Proof scouting is and will always remain an inexact science

[Chuck]

Just look at the career of Mark Appel.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/224110/?utm_content=bufferb0e0f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#koLpg52wkXMpwEwO.97

[wopphil]

Imagine if the Astros had drafted Bryant instead of Appel.

[eaterfan]

6 minutes ago, wopphil said:

Imagine if the Astros had drafted Bryant instead of Appel.

They're stuck with Bregman. What suckers!

[Hubs]

He just needs to watch some baseball movies like "For Love of the Game" or "The Rookie" and he should be good to go. It's all in his head as the talent is there. He has had some injury issues, but he should be a turn around candidate.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20180213T00&p0=853&msg=Countdown+to+Pitchers+and+Catchers+report+to+Spring+Training&font=cursive

[Second Base]

Scouting can't explain it all, especially in younger guys. Numbers can't either. Teams are getting better at effectively deploying both as well as coaches that can help players develop beyond their skill set.

[Angel Oracle]

Matt Bush is exhibit B.   I'm sure the Pads wished they had taken Weave instead.  Heck, they even saw him pitch a one-hitter and strike out 16 UCLA batters for LB State in a March 2004 game at Petco Park that helped to christen the new ballpark at the time.  Imagine him in that expansive ballpark in the NL.   Thank goodness the Pads screwed that one up (well, they and ten other MLB teams).

[Dtwncbad]

10 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Matt Bush is exhibit B.   I'm sure the Pads wished they had taken Weave instead.  Heck, they even saw him pitch a one-hitter and strike out 16 UCLA batters for LB State in a March 2004 game at Petco Park that helped to christen the new ballpark at the time.  Imagine him in that expansive ballpark in the NL.   Thank goodness the Pads screwed that one up (well, they and ten other MLB teams).

The Padres screwed up?  Wasn't it Bush that screwed up?

[Troll Daddy]

This is bullshit

lol

[Chuck]

6 minutes ago, Troll Daddy said:

This is bullshit

lol

?

[Troll Daddy]

2 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

?

I was referring to the kid giving up on baseball 

[Angelsjunky]

Maybe he can work at Costco with Matt Harrington.

[m0nkey]

He’s 26 and got a degree from Stanford. I think he’ll be ok

[Angelsjunky]

Before reading the article I thought that it must be psychological, but after reading it, it really sounds like the amateur scouts just got him wrong.

Still, with a bit more dedication he could probably be Parker Bridwell.

[JustATroutFan]

He could still be an All Star reliever like another big time prospect who did not do so hot as a starting pitcher, Andrew Miller.

[Inside Pitch]

27 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

Before reading the article I thought that it must be psychological, but after reading it, it really sounds like the amateur scouts just got him wrong.

Still, with a bit more dedication he could probably be Parker Bridwell.

The Mike Mussina effect.....    Because of Mike, pretty much every Stanford pitcher to come out of there has been overrated by scouts, or rather they underrate the crazy workloads Mark Marquess put on his SPs...

Mike was a completely different animal in college, he threw about 27 different pitches and typically saved his circle change and other low effort offerings for later in games, so while he piled on the innings he tended to throw oddball stuff later in games and didn't typically ring up high pitch counts..   That, and his only having pitched 45 or so innings the year before he was drafted really helped him avoid the injuries and fading stuff that most Cardinal SPs have seen.   

Stan Spencer, a fellow first round pick out of Stanford that year..  a year younger and much harder thrower than Mike pretty much out-performed him their final season at Stanford -- better K rate, fewer base-runners both via hit and BB -- but he was a max effort guy who piled on the pitch counts..    His arm never recovered from the high pitch counts his final year there, almost immediately he went from upper 90s to lower 90s..  Dude had a cannon, the size MLB teams used to love 6'4, 225....  But the huge jump in pitch counts that final season wrecked him.

[UndertheHalo]

He’s still young enough and could try and take another shot.  Hard to blame the guy for wanting to take breather.  Obviously the scouts got it wrong as far as him being an elite prospect.  But he isnt completely void of talent.  

It just hasn’t worked out for him.  Unfortunate. 

[Docwaukee]

trying to figure out which amateur athletes are going to make the best professional athletes is the most interesting part of all sports.  

If there ended up being some magic formula, it would make things pretty boring.  

It's especially tough in baseball because there are so many players, so many levels and so many varying skills that could make you valuable even if it's for a short time.  

Mark Appel is part of a club that really isn't all that exclusive.  

[Tyler]

This is honestly why scouting is so fun.