Analytics has taken baseball to a different level. Though scouting is still an important part of the game, and with baseball owners continuing to make substantial cutbacks in that department, there is also the emphasis of combining analytics with scouting.

The Mets are no exception to moving ahead with analytics. Steve Cohen and Sandy Alderson are also moving along and pumping more money into utilizing the numbers. 

Jared Porter, and his success will use analytics. However, the Mets GM  has a resume of history with the Red Sox, Cubs, and Diamondbacks that placed a major emphasis on scouting and incorporating analytics.

So don’t expect the Mets, even as baseball moves more to analytics, to ignore and get away from that approach of dependency on the scout with advance reports and evaluation of players.

Jared Porter, you may have heard, has the respect of baseball personnel. Scouts, many now on the edge of holding on to their jobs, are quick to say that Porter is not a fool. In other words, scouts to Porter are still that important component of winning ball games.

Mets MMO reached out to a few prominent and longtime scouts. They are concerned about their roles, They have seen in recent years the scouting core being radically retrenched with more emphasis being placed on analytics. 

They agree that getting away from scouting is a dangerous precedent. When asked about Porter, and the Mets aiming at a combination of sabermetrics and scouting there was agreement a scout’s experience, cerebral database and judgement is critical in evaluating talent.

“It’s all about acquiring the right players that transform your lineup and rotation.,” said a scout with 35 years in the game.

“There’s no analytic magic dust, to synthesize that player. I understand the value of video, technology and algorithms, but a scout’s experience, cerebral database and judgement is critical in evaluating talent.”

That same scout crossed paths with Jared Porter last year at the Arizona Fall League and at the annual Baseball Winter Meetings. They talked and exchanged philosophies. The exchanges were encouraging. They talked about scouting. They discussed analytics. 

The Mets, he said, are heading in the right direction and using a scouting and analytical approach will work to their benefit. 

“There is nothing like scouting a player in person,” he said.  “Better yet, to see that player in a game. Too many mistakes have been made off a workout only. There are so many non-computable elements that jump out at you, when you scout the player or prospect in person, and particularly in a game. I know personally, the incredible distinction and contrast between seeing a player on video, evaluating his numbers and then scouting him in person.”

He said Porter was impressed with the progression of the San Diego Padres.

“Look at San Diego’s group of talented power arms and athletic, high ceiling position players, their intelligent trades and acquisitions, which is a byproduct of scouting. Those waves of players should continue to grow as quality scouting continues to identify and produce players.”

A scout looks at many variables that transcend the numbers. They know what they are looking for and are cognizant of existing red flags. 

But one factor that could impact pro scouting might be sample size, a short series can sometimes camouflage a player’s talents and ability and is an issue if a scout has had no history with that player. The player may have a nagging injury, or just be in a slump during their coverage. 

An experienced scout can usually identify talent regardless of the performance of the player in 4-6 game series.  

And Jared Porter has that track record of identifying  a player. He works like a scout that knows a couple of bats, innings pitched, fly balls or ground balls to identify prospects or players on any level or component of scouting. 

That longtime scout said about Porter, “He knows talent. It’s not analytical dust. Porter can tell you the track record of Harper, Trout, Acuna, Soto, Tatis. They transform lineups and rotations. It’s the scout that finds these players.”

From conversations with other scouts it will lead to success for the Mets as they move along with analytics.

Also, it’s the scout in the field that will be ahead of the curve in selecting players before they’re in the prospect handbook and before numbers and video make any sense.