we will be hosting a mlb scout in our home this week, our first visit, what is expected of us, should we have snacks available or just visit and what questions should we be sure to ask..any info would be appreciated
thanks
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Congratulations to your son on receiving enough interest to warrant a home visit. That is a good sign.
Our experience was that the only thing that was expected of our son was to be ready to talk about his thoughts on his baseball future. Would he be willing to sign out of HS and if so what would it take for him to do so. By the way we never spoke of actual $$ in the early conversations just mentioned what rounds it might take to make it appealing enough to him. That gave the scout a general idea of what kind of money he was looking for. Many asked what kind of commitment he received from his college so they could better tell if he might be a tough sign. Much of the college and round questions were centered to my wife and I as well.
Some teams administered a Psych test and a couple did eye test as well (our son was a pitcher so the eye test may be more in play for position guys). Our son recovered from a shoulder injury the year before his draft so we had copies of his medical records available as well because most asked for them.
Other than that, we offered the scout a drink and that was about it.
Good luck...feel free PM me if you have any additional questions.
Our experience was that the only thing that was expected of our son was to be ready to talk about his thoughts on his baseball future. Would he be willing to sign out of HS and if so what would it take for him to do so. By the way we never spoke of actual $$ in the early conversations just mentioned what rounds it might take to make it appealing enough to him. That gave the scout a general idea of what kind of money he was looking for. Many asked what kind of commitment he received from his college so they could better tell if he might be a tough sign. Much of the college and round questions were centered to my wife and I as well.
Some teams administered a Psych test and a couple did eye test as well (our son was a pitcher so the eye test may be more in play for position guys). Our son recovered from a shoulder injury the year before his draft so we had copies of his medical records available as well because most asked for them.
Other than that, we offered the scout a drink and that was about it.
Good luck...feel free PM me if you have any additional questions.
thanks for the info jerseydad...just what i was looking for
Roar, I would advise sprucing up the trailer a bit too.
Do not completely trust pro scouts or college recruiters any more than you would a used car salesman or politician. There is NO question that should hesitate to ask unless it is about the persons private life.
jaggerz- I'd be very interested in finding out why you have such a vendetta against scouts and coaches. What happened in the past to you/your son that causes these feelings? I think sharing may be beneficial for many people here.
Unless that scout tells you what round they will select you or how much they will give you, trust everything he says. He has no reason to give you anything other than the truth. He is there to represent his organization. Show him and his organization respect. Just remember that what is true today might be false later on. Things can change!
So much depends on your current status. Do you have an advisor? Do you have reason to believe you will be selected early in the draft? No matter what, I suggest this is NOT the time to play hard to get. I wouldn't bring out the scrapbook and trophies either. Also not the time to show video unless asked.
They already have some degree of interest. The scout is there to get a feel for who you are and how interested you are in signing. nothing you say or show will change their opinion of your son's ability. However, they might pick up on his intentions and his makeup. The family visit will sometimes reveal clues.
So much depends on your current status. Do you have an advisor? Do you have reason to believe you will be selected early in the draft? No matter what, I suggest this is NOT the time to play hard to get. I wouldn't bring out the scrapbook and trophies either. Also not the time to show video unless asked.
They already have some degree of interest. The scout is there to get a feel for who you are and how interested you are in signing. nothing you say or show will change their opinion of your son's ability. However, they might pick up on his intentions and his makeup. The family visit will sometimes reveal clues.
jaggerz---- you have a problem--- and it is a real major one
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
jaggerz---- you have a problem--- and it is a real major one
I have real experience with the process, not anecdotal. I am not saying all coaches or scouts are not trustworthy, I am saying that you should treat them like car salesmen...very carefully.
However,if you want sugar coated answers then I am not your guy. There have been other posters that have made similar comments and they are not called troubled.
jaggerz- I'll call your bluff. You made a blanket statement about all pro scouts and college coaches, and this is not the first time you've done so on these boards in a negative manner. Please don't try to retract your original statement by saying its "some and not all".
I'm sure many here would appreciate if you shared your experience with the process, as it could possibly help many here in the future. Real life experiences usually do. This can certainly be done with anonymity.
I'm sure many here would appreciate if you shared your experience with the process, as it could possibly help many here in the future. Real life experiences usually do. This can certainly be done with anonymity.
Man, it's hard to veer from the company line around here. Carry on.
quote:Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:
Roar, I would advise sprucing up the trailer a bit too.
I know this was written tongue-n-cheek, but there is a bit of truth. Several years ago, the son of a friend was being scouted during high-school. Scouts do take notice of where the player lives and the lifestyle the player is used to, to decide how much it would take to draft the player out of high school.
When I told my young sons at the time that "the Yankees were coming" to pay this player a visit, one son rolled his eyes and reminded me that the whole team wouldn't be coming (son wished!) and the other son thought it was some sort of confederate battle-cry. (gosh - is that the first thing a 4th grader in Va studying Civil War history would think?!)
Do your homework and be yourself. Scouts will want to get to know your son and family better and is he signable or does he really want to go to college. Have questions prepared for the scout. Enjoy the process. Our experience was good during the visit. Very professional, probably the best presentation I have seen in my life. Very impressive and all questions answered.
Enjoy and best of luck,
Lefty
Enjoy and best of luck,
Lefty
Every experience that son had (HS) with scouts were nothing but positive.
Usually folks are down on the process when things didn't go well, usually the player got drafted much later than the family expected or he got less scholarship money than expected.
Usually folks are down on the process when things didn't go well, usually the player got drafted much later than the family expected or he got less scholarship money than expected.
quote:Originally posted by TPM:
Every experience that son had (HS) with scouts were nothing but positive.
Usually folks are down on the process when things didn't go well, usually the player got drafted much later than the family expected or he got less scholarship money than expected.
In so far as many college coaches are concerned, they aren't truthful to recruits, son spent a season being bullpen catcher, does anyone really think regardless of the money a player would accept this up front? Many of his current and ex teammates were in the same situation. Every JC has several ex D1s on their rosters. I'm thankful son is through the recruiting process.
Sultan, good analogy, I'm being convinced the majority of posters are either employed in a baseball related business or had sons who were never lied to and went first round.
JH, I believe JaggerZ is not in a position to name names as he still has a relative in the system. Maybe some day he can do that for us. People are blacklisted in baseball for telling the truth. Shortly our son's journey will come out.
PGstaff, good advice as always. As I've said in the past, son would have been overjoyed if he had ever got drafted any round. We never made it to the home visit level so I didn't have to spruce up our trailer.
Isense that we have disgruntled daddys here
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
Isense that we have disgruntled daddys here
Yes we do TR, especially when it comes to liars!
daddys do not lie
PUHD,
You keep revisiting the same issue. I am assuming that you are very upset because you are under the impression that your son was told he would be the starting catcher when he transfered to D1?
If the coach told your son that he was going to be the starting catcher and that didn't happen, does that make the coach a liar? Are you saying that the coach had no intentions of ever having your son be the catcher, or that your son just didn't win the position over someone else? You do understand that many D1 coaches bring in JUCO players to challenge their #1 guy at that position, or to play out their senior year when their #1 gets drafted. They do this in the pros too, they bring in competition in spring (FA) to challenge their players to stay on top of their game. This is often done to the backup catcher, who never really gets to play much or take at bats but has won the spot of the back up guy.
Where you there when he made that statement to your son, or is that what was perceived by the large offer given?
Please take the above questions as they were intended, I (and probably) am just trying to figure out exactly why you are so unhappy. Your sons program had a great year in 2011, I can't see the coach or any coach not putting a player, regardless of position, in the lineup if he can hit. In any level of baseball a coach or manager will find a place for that player, because that is, as a hitter, the number one reason you are in the lineup, unless you are a Buster Posey type who has excellent catching skills as well as an unbelievable hitter. There are not too many gold glove guys out there. It's all about hitting.
You have mentioned that your son was converted to a pitcher this fall. On every level most catchers that can't hit with a strong arm get converted to pitchers. This happens all of the time, so I am going to assume that since your sons bat didn't find his way into the lineup than his arm did? How does that make the coach a liar?
Here, over the years, most of us give advice that if a coach tells your player that he has a definite spot coming into the program (whether from HS, or JUCO) ask a lot of questions, because you still as a player need to win that position over someone else, even if you are getting most of your college paid for by him. I believe this as the greatest source of unhappiness among players and their folks they were under the impression that they didn't have to work hard in college as they did in HS for their spot. After all, they were the best in the lineup, best on the mound, now they have to play behind someone else. They were the stud in HS, reality bites you in the rear when you get to college, no matter what level you shoot for.
As far as the statement about most of the people here are either employed by a baseball related business or sons were never lied to or first round picks, is so wrong and possibly shows just how you are unable to see things as they really are. The difference is that there are many here whose sons HAVE had a difficult time finding their way in the lineup, on the mound, difficult time with coaches, managers, they just don't come whining about it and call the coaches or mangers or organizations, liars. Their sons have found a way to get through it, or they eventually realize that the game has outgrown them and move on. No regrets and no blame placed upon anyone.
You seem to be so very disappointed that your son never had an opportunity to get drafted. You state you would have loved it to happen. Just to let you know that the catching position is very tough (probably the toughest) at the pro level. Much tougher than the college situation. You have no clue, or no idea. If you think that you are frustrated now, well again, you have no idea.
Many catchers drafted end up being converted to another position because they can hit and someone is blocking them or pitcher (ex. Jason Motte from the Cardinals) or released, if they can hit they have a job, somewhere. If this were to have happened to your son (same as college), would you have been upset as well? Definetly, yes. Would you have said the scouts lied to your son? I think yo may have.
I am just trying to get an idea as to where you are really coming from, as you as a parent (IMO) never seem to have been satisfied with your son as a player or his attitude when you first came here, and now it is all about the lying coach. Sometimes we just have to sit back and realize that our sons didn't get as far as we wanted them because either they didn't work hard enough, or that they didn't have the skills as they matured that we thought they did when they were younger. I know that sometimes it's hard for some to accept, I understand.
Your son will have his degree when he leaves college, that is and always should be the goal, if baseball were more important (playing time) he had the opportunity to go somewhere else, perhaps he accepted the opportunity not realizing how difficult the D1 level really is, or that he thought that he would get exposure for the next level. That happens all of the time, I am sure (in fact I know) that there are folks here whose sons have been in that situation, but again, they just understand how it works and their sons have taken to the challenge and still in the game. Or they have moved on because they realized that it just wasn't meant to be as they and their folks have dreamed. No bitternessi in the end.
I think you are a nice guy, try to understand that being disgruntled and bitter takes that away from your persona. I would suggest that you try to use your sons experiences in the negative, not the positive.
Coaches and scouts are not out to screw players. Yes, definetly there are some who are much more aggressive than others, you definetly have to be able to sit back and look at everything as if you are an outsider looking in, to figure out what exactly is happening. If you need help in figuring it out, we are here.
roar!, enjoy it all and best of luck to your son. Keep in mind that these visits happen to many and does not mean that he will get drafted, continue on the recruiting road, and get a strong commitment to college so your son will have options later on.
You keep revisiting the same issue. I am assuming that you are very upset because you are under the impression that your son was told he would be the starting catcher when he transfered to D1?
If the coach told your son that he was going to be the starting catcher and that didn't happen, does that make the coach a liar? Are you saying that the coach had no intentions of ever having your son be the catcher, or that your son just didn't win the position over someone else? You do understand that many D1 coaches bring in JUCO players to challenge their #1 guy at that position, or to play out their senior year when their #1 gets drafted. They do this in the pros too, they bring in competition in spring (FA) to challenge their players to stay on top of their game. This is often done to the backup catcher, who never really gets to play much or take at bats but has won the spot of the back up guy.
Where you there when he made that statement to your son, or is that what was perceived by the large offer given?
Please take the above questions as they were intended, I (and probably) am just trying to figure out exactly why you are so unhappy. Your sons program had a great year in 2011, I can't see the coach or any coach not putting a player, regardless of position, in the lineup if he can hit. In any level of baseball a coach or manager will find a place for that player, because that is, as a hitter, the number one reason you are in the lineup, unless you are a Buster Posey type who has excellent catching skills as well as an unbelievable hitter. There are not too many gold glove guys out there. It's all about hitting.
You have mentioned that your son was converted to a pitcher this fall. On every level most catchers that can't hit with a strong arm get converted to pitchers. This happens all of the time, so I am going to assume that since your sons bat didn't find his way into the lineup than his arm did? How does that make the coach a liar?
Here, over the years, most of us give advice that if a coach tells your player that he has a definite spot coming into the program (whether from HS, or JUCO) ask a lot of questions, because you still as a player need to win that position over someone else, even if you are getting most of your college paid for by him. I believe this as the greatest source of unhappiness among players and their folks they were under the impression that they didn't have to work hard in college as they did in HS for their spot. After all, they were the best in the lineup, best on the mound, now they have to play behind someone else. They were the stud in HS, reality bites you in the rear when you get to college, no matter what level you shoot for.
As far as the statement about most of the people here are either employed by a baseball related business or sons were never lied to or first round picks, is so wrong and possibly shows just how you are unable to see things as they really are. The difference is that there are many here whose sons HAVE had a difficult time finding their way in the lineup, on the mound, difficult time with coaches, managers, they just don't come whining about it and call the coaches or mangers or organizations, liars. Their sons have found a way to get through it, or they eventually realize that the game has outgrown them and move on. No regrets and no blame placed upon anyone.
You seem to be so very disappointed that your son never had an opportunity to get drafted. You state you would have loved it to happen. Just to let you know that the catching position is very tough (probably the toughest) at the pro level. Much tougher than the college situation. You have no clue, or no idea. If you think that you are frustrated now, well again, you have no idea.
Many catchers drafted end up being converted to another position because they can hit and someone is blocking them or pitcher (ex. Jason Motte from the Cardinals) or released, if they can hit they have a job, somewhere. If this were to have happened to your son (same as college), would you have been upset as well? Definetly, yes. Would you have said the scouts lied to your son? I think yo may have.
I am just trying to get an idea as to where you are really coming from, as you as a parent (IMO) never seem to have been satisfied with your son as a player or his attitude when you first came here, and now it is all about the lying coach. Sometimes we just have to sit back and realize that our sons didn't get as far as we wanted them because either they didn't work hard enough, or that they didn't have the skills as they matured that we thought they did when they were younger. I know that sometimes it's hard for some to accept, I understand.
Your son will have his degree when he leaves college, that is and always should be the goal, if baseball were more important (playing time) he had the opportunity to go somewhere else, perhaps he accepted the opportunity not realizing how difficult the D1 level really is, or that he thought that he would get exposure for the next level. That happens all of the time, I am sure (in fact I know) that there are folks here whose sons have been in that situation, but again, they just understand how it works and their sons have taken to the challenge and still in the game. Or they have moved on because they realized that it just wasn't meant to be as they and their folks have dreamed. No bitternessi in the end.
I think you are a nice guy, try to understand that being disgruntled and bitter takes that away from your persona. I would suggest that you try to use your sons experiences in the negative, not the positive.
Coaches and scouts are not out to screw players. Yes, definetly there are some who are much more aggressive than others, you definetly have to be able to sit back and look at everything as if you are an outsider looking in, to figure out what exactly is happening. If you need help in figuring it out, we are here.
roar!, enjoy it all and best of luck to your son. Keep in mind that these visits happen to many and does not mean that he will get drafted, continue on the recruiting road, and get a strong commitment to college so your son will have options later on.
jn some cases it seems that the rose colored glasses never came off
ps: for once I agree with tpm
ps: for once I agree with tpm
Since most kids don't make it, most people here are, or will be, (at least partially) disgruntled Dads/Moms.
I hope they are welcome.
I hope they are welcome.
quote:Originally posted by SultanofSwat:
Since most kids don't make it, most people here are, or will be, (at least partially) disgruntled Dads/Moms.
I hope they are welcome.
Don't make what? The HS varsity, a college roster, a ML roster?
I was addressing an unhappy parent whose son plays for a very good D1 program. The problem I guess is that he wasn't playing in the capacity he would have liked?
I am trying to figure that out.
I will stick with my original post, most times folks that are unhappy are because their players didn't do as well as they wanted them to, and then it becomes someone elses fault.
I just want people to understand how hard it is to go to the next level, whether it be college or pro, how much work it really takes, and if it doesn't turn out the way you think that it should, you can do one of two things, be positive and move forward and work as hard as you can, or move on.
There is NO cryin' in baseball.
People are always welcome, but if you are going to come and complain, blame others, make remarks about people here when you don't really know their situation or their players personal struggles, you know what you are gonna get.
With all of the things that have happened to our son over the past 5 years, I could be here everyday blaming someone else why he isn't where I think he should be, that would be easy. It's up to the player, he controls what happens to him by his attitude and play on the field. If it doesn't work, then look yourself in the mirror and say I did everything I could, don't blame others when you don't reach your goal. You are the only person who controls YOUR own destiny.
quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
daddys do not lie
Who died and left you the baseball know it all?
quote:Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:quote:Originally posted by TPM:
Every experience that son had (HS) with scouts were nothing but positive.
Usually folks are down on the process when things didn't go well, usually the player got drafted much later than the family expected or he got less scholarship money than expected.
In so far as many college coaches are concerned, they aren't truthful to recruits, son spent a season being bullpen catcher, does anyone really think regardless of the money a player would accept this up front? Many of his current and ex teammates were in the same situation. Every JC has several ex D1s on their rosters. I'm thankful son is through the recruiting process.
Sultan, good analogy, I'm being convinced the majority of posters are either employed in a baseball related business or had sons who were never lied to and went first round.
JH, I believe JaggerZ is not in a position to name names as he still has a relative in the system. Maybe some day he can do that for us. People are blacklisted in baseball for telling the truth. Shortly our son's journey will come out.
PGstaff, good advice as always. As I've said in the past, son would have been overjoyed if he had ever got drafted any round. We never made it to the home visit level so I didn't have to spruce up our trailer.
Thanks Pop up Hitter. I do have a relative in the system that I do not want to jeopardize because when it comes to coaches and scouts I am wary. Experience has taught me that, not some self proclaimed expert.
JaggerZ, the "experts" on this forum only want to hear the positive side of recruiting. I have them on my ignore list so they can trash me all they want.
We have had our share of experience with scouts. My son had interest since his junior year in HS. Every scout he/we spoke with was straight forward and a pleasure to speak with. When they addressed me by name, it was "fun". This was part of "enjoying the ride".
My son filled out between 15-20 Questionnaires each of his last 3 College seasons, and went undrafted until his senior year.
That said, after his junior year we were pretty bitter for a bit. Getting calls in the 9th round and asking signability questions, yet not hearing his name called was not fun.
But that is not on the scouts. That is a result of a front office getting information from their scouting community and making a decision. Decisions were made by the front offices of many clubs, that my son was not what they thought they were looking for, based on their needs and availability of players in the draft.
That is not "on" any particular scout. It really is not "on" any particular club. If it was "on" anyone it was "on" my son. But, It "is what it is" (this is a baseball term I picked up through the years).
You have to go into this happy and committed to the process. It can be painful at times, I know it was very painful for myself and my wife in 2011. I know it was very painful for my son as well. He expected to get drafted that year. He had back to back years with really outstanding numbers. All three team mates that he found spots for in Fayetteville were drafted, and he was sitting there alone. Wondering why he was not good enough.
But it is a process, and it is not that any scout ever misled us, they each did the best they could for my son. It just was not his time. For most, that time never comes, so we continue to count ourselves fortunate.
My son filled out between 15-20 Questionnaires each of his last 3 College seasons, and went undrafted until his senior year.
That said, after his junior year we were pretty bitter for a bit. Getting calls in the 9th round and asking signability questions, yet not hearing his name called was not fun.
But that is not on the scouts. That is a result of a front office getting information from their scouting community and making a decision. Decisions were made by the front offices of many clubs, that my son was not what they thought they were looking for, based on their needs and availability of players in the draft.
That is not "on" any particular scout. It really is not "on" any particular club. If it was "on" anyone it was "on" my son. But, It "is what it is" (this is a baseball term I picked up through the years).
You have to go into this happy and committed to the process. It can be painful at times, I know it was very painful for myself and my wife in 2011. I know it was very painful for my son as well. He expected to get drafted that year. He had back to back years with really outstanding numbers. All three team mates that he found spots for in Fayetteville were drafted, and he was sitting there alone. Wondering why he was not good enough.
But it is a process, and it is not that any scout ever misled us, they each did the best they could for my son. It just was not his time. For most, that time never comes, so we continue to count ourselves fortunate.
Very well put FF.
Very humble and straigh to the point.
Very humble and straigh to the point.
REMEMBER THAT SCOUTS ARE REGULAR GUYS
TR, I knew I could get you two to agree. LOL!!!!!
pop up we agree 5the few ntimes she is correct---has nothing to do with you
quote:Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:
TR, I knew I could get you two to agree. LOL!!!!!
He is right, this has nothing to do with you.
What happened to the conversation PUHD?
jaggerz
nobody has died that I know of and u have heard of glass houses
nobody has died that I know of and u have heard of glass houses
quote:Originally posted by jaggerz:quote:Originally posted by TRhit:
daddys do not lie
Who died and left you the baseball know it all?
The committee met over Thanksgiving holiday at the banquet, and the award was presented then. Did you not get the memo?
quote:Originally posted by roar!:
we will be hosting a mlb scout in our home this week, our first visit, what is expected of us, should we have snacks available or just visit and what questions should we be sure to ask..any info would be appreciated
thanks
So Roar, did that scout ever show?
thanks for all the responses...didn't mean to start any arguements, lol, but there was alot of great info shared...the first scout called about 2 hrs before show up time...couldn't make it...second team, stayed in contact from the day he set up the meet until he showed up, 10 minutes early...he stayed a little over 2 hours and we had a great visit..
The scout is the #1 salesman for the player to the club he works for. You should be honest and straight forward. If you want to sign make it known otherwise it will be believed that the intention is to go to school.
If its about money...go to school. If its about opprotunity....sign.
The meeting is a get to know for both the scout and the player.
Things like short term and long term goals get discussed.
Talking about core beliefs and desires to excell.
Determining motivational values.
Mental toughness.
Who does the talking. The parent or the player.
What type competitor is the player. Does he compete against himself or the game.
Why do they want to play and what does the player enjoy the most about playing.
Talking about dealing with failure and poor preformances.
Asking about teammates.
What will you do after your playing career.
Do you have private instructors, trainers and what will their involvement be as the player moves into pro ball.
Medical concerns.
The home visit is a tool to the overall evaluation of the player.
A scout should be trusted. It is he who will sell your value to the club he works for. Be honest even if being honest hurts.
If its about money...go to school. If its about opprotunity....sign.
The meeting is a get to know for both the scout and the player.
Things like short term and long term goals get discussed.
Talking about core beliefs and desires to excell.
Determining motivational values.
Mental toughness.
Who does the talking. The parent or the player.
What type competitor is the player. Does he compete against himself or the game.
Why do they want to play and what does the player enjoy the most about playing.
Talking about dealing with failure and poor preformances.
Asking about teammates.
What will you do after your playing career.
Do you have private instructors, trainers and what will their involvement be as the player moves into pro ball.
Medical concerns.
The home visit is a tool to the overall evaluation of the player.
A scout should be trusted. It is he who will sell your value to the club he works for. Be honest even if being honest hurts.
