Scouting Report - Second division starter

frank_olaf · 08-03-2018, 01:28 PM

I just came across a scouting report for a player in the upcoming draft and my scout said "player can be a second division starter at shortstop". I think I've also seen first division starter mentioned in other scouting reports.

What exactly does that mean (second division or first division)? And how does it relate to how good they can be in MLB?

Thanks

dbqs · 08-03-2018, 01:30 PM

Wikipedia holds a good explanation of first/second division. It's a bit of an archaic term, but hell, aren't most things in baseball lingo?

Cinnamon J. Scudworth · 08-03-2018, 01:40 PM

Huh, I didn't even know about the history of that Player's Pool business.

Anyway, as used today the term "second division team" is colloquial expression for team that's not very good. A team that's definitely not in contention for the postseason, for example. Keith Hernandez uses this expression all the time on New York Mets broadcasts, often saying stuff like "If you're a winning team, you've got to play at least .500 baseball against the good teams and beat up on these second division teams."

He has not, to the best of my recollection, specifically used this term to refer to the Mets, but hey, I guess he could.

BirdWatcher · 08-03-2018, 02:14 PM

[QUOTE=frank_olaf;4353093 And how does it relate to how good they can be in MLB?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

My interpretation of this, so far, is that if I try to build a team around a bunch of guys like this the team will not be very good. But I assume that having one or two guys like this, particularly at less critical positions (SS, CF, catcher) doesn't mean my team can't win. What I hear is that this guy has the potential to be a major league starter but isn't likely to be much above average in that role. And if we are talking about a guy who hasn't even played professionally yet, I figure he has a chance to be better than that. And an even greater chance of never making it. Depending upon intangibles like intelligence and work ethic, I certainly am willing to take a chance on such a player. If nothing obviously better is available.

battists · 08-03-2018, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BirdWatcher

My interpretation of this, so far, is that if I try to build a team around a bunch of guys like this the team will not be very good. But I assume that having one or two guys like this, particularly at less critical positions (SS, CF, catcher) doesn't mean my team can't win. What I hear is that this guy has the potential to be a major league starter but isn't likely to be much above average in that role. And if we are talking about a guy who hasn't even played professionally yet, I figure he has a chance to be better than that. And an even greater chance of never making it. Depending upon intangibles like intelligence and work ethic, I certainly am willing to take a chance on such a player. If nothing obviously better is available.

Wait, did you just say that SS, CF, and catcher are "less critical positions"?

BirdWatcher · 08-03-2018, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by battists

Wait, did you just say that SS, CF, and catcher are "less critical positions"?

Well, yes, I did. But that was a typo of course. Whoops. Thanks for catching that. I meant, not at one of those positions. That's what I get for posting here while at work. Probably should focus on one thing at a time.

08-03-2018, 01:28 PM	#1
frank_olaf Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 128	Scouting Report - Second division starter I just came across a scouting report for a player in the upcoming draft and my scout said "player can be a second division starter at shortstop". I think I've also seen first division starter mentioned in other scouting reports. What exactly does that mean (second division or first division)? And how does it relate to how good they can be in MLB? Thanks

08-03-2018, 01:30 PM	#2
dbqs Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Comiskey Posts: 316	Wikipedia holds a good explanation of first/second division. It's a bit of an archaic term, but hell, aren't most things in baseball lingo? __________________

08-03-2018, 01:40 PM	#3
Cinnamon J. Scudworth All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 1,118	Huh, I didn't even know about the history of that Player's Pool business. Anyway, as used today the term "second division team" is colloquial expression for team that's not very good. A team that's definitely not in contention for the postseason, for example. Keith Hernandez uses this expression all the time on New York Mets broadcasts, often saying stuff like "If you're a winning team, you've got to play at least .500 baseball against the good teams and beat up on these second division teams." He has not, to the best of my recollection, specifically used this term to refer to the Mets, but hey, I guess he could. __________________ "Sometimes, this is like going to a grocery store. You’ve got a list until you get to the check-out stand. And then you start reading People magazine, and all this other [stuff] ends up in the basket." -Sandy Alderson on the MLB offseason

08-03-2018, 02:14 PM	#4
BirdWatcher Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 4,263	[QUOTE=frank_olaf;4353093 And how does it relate to how good they can be in MLB? Thanks[/QUOTE] My interpretation of this, so far, is that if I try to build a team around a bunch of guys like this the team will not be very good. But I assume that having one or two guys like this, particularly at less critical positions (SS, CF, catcher) doesn't mean my team can't win. What I hear is that this guy has the potential to be a major league starter but isn't likely to be much above average in that role. And if we are talking about a guy who hasn't even played professionally yet, I figure he has a chance to be better than that. And an even greater chance of never making it. Depending upon intangibles like intelligence and work ethic, I certainly am willing to take a chance on such a player. If nothing obviously better is available.