BP Interview with Tim Wilken

[Laura]

LINK

 

I didn't see this posted yet. I don't think a subscription is required for this Q & A.

 

When the Chicago Cubs hired Tim Wilken to be their scouting director, they brought aboard nearly 30 years of scouting experience, and one of the best track records in the game. As Toronto’s national crosschecker and later as their scouting director, Wilken saw the Blue Jays graduate 12 consecutive first-round picks to the big leagues. Overall, Wilken spent 25 years with Toronto and two with Tampa Bay before coming to Chicago's North Side in 2005.

 

David Laurila talked to Wilken for Baseball Prospectus about draft philosophy, the potential of Cubs prospects Tyler Colvin and Jeff Samardzija, and the thinking behind not drafting Nomar.

[CubinNY]

My Fav

 

DL: "We want to take the best available player" is a common refrain among scouting directors. What are primary factors in determining just who the best available player is?

 

TW: That’s a good question, and it’s hard to answer. I guess it adds up to who you like better based on a combination of their skills and baseball ability. That’s especially true for position players. You don’t have many Bo Jackson-types where their skill supersedes their baseball instincts, so you need to make sure a player has more than just the physical tools. I’m not saying that Bo Jackson lacked them, but instincts are important.

 

I don't know what he means by "instincts", but I like the other part.

[YearofDaCubs]

Excellent article.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Trust in Wilken. :)

[mg420]

wow. look at how garza has progressed compared to pawelek. i wont even mention prior vs mauer. the twins have really kicked the cubs butts when it comes to 1st round draft picks.

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

[Guest]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

 

I hate the phrase.

 

He's been a scout for over 30 years. I'm assuming he's over 50. It's bad enough when a 20 year old talks like that. What's next? Yo, that Samardzija is just phat.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

 

I hate the phrase.

 

He's been a scout for over 30 years. I'm assuming he's over 50. It's bad enough when a 20 year old talks like that. What's next? Yo, that Samardzija is just phat.

 

He is in a young mans environment. As a teacher I was constantly having to value shift my vocabulary between the kids and the adults. You pick things up whether you want to or not.

 

I will agree with you that vocabulary is part of image, but if he was excited about the player he was talking about then I can see things slipping out that wouldnt normally.

[jersey cubs fan]

He is in a young mans environment.

 

I thought scouts were all dirty old men.

[Dirt Dog Sparly]

He is in a young mans environment.

 

I thought scouts were all dirty old men.

 

Most of the ones I know are. But then this is a family board so lets not get to much further down that road.

[Shilzzz]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

 

I hate the phrase.

 

He's been a scout for over 30 years. I'm assuming he's over 50. It's bad enough when a 20 year old talks like that. What's next? Yo, that Samardzija is just phat.

 

i heard if a person doesn't speak super white proper english he/she worships the devil, too.

[Guest]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

 

I hate the phrase.

 

He's been a scout for over 30 years. I'm assuming he's over 50. It's bad enough when a 20 year old talks like that. What's next? Yo, that Samardzija is just phat.

 

i heard if a person doesn't speak super white proper english he/she worships the devil, too.

Proper English comes in colors? What does orange English sound like? :)

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

 

I hate the phrase.

 

He's been a scout for over 30 years. I'm assuming he's over 50. It's bad enough when a 20 year old talks like that. What's next? Yo, that Samardzija is just phat.

 

i heard if a person doesn't speak super white proper english he/she worships the devil, too.

 

Um, not saying phrases like "stupid good" is hardly super white proper english.

[Fred Hornkohl]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

 

I hate the phrase.

 

He's been a scout for over 30 years. I'm assuming he's over 50. It's bad enough when a 20 year old talks like that. What's next? Yo, that Samardzija is just phat.

 

i heard if a person doesn't speak super white proper english he/she worships the devil, too.

Proper English comes in colors? What does orange English sound like? :)

 

Just think Irish Protestant. :wink:

[Shilzzz]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

What's your problem with that quote? You wouldn't consider a combined 11-2 record with an era around 1.3 to be "stupid" good?

 

Or do you just not like the phrase?

 

I hate the phrase.

 

He's been a scout for over 30 years. I'm assuming he's over 50. It's bad enough when a 20 year old talks like that. What's next? Yo, that Samardzija is just phat.

 

i heard if a person doesn't speak super white proper english he/she worships the devil, too.

 

Um, not saying phrases like "stupid good" is hardly super white proper english.

 

you said phat as though it were now, or ever really, a relevant term amongst anyone.

[jiml60]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

 

He's obviously watching too much of Stuart Scott on ESPN.

[Guest]

I can't trust a man who says this:

 

He put up stupid numbers through Double-A

 

He's obviously watching too much of Stuart Scott on ESPN.

NOW I can't trust him anymore! :D

[Warpticon]

THis is just ridiculous. If he had said "crazy" or "absurd" or something of that ilk, there'd be no reaction, but because he used a different synonym, you associate it with slang or something.

[chopsx9]

THis is just ridiculous. If he had said "crazy" or "absurd" or something of that ilk, there'd be no reaction, but because he used a different synonym, you associate it with slang or something.

 

Well to be fair that's what it is. I think the point was that it seems out of place for a man of Wilken's stature and reputation to use a phrase like that to get his point across. It's one step away from hyperbole. I don't think anyone was making a federal case out of it, but it is a valid point. Just like if a different synonym for Irish Prodestant was used earlier in the thread I'm pretty sure a whole different set of responses would have resulted.

[tubbfan]

THis is just ridiculous. If he had said "crazy" or "absurd" or something of that ilk, there'd be no reaction, but because he used a different synonym, you associate it with slang or something.

 

We're judging a talent scout on the phrases he uses in an interview? Shouldn't we judge him on the talent he scouts and signs? I know, I know. . . what a concept. Judging someone by their performance. What a country!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

This thread has taken a painful turn.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Wilken is awesome.

 

I thought that quote was hilarious.

[Outshined_One]

He is in a young mans environment.

 

I thought scouts were all dirty old men.

 

Most of the ones I know are. But then this is a family board so lets not get to much further down that road.

 

Ahhhh...the always unintentionally hilarious scouting reports.

 

STRONG FRAME, SOFT HANDS, SINEWY AND MUSCULAR ARMS, CHEST LIKE A WASHBOARD, ABLE TO GENERATE TERRIFIC POWER AND THRUST WITH HIS HIPS.

[NCCubFan]

What a country!

http://www.yakov.com/images/faceB.jpg