Baseball Thru Baccala's Eyes

BACCALA BLOG GIVEN RED FLAG

        This is my last post as I sit in the Airport in Sacramento waiting to go to see the California Angels.

1. I love the Cincinnati Reds, I love working for the Cincinnati Reds and would never do anything to hurt my INTEGRITY or the Integrity of the Team.

2.  I did this blog after talking with some friends, I'm so anal about the way I do my job and with the Proffesionalism that I do it with, they thought this would be good for me- give me another outlet-writing, I wrote from the start I wouldn't talk about our players or manager and keep everything proffesional.

3. I could have done like many of you do- not put my name on the BLOG- but I felt like I wasn't doing anything to hurt anyone. I told other scouts what I was doing, I tried to notice other scouts- we are the forgotten men of organizations.

4. The sad part for me is anyone that would question my proffesionalism or question my work doesn't really know me. We all bust our asses for our teams- were away from home over 120 days a year, I much rather sit in my room writing a blog, then sitting in a bar drinking- what kind of role model is that. I had both my kids read the blog yesterday to see if I was over the top- they both enjoyed and before they went to school said see you Dad- we'll read your blog tonight. NO More.

Finishing my Blog I say to all of you that wrote me it was fun but in the end

               THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL

                KEEP IT REAL FOR THE REDS

                i HOPE WERE ALL TOGETHER TO ENJOY THE CHAMPIONSHIPS I KNOW WERE GONNA WIN.

PEACE

Butch Baccala

A GOOD NIGHT ON THE FARM IS WHEN YOUR ML TEAM WINS

      As I said earlier today, it is way to early in the season to panic. Dusty and the crew took it to the Cubbies today, with the young guys Volquez and Votto leading the way.

     Some of my scouting friends are beginning to read the Blog, I want to make sure I mention one of our veteran scouts that was trained by the most celebrated of reds scout (Gene Bennett) Steve Kring our South Carolina and Georgia scout who is one of the most relentless workers in the game did a great job of finding our 7th rd Pick last year Brandon Waring, I also want to compliment Wayne Britton one of our cross-checkers that saw Waring play twice, the first time he saw him he knew he saw ability in him so he went back a couple of weeks later and made the final decision on the player and it looks like he and Kringer did a great job of getting this player so low in the draft.

  I want to thank Doug Gray over on Redsminorleague.com- he has mentioned the blog twice on his pages and I just want to tell you I read his page every day- he's on top of his business.

     Last tonight before I start watching BP from Oakland, I leave for Anaheim tomorrow, if you have any suggestions or stories you might want to hear please e-mail me and let me know.

      Remember when your building an organization to be the best, there always divots in the road, but when you have a group of people working there ass's off and have the same goal in their sites it can only eventually become reality. Thank You everyone for the great response your giving me- I hope the Reds don't make me stop this Blog- its a blast.

      Felix Hernandez may be reaching his unbelievable potential as a young 22 yr old. Last night he was as my Bostonian friends may say WICKED GOOD.

      Tommorow the Difference Scouting Major Leagues compared to Free Agents.

Peace

Butch Baccala

Cincinnati Reds ML Scout

bbaccala@vzw.blackberry.net

FREE AGENT SCOUTING-IMPORTANT TO OUR FUTURE

     Way to early to hit the panic button with our club. Were still gonna win the division- I won't except anything less. At my parents house-spent night last night. Love being with my parents. My Dad was the best man in my wedding. Had coffee in downtown Petaluma this morning at the Apple Box. It was alright I liked my Mom's coffee better. Gonna watch our game here soon and bring in a win. Keep rooting for Dusty and the Boys its just a matter of time. I hope you fans will go out and support our club when were home. It really helps the energy level of the Team.

    

Many scouts call it Christmas- the June Free agent draft which will be held June 5th AND 6TH. Cincinnati Reds scouts scanning the globe to find you your future Reds and hopefully a few superstars mixed in. This will be my first year in 20 years of scouting that I won"t be participating in the draft.

     Since 2004 when Terry Reynolds was named Scouting Director in the Dan O"Brien regime, the Reds have had very successful drafts, working for Terry as his National Cross-Checker- were two of the funnest scouting years of my carear. Terry was a great Boss-believed in his scouts and just put you into a working environment that was very fun. Terry's two First Rounders while he was running the Scouting Dept were Homer Bailey and Jay Bruce. Two Outstanding picks-two good people. Terry is now our Farm Director where he is now doing a great job of developing our prospects. I thought I got to work for a gem of a person in Atlanta Braves scouting Director Paul Snyder but Terry Reynolds was every bit of a gem that Paul was.

   In Free-Agent scouting there is a ton of bullshit-backstabbing and guys trying to cover there ass. Guys not wanting to work hard and earn there way up the ladder but just feel like they should get the position.When Terry Joined the Reds I heard from other scouts that Terry was a great administrator but not a great scout. Well let me tell you right here in my Blog- Terry Reynolds was a very good scout-he knew what he was doing-he knew how to break down a player and he was a great leader-a fun leader.

   In 2006 a talented scout from the Toronto Blue Jays joined us as our New Scouting Director Chris Buckley. Again I worked for Chris as his National Cross-checker. Chris has a tremendous feel for players great instincts and as Wayne Krivsky says he's a good picker. Buck was great to work for, he's always training you and he is not afraid to look out of the BOX.

     True story we are on a Free- Agent conference call and Wayne joins the call to see how everything is going and wanted to ask us scouts about a young player from Cleveland named Brandon Phillips to this day many people may try to take credit for this move- I was on the call Chris Buckley fought for this kid when no body else did, Chris also recommended Jeff Keppinger and Jorge Cantu then Chris pulled off his biggest deal getting Josh Hamilton in the rule 5 draft. The Reds used Hamilton this off-season to get RHP Edison Volquez.
     The 2007 draft looks very strong under Chris as we got  a  Catcher we all liked -Devin Mesouraca, then took Rutgers SS Todd Frazier, then Kyle Lotzkar from Canada, Zac Cozart SS from Mississippi, pitcher Scott Carroll from Missouri and the a 3B out of Puerto Rico Soto.
      Scouting Free agents is tireless work, u go all over the country evaluate players everyday for two days in
   I'm sure we will have another great draft and build upon the success we have had over the last four years.

     My last words for today is its a damn shame that at AT&T park that they have taken everything down that has to do with Barry Bonds. I guess they forget that he packed that ball park for 15 years. For my nickles worth- WAKEUP he was a great BallPlayer. He should be celebrated all over that ballpark. My generation may never again get to see a Ballplayer that has that kind of ability

     See you at the Ballpark

     Butch Baccala
     Major League Scout
    Cincinnati Reds.
bbaccala@vzw.blackberry.net                                                                                 

IMPRESSIONS A GREEN SHIRT WILL MAKE

     A sunsplashed day at At&T park. My Little Kamikaze security guard bustin my balls again about having no ticket when I entered the field and the looks I got and the laughs that were made on me today about my Lime Green shirt I bought from Jon Martinez at the Antigua Outlet in Peoria AZ at Spring training.

     First time that I've been at a game when people in the Press Box text messaging me that we can all see you up here today in that shirt. Then of all People Ed Winston a Cincinnati native, who now lives in my families hometown of Petaluma, see's me and spends the rest of the afternoon sitting with me watching Kentucky Native Brandon Webb dominate the SF Giants.

     My friend Ed Winston loves the Cincinnati Reds- he sends me e-mails all the time talking about the Reds and always encouraging me about what deals we should make. He bleeds Cincinnati RED, so it was a great time talking about our club. I'm spending the night at my parents tonight-I'm at the Coliseum getting ready to watch Oakland and Seattle. I'm gonna follow Seattle the next 5 days and watch the great Ichiro.

      It"s amazing the crowd of reporters he brings with him-there are so many media here that the Oakland press room gets crowded. I love watching him take batting practice because he will launch balls out of the park and I'm sure if he really wanted too he could hit Homeruns-I've seen the power.

    I want to thank all the people that e-mailed me today, thats why I have that Blackberry I get your messages during the game I can answer between innings. It was great sharing idea's with a few of you and it made me think that one day a week I'm gonna use the blog to talk about one part of the game-any part of it. Anyone that wants something talked about e-mail me and that week proably every Sunday Night will be basically an instruction night and i will also share with you what scouts are looking for in this specific skill.

     I wanted to thank you and comment to you about the nice comments about Wayne Krivsky and Bob Castellini . There are two other people in our office that deserve notice and thats Bob Miller=Wayne's asst and Dick Williams-Baseball operations . Both great guys-smart guys and good baseball people.

     One last comment for today as I leave you to watch BP here at the Coliseum. I have just watched the SF Giants for 3 days. They are a rebuilding organization with many old players. You can see they are in big trouble as an organization but they have 3 Pitchers that will keep them in games Cain,Linecum and Wilson. Great days are ahead for Us. Can you imagine when we have Harang,Cueto, Volquez, Bailey and Travis Wood it is truly something to be excited about.I visualize Seeing Bruce, Stubbs,Bolivar,Griffin,Vailiaka, Turner, Frazier Waring, Watson Roenicke, Francisco, Lotzkar, Mesouraca, Soto and I know I'm missing some and with great respect to our REDS now but the future is exciting. Thanks for the e-mails and please continue to write, I enjoy talking with you.

PS- The Strawberry Shortcake at AT&T for 6.50 is the best bang for your buck. Whip cream a biscuit- I killed it-the only thing I've had a chance to eat today. If any of you coming out here next week need some restaurant recommendations shoot me an e-mail- I love baseball and really like food.

Peace

Butch Baccala

Major League Scout

Cincinnati Reds

CATCHING, OTHER SCOUTS AND DINNER

Before I get into the Title above I always like to recognize scouts from other organizations that I am scouting with where ever I'm at. So as you know I'm in SF watching the Giants and the D-Backs. I've been lucky every where I go there has been many scouts, so I'm proably not gonna be able to fool-em, hopefully I will be able to out work them, but most of all there good guys out working loyally for there organizations. Dick Balderson former GM of the Seattle Mariners now a ML scout for the Braves. Frankie Mattox-Mariners, The great Shooty Babbit a very hard worker for the NY Mets.The clasyy Pat Jones Of the Kansas City Royals and the personable Scott Bream of the Detroit Tigers. Its always fun to see whom I will run into at the park.

    Now the nuts and bolts of this blog- I first of all want to Thank everyone that has contacted me. Boy I wish I could really talk about the Major Leagues its players and what Wayne Krivsky is thinking but I won't do that because like I've told you I am very loyal to Wayne and I'm here for the same reason he is here to help build the Cincinnati Reds into a championship caliber performing team for years.

   Its amazing how the responses I've gotten have been about are the REDS looking for a catcher. We like every other team are searching and evaluating players everyday that could possibly help our club. On catching if we were to obtain a catcher for me the defensive part of his game would have to be strong. You definately want a player with leadership ability and the skills to be able to run a game and communicate and develop your pitchers. I like a strong armed catcher that has a chance to throw out atleast 35% of the runners that will run. But the most important part of finding a catcher would be I would want a strong person physically and mentally that will be able to stand the type of heat-humidity that Cincinnati summers bring. A player that has already played in these type of conditions that has already been through it and showed he can withstand the heat and humidity. Our group of catchers have done a great job- Ross, Bako and Valentin. Catching is hard to come buy guys and gals.

   Speaking of Catchers- the Giants Molina has been around for a long time. Solid guy hits homeruns but is by far the slowest runner in the Major Leagues. He is in SF watching the Giants try and turn there organization around and into a young organization, I've been particulary impressed by the way he treats the fans and will sign autographs and talk to fans like he's known them a lifetime. Its to bad that his game is beginning to slip like his older teammates.

     The game lasted until 4PM so I got to deal with Bay Area Traffic my home is exactly 167 miles from AT&T Park and I got home at 7:17 to be greeted by my dogs but no family. A taco salad on the counter with an I love you we'll be home at 9. My daughter Lauren is doing a bible drive for her SR project at Colfax HS. She worked last summer at the Dream Center in Inner City Los Angeles last summer and it was a life changing experience for her, so her and my wife are on the hunt for Bibles, so they can give them to kids and adults that can't afford them.

    I'm gonna sleep fast because I have to drive back to SF for the 12:35 game and then cross the bridge and see Oakland and Seattle at 7PM tomorrow night. I will spend the night at my parents house in Petaluma save the Reds some expense money for hotels and enjoy my parents.

   Just heard our final in Chicago. LOSING SUCKS. You get a chance take a look at Eric Byrnes he's on a hit streak so he won't shave- he has the weakest mustache you could possibly have--- but you never want to mess with a streak.

     Peace

Butch Baccala

Major League Scout

Cincinnati Reds

bbaccala@vzw.blackberry.net

    

OUR WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS NOW

     I look out the window of my hotel room as planes run down the runaways at SF Airport. Man I'm thinking to myself-can I get up to go to that 1PM game today. Pretty easy for a scout all we do is watch. Players after a long 6 months its not so quite easy for.

    I would love to talk about the players I see and talk about them and their skills. Its not a border that I'm gonna pass on this blog. The Cincinnati Reds pay for my opinion and they will be the club that gets my opinion. I would love to talk about the players and u can e-mail me at bbaccala@vzw.blackberry.net and i will answer any question that I can that will keep me professional and above board with respect to our favorite team the Cincinnati Reds.

    Want to spend some time talking about our Reds. Our soon to be championship ballclub the Reds. Wayne Krivsky in 3 years has built a team and an organization that will be a model for our industry in years to come. He has built the Reds thru there farm system, smart trades and tremendous waiver wire pickups.

   Wayne has earned the respect of his peers and the people that work for him, because of his endless work ethic, his process for finding these players and his ability to listen and trust his scouts and people that work for him and with him. I love Bob Castellini, he's Italian like myself, he wants people that produce, he wants straight answers- he's got a great energy level to motivate and he wants to be a Champion. Nothing less than that will be accepted. Walt Jocketty was a great pick-up for us also- I hope Wayne and Walt can grow together and become a great team like you will see our orgaqnization become.

     The biggest change I have seen in Cincinnati since I've been here 2000 is the sense of urgency everyone feels to put a winning team on the field a World Championship team. I read all the negative that people write and I'm shocked that the fans can't see our growth in some cases, because I was with the Braves for 10 years the 10 years we were in the playoffs and believe you me with the continued growth of our farm system- once we get over the top of that hill our window of of opportunity is going to be for many years.

     I'm anxious for the ride. Its 10:15 I need to get to the Park. AZ has a chance to be a dynamic club- the Giants are horrible except for 3 pitchers- Linecum, Cain and a guy named Wilson. Have a great day.

Butch Baccala

ML SCout

Cincinnati Reds

BBaccala@vzw.blackberry.net

Baccala

DID YOU SAY BOOB! NO, YOU MEANT THE BOB

      With respect to my wife-Julie and my Daughter-Lauren if we didn't live in the beautiful Sierra Foothills and mountains, I would love to live in AZ if the BOB (Bank One Ballpark) is any indication of all the boob jobs done in that state. I witnessed this first hand at the BOB on Sunday- I was warned by many scouts before the game that where I was sitting was a very distracting seat. I sat in row D seat 1. It is a very heavy traffic area of the BOB. I was able to overcome all these distractions and give the REDS a good days work.

     Many times in our jobs we are called away from our regular coverage -Like watching the Giants for 5 days so you can see all of there starting rotation. To go on a special assignment trip maybe to see 1 player or to see a team to decide whom you might want in a trade. Last night a scout came into the AZ-SF series because he announced he was there for 1 day and he was on special assignment not to offend the scout lets just call him 008.

     Now I'm responsible for the American League West and the National League West, so I want to keep up with the heartbeat in both divisions and i want to be able to tell my GM Wayne Krivsky what might be going on. A clue to whom he may be seeing, was when he said haven't you seen our bullpen its terrible.

     Now as 008 came down into the stands I sat in front of him and did my job during the game. As Merkin Valdez went to the Giants bullpen to warm up did I see 008 sit-up in his seat and watch closely. It appeared he was there to see merkin for a possible trade with his ballclub. Valdez warmed up like he was gonna enter the game and just like that the Giants scored two runs and Tyler Walker came in and valdez went back to the dugout-008 got up and left his seat-went home for the night his special assignment went for not.

    The moral to todays story-any information for a scout is good information I'm there to scout the players but sometimes you have to scout the scouts.

   SF versus AZ today 1:15, I hope its warm my hands were cold last night- good day baseball fans.

    Love you Julie, Goodnight Lauren. Love you Avery-please do well in school and kick ass in Football-you know your fathers EGO.

Peace

Butch Baccala

Major League Scout

Cincinnati Reds

BACK IN THE WINDY CITY-NO SAN FRANCISCO

What a day this is starting out to be. I just got accousted at the media gate to get into AT&T  Park by some power hungry baseball gate attendant. You need a ticket to get in-I kept telling him then yelling at him with this ML Pass I can get into the stadium without a ticket. He made one call and I was thru the gates.

AT&T park is a beautiful place-besides the wind, today it is howling here, I'm 4 Hrs early so I can do some get ahead work and really bear down on the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are an outstanding young lineup with Stephen Drew-SS,Chris Young-CF ,Mark Reynolds-3B and RF Justin Upton, they have a pitching staff that starts with Brandon Webb then goes to Dan Haren and Randy Johnson the only weakness I can see with the snakes is there bullpen.

It was nice to be home this morning-got some work done-baseball wise, got to spend some alone time with my wife-yeh guys got some fun and games time and then we had breakfast together at one of our hangouts in Colfax,Ca. TJ Roadhouse. I had Pork chops and eggs- Juls had her only pick of breakfast Corned Beef hash and eggs. It was all good and just some nice time with her.

Spoke With Rich Rupprecht this morning, he is a writer at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat- we talked for over an hour it was fun talking to an old friend and a good writer. I guess I'm gonna be in his Sunday column. Hope he doesn't rip me.

Well I have to get to my job, I'm looking across the room here in AT&T park and can see Janie MCauley across the room she works for the Associated Press-she seems very popular with the scouts-yeh she's attractive-the reporter from Kron 4 just walked in the black guy-I'm not sure of his name but he's really short- I see Mark Fletcher of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat as well as the Beat writers from AZ. Some of the Giant outfielders are out in the OF taking groundballs and working on fielding-refreshing even the BIG LEAGUERS have to practice to be good.

Peace

Until Tommorrow-I'm staying at SF Airport Marriott

Butch Baccala

ML Scout-Cincinnati Reds

THE ART OF TRAVEL

     Everyday brings something knew and one part of this baseball business that is not knew is travel. Early wake-up calls, gas stations to fill the tank up, Rental car stops and then finally that last step of getting thru security to get to your gate and your flight.

     My wife has accused me of being annal about the way I travel and the way I pack-especially pack.I always bring more than i need and today for the first time in my 20 years of traveling my bag weighed over the alloted weight of 50 pounds. The girl at Southwest sweet as can be says that will be an extra 25.00 dollars. I exclaimed you gotta be kidding me, she smiled at me and said thank you-that money goes toward our 401K plan.

     As I thought about what she said, I was thinking what is wayne krivsky see's this on my expenses a 25 dollar charge for heavy luggage. Now my boss GM Wayne Krivsky is the best boss I've ever had and thats saying alot I have worked with some great people- John Schuerholz, Dayton Moore, Dean Taylor, Paul Snyder, Chuck LaMar, Bart Braun, Dan O'Brien. I think the world of Wayne and his baseball ability. Wayne was trained by the Minnesota Twins and Terry Ryan. In other words he watches the expenses. He has already busted my balls on things I didn't consider big, but whats big in one eyes is small in anothers.

I'm sitting in the Phoenix airport eating a sandwich,  I need to run to catch my flight- Julie's picking me up at the Sacramento airport at 9PM home for the night. Back at it tomorrow AZ at SF Giants.

Peace

Butch Baccala