Conversation with a scout

by stelmodad on Jul 27, 2007 4:43 PM CDT

Just left my local coffee hang out and spent some unexpected time with a MLB scout from a non-Cubbie club. Good guy and good conversations about the business and his time in it (been in the biz a while).

Out of respect for his job I'll refrain from sharing who he was with but I will relay that when I mentioned my fan affiliation he was quick to mention his liking of Matt Murton. Said he had followed him for years and he's a bit perplexed by his poor transistion to the majors. Hoping it wasn't a "called up too soon" scenario and that his recent stint in AAA would be productive.

Anyway, heading celebrate my son's 4th birthday party and then onto the local AA game tonight (kid's helmets and fireworks). Tonigth's matchup is the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds) play the Mississippi Braves.

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Say anything else??

did you prod the Scout about any of the Cubs' prospects and how he values them? Where did this take place?

Boy, I would really want to grill a scout if I got a chance with a little prep work I'd have dozens/hundreds of Q's for him!!

But his take on Murton is kinda strange; he had a solid '06 playing LF pretty much full-time, then tailed off as part-timer this year in platoon playing much less than half the time, then trying RF instead of LF.

I don't think he was called up too soon as you could argue for C-Patt and others in past...just hit a slump at wrong time or couldn't transition to part-time player...he'll have same status now.

Did Scout say anything about Murton's Defense?

by writerinwrigley on Jul 27, 2007 4:48 PM CDT reply actions

I live down in Chattanooga

and the conversation was on the casual side. I was introduced to him through a fellow "baseball" guy who is covers the Braves farm system and is writing a few books. Anyway he introduced me to the fellow and we were talking about life, work, kids, etc. and a bit about what he does and who he's worked for over the years. BTW, his World Series ring looks quite nice.

The Murton discussion came about after we were talking about Single A players (Max Ramirez). He went onto talk about how hard it was to project the Single A guys, but that he had always liked what he saw in Murton and ** (some other guy that I can't remember).

Me not being a scout, and knowing just enough about the profession to look like an idiot in front of an MLB scout, I let him lead the conversation. Other than sharing our love of baseball and good coffee, I especially enjoyed hearing of his disdain for the Yankees.

Peace.

'07 Postseason: Bears, Bulls... Cubs?

by stelmodad on Jul 27, 2007 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions

That's funny...

Cause I had a conversation this morning with my pal Joey. And Joey also likes Matt Murton. And he's confused about Murton's lack of production at the major league level. He thinks it could be a 'brought him up too soon" situation as well. But Joey is not a major league scout, he drives a milk truck.

by Chad @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jul 27, 2007 5:00 PM CDT reply actions

Storm front moving in

Not going to make it to the game tonight in Chattanooga.

Don't think I'll see our new friend again this week unless he's staying for the Huntsville Stars (Brewers) series as well.

http://www.lookouts.com/team/statistics.asp?stats=g_box&gid=2007_07_27_msbaax_cngaax_1

href="http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/southmissvly_loop.php

'07 Postseason: Bears, Bulls... Cubs?

by stelmodad on Jul 27, 2007 6:20 PM CDT reply actions

Not sure why people would say...

that Murton has had a poor transition to the majors.

In his first two seasons he had an OBP above .350 and an OPS above .800. Those are fine numbers. This year, in limited time and at a new position, he's struggled.

by SouthernCub on Jul 28, 2007 7:06 AM CDT reply actions