How to Select an Advisor?

sent you a PM

Great question, and we found that a template/blueprint doesn't exist, so we needed to create our own that included some of the following criteria:

• interpersonal reaction between player and prospective advisor
• specialization in baseball
• current and past clients
• 3rd party citations, e.g., a recent Forbes list
• recent draft pick clients and their progress

Once we had our criteria rounded out, phone interviews took place.

Good luck!

Nuke83,

Good stuff. I am sure RFF gave you great info.

You do not have to rush into this situation.  Your son and you don't need the pressure at this time.

If you have any questions send a message.

sent you a PM

I can only share what's important to us at Driveline Baseball to our athletes when we talk with advisors. Money, history, and experience are all relatively important, but we all know that. To us, the #1 most important thing that is ALWAYS overlooked is experience with understanding the player development side of the various pro ball organizations out there.

Our clients train in a manner that is unorthodox to 25/30 teams (being generous here) and if they truly believe the training is what has made them professional prospects, we tell them that they should know what 25/30 teams don't respect this kind of work and will take it away from them once they get into the organization. At least half of the organizations place restrictions on long toss distance and time, and more will refuse to let pitchers use weighted balls or other weighted implement training. If the advisor has little knowledge or doesn't care about this side of the negotiations and draft positioning, then it's a HUGE red flag. 

Your draft position and money upfront - plus ongoing support - are minimal variables compared to the day to day life the pitcher will have to deal with when it comes to coordinators, coaches, and front office staffers. Remember, when you sign a professional contract, you bind yourself to the organization for 6-7 years with no recourse available to the player. Would you take a job where you hated your boss and had to go to work where your co-workers and managers talked about your methods of doing your job behind your back, or would you want to go to work where your methods were appreciated and potentially even celebrated as a new way of getting better?

If the advisor doesn't have much knowledge in these areas... think very carefully on what truly matters. As an agent once told me: "Unless you're picked with one of the very few top selections, your ass is getting a job after you wash out of baseball unless you stick in the show. The organization that best fits your personality and training thoughts is the single most important variable to consider."

All,

Thanks so much for the info, both here, in PM's and the phone calls.  A lot of very good stuff.  Kyle, you add a very interesting perspective to consider someone who has intimate familiarity with both the game (training regimen) and the ability to navigate through the ball club to represent that on behalf of their client.  This speaks volumes to JoeMktg's point about specializing in baseball.

And on that point, Joe's list is a great one.  That's about where we are in that we've narrowed it down to those points and no single one has completely lapped the field yet.  As I'm hearing from all, the relationship and interaction between player, family and advisor/agent is extremely important, and that's what I was really what it will likely boil down to between those who have checks on all he boxes for the other points.

TPM, if I have any additional questions going forward, I'll certainly PM you.  I've gotten a lot of really good info from you guys, much echos what we've been doing and thinking, so it's reassuring to get some validation.  I was really hoping to hear from anyone who feels like they missed something while doing there homework and regretted and/or actually made a change in advisor/agent.

What I'm learning is that getting info on colleges, coaches, etc., is really easy, but the advisor/agent relationship is a very personal one and it's difficult to find objective information on the subject.  Many people have opinions on whether you need one or not, but when it comes down to interviewing and selecting one, info is pretty lean.

Lots of good ones, even more bad apples.

This is one of the hardest decisions for most.

Just know this... It is very common for players to switch agents/advisors.

Can someone clarify when this relationship goes from a casual, non-binding arrangement to some type of contractual obligation?  Is there some type of legal obligation that springs once a kid signs - as I understand they are still an amateur until the actual signing and therefore cannot have agreed to any compensation prior to signing.

Nuke,

there are no "mom or pops" that survive. See your attorney, do you research on verbal vs written agreements.

during the AC games our players average $35 million each year.

Bob

founder of the Area Code games