I've heard GPA is calculated differently in HS than it is in college, taking into account AP courses and the like. Is there some formula to use for converting number or letter grades to the High School GPA reported to colleges?
The irony in keeping accurate credible stats is that it is a very simple process. In Australia, they have an official scorer and a scorekeeper from each team sitting together seperate from spectators. Errors, hits etc are reviewed and agreed upon amongst the 3 scorekeepers.
The real issue within creative scorekeeping is that it can be very divisive within the team and certainly amongst spectators. Which in turn takes away from the focus of the game
The real issue within creative scorekeeping is that it can be very divisive within the team and certainly amongst spectators. Which in turn takes away from the focus of the game
baseballdad13,
The importance of stats will always be a hot topic. Of course, I agree with most everything mentioned in the other posts. Nothing is more important than actually being seen by decision makers. High school statistics do not carry much weight when it comes to scouting or recruiting. However there are certain stats that could create some interest.
For example… If we hear about someone who is hitting an abnormal number of home runs or a pitcher who is striking out 2 or more an inning, we are going to check him and the situation out. Sometimes it turns out to be a product of the field size or lack of competition, but sometimes we find a good prospect.
The stats don’t often cause scouts and recruiters to come courting, but if there’s a somewhat unknown high school kid hitting a ridiculous number of home runs or a pitcher striking out 2 or more an inning, you can bet that there will be some phone calls made. The most successful scouts and recruiters do not completely ignore these things, that would be stupid.
I’ve mentioned before that it’s the “poor” stats that are sometimes the most important, especially to MLB scouts. This only pertains to those prospects that are already identified and are being followed.
Example… Known prospect who is considered a possible early draft pick… Current HS stats show he is hitting .200 without any power numbers and is striking out half his ABs. Believe me these stats will be a red flag and cause much concern and some doubt within scouting departments. It doesn’t mean that they will take that hitter off their list, but they will definitely double check things and reevaluate their opinion.
If someone thinks that all MLB scouting departments aren’t interested in stats, they would be wrong. There is more than one club that will call us to find out what a certain player’s stats are in our high school league. Of course, they know that the league is very competitive and that we are the scorekeepers. And they already know which players they are interested in. In most cases, high school players who are top draft prospects usually have high school stats that show that. Of course, there have been some exceptions to that, but not many! Players drafted on projection “alone” are seldom picked in the first couple rounds.
So in the end, stats can be more important for those who have been identified by recruiters and scouts, possibly in a negative way explained above. But if you’re a player that the decision makers don’t know and your stats are outstanding… Send them out, you never know who might get interested. In other words there’s not much to lose and it’s possible the stats might create enough interest to cause further investigation. Then it will depend on ability, no matter how good the stats are.
We receive lots of profiles that include stats. We receive some nasty emails from parents who complain about rankings and grades. These almost always include glowing stats that are used to prove their point. Sometimes these glowing stats that are the source of so much pride are actually revealing the reason we didn’t grade the player higher. Or sometimes even reveal some inaccurate scorekeeping. Here is an example.
Son is leading the team in hitting
.500
80 AB
40 H
8 2B
0 3B (or that stat is not included)
0 HR (or that stat is not included)
20 RBI
3 SB
If you don’t know anything else about the player, what do you make of these stats?
He might be very good, but the above stats don’t really show any sure fire tools, but they do indicate a possible lack of power and lack of speed. That is two important tools!
Then there’s the other information that is sent in.
So and So throws mid 80s, has topped out at 92. (Sorry for being skeptical, but that 92 doesn’t make sense)
So and So throws 90. (Sorry for being skeptical, but we would need to see it. Heard too many exaggerations)
So and So throws low 80s but has three plus pitches. (Sorry for being skeptical, but are you thinking the fastball is one of those three plus pitches?)
So and So hasn’t given up an earned run all year. (Great accomplishment for sure, but that doesn’t tell us enough)
So go ahead and send out the stats, especially if they are good stats. Send anything and everything that might possibly create some interest. But don’t expect that the people you send them to, to be as impressed as you are.
Best of luck to your son
The importance of stats will always be a hot topic. Of course, I agree with most everything mentioned in the other posts. Nothing is more important than actually being seen by decision makers. High school statistics do not carry much weight when it comes to scouting or recruiting. However there are certain stats that could create some interest.
For example… If we hear about someone who is hitting an abnormal number of home runs or a pitcher who is striking out 2 or more an inning, we are going to check him and the situation out. Sometimes it turns out to be a product of the field size or lack of competition, but sometimes we find a good prospect.
The stats don’t often cause scouts and recruiters to come courting, but if there’s a somewhat unknown high school kid hitting a ridiculous number of home runs or a pitcher striking out 2 or more an inning, you can bet that there will be some phone calls made. The most successful scouts and recruiters do not completely ignore these things, that would be stupid.
I’ve mentioned before that it’s the “poor” stats that are sometimes the most important, especially to MLB scouts. This only pertains to those prospects that are already identified and are being followed.
Example… Known prospect who is considered a possible early draft pick… Current HS stats show he is hitting .200 without any power numbers and is striking out half his ABs. Believe me these stats will be a red flag and cause much concern and some doubt within scouting departments. It doesn’t mean that they will take that hitter off their list, but they will definitely double check things and reevaluate their opinion.
If someone thinks that all MLB scouting departments aren’t interested in stats, they would be wrong. There is more than one club that will call us to find out what a certain player’s stats are in our high school league. Of course, they know that the league is very competitive and that we are the scorekeepers. And they already know which players they are interested in. In most cases, high school players who are top draft prospects usually have high school stats that show that. Of course, there have been some exceptions to that, but not many! Players drafted on projection “alone” are seldom picked in the first couple rounds.
So in the end, stats can be more important for those who have been identified by recruiters and scouts, possibly in a negative way explained above. But if you’re a player that the decision makers don’t know and your stats are outstanding… Send them out, you never know who might get interested. In other words there’s not much to lose and it’s possible the stats might create enough interest to cause further investigation. Then it will depend on ability, no matter how good the stats are.
We receive lots of profiles that include stats. We receive some nasty emails from parents who complain about rankings and grades. These almost always include glowing stats that are used to prove their point. Sometimes these glowing stats that are the source of so much pride are actually revealing the reason we didn’t grade the player higher. Or sometimes even reveal some inaccurate scorekeeping. Here is an example.
Son is leading the team in hitting
.500
80 AB
40 H
8 2B
0 3B (or that stat is not included)
0 HR (or that stat is not included)
20 RBI
3 SB
If you don’t know anything else about the player, what do you make of these stats?
He might be very good, but the above stats don’t really show any sure fire tools, but they do indicate a possible lack of power and lack of speed. That is two important tools!
Then there’s the other information that is sent in.
So and So throws mid 80s, has topped out at 92. (Sorry for being skeptical, but that 92 doesn’t make sense)
So and So throws 90. (Sorry for being skeptical, but we would need to see it. Heard too many exaggerations)
So and So throws low 80s but has three plus pitches. (Sorry for being skeptical, but are you thinking the fastball is one of those three plus pitches?)
So and So hasn’t given up an earned run all year. (Great accomplishment for sure, but that doesn’t tell us enough)
So go ahead and send out the stats, especially if they are good stats. Send anything and everything that might possibly create some interest. But don’t expect that the people you send them to, to be as impressed as you are.
Best of luck to your son
quote:But don’t expect that the people you send them to, to be as impressed as you are.
Good point.
At my son's milb game last night, the Detroit Tigers first round pick from last June's draft was on the mound. At only 18 years old, Jacob Turner was throwing mid-90's through his entire outing. They mentioned his high school stats from his junior and senior year in high school and the only stat they mentioned was that he averaged over two strikeouts per inning. One thing I might suggest, is that if anyone batted against a prospect like that and had some success, that might be useful information to supply on a resume/bio sheet.
I appreciate everyone's honesty and useful information. I know this website is full of knowledge and sarcastic and downgrading remarks can be a part of it.
I have learned alot from these postings and will take much away. I was hoping the kids not worry about their stats too much just as the parents shouldn't.
Some parents really want their kid to succeed by providing as much good info about them when helping them with college and coaches, me included.
I very much know grades are of the utmost importance in a kids future and all decisions will have an effect good or bad. I sincerely hope my son and all others just play the game hard and because they love it and let it play itself out for the future. It can be difficult and a lot of hard work but it will pay off in the end.
I have learned alot from these postings and will take much away. I was hoping the kids not worry about their stats too much just as the parents shouldn't.
Some parents really want their kid to succeed by providing as much good info about them when helping them with college and coaches, me included.
I very much know grades are of the utmost importance in a kids future and all decisions will have an effect good or bad. I sincerely hope my son and all others just play the game hard and because they love it and let it play itself out for the future. It can be difficult and a lot of hard work but it will pay off in the end.
Baseballdad,
On my son's JUCO team, there our 2 players that were late round MLB picks. Neither player was recruited by a D1 or D2 school. Their High School G.P.A.'s were were not very high and their S.A.T.'s were low. Both were told to go to a JUCO and work on their grades. 1 has raised his grades to a 3.2 G.P.A. yet hasn't improved beyond his high school playing skills and is not a starter. The other is barely staying eligible and is hoping to be drafted again because he won't get an offer of a scholarship to a 4 year.
Yes, grades and scores are very important to get an offer.
On my son's JUCO team, there our 2 players that were late round MLB picks. Neither player was recruited by a D1 or D2 school. Their High School G.P.A.'s were were not very high and their S.A.T.'s were low. Both were told to go to a JUCO and work on their grades. 1 has raised his grades to a 3.2 G.P.A. yet hasn't improved beyond his high school playing skills and is not a starter. The other is barely staying eligible and is hoping to be drafted again because he won't get an offer of a scholarship to a 4 year.
Yes, grades and scores are very important to get an offer.
baseballdad13,
I hope you didn't take anything I posted as a downgrading remark. I sure didn't mean anything that way.
I think sometimes when you write something it doesn't always come out as politely as it was meant to be.
I think you and your son should do whatever you think is best. You are the ones who have the most at stake. There are many different paths that successful players have taken. There's no real blue print for this stuff!
I hope you didn't take anything I posted as a downgrading remark. I sure didn't mean anything that way.
I think sometimes when you write something it doesn't always come out as politely as it was meant to be.
I think you and your son should do whatever you think is best. You are the ones who have the most at stake. There are many different paths that successful players have taken. There's no real blue print for this stuff!
PG-Sent you a PM.
STATS - they is what they is.... LOL. 
I agree, abnormally good (or bad) stats tend to draw the most attention. But, in most cases (if not all) HS stats serve the interest of the person quoting the stat, not necessarily the truth.
For example, I live in a town where we had a very good little league team make it to Williamsport, ending with a 1-0 win in the consolation game. Five of those players have remained playing locally and they are now freshman in HS. I have seen 95% of their games, including two in head-to-head competition. I know for a fact, they are truthfully playing well below their abnormally inflated stats. It's good press for the HS team, but its not going to benefit the player(s) when real eyes evaluate their talent.
Another example... Last year a district move-in, committed to a BIG 12 D1, plays SS for a very good HS team. As a senior, he had the honor of leading the 5A district in fielding errors (26), the lowest FPCT (-) .850, and the most strikeouts. This year, as a freshman lead-off hitter, he's batting over .300, has only a few errors at 2nd base, has a great FPCT and is one of the top hitters on the team, including 5 HRs.
The real eyes win everytime!
GED10DaD
I agree, abnormally good (or bad) stats tend to draw the most attention. But, in most cases (if not all) HS stats serve the interest of the person quoting the stat, not necessarily the truth.
For example, I live in a town where we had a very good little league team make it to Williamsport, ending with a 1-0 win in the consolation game. Five of those players have remained playing locally and they are now freshman in HS. I have seen 95% of their games, including two in head-to-head competition. I know for a fact, they are truthfully playing well below their abnormally inflated stats. It's good press for the HS team, but its not going to benefit the player(s) when real eyes evaluate their talent.
Another example... Last year a district move-in, committed to a BIG 12 D1, plays SS for a very good HS team. As a senior, he had the honor of leading the 5A district in fielding errors (26), the lowest FPCT (-) .850, and the most strikeouts. This year, as a freshman lead-off hitter, he's batting over .300, has only a few errors at 2nd base, has a great FPCT and is one of the top hitters on the team, including 5 HRs.
The real eyes win everytime!
GED10DaD