Exactly. That article is very outdated
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Best clubhouse I've been in. It was great. Guys played hard and took care of business the right way . . . You can't ask for a better pitching coach than Bryan Price.
No, its an art and a science using observation and knowledge developed over years of understanding and identifying the physical tools that players possess and their ability to use those tools to succeed in the skill they are being asked to perform. While presumption can be involved, it doesn't have to be. In this piece, the author had the presumption that it was physical conditioning that was behind Broxton's inability to perform at previous levels without mentioning that it could be a bum arm. If he would have mentioned an injury theory, then he might not look so foolish and off base in his analysis. But his entire analysis was based on a false presumption that "Broxton is fat, that is why he is ineffective" and then went on to prove his false theory. That is presumption 101. Scouts do not have be presumptuous to do their job. Assumptions, yes, presumption, no.
I think a good analogy would be the family doctor who is a D.O., and uses the science of medicine, a body of knowledge that he has acquired, and tools of observation to properly diagnose and prescribe corrective action for a patient without necessarily running a battery of tests to determine the exact nature of the illness.
BTW, you'd be hard-pressed to consider me a "saber-headsnhate," which I presume is a derogatory remark made at folks who use statistical analysis as a tool to evaluate baseball players. Regardless, it was an unnecessary potshot, probably even at a lower level than the "I would never give a fat player a pay day." A smart fan realizes that both disciplines are required in a successful MLB organization and that discussions on boards such as this do not require one to favor one over the other to discuss the merits of a player. However, you see so much discussion using statistical analysis because it is readily available to folks who post here, whereas professional scouting information is not.