"Weekend Link: Dirtbags Baseball. Although "dedicated to fans of Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball," Jeff Agnew covers college baseball about as well as anyone."
Welcome to Dirtbags Baseball blog! I was introduced to Long Beach State baseball in 2002 when my nephew, Neil Jamison, joined the team (and university) as a freshman. I started the blog in March of 2004, and generally discuss the team, current players and those that have moved on to professional baseball - as Neil has done in the San Diego Padres organization. Living in San Diego County, and with Neil moving to the next level, I won't be attending as many Dirtbags games. But, mostly from a distance, I'll remain a Dirtbags fan. I welcome tips on stories and information concerning the Dirtbags (current, past and future). I can be contacted at dirtbagsfan@yahoo.com.
This website is not affiliated with Long Beach State University or its
NCAA Division I baseball program. All original material copyright 2004-2006 by Jeffrey A. Agnew.
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Big Changes On Tap For Scouting, Player Development
By Will Lingo With reporting by Jim Callis, Chris Kline, John Manuel, Alan Schwarz and Allan Simpson August 12, 2005
Major League Baseball is contemplating significant changes to both the draft and the structure of the lower levels of the minor leagues in an effort to save money on scouting and player development.
The most likely changes for 2006 would be moving the draft back from the beginning of June to the end, and eliminating the Arizona and Gulf Coast leagues.
Most major and minor league officials either declined comment or spoke on condition of anonymity, but several sources said changes are definitely coming - though the details remain to be worked out.
"Nothing has been approved; we're operating the way we always have, one National League farm director said. "In the fall we'll have a clearer picture of what's going on.
"Ownership has very strong feelings about figuring out a way to develop players in a more efficient way."
Changes such as these have been contemplated for the last decade, with the last serious push coming at the Winter Meetings in 1996. Now the effort seems to have reached critical mass. Some of the changes have been talked about for years, and they were discussed as a package by major league general managers during an Aug. 3 conference call.
Farm and scouting directors are scheduled to discuss the ideas further at meetings in Orlando that begin Monday, with formal proposals likely in the weeks that follow.
Developing More Efficiently
Major league Rule 4, the rule that establishes the parameters for the June draft, says only that "one selection meeting shall be conducted each year in June," so that would seem to be the easiest change to implement. But more significant draft changes are in the works, including a signing date about four to six weeks after the draft and the creation of an MLB-sponsored combine.
The draft, a staple on the calendar for the first Tuesday of June since the event's inception in 1965, could move to June 29-30 in 2006.
"Everything is very preliminary, but we're looking at a more efficiency-based approach to scouting and player development," an American League scouting director said. "We're looking for better, more economical ways to push players through the system by streamlining the signing and development process."
From Major League Baseball's perspective, none of the changes for 2006 as they impact the draft would require approval from the Players Association. Additional and more far-reaching changes to the draft probably will, and likely wouldn't occur until negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2007.
Sources said the union has not been approached yet with any formal proposal.
"The commissioner's office is aware that they can make no changes in these rules without bargaining them with the union," union general counsel Michael Weiner said. "We are certain that they'll give us notice if they intend to propose any changes."
A plan to institute a universal signing deadline for draft picks, possibly Aug. 1 or Aug. 15, is in the works, as is a change in the length of time that a team controls the rights to players who attend junior college or elect not to attend a four-year school (also known as the closed period). Customarily, that period extends to one week before the next year's draft.
Fewer Short-Season Teams
In the minor leagues, the draft changes would feed into streamlining short-season ball. "There's been momentum building in the commissioner's office with the feeling that there are too many minor league teams," another NL farm director said. "I think all of this is a function of controlling costs. To our knowledge, everyone would lose an affiliate."
The Arizona and Gulf Coast leagues are relatively easy to eliminate because they are run by major league teams and games are glorified exhibitions. The Pioneer League could be elevated to the short-season level, providing 30 short-season affiliations, with the Appalachian League going to co-op affiliations.
Presidents of short-season leagues all said they had not heard any official word about changes, but they had heard rumors and expected to find out more after the minor league season ends.
"I've been told that the Appy League will be here," Appalachian League president Lee Landers said. "I've heard it will be discussed at the farm directors' meeting and the owners' meeting."
To provide development time for low-level prospects who might otherwise play in the complex leagues, extended spring and instructional league programs would become more formal and longer.
The short-season calendar would also change, with the season starting and ending earlier. Short-season leagues opened this year in the third week of June (about two weeks after the draft) and will close at the end of August or the first week in September.
The change would mean few draft picks would go straight to traditional minor league ball, and most would start their professional careers in instructional league. High school and foreign players would likely begin the next season in short-season ball, while college players could go to Class A.
Few people contacted by BA could say definitively what any of the changes would be, but everyone said changes were coming and would be significant.
"The ramifications of these changes could reach very far," an agent said. "It should help indy leagues. It should really help college baseball. If I'm a high school guy, and I'm not going to get much out of my first year, and then my second year I'm still in short season, maybe I'm more inclined to go to college now."
Here's what I see as additional ramifications:
* By having a signing deadline before school starts, a student athlete with remaining NCAA eligibility will definitely know whether he is going to sign before the time classes start. The situation Wade Townsend found himself in would be avoided.
* The draft would be much less of a distraction for Division I baseball post-season play - unless the NCAA decides in its infinite wisdom (cough, choke) to push the College World Series back into July. Currently, the draft usually falls on the Tuesday after the Regionals.
* With the reduction in roster spots for minor league players, it seems likely that players that today are drafted in the last 10 to 15 rounds, and some free agents, may not have the opportunity to play affiliated pro ball. I wouldn't be surprised if the length of the draft ends up being shortened to 35 to 40 rounds from the current 50 (I suspect this would required Player's Union agreement). Already, many late round draftees are never signed.
