Scout Ability vs. Tools?

BlackWatch · 03-16-2025, 06:40 PM

Maybe too early, but I know in previous versions of OOTP, favour ability for scouting director preference has been the meta. But, wondering with the new clarity on how favour abilty vs. favour ability works, what are people leaning towards?

deferittothegame · 03-18-2025, 06:50 AM

Personally I take a holistic approach when choosing what kind of scout I hire. Mostly to do with the budget that my team has to work with.

If the team I'm running has a larger budget, I can tolerate some of the higher variance/risk that comes with Favoring Tools because the players that hit can become bona fide superstars. That larger budget can help you plug holes in your roster with proven MLB players to surround your star players/prospects that do hit so it can be effective.

If a team has a smaller budget and can't afford to have a bunch of draft picks/IFA miss, then I will go with a favor ability scout. The ceiling may be lower but the floor tends to be higher. Does that mean that my scout will recommend the next versions of Ben Zobrist or DJ Lemaiheu over Elly De La Cruz or Bobby Witt Jr.-type players sometimes? Yes occasionally, but you don't get as many Dustin Ackley's or Greg Bird's.

03-16-2025, 06:40 PM	#1
BlackWatch Bat Boy Join Date: Feb 2025 Posts: 11	Scout Ability vs. Tools? Maybe too early, but I know in previous versions of OOTP, favour ability for scouting director preference has been the meta. But, wondering with the new clarity on how favour abilty vs. favour ability works, what are people leaning towards?

03-18-2025, 06:50 AM	#2
deferittothegame Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 5	Personally I take a holistic approach when choosing what kind of scout I hire. Mostly to do with the budget that my team has to work with. If the team I'm running has a larger budget, I can tolerate some of the higher variance/risk that comes with Favoring Tools because the players that hit can become bona fide superstars. That larger budget can help you plug holes in your roster with proven MLB players to surround your star players/prospects that do hit so it can be effective. If a team has a smaller budget and can't afford to have a bunch of draft picks/IFA miss, then I will go with a favor ability scout. The ceiling may be lower but the floor tends to be higher. Does that mean that my scout will recommend the next versions of Ben Zobrist or DJ Lemaiheu over Elly De La Cruz or Bobby Witt Jr.-type players sometimes? Yes occasionally, but you don't get as many Dustin Ackley's or Greg Bird's.