Scouting Opponents

How many games are being scouted. Is it one game? Several games over a season? For example a hitting spray chart from one game against an 82 mph pitcher probably won’t have value if your next pitcher throws 92.

So in college ball coaches get their scouting reports from other schools and coaches,  as well as their own scouting.

they are very detailed. Every pitcher and hitter has something said about them. For the pitchers it’s usually their velocity for each pitch that they throw, their tendencies of what pitches they like to throw in certain counts. It mentions If their fast ball has movement or sneaks up on hitters, or how their off speed moves. Little things teams have picked up such as the pitcher gets frustrated with runners on base or sets up differently when picking to bases. Their times to home are clocked, their pickoff moves are graded, and how well they field their position.

hitters also have their tendencies charted. If they swing first pitch, have trouble recognizing spin, if with 2 strikes you can get them to chase a high fast ball. What flaws they have in their swings that might make it harder to hit certain pitches. If they like to hit pull side or oppo, if they have any power.

 get catchers pop times and pay attention to little things from the coaching staff. If a coach says a certain phrase and the pitcher always picks to first afterwards, or the coaches always give hit and run after a mound visit.

Thanks that all makes sense.  Just in a two game series I am trying to see what you can gather from a team and what some of yall look for.

Radar gun on opposing pitchers seems okay but how do you simulate his speed in practice? What does it really help with?

With limited data I would be looking if a hitter has a tendency to consistently swing and miss at a certain pitch out of strike zone. I would look for pitch calling tendencies. The variance of types of pitching seen in two games wouldn't give credibility to a hitter’s spray chart.

Pitching coaches scout hitters on opposing teams, hitting coaches scout pitchers.

For HS games. You don't need a gun and you don't need spray charts. You just need a good set of eyes that knows what to look for.  That would be, for hitters, what type of pitches can't they hit, his he patient, does he go deep into the count, for pitchers, whats his money pitch, what's his out pitch, what's his pick off move like. Watch the catcher.

Just an FYI. College games are on video and archived. Scouts aren't used like they used to although coaches that know scouts will ask about the top guys in the league.

Scouting is a specialty.  Just keep your objective simple. Remember, Hrs usually are because the pitcher made a mistake. Make sure your team is prepared not to make them

But remember, more importantly would it be more important to prepare your team, instead of worrying about another.

Totally with RJM and TPM.  Spray charts on a team with two games won't give you much that you shouldn't be able to see and what common sense tells you.  Look for arm strength and mobility by position so you know who to run on (when ball in play and in terms of stealing).  If you are scouting ahead of time, pitcher general velo, LHP vs RHP, command, types of off-speed offerings.  Then you can generally simulate that type of P and advise your hitters accordingly.  Pick moves, time to home, catcher POP are good general info to have in pocket. 

But as TPM says... first off, how the heck do you get time to watch another team's games?  Aren't your games same days or aren't you practicing?  Focus on making your players better at each practice.  Practice against LHP and RHP, good velo, weak velo, hard slider, looping curve.  Once you are in the game, you usually see by observing warm-ups 95% of what you need to know.  Teach your players what to watch for (swing style, bat speed, oppo approach, foot speed, arm strength, where they stand in the box, etc.).  Teach them good hitting mechanics that will allow them to gear to any likely velo.  Teach them balance so they can adjust.  Then they are usually ready to play baseball, regardless of what comes their way.  This is far better use of your coaching time than scouting opponents.  

What surprises me is that sometimes teams don't pay attention to their own scouting report.  If you have your hard thrower on the mound, shift accordingly (except maybe vs. opponents best hitters or those that show quick hands and pull tendencies).  If you are throwing your crafty guy, play slightly pull unless you see opposition taking an oppo approach.. etc., etc.  

If I'm only getting a look or two, I'm limiting what I am looking for. On a pitcher, I'm timing him to the plate with runners on and for base runners, I'm looking for the kid that doesn't know how to lead off a base and exposes himself to being picked off. As to hitters, I may pay attention to how a kid looks against off speed or note if I see a kid swing at a high fastball more than once. Spry chart stuff and location decisions, however, require a more lengthy job of scouting.

Who runs well. Who bunts. How do they defend the bunt. How do they defend 1st and 3rds. How do they approach sac situations offensively and defensively. What does their 2 strike approach look like? Do they widen up and look fastball away? Do they widen up and look off speed? Who are the free swingers? Do they pitch backwards to the middle? Do they work away predominately? 

Everything else you can learn pretty quickly when you see them. Also a lot of scouting reports go right out the window when you factor in 75 when you saw them and 85 when you played them. Or the other way around. Spray charts, gun readings, stop watches - nope. Watch the game it will be pretty obvious at the HS level who their guys are. 

HS we're lucky to see 2 games on a team. We scout swings and approach for hitters, not so much spray chart, and make notes on speed, will bunt for hit, etc. Pitch tendencies for pitchers, velo on pitches, time to plate, pickoff moves, etc. Outfield arm strength.

Basically just watch the game and see what we see, but in my advanced age I've found I need to write down as much as possible.

I attached the general notes sheet we use for the sake of conversation.