How hard is it for scouts to see him and say "gee, he could be the greatest hitter ever". Maybe I should become a scout or something.
2006-10-30 15:56:37 · 7 answers · asked by BKelly237 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
Not every great player shows his greatness early. Pujols was considered a good prospect but by no means a can't-miss one. I think the fact that he was playing in the Kansas City area, not exactly known as a baseball hotspot, contributed a bit to his being overlooked.
Check the link below - it's an interview with Dave Karaff, the scout who signed him (and features good ol' Albert badmouthing the guy, the only scout who considered him worth a draft pick).
2006-10-30 18:13:57 · answer #1 · answered by JerH1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is so hard, watching a guy play baseball at around 20, and deciding how good a player he is. Because it is up to the player, the work they put in, how they cope.
Pujols said one of the main reasons he is a great hitter - Edger Rentira, who help him greatly when he was first brought up.
You look at lists from the early 90's of the top rated pitching prospects *i did the other day* and you will hardly recognise a name. Pitching is different than hitting, but its the same principal.
When players are drafted, they are still developing, and have a lot of work to do. That is why baseball draft players do not go straight into the big leageus (basketball, football..) they go to the minors to keep developing.
Its not exactly a science, its can be more of a guess, you pick your draft picks round by round on where a player is currently.
2006-10-30 22:03:39 · answer #2 · answered by holdon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scouting isn't an exact science. Many scouts will see players for what they are at the time, and not what their future potential is. Pujols may have swung at high pitches, didn't field well, or didn't fit the needs of a team to select him in a higher round. I think it was Mike Piazza who was a 45th round pick and he is a good bet for the Hall of Fame. Again, scouting isn't a science.
2006-10-31 13:07:38 · answer #3 · answered by Fells 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you become a scout, for sure. With your keen, 20/20 hindsight, why, you ought to become both scout and agent.
Pujols was drafted in the late rounds, because he had to overcome a bad hitting habit, which plagued him through his later HS days in the Dominican Republic. Albert didn't become a better hitter until after his draft. He once swung at only high pitches.
BUT~ your point is ultimately correct~~ Pujols will someday be regarded as the greatest player to ever come into the Major Leagues. Aren't we Lucky to be able to watch him play?
Look it up. http://stlcardinals.mlb.com/roster/
2006-10-30 16:56:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because the scouts were on drugs
2006-10-30 17:04:39 · answer #5 · answered by JIVE TURKEY 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mabey he has improved since he got drafted.
The only reason why he is so good is because he is on the juice (look at Bonds, McGuire, Giambi, and a bunch of other guys that were on the juice don't they look like they are fat?)
2006-10-30 16:00:46 · answer #6 · answered by roman 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
One other thing was the agent he hired at the time. No one wanted to work with him.
2006-10-30 17:22:08 · answer #7 · answered by Too Cool For Me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋