it) about two players that played together. One was a starter, put in lots of games, had a better ERA. The other put in something like 16 innings the whole year. Both were drafted, which one so you think was in the higher round?
The player who put 16 innings in, he was seen by scouts as being more projectable.

Darkmoon, PGs evaluation is very professional and accurate. Don't worry how your son's rating compares to another kid - it's not important. Focus on where PG sees a need for improvement and work on those aspects of the game. This is much harder than it sounds. It is so natural to view your son's ability as better than another. You may or may not be correct, but I am telling you it really doesn't make a difference except at cocktail parties. Trust Perfect Game. They are terrific and the use of their evaluation can improve your son's game.

My son attended a PG showcase and was rated a 8, I thought that was a little high because he didn't perform at a high level because he was nervous, that said, since the showcase he has recieved letters from pretty good D1 programs and for that we are greatful.

We have been to several Perfect Game events, and find they are very accurate. I personally think that there are times when players don't necessarily perform "at their best", even though Perfect Game looks at projectability, it doesn't come easy when a player has an off day. Personally I like Perfect Game events for their professionalism, and the way they have treated our son in the past. They are always friendly and will answer any questions we have. Disagreeing with a PG rating, is kinda like disagreeing with the school teacher, doesn't really matter what you think, it is what they think. You don't pay to get a rating you necessarily want, you pay to have your son showcase his skills against the best in the country, and see where he stacks up against them.

The evaluations can also be used as constructive criticism to show your son what he needs to work on, which can help them to become better ball players.

Our experience with them was good. I also found them to be very professional, informative and friendly at the same time.

I have read many reports on kids I know over the past couple of years. Sometimes I don't agree with them at first, but then I think about what they've said and the insight/knowledge/expertise come shining through like a light...actually a laser beam. To me, they are your insight to scouting...how its done.

Learn from it, use it, adapt to it. They're about the best tool we parents have to get an objective assessment of our sons. They're not infallible, but they do a great job. I always said...just tell me the truth, thats all I want. I know what to do with the truth.