Scouting

[forme95]

If Im correct, when you make scouting auto, shouldnt your scouts fully scout players for the draft? Ive done 5 test sim up to the draft and all 5x as soon as the draft comes, no one is fully scouted or even 3/4 scouted. If it doesnt fully scout players, then I am in trouble and could use some advice on how to effectively scout please.

[consecutive27]

Re: Scouting

If Im correct, when you make scouting auto, shouldnt your scouts fully scout players for the draft? Ive done 5 test sim up to the draft and all 5x as soon as the draft comes, no one is fully scouted or even 3/4 scouted. If it doesnt fully scout players, then I am in trouble and could use some advice on how to effectively scout please.

I have tried manual and auto scouting multiple times each and each one is kind of a crap shoot. I honestly have not noticed a significant difference in my drafting results based on how I have done my scouting, which is why I just use auto now. With either scouting method I see some players scouted in the green, some yellow, but most are red (aka unscouted). After a few rounds of the draft, you may not have any scouted players left. I can't really think of a good reason as to why you are not seeing any fully or close to fully scouted players (guys in green). What kind of scouts are you using? Maybe you have crappy scouts?

One thing that helps me when drafting is that when it shows a players present ability/projected ability, the present ability is usually fairly accurate regardless of how well they have been scouted, but their potential is what tends to fluctuate most the longer you scout them. For example, if a player is listed as 60/75 for his contact vs. rhp, that means that he is already an above average contact hitter against righties. If he is near fully scouted, then he may reach that 75 near elite level, but if he is not scouted, that 75 is probably wrong, but the 60 still holds and he is an above average contact hitter against righties. Unless a player is in the yellow or green and has a 70 or higher potential, I almost always take a chance on an unscouted guy listed with 70 potential or higher, with decent current ability. It doesn't work out much of the time, but sometimes you find a gem. It beats getting a player you already know is probably mediocre.

I enjoy the randomness of the draft and getting surprise studs, it is a great way to really build up your organization, but to me the whole process is kind of awkward and can be confusing. I think it is pretty much impossible to scout anywhere near even half of the players in the draft, but do not worry, it is definitely possible to outdraft the computer most of the time. Also, it is pretty tough to find A potential players. You can get one in later rounds once in a blue moon, but it seems they tend to get drafted early in the first round usually.

Oh, and do not draft high risk injury players. I do not understand how such young, athletic men are so fragile. It is pretty ridiculous. Some of them have insane skills too, such a pity. Too bad you can't hire world class trainers to fix them.

[VonRye]

Re: Scouting

Oh, and do not draft high risk injury players. I do not understand how such young, athletic men are so fragile. It is pretty ridiculous. Some of them have insane skills too, such a pity. Too bad you can't hire world class trainers to fix them.

You can always edit their rating at the end of the season and make them a little less fragile.

[consecutive27]

Re: Scouting

You can always edit their rating at the end of the season and make them a little less fragile.

Yes, I did that once for a five tool centerfielder I drafted with A potential,but I haven't done it again. I decided to stop drafting these guys, but if I edit a few guys on other teams it would be fair. This guy had durability around 30 I think. He didn't get hurt all year, but he got fatigued so fast I don't even know if he played 100 games, I thought this was the most ridiculous part. Pretty sure I had him in the lineup against righties and lefties.

[KBLover]

Re: Scouting

Oh, and do not draft high risk injury players. I do not understand how such young, athletic men are so fragile. It is pretty ridiculous. Some of them have insane skills too, such a pity. Too bad you can't hire world class trainers to fix them.

Some players are just injury prone.

Anyway, if I see a kid like that, I'll take him and just focus on Durability training. If his other skills are good (and they'll probably go up anyway), it hurts nothing and could solve a problem.

As for scouting, I do manual scout and spend for top level scouts (or as near as I can get).

Yeah, you still have a hard time, at least that first year, getting through the kids, but future years seem much easier (a lot of them seem to come "pre-discovered" so I get to work on those with one on discovery), and it's possible to have scouted kids in all rounds. I had a draft like that - and it was a killer draft (on paper...prospects are always a gamble).

I don't know what auto scouting is like, admittedly, as I stick with manual.

And I agree with the point that if you're out of scouted kids or the only ones left have little projectability, might as well shoot for the moon on an "unknown" kid.

[consecutive27]

Re: Scouting

Some players are just injury prone.

Anyway, if I see a kid like that, I'll take him and just focus on Durability training. If his other skills are good (and they'll probably go up anyway), it hurts nothing and could solve a problem.

As for scouting, I do manual scout and spend for top level scouts (or as near as I can get).

Yeah, you still have a hard time, at least that first year, getting through the kids, but future years seem much easier (a lot of them seem to come "pre-discovered" so I get to work on those with one on discovery), and it's possible to have scouted kids in all rounds. I had a draft like that - and it was a killer draft (on paper...prospects are always a gamble).

I don't know what auto scouting is like, admittedly, as I stick with manual.

And I agree with the point that if you're out of scouted kids or the only ones left have little projectability, might as well shoot for the moon on an "unknown" kid.

Yes some are injury prone true, I just wish they had separate ratings for stamina and durability like they do for pitchers. Injuries happen, but I don't see the realism in a young position player with good ability just needing to rest significantly more often than other players, or not playing them because they fear he might get injured. Limiting pitchers' innings is one thing, but this is different in my opinion. Of course everyone needs a rest now and then, and catchers even more so, but what I saw did not make sense to me. I will try drafting one again and see how it goes though.

Hmmm, so with manual scouting you had less unscouted players as the years went by? I can't say I am seeing that now with auto scouting. Might have to go back to manual. Maybe I will start one franchise and only use manual, then compare it to my current franchise. The one I have going now I have been using auto for at least the last five seasons. I might have used manual for one or two years before that, so it is essentially auto only at this point.

Ahh, the mysteries of scouting in this game... It is a great feeling to get an A potential player that you know will lead your franchise for years. Going to the sign draft picks screen is like Christmas morning.

[forme95]

Re: Scouting

My scouting, it seemed like the scouts didnt even go out and do anything. I went to settings and I have it on Auto.

So when you set your scouts to discover, or look for certain things, do you check back weekly or look every couple days? Also, when do you have them change directives?

I hear what your saying on the durability. I m not one to really edit once I start a franchise. I feel it is tampering. I like KB's approach of if he is a low durability guy, then you spend his first year time training in that area. After all, thats what training and developing is for.

Thanks guys for the responses. They are a big help and much appreciated.

[forme95]

Re: Scouting

Yes some are injury prone true, I just wish they had separate ratings for stamina and durability like they do for pitchers. Injuries happen, but I don't see the realism in a young position player with good ability just needing to rest significantly more often than other players, or not playing them because they fear he might get injured. Limiting pitchers' innings is one thing, but this is different in my opinion. Of course everyone needs a rest now and then, and catchers even more so, but what I saw did not make sense to me. I will try drafting one again and see how it goes though.

This would be nice. As I agree, someone can be injury prone but still not need a rest every 4 - 6 games so to say.

[KBLover]

Re: Scouting

So when you set your scouts to discover, or look for certain things, do you check back weekly or look every couple days? Also, when do you have them change directives?

I usually change when they say they've "scouted all the prospects in that region" (which just makes me lol but whatever). About the only time I change before then is when I go "hardcore scout mode" where all four guys are scouting, regardless of if they "finished" a region or whatever.

This would be nice. As I agree, someone can be injury prone but still not need a rest every 4 - 6 games so to say.

I'm of two minds about this:

1) It seems to be about injury moreso anyway, maybe not by design, but everyone seems to tire fast, especially 6-7 days without time off. Some more than others, but around 8-10+ days, EVERYONE is worn out, heck even the subs are waning.

2) If I have to rest a guy (i.e. game says he's tired) on the 7th day, he's playing 6 out of 7 games (86%). That's about 139 games.

That won't make Cal Ripken, Jr. sweat, but it's not TOO horrible. And that's assuming you don't "stretch" players. I usually make some play tired, especially the key players of my lineup or if there's one good sub and he's subbing elsehwere...well...he's gonna have to suck it up.

When I sort guys simply by G in Fangraphs, 139 would be just outside the top 100, so stretch a game here and there and you're close to at least the top 100 or so, which is reasonable, if not ideal. Or if you're like me and just make them play more often than not, you'll hit 145+.