Scouting Cards

[joelsabi]

Here are two more examples. Maybe someone know the tendencies of Mike Scioscia and Matt Williams so we can determine what the Scout meant for Steal situations.

Thanks in advance. I find these cards interesting.

[joelsabi]

Opps the Matt Williams is a duplicate. Here is Eric Davis for compare and contrast.

[Rob D.]

On Scioscia, the book on him is he will delay steal.

The Opp. on Scioscia ... I do not have an answer.

On Davis, the book on him is he will steal, especially on the first pitch of the count (or the first pitch after arriving at first base). The advice is for the pitcher to wait a little extra longer (hold ball) while he's in the stretch before delivering the pitch. This is done because a lot of pitchers fall into a groove in which they come to the stretch, wait a second and deliver the pitch. Good base stealers can get a heck of a jump by timing this. So holding the ball takes that away from the runner.

[joelsabi]

So are these Reports held by the Base Coach or the Manager during a game?

[Rob D.]

Not necessarily. They're cards that advance scouts (scouts who watch an opponent one or two weeks before it's scheduled to play his team) fill out and give to the manager and coaching staff. The manager and coaches might go over the info with their players before a series. It's possible that a manager might keep them within arm's reach during a game, but it's not like he's constantly looking at them.

And honestly, players and coaches in the majors know each other really well, so these cards are more a formality than a reference work. When they do come in handy is when younger players are just breaking into the league and opposing managers might not know a lot about them.

[joelsabi]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

Not necessarily. They're cards that advance scouts (scouts who watch an opponent one or two weeks before it's scheduled to play his team) fill out and give to the manager and coaching staff. The manager and coaches might go over the info with their players before a series. It's possible that a manager might keep them within arm's reach during a game, but it's not like he's constantly looking at them.

And honestly, players and coaches in the majors know each other really well, so these cards are more a formality than a reference work. When they do come in handy is when younger players are just breaking into the league and opposing managers might not know a lot about them.

That makes sense. I have never seen these before so these are just really interesting. Thanks for your analysis.

[Rob D.]

They are pretty cool. I remember about 15-20 years ago a collector acquired a couple hundred of current players and made it a project to get as many as possible autographed. I thought that was a pretty clever idea.