Monday, February 23, 1998
Major league teams take close look at Bruin talent
SIDEBAR UCLA-Stanford game attracts some of baseball’s upper
echelon
By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Staff
Trivia Question:
What are radar guns, stop watches and notepads used for in a
college baseball game?
Answer:
To scout the players.
There were major league talent scouts from the A’s, Reds,
Cardinals and Devil Rays there. There should have been some from
the Angels, Dodgers, Giants and Padres. There could have been some
scouts from other teams. The UCLA vs. Stanford game on Friday was
that big – at least prospect-wise.
Top-ranked Stanford’s junior pitching prospect Jeff Austin was
throwing that night. For UCLA, outfield prospects Eric Valent
(center field) and Eric Byrnes (right field) were hitting. Whenever
talented players match-up against top-notch competition you can see
a scout salivating.
Do the players notice? Well, kind of.
"Maybe somewhere way, way in the back of my mind," Austin, who
lowered his ERA from 2.00 to 1.80 with an eight inning and 142
pitch performance, said. "Maybe way, way in the back, but I really
didn’t notice a single scout here tonight. If they were here,
that’s good. But if not, we still put up 18 runs and won the
game."
Byrnes, who Saturday stole second and third during one at-bat
for his 26th steal in a row without being caught, tends to agree
with Austin.
"I just go out there and I’m play a certain way, whether there
are 100 scouts in the stands or there are nobody in the stands,"
Byrnes said. "I think I’ve played in front of the scouts ever since
I was a junior in high school, so it doesn’t really matter. I think
a lot of them know what I can do. I’ve been here for four years and
they’ve seen me play. They’ve seen me at my best and I think
they’ve seen me at my worst."
One scout attending the game alertly pointed his radar gun at
Austin and clocked Byrnes’ speed. When asked if he had any comments
about the performance of the players, the scout mentioned that
although UCLA was part of the region he must scout, it’s still too
early in the season to make a judgment. Instead, he chose to remain
diplomatic.
"Each time (you watch the players) you kind of fine tune your
evaluation," the scout explained. "The first time I see them I
don’t know if they have a temperature, or a nagging injury or if
they’re having a bad day. I don’t get an honest look at them."
Then there is the freshman perspective. UCLA shortstop Chase
Utley was already drafted out of high school by the Dodgers in the
second round.
But when Utley chose to come to UCLA the Dodgers lost rights to
sign him to a contract and a college player can only be drafted
again after his junior year. Therefore Utley is not that worried
about what scouts think of him right now.
"I just go out and play the best that I can." Utley said.
"Scouts will see me in a couple of years, hopefully."
Utley can bet they’ll be there with their radar guns, stop
watches and notepads ready to go when its his time to shine.