MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

[joshize]

Of all the franchises I've played in MLB The Show, I'm not sure I've drafted more than a single A potential player in the June Amateur Draft. Is scouting and drafting easier on this year's game? It seems impossible and pointless in the past 2 years. (I plainly don't remember what it was like on PS2. lol)

I would enjoy the draft a lot more if it were a little easier to know what you were getting. I realize that some 1st rounders never make it... but I also realize that their "potential" of making it is higher than that of a 4th rounder. Or else they wouldn't have been projected as a first rounder. So I guess I don't really understand potentials. lol.

But either way, I've always had to trade for A potential players. Just wondering if this year will make any sense or be completely a chance deal again.

[Engine01]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

Of all the franchises I've played in MLB The Show, I'm not sure I've drafted more than a single A potential player in the June Amateur Draft. Is scouting and drafting easier on this year's game? It seems impossible and pointless in the past 2 years. (I plainly don't remember what it was like on PS2. lol)

I would enjoy the draft a lot more if it were a little easier to know what you were getting. I realize that some 1st rounders never make it... but I also realize that their "potential" of making it is higher than that of a 4th rounder. Or else they wouldn't have been projected as a first rounder. So I guess I don't really understand potentials. lol.

But either way, I've always had to trade for A potential players. Just wondering if this year will make any sense or be completely a chance deal again.

I agree. Seems pointless. Its almost an afterthought in my franchises. I hope its better this year.

[MLB Bob]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

I dont have the same experience. Ive been sim a lot franchise seasons lately and concentrating just on scouting, drafting and training and have no issues finding, signing or developing prospects. even when I was just simming and stopping to draft for fun I always found a A potential player in the first or second round or both. I do however still hope there are or will be changes in this area.

[joshize]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

I dont have the same experience. Ive been sim a lot franchise seasons lately and concentrating just on scouting, drafting and training and have no issues finding, signing or developing prospects. even when I was just simming and stopping to draft for fun I always found a A potential player in the first or second round or both. I do however still hope there are or will be changes in this area.

Are there certain things you look for? Can you give any insight to this? Or is it something you've just learned over time?

[DJ]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

Hopefully someone with some insight will chime in, because this is a good topic. I know that I barely touch scouting when I'm in Franchise Mode.

[MLB Bob]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

the scouts will scout based on your need and depth. I think it goes by potential, current skill level and overall skill and age at the position. I have tried scouting and tried auto. It also depends on your level of scout, and their strengths. I tend to never waste scouting on RP since you can convert a top closer or starter prospect into RP in edit (I dont see that as cheating as its done in real baseball)

Ive also noticed that the higher overall and the younger they are (those things together) tend to be better prospects. Example..the top guys in the draft are the higest overall, but usually older but lower in potential..not a stedfast rule but generally..meaning you give up "upside" for better developed skill. So look for that younger player with skills or just look for younger players with decent fielding an durability. I didnt think I was doing anything different but never had a problem finding A and B prospects.

[tabarnes19_SDS]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

We asked for some changes in the player pool at cd. The A potential players were low rated and would be drafted in lower rounds. We asked if they could bump their ovl up. They lowered them last year to keep the 2012 issue in check.

[Mike3207]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

I spent quite a bit of time on both Scouting and the Amateur Draft. It's not pointless, but you do need to spend a fair amount of time on it to make it pay off.

1. Hire the best scouts you can-the ones who can scout 4 players at a time. Have them scout a player until potential is revealed. Keep in mind the players with good potential will fairly often start with low ratings. Also keep an eye out for players who start with good power or velocity, they're very rare when scouting. Most of them have D or F potential though.

2. Normally, check how the scouting is coming along every 3-4 days. A good scout can unlock one attribute during that period.

3. All the other teams in Amateur Draft will scout exclusively by overall-systematically going from the best player to the worst until all players are gone.

4. There are more pitchers than position players, so i always scout the position players first.

5. Scout will leave or retire each year, so keep an eye if that happens to any of your scouts.

6. 16 and 17 year olds never appear in that year's draft, so make sure your scouts are not scouting them before the draft. I always have my scouts focus on the 17 YO after the amateur draft, they may appear in next year's draft.

[ryan36]

I just plain don't understand how to scout specific players. Every time I take it over my scouts list is full

[fullmetal2405]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

Yeah I definitely need help with scouting. I always seem to come out of amateur drafts disappointed with my pick ups.

[Kalkano]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

I just plain don't understand how to scout specific players. Every time I take it over my scouts list is full

I always go through the list, uncheck all checked players, then pick my own. I also usually just start at the top of the list, and move down when each player is done being scouted.

I knew not all players were available in the next draft, but didn't know that the 16/17 year olds were always the ones. That should help a little with prioritization.

[Mike3207]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

There was a bug, at least in 11, where a player would be checked at the start of the season and you would not be unable to uncheck him until the player was fully scouted. As for scouting players, you just check or uncheck the players you want to scout.

If a player is fully scouted, the Game AI will automatically choose a player to scout based on the scouting criteria you have selected.

[joshize]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

So, I read on another thread about the scouting report on players on The Show. He said that you can tell by what the scouting report says as to whether they are a high B or low B. (or any other letter grade.)

If there are certain phrases in the scouting reports of players, does that translate to the scouting reports of those you are scouting? And if so, is there anyone who can post those phrases and what they usually mean?

Also, can you have success drafting if you just set the Scout Focus? These things would be much easier to handle if that works.

I've been going into the scouting screen once ever week of the season. I look at who's being scouted, I make sure they aren't younger than 18 and aren't fully scouted. If they are either of those, I just check off and check on the next available unscouted player who is 18 or older.

And do you really only have to scout from the beginning of the season until the draft in June? I was scouting after that last year and found out I scouted (and was excited about) a left fielder who ended up being on the Diamondbacks at the start of the next season. lol So scouting is pretty much unimportant after the draft? Or does it carry over for the younger players who aren't in the draft?

Thanks.

[Mike3207]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

There's a potential descriptor sheet(that I wrote) on the forums. I'll look to list it in this thread.

Scouting Focus is useful, but it has limits. It will also list 16 and 17 year olds at the positions you choose to focus on.

You want to scout the whole regular season. After the draft, you'll have new players appear on the scouting sheet.You also want to scout 17 year olds afterward for next year's draft.

[Mike3207]

Re: MLB 12 Franchise Scouting

2011 Potential descriptor sheet(may change some this year):

A Potential Position Players

As Close to a sure thing as you can get

Will challenge for the MVP before long

Should excel in the Majors

Huge upside, Should Make a big splash at the show

Nobody has more talent

The potential is here for Stardom

At Minimum, he should be a All-Star

Has the Tools, Has the Makeup. A future Superstar

Future Star, Possible Superstar.

A Potential Pitchers

Projects as a future #1 starter

He has a very high ceiling

Has the tools to be a superstar

Good arm, good mentality, solid setup man

An elite reliever in any situation

Should anchor the setup corps in the bullpen

Should blossom into a All-Star and Staff Ace

Outstanding stuff, terrific makeup. Future Star

Good and getting better. may close soon.

Ought to contend for a few Cy Youngs before he's done.

An excellent pitcher who can take on higher-leverage roles.

B Potential Position Players

Loaded with potential, could be a star

Should make more than a few All-Star Teams

Future Star

All Around Talent makes his future a bright one

Better tools than most. Good future

Has the talent, all he needs is the chance.

B Potential Pitchers

Very good reliever, should excel in setup duty.

A #2 or #3 starter with some upside

A notch below ace status, but not too far below.

The equipment is there, should help out of the pen

Loads of potential, if harnessed he'll be a star

The talent is there, should get a chance to do setup work

Superb stuff, will thrive as a middle reliever or as a setup man

The talent is there for him to be an All-Star.

Future Star, possible Superstar

The potential is here for stardom.

C potential position players

He'll be a productive player with limited upside

Gobs of talent, should make a terrific regular

A solid talent, he'll help most teams

C potential pitchers

A nice pitcher to have for middle relief work

Solid middle reliever with above average stuff

Very capable pitcher, good #3 guy

A solid talent, he'll help most teams

D potential position players

Occasionally brilliant, but also plagued by inconsistancy

Can help out in spots, maybe in a platoon role.

Could be a decent regular, nothing more.

Talent is good, but frustrates managers with lack of inconsistancy.

D potential pitchers

His stuff isn't great, will occupy a non-essentail bullpen role

Posesses average stuff at best, needs some luck to be succesful

Your garden-variety middle reliever

His stuff is nothing special, may still help out of the bullpen

He can eat innings, but he'll probably never be above average

Needs a new pitch to stay in the rotation

He'd be happy with a career as a #4 starter

F Potential-All

Good for mopup duty, and that's it

There are always diamonds in the rough, but he is not one of them

His future could be as a reserve

Starting regularly probably won't happen

Probably shouldn't be used in key situations

An average #5 starter, not much else.