Description
Book Synopsis: Scouting has been called pro baseball’s personalized way of renewing itself from year to year and a pathway to the game’s past. It takes a very special person to be a baseball scout: normal family life is out of the question because travel is a constant companion. Yet for those with the genuine calling for it, there could be no other life. Hearing the special thwack off the bat that indicates a raw prospect may be the real deal is the dream that keeps true scouts going. Scouts have the difficult task of not only discovering and signing new players but envisioning the trajectory of raw talent into the future.
But the place of the traditional scout has become increasingly dire. In 2016 Major League Baseball eliminated the MLB Scouting Bureau that had been created in the 1970s to augment the regular scouting staffs of individual teams. On the eve of the 2017 playoffs that saw the Houston Astros crowned as World Series champions, the team dismissed ten professional scouts and by 2019 halved the number of all their scouts to less than twenty. More and more teams are replacing their experienced talent hunters with people versed in digital video and analytics but who have limited field knowledge of the game, driven by the Moneyball-inspired trend to favor analytics, data, and algorithms over instinct and observation.
In Baseball’s Endangered Species Lee Lowenfish explores in-depth how scouting has been affected by the surging use of metrics along with other changes in modern baseball business history: expansion of the Major Leagues in 1961 and 1962, the introduction of the amateur free agent draft in 1965, and the coming of Major League free agency after the 1976 season. With an approach that is part historical, biographical, and oral history, Baseball’s Endangered Species is a comprehensive look at the scouting profession and the tradition of hands-on evaluation. At a time when baseball is drenched with statistics, many of them redundant or of questionable value, Lowenfish explores through the eyes and ears of scouts the vital question of “makeup”: how a player copes with failure, baseball’s essential, painful truth.
Details
Are you a baseball enthusiast? Do you want to dive into the fascinating world of scouting and discover the true essence of America's favorite pastime? Look no further than "Baseball's Endangered Species: Inside the Craft of Scouting by Those Who Lived It." This captivating book takes you on a journey through the lives of baseball scouts who dedicate their lives to uncovering hidden talent and shaping the future of the sport.
Scouting is the backbone of professional baseball, ensuring that the game constantly renews itself and connects with its rich history. The thrill of hearing that special thwack off the bat, a sound that hints at the discovery of a raw prospect, is what fuels true scouts. They possess an unwavering passion for the game, sacrificing a conventional family life for a life on the road in pursuit of talent.
However, the traditional scout's role is facing unprecedented challenges. In an era dominated by analytics, data, and algorithms, the importance of hands-on evaluation and instinct is diminishing. Many teams are replacing experienced scouts with individuals well-versed in digital video and statistical analysis but lacking essential field knowledge.
Author Lee Lowenfish, in "Baseball's Endangered Species," delves deep into the impact of metrics and other transformations in the scouting profession. He examines the historical context, including pivotal moments like the expansion of the Major Leagues and the introduction of free agency, providing a comprehensive analysis of the scouting tradition.
Experience the raw emotion, the triumphs, and the heartaches of scouting through captivating biographies, historical accounts, and oral histories. Lowenfish explores the crucial concept of "makeup" - a player's ability to cope with failure, a fundamental truth of baseball. Discover the human side of the game that statistics can't capture.
Don't miss out on this extraordinary book that peels back the layers of scouting and reveals the endangered species in the baseball world. Expand your understanding of America's favorite game and gain a newfound appreciation for the unsung heroes behind the scenes. Grab your copy of "Baseball's Endangered Species: Inside the Craft of Scouting by Those Who Lived It" today!
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