The answer to this question 3 years ago was “yes!” I signed up for a course with Sports Management Worldwide to learn all about scouting and managing in professional baseball, because I was hoping it would lead to a way out of my day job. The course itself was pretty awesome. Taught by Dan Evans (ex-White Sox, Dodgers, and most recently, Blue Jays Pacific Rim scouting director), it gave me a ton of insights into what it means to work in MLB. This book was sent to me as part of the course package, but oddly enough, it was not required reading.
It should have been.
To be honest with you, my answer to the question in the title now is “No” but it has nothing to do with the quality of the book or even my passion for the game. I would say it has more to do with my life stage and my newfound awareness of what it takes to succeed in this industry. Mr. Geivett lays everything out for the reader in this one: what baseball organizations look like, how to get your first interview and do well on it, how scouting generally works, how to do a good job scouting players, how players develop and every factor that could contribute to his successes or failures, and so much more. Every chapter has a succinct summary that helps you remember what things were discussed, and believe me, they were all relevant and eye-opening. It is not a guidebook per se, but does help the reader to understand what it takes to work and succeed in baseball.
What I appreciate most about this book is that it is written so thoroughly, so frankly, and yet so anecdotally, from someone who has experienced all sorts of roles within professional baseball organizations. And from the sound of things, he did every one of those jobs with as much integrity as he possibly could. Honestly, if you are even slightly considering trying out scouting or working in player development or any other area of an MLB club, this book is absolutely required reading.
Heck, even if you do not want to work in baseball (like me?), this book will give you a good education and a newfound appreciation for the players who grind through the system, as well as all the people who work behind the scenes to make these guys’ dreams come true.