Simmers, what is your preferred scouting strategy?

MisterTidster · 07-14-2018, 12:44 PM

I’ve gravitated to neutral scouts, rather than tools or ability focused. I’ve felt that they aren’t as inconsistent as tools oriented scouts and don’t miss as many top end players as ability oriented scouts. Generally I have two different scouting budgets that I use. I have a 40 (majors) / 40 (minors) / 20 (amateur) / 0 (international) that I use as my “default”.. I use the OSA ratings to select which international players I nab and rely heavily on scavenging released minor leaguers for depth rather than international players. If I know I’ll have multiple compensation picks in a draft, I’ll switch to 30/30/40/0.

I am curious to know how others handle their scouting strategy. I’d like to experiment more with tools and ability oriented scouts and would like to know what strategies work best with those mechanics. Thanks!

jimmysthebestcop · 07-14-2018, 08:57 PM

It depends on league setup. If you actually have other foreign leagues or Indy leagues active.

International only applies to players who are in a different country then your league who aren't free agents. If not they count as major leaguers. And if you can't trade for them then only helps if the teams post them. In my 2 ootp19 files think I've seen 3 posted players in 10-15 years over both files.

Amateur covers your draft and international free agents because they have 0 professional service time and are amateurs.

Majors is everyone in your league plus all free agents with 1 day of service time. Mostly everyone except draft picks that dont get drafted.

Minors everyone in your leagues minors.

I usually get scouts who favor ability just because they happen to be the best at minors. Since I usually trade I want the best minor league guy.

Majors is important for free agency. Especially if you have the indies and foreign leagues active. If they played 1 day then they count as Majors for scouting. You might only be signing them to your minors but for scouting they count as majors if they have 1 day of service time.

I want excellent Amateur coverage as well for draft and signing IFA every year. I mean IFA is like a top 5 draft pick that just cost you $5 million. Even if you don't keep them they can be traded for a top prospect who is mlb ready now or next year. If you promote and trade immediately. Before they play a game and lose value.

If you are doing a lot of prospect swapping then Minor scouting is that much more important.

So a lot has to do with how you play and how your universe setup

MisterTidster · 07-15-2018, 12:51 PM

Thanks for the info! I took a job with an expansion team and gave an ability favored scout a shot. Owner was a “penny pincher” so making the most of every dollar spent was critical. Ended up winning the WS in year 5... roster was mostly made of guys who came in as minor league free agents, rule 5 picks, older veterans on the scrap heap and a few high draft picks. Payroll was 36th out of 40 teams. I don’t think getting that slop to come together would have been possible without a scout that was favor ability, since it was all about finding discarded value. Heck, my only high price free agent had a career ending injury just before the all star break and I lost 1 starter and two of my best relievers for the season. Felt kind of like the movie Major League!

07-14-2018, 12:44 PM	#1
MisterTidster Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 100	Simmers, what is your preferred scouting strategy? I’ve gravitated to neutral scouts, rather than tools or ability focused. I’ve felt that they aren’t as inconsistent as tools oriented scouts and don’t miss as many top end players as ability oriented scouts. Generally I have two different scouting budgets that I use. I have a 40 (majors) / 40 (minors) / 20 (amateur) / 0 (international) that I use as my “default”.. I use the OSA ratings to select which international players I nab and rely heavily on scavenging released minor leaguers for depth rather than international players. If I know I’ll have multiple compensation picks in a draft, I’ll switch to 30/30/40/0. I am curious to know how others handle their scouting strategy. I’d like to experiment more with tools and ability oriented scouts and would like to know what strategies work best with those mechanics. Thanks!

07-14-2018, 08:57 PM	#2
jimmysthebestcop Banned Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 1,727 Infractions: 0/2 (5)	It depends on league setup. If you actually have other foreign leagues or Indy leagues active. International only applies to players who are in a different country then your league who aren't free agents. If not they count as major leaguers. And if you can't trade for them then only helps if the teams post them. In my 2 ootp19 files think I've seen 3 posted players in 10-15 years over both files. Amateur covers your draft and international free agents because they have 0 professional service time and are amateurs. Majors is everyone in your league plus all free agents with 1 day of service time. Mostly everyone except draft picks that dont get drafted. Minors everyone in your leagues minors. I usually get scouts who favor ability just because they happen to be the best at minors. Since I usually trade I want the best minor league guy. Majors is important for free agency. Especially if you have the indies and foreign leagues active. If they played 1 day then they count as Majors for scouting. You might only be signing them to your minors but for scouting they count as majors if they have 1 day of service time. I want excellent Amateur coverage as well for draft and signing IFA every year. I mean IFA is like a top 5 draft pick that just cost you $5 million. Even if you don't keep them they can be traded for a top prospect who is mlb ready now or next year. If you promote and trade immediately. Before they play a game and lose value. If you are doing a lot of prospect swapping then Minor scouting is that much more important. So a lot has to do with how you play and how your universe setup

07-15-2018, 12:51 PM	#3
MisterTidster Minors (Double A) Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 100	Thanks for the info! I took a job with an expansion team and gave an ability favored scout a shot. Owner was a “penny pincher” so making the most of every dollar spent was critical. Ended up winning the WS in year 5... roster was mostly made of guys who came in as minor league free agents, rule 5 picks, older veterans on the scrap heap and a few high draft picks. Payroll was 36th out of 40 teams. I don’t think getting that slop to come together would have been possible without a scout that was favor ability, since it was all about finding discarded value. Heck, my only high price free agent had a career ending injury just before the all star break and I lost 1 starter and two of my best relievers for the season. Felt kind of like the movie Major League!