Cubs hire Joe Bohringer as Pro-Scouting Coordinator (P. 3)

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

There's a point there,

 

It really didn't seem that way.

 

The last thing I expected was anyone to find sense in what was said there. I'll just figure out a sensible way to deal with this ridiculousidea that our guys faced harsh persecution as lads due to their sheer level of nerd.

[Guest]

Nice

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155304/nice

[Guest]

Levine says that we hired him.

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7191890/source-chicago-cubs-hire-joe-bohringer-director-pro-scouting

 

The Chicago Cubs have hired another front office executive, adding Joe Bohringer as director of pro scouting, according to a major league source.

 

Bohringer, who has 21 years of major league baseball experience, had been working for the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2006 as a major league scout.

 

Bohringer will assume one of the titles previously held by Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken, who had been both scouting director and director of professional scouting under former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry. Wilken's status is largely unaffected by the hiring of Bohringer, since Hendry's assistant GM, Randy Bush, had done most of the assignments for the professional scouts in the past.

 

Bohringer, a DeKalb, Ill. resident, uses the same methods as the people who he'll be working for, employing statistical analytics as well as practical scouting when evaluating players. Under Bohringer's direction, Cubs scouts will likely be told to use video recording of players as an added tool to evaluate Cubs players.

 

According to numerous sources, Bohringer also had a chance to stay in Arizona or to go with new Los Angeles Angels GM Jerry Dipoto, who was previously vice president of player personnel with the Diamondbacks.

 

Bohringer is an MIT grad from the Sloan School of Management. He previously worked in different scouting capacities with the Seattle Mariners and also worked as director of player development for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

[Rob]

I love the front office overhaul. Although it's kinda scary to me that we can add so many people in and not have to fire anybody (sans Hendry, I guess). I suppose that just goes to show how tiny our front office really was before all this.

[davell]

We were running a mom and pop store. This is awesome to see the growth of everything so quickly.

[Epsteenie]

@jonahkeri

2004 story I wrote for @BaseballPro, taking in a minor league game with (now-)new Cubs pro scouting boss Joe Bohringer: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=3000

[Clem Fandango]

Bohringer, a DeKalb, Ill. resident, uses the same methods as the people who he'll be working for, employing statistical analytics as well as practical scouting when evaluating players. Under Bohringer's direction, Cubs scouts will likely be told to use video recording of players as an added tool to evaluate Cubs players.

 

Were the Cubs not even doing this?!?!?!?

 

WTF. It costs a couple hundred bucks and takes a few minutes to set up to get a monumental helping hand in evaluating players AND YOU AREN'T DOING IT?!?!?!

Edited November 5, 2011 by The Logan

[davell]

Has it been disclosed yet as to whether Theo is allowed to take anyone with him from Boston, or is it still tied up in compensation talks?

[davell]

Bohringer, a DeKalb, Ill. resident, uses the same methods as the people who he'll be working for, employing statistical analytics as well as practical scouting when evaluating players. Under Bohringer's direction, Cubs scouts will likely be told to use video recording of players as an added tool to evaluate Cubs players.

 

Were the Cubs not even doing this?!?!?!?

 

WTF

I'm pretty sure AZPhil once said the Cubs still write everything out, while all other teams employ laptops and emails to get notes to everyone who needs them from a scout. Can't remember if this was exact, but I think it's pretty close to what I remember.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I love the front office overhaul. Although it's kinda scary to me that we can add so many people in and not have to fire anybody (sans Hendry, I guess). I suppose that just goes to show how tiny our front office really was before all this.

 

I wanted to add more but davell's comparison to a mom and pop shop is exactly it. That's why we should all be bowing to the Ricketts', who seem to be taking this whole owning the Cubs thing seriously.

[Guest]

Bohringer, a DeKalb, Ill. resident, uses the same methods as the people who he'll be working for, employing statistical analytics as well as practical scouting when evaluating players. Under Bohringer's direction, Cubs scouts will likely be told to use video recording of players as an added tool to evaluate Cubs players.

 

Were the Cubs not even doing this?!?!?!?

 

WTF. It costs a couple hundred bucks and takes a few minutes to set up to get a monumental helping hand in evaluating players AND YOU AREN'T DOING IT?!?!?!

 

This is what davell was talking about (and one of the many, many reasons we should be excited about Epstein/Hoyer/McLeod):

 

Arizona Phil[/url]"]TRN: One thing I have noticed about the Cubs Player Development Dept that does not reflect favorably on Oneri Fleita is the apparent disinterest in using technology to help assess player development.

 

For example, most every other team out here has a qualified tech-geek in charge of video-recording the pitchers and the hitters at Minor League Camp, Extended Spring Training, AZL, and Instructs, but the Cubs only do it occasionally (they were video-recording Hayden Simpson a couple of weeks ago), and when they do employ video, it's usually done by one of the minor league pitchers equipped with a camera phone.

 

A coach from one of the other teams thought that was a real hoot.

 

Also, several teams out here use a system where the pitcher "charting" the game from behind home plate inputs the pitch-by-pitch information (type of pitch, velocity, outcome) directly into a lap-top using software that is specifically designed to analyze the pitcher's outing, and the Player Development staff can immediately access the info from anywhere in the world.

 

The Cubs pitchers keep pitching charts by hand (pencil & paper).

[Tracer Bullet]

oh for cripes sake

[Clem Fandango]

Arizona Phil[/url]"]For example, most every other team out here has a qualified tech-geek in charge of video-recording the pitchers and the hitters at Minor League Camp

 

That was me for the Mobile Bay Bears! I can do that job! Where do I apply?!?!

 

Fun side story, in the movie Moneyball it shows Jonah Hill's character using a program to track pitches. That's the same program Arizona employed when I worked there. It's called BATS. It's pretty archaic in design, but it's reaaaally immersive and elaborate. I figured everyone in baseball used it, especially large market teams like the Cubs.

 

Whoops.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Out of curiosity...why were the Cubs so cheap on technology before The Ricketts'? Is there a known reason?

[Guest]

Out of curiosity...why were the Cubs so cheap on technology before The Ricketts'? Is there a known reason?

I don't think it was being cheap as much as just not believing it helped.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Out of curiosity...why were the Cubs so cheap on technology before The Ricketts'? Is there a known reason?

I don't think it was being cheap as much as just not believing it helped.

 

That's just scary. I have to say that I'm skeptical of that though...from what I understand the franchise is bottom tier in alot of facilities...or was until very very recently...which makes me wonder if alot of that fell on the previous owners...It's weird how few have been fired despite pretty blatant incompetence...makes me point to an ownership that didn't try too hard to be great.

[Geech]

That's just scary. I have to say that I'm skeptical of that though...from what I understand the franchise is bottom tier in alot of facilities...or was until very very recently...which makes me wonder if alot of that fell on the previous owners...It's weird how few have been fired despite pretty blatant incompetence...makes me point to an ownership that didn't try too hard to be great.

 

It's up to management to run the day to day operations of the team, though. Yes, perhaps ownership should have pushed harder on these issues or changed management much sooner, but with this type of organization it isn't their responsibility to design and maintain all of the processes and procedures.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

It's up to management to run the day to day operations of the team, though. Yes, perhaps ownership should have pushed harder on these issues or changed management much sooner, but with this type of organization it isn't their responsibility to design and maintain all of the processes and procedures.

 

OTOH, they do fund it. At the end, the Trib definitely threw more money to make the MLB team better, but possibly at the tail end they did not spend much internally. There wouldn't be much need to since they were selling the team and new ownership might want to build their own FO. I don't know though this is purely speculation...

[Geech]

It's up to management to run the day to day operations of the team, though. Yes, perhaps ownership should have pushed harder on these issues or changed management much sooner, but with this type of organization it isn't their responsibility to design and maintain all of the processes and procedures.

 

OTOH, they do fund it. At the end, the Trib definitely threw more money to make the MLB team better, but possibly at the tail end they did not spend much internally. There wouldn't be much need to since they were selling the team and new ownership might want to build their own FO. I don't know though this is purely speculation...

 

I don't believe the Tribune would have bothered decided how the money is spent is my point, though. That's why they have management. While it's possible that they forced Hendry and company to skimp on internal spending I don't think that's very likely. I'm not sure why you seem to be trying to absolve the previous management teams of its problems.

[Guest]

It's up to management to run the day to day operations of the team, though. Yes, perhaps ownership should have pushed harder on these issues or changed management much sooner, but with this type of organization it isn't their responsibility to design and maintain all of the processes and procedures.

 

OTOH, they do fund it. At the end, the Trib definitely threw more money to make the MLB team better, but possibly at the tail end they did not spend much internally. There wouldn't be much need to since they were selling the team and new ownership might want to build their own FO. I don't know though this is purely speculation...

 

I don't believe the Tribune would have bothered decided how the money is spent is my point, though. That's why they have management. While it's possible that they forced Hendry and company to skimp on internal spending I don't think that's very likely. I'm not sure why you seem to be trying to absolve the previous management teams of its problems.

Hendry was just one of the many examples of the Peter principle. He approached every free agent, every draft prospect, everything from the perspective of a scout. I'm almost positive he didn't see the value in such things because he had no frame of reference.

[Guest]

I think you underestimate Hendry.

[J.R.]

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/view/22297882/2

 

One takeaway from the Bohringer hire is how much a Mickey Mouse operation the Cubs were previously running. Bush had reportedly been pulling double duty, serving as both the pro scouting director and assistant GM. This coming from one of the biggest money-making teams in the bigs. What a joke. But the laughs are beginning to subside now.

 

...

 

Obviously, front office personnel don't immediately pay on-field dividends nor do they necessarily equate to championships in the future. Further, these hires don't necessarily mean the Cubs have the smartest front office in the bigs. But the fact is that the Ricketts family has done absolutely everything they could possibly do this offseason to put a brilliant baseball brain trust in place. Success is not even close to being guaranteed, but simply seeing the effort is a departure from how things have been throughout Cubs history.

[Magnetic Curses]

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/view/22297882/2

 

One takeaway from the Bohringer hire is how much a Mickey Mouse operation the Cubs were previously running. Bush had reportedly been pulling double duty, serving as both the pro scouting director and assistant GM. This coming from one of the biggest money-making teams in the bigs. What a joke. But the laughs are beginning to subside now.

 

...

 

Obviously, front office personnel don't immediately pay on-field dividends nor do they necessarily equate to championships in the future. Further, these hires don't necessarily mean the Cubs have the smartest front office in the bigs. But the fact is that the Ricketts family has done absolutely everything they could possibly do this offseason to put a brilliant baseball brain trust in place. Success is not even close to being guaranteed, but simply seeing the effort is a departure from how things have been throughout Cubs history.

 

the point is that if you combine the cubs' money with a competent, diverse, and dynamic front-office, the rest of the national league is in trouble.

[UK1679666180]

I never seen Cubs area scouts, Bush, Wasserstrom or Flieta (at minor league games) with video cameras at games. I'm trying to recall if the players videotaped the starting pitchers like many organizations do.