scouting hs opponent

The only thing I've ever used is a pitch tendency chart for the opponent. Scatter charts don't work, at least for me, because there just isn't a lot of consistency in our area with pitching. The 1 could throw upper 80's with a nasty hammer while the 2 may be lower 70's with a slower "changeup".

The pitch tendency chart can allow our guys to know what is being called in each situation, whether the coach or catcher is calling the pitches.

I wouldn't say you're overcoaching but I would just let them play. In terms of hitting I don't think there are enough at bats to truly get a sense of how they hit. Throw in JBaioni's example of differing types of pitchers and I think you're just killing trees. Even if you keep a chart on a kid all four years they are in school it's still not going to be all that accurate due to kids growing and maturing. That freshman who can't turn on a high velocity pitch can now put it out of the park as a senior.

As for the pitching chart I agree with JBaioni on the tendency chart in being helpful although you can still make the argument there still isn't enough opportunities to get the best tendencies.

I agree with Coach, that there may not be enough opportunities. HS baseball has so many variables.

The one situation it REALLY helped us was when a kid was a starting pitcher for 3 years. He threw against us twice a year and I scouted him at least 2 other times, every year.

quote:

I am curious because I sometimes think I over coach.

kdog

If you think you are maybe you are? Just a thought.

I like to be prepared. I chart every hit and make notes on every hitter we face. We have great trends when we see kids over the course of a couple of years. We use these to position our players and for our catchers and pitchers to plan their attack. They enjoy the fact that we make them think about the game a little more. Check the chart prior to the inning and make sure you are aligning properly. Our outfield and infield coach will help. It is a valuable tool and teaches players to observe hitters and look for weaknesses and trends.

We scout and not just that we keep charts from previous years. I am in Southern California and even here I see that players do not work hard enough to change their flaws, so spray charts do work. It is not much in regards to missing or hitting spots. The charts we keep tell us more along the lines what pitch the hitter struggles with. What pitch he can hit and locations that he hits the ball to. We also note what pitcher is throwing to know which lines on the chart represent which pitcher so that we know who was throwing against a hitter on a certain day.

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Originally posted by hsballcoach:
I like to be prepared. I chart every hit and make notes on every hitter we face. We have great trends when we see kids over the course of a couple of years. We use these to position our players and for our catchers and pitchers to plan their attack. They enjoy the fact that we make them think about the game a little more. Check the chart prior to the inning and make sure you are aligning properly. Our outfield and infield coach will help. It is a valuable tool and teaches players to observe hitters and look for weaknesses and trends.

Teaching the game within the game!! Kudos!!

The teams that were in our 5A state playoffs last year were scouting.

scouting is what it is but you still have to throw strikes pick up the ball and hit.

in tournaments my coaches and I will scout teams but more to see the arms on defense, the catchers arm and what they do on offense---do they bunt, hitand runn like to steal etc you cannot see them play enough games to get pitchers tendencies

We scout when we can. There is a ton of useful info you can get from scouting....

Spray charts.....They are never 100% accurate, but they will help you play the percentages.

Pitcher tendencies....many hs pitchers throw the same pitch in certain counts. At the least you can find what his best/out pitch is.

Catcher Pop times
Catcher throw behind runners
Pitcher Delivery times
Arm strentgh of players
Do the out fielders hit the cut off
Catcher hustle or stay on knees
Do middle infielders back up throw from catcher
Baserunner leads
Do players leave early if you show bunt
Bunt coverages
Special plays

The list can be specific to what you do. If we do not have a scouting report on the other team, we have our players watch them do pre-game and fill out the chart. It gets them to thinking about the game. Things such as which outfield they could stretch the extra base on, or if the second baseman has a weak arm and we can stretch it out if he has to make a long throw,etc.

d8- do you have a sample of the chart that you use that's email-able? I'm always looking to tweak mine.

Sure. My computer crashed and I got a chart from someone on here. I tweeked it to fit what we do.

We have a scrimmage today, and I will not have a chance to get on my computer at the clubhouse and send it until tomorrow. But I will gladly pass on anything that I have.

Thanks, man. I'll shoot you a PM.

Good list d8. You cannot scout their catcher too much... Watch him as much as you can and you might find something to help you out.
Also try to pick up as much as you can on 1st and 3rds...

Wow. Son being a catcher I had no idea how much focus is put on scouting catcher. Last year the high schools in our area did not (since he was a freshman on varsity) and he had most throwouts in District. We will see this year since he is still a lowly sophmore.

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:
Wow. Son being a catcher I had no idea how much focus is put on scouting catcher. Last year the high schools in our area did not (since he was a freshman on varsity) and he had most throwouts in District. We will see this year since he is still a lowly sophmore.

In reading a number of your posts, I have a feeling there is nothing lowly about your guy. Enjoy the attention!